West Yellowstone Snow Conditions: Thin Cover, But Inches Expected Overnight

One week out from the start of the annual West Yellowstone Ski Festival in West Yellowstone, Mont., organizers said they were “cautiously optimistic” about the local snow reports. Though the race trails are not currently covered well enough to run the groomer, forecasts call for more inches on Monday night and through the next three days.

“The snow is falling [and]…SuperTour races and ski clinics are NOT in danger of being cancelled,” Race Director Moira Dow said in a press release Monday evening. “The South Plateau has enough snow for the races and clinics. About three to four inches cover the lower elevation trails at this time, though a couple more inches are expected overnight. While this isn’t enough snow to run a groomer over, the Festival is still a week out. [The] National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting snowfall for the next three days and into the end of next week.”

Should the SuperTour race courses not get enough snow before the first sprint goes off on November 23, the races will be moved to the South Plateau. The organizing committee and Technical Delegates will make decisions regarding venue changes for each race by noon two days prior to each race — “No later than 12:00pm (noon) on Wednesday, November 21, 2012 for the SuperTour Freestyle Sprint to be held on Friday, November 23, 2012. The decision of the SuperTour Freestyle Distance 10/15K will be made no later than 12:00pm (noon) on Friday, November 23, 2013,” Moira said.

“Changes the venue of the clinics will be made before Tuesday, November 20, 2012. Events such as the Indoor Expo, S’mores & Skiers, Backcountry Film Festival, and the Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center programs will be held regardless of snow conditions.”

Visit yellowstoneskifestival.com for the complete listing of Festival events.