Late, Late Season Riding

The Industry Report, a blog about the mountain resort industry, looks at the factors that determine when a ski area shuts down for the season.

The answer is obvious in some cases, as summer temperatures melt the snow. But in the words of one industry insider, “you look around in the middle of June at resorts above 7,000 feet and wonder how they can possibly open for mountain biking and hiking when there’s still snow everywhere.”

In California, Mammoth continues to operate into July; so does Blackcomb, in British Columbia.

The kind of clientele an area receives makes a difference, of course: areas that serve hard-core riders and skiers are more likely to stay open late than destination resorts that cater to people who prefer an area at its peak winter condition.