Wolf Creek conditions, starting with 2022-23 season

[marzNC]

Now that Wolf Creek Ski Area (WCSA) has become my early season destination, I'm tracking the opening date and early snowstorms starting in October. WCSA got enough snow in the last few weeks to decide to open for the weekend Nov. 4-6. The website has been completely redone.

WCSA Homepage on Oct. 30, 2022

 

[marzNC]

Looks like the first big storm for WCSA will happen this week!

From OpenSnow Nov. 1

 

[marzNC]

The mid-mountain "settled base" at mid-station went from 10 inches to 26 inches after the storm earlier this week. Opening day on Friday, Nov. 4, won't be just beginner lifts. Treasure and Bonanza will open at some point. It's going to a fun day for people who go.

 

[callmijane]

I’ll be there Sunday, so I’ll let you know how it is! Looks good on the cams.

 

[marzNC]

Looking good for WCSA! Finishing up a storm today. The next one is going to last for several days.

November 29, 2022, 8am ET

Wolf Creek Snow Forecast | OpenSnow

Wolf Creek snow forecast, with current conditions, historical weather, and detailed weather information for the next 10 days.

opensnow.com

 

[TNtoTaos]

Looking good! Are you headed there next week? I'm jealous! Have a GREAT time!

 

[marzNC]

Looking good! Are you headed there next week? I'm jealous! Have a GREAT time!

Won't be at Wolf Creek until mid-December. Looking forward to getting back there. Last season the snow coverage was unusually low when we started skiing on Dec. 11 but WCSA was still 100% open. This time the snow depth will be far above average by the time we start skiing.

In comparison to the Ikon/Epic/MCP resorts, for an early season trip it's hard to beat WCSA. Especially since it's a shorter drive than heading to Grand Targhee from the southeast. Of course, WCSA requires a longer drive from a major airport. That helps keep the lift lines short.

 

[marzNC]

Wolf Creek has one of the highest Early Season Snow Scores on ZRankings. It made the Top 15 posted in November 2022. It's the only mountain in the list that is not on Ikon or Epic.

Best Ski Resorts For Early Season, Christmas & New Year's Snow - Top 15

Some ski resorts are far better bets for early-season skiing around Christmas and New Year's, with histories of getting terrain open early. Here's the 15 best, with a 2023-2024 winter update.

www.zrankings.com

"
Wolf Creek - early season snow score: 89.0

We don't have detailed data on Wolf Creek's open rate and averages on Dec. 25, but we do know that this place tends to gather more snow, more quickly, than almost anywhere else in the Rockies. Within Colorado, it's probably the most dependable early-season destination. Wolf Creek benefits from a very high base elevation of 10,600 feet, and a high density of north-facing terrain - 65%. More important than those traits, however, is the fact that Wolf Creek exists in a microclimate that funnels storms to its ridge and wrings them for all they're worth. Wolf Creek can sometimes pick up 20" or more from innocuous systems that leave little snow elsewhere in Colorado. In a hallmark of its early season snow prowess, Wolf Creek is open by Halloween in about a quarter of winters, and averages a 37-inch base at Thanksgiving."

 

[marzNC]

Oooh, snowing coming to WCSA in the next week for sure!

 

[marzNC]

Here's the notes for WCSA for Dec. 1:

DAILY NOTES:

• The 2022-2023 ski season is underway with 7-day a week operations and excellent early season conditions!
• Treasure Stoke, Bonanza, Alberta, Elma, Charity Jane, Raven, Lynx and Nova will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with 90% of the terrain open - including the Knife Ridge and Horseshoe Bowl.
• Lift tickets are at Local Appreciation rates today - $62 for adults, $43 for seniors and $32 for children.
• Lift tickets will return to regular rates tomorrow, Friday, December 2nd!
• College Day is Sunday, December 4th. Students with a valid college photo I.D. and current class schedule can purchase a $62 lift ticket.
• The Ski School, Ski and Snowboard Rentals, Treasure Sports, Pathfinder Bar, Base Camp, Continental Espresso Bar and the Wolf Creek Lodge are open! The Prospector Grill is open and will be serving breakfast to early arrivals starting at 8 AM. The Raven’s Roost Pizzeria is also open.
• Uphill travel is permitted during lift operating hours only.
• The Meadow Loop and Lake Spur Nordic Trails were groomed on Thursday November 24th.

 

[marzNC]

The depth at mid-mountain is starting to build up. It's supposed to be pretty cold in the next week and there will be more snow. Seems as if staying above 30 inches for the rest of December is likely.

 

[marzNC]

Think I'm lucking out because the days with no snow expected at WCSA in the next week are the days I and Jason will be driving in Colorado before we get to South Fork.

 

[marzNC]

Like last year, by the time I start skiing WCSA for an early season trip it will be 100% open.

 

[marzNC]

Going to be seriously cold the next few days. Storm ending on Dec. 13 will total 8-12 inches, although seems much deeper in some areas because of the wind. Was already snowing at 8:00am. Quite heavy around lunch time, which made the afternoon skiing very fun! Snowing in the valley in the late afternoon near Del Norte.

 

[Lmk92]

Don't forget to share photos!

 

[TNtoTaos]

Going to be seriously cold the next few days. Storm ending on Dec. 13 will total 8-12 inches, although seems much deeper in some areas because of the wind. Was already snowing at 8:00am. Quite heavy around lunch time, which made the afternoon skiing very fun! Snowing in the valley in the late afternoon near Del Norte.

And save some powder for me when I get there on Wed!

 

[Mudgirl630]

By the time I got up, around 9:45, I found below knee depth in some areas. It was cooooooooold.

 

[marzNC]

By the time I got up, around 9:45, I found below knee depth in some areas. It was cooooooooold.

I presume that was at Aspen, not Wolf Creek.

 

[marzNC]

It was quite cold today at WCSA. Clouds rolled in after lunch. Not too much wind though. Official storm total is 12 inches. That matches up with what what we skied today. Still not quite enough coverage in some places to cover up trees and branches in what looks like deep powder areas.

 

[marzNC]

Don't forget to share photos!

Won't be many. When it's single digits, no one wants to get out their camera.