This was published 8 years ago

Ski resorts with guaranteed snow, every year

By Rachael Oakes-Ash

Updated August 20, 2015 — 4.09pm

Snow and guarantee rarely go together. Mother Nature's white stuff is as fickle as a forty year old ski bum mid season. You just can't rely on them showing up.

But there are some factors that can help keep the odds in your favour when choosing a ski resort for a snow holiday. Average snow depth over the years used to be one of them but we've all seen how erratic the snow can be from one year to the next regardless of how deep it was ten years ago.

Snowmaking has certainly improved many a holidaymaker's chances and if you really want 100 per cent guarantee then you can just head to Ski Dubai for the world's longest indoor ski slope (400metres) on man-made snow, or you could wait till 2020 when Dubai opens the chairlift on a 1.2km man-made indoor snow slope.

Fake or real, powder is essential for a snow holiday.Credit: iStock

In the meantime try any of these on for size and tell them we sent you.

Killington, Vermont

The USA East Coast resort lays claim to the world's most extensive snowmaking system. The resort already receives an average of 250 inches of natural snow each winter but to top that up their snowmaking covers 600 skiable acres (that's half the size of Thredbo).

Alyeska, Alaska

What if we told you that in 2011 Alyeska received 24 metres of snow in their ski season? What if we said that the following season they received 18 metres and that in the not so great last two seasons they received 12 metres. Even in a bad season Alyeska is in a good season.

Mt Baker, Washington State, USA

Mt Baker has a reputation, a big reputation. Powder lovers talk about the infamous season of 1998/99 when over 29 metres of snow fell upon this humble ski resort. Even now the average snowfall is 16 metres a season. The resort has 8 chairlifts and 1000 skiable acres suited more to intermediate and advanced skiers and isn't the easiest mountain to get to. But imagine the boasting rights when you do.

Hokkaido and Honshu, Japan

It is hard to get official statistics on which resort in Japan honestly receives the most snow. There are anything from 500 to 700 ski resorts to choose from depending on who you talk to.

Those in Hokkaido will say they get 17 metres plus, those in Honshu say the same or just a little less but they all agree it is the lightest and driest snow found on the globe. We must ask Utah about that.

Be warned, with all this snow the sky is often more grey than blue and the light can be flat, so just dive right in and hang on for dear life when the white room gets you. Our pick? Head straight to Rusutsu for deep powder and ski in ski out amusement parks with singing trees.

Zermatt, Switzerland

A long season from late November to the end of April, a high altitude, a glacier and extensive snow making ensure that Zermatt will always deliver. Add 350 kilometres of piste and a thriving resort village. What's not to love?

Mount Washington, Vancouver Island, Canada

You won't find many Australian accents here but you will find stunning mountain coastal views and 11.5 metres of snowfall a season. Yes, a season. The resort caters well for intermediates and advanced skiers, has 505 metres of vertical, 5 lifts and 81 runs.

Grand Targhee, Wyoming

Over the range from the ski mecca of Jackson Hole you will find the cult resort of Grand Targhee. The rustic home town ski resort offers resort style skiing and boarding as well as cat skiing with lunch in a yurt. But best of all it also offers 12 metres of snow per season with 3000 acres on which to ski it. If you're staying at Jackson Hole you can get a day pass plus return bus trip for around US$100 to go to 'Targhee' for the day.

Heli Skiing in Canada

If you have access to a helicopter and a few thousand dollars in your pocket then chances are you'll get to ski as much snow as you desire in interior British Columbia with a handful of heli ski operations including the original Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH).

Instagram2Win a ski trip to Whistler

We've partnered with SkiMax this season for the annual #misssnowitall Instagram competition. You could win seven nights for two at the swanky Fairmont Chateau in Whistler, plus lift passes for two people at Whistler Blackcomb for six days and return flights for two from Sydney to Vancouver, thanks to SkiMax.

Just tag your winter-inspired Instagram pics #misssnowitall #skimaxholidays to enter. We'll publish five finalists each week, with one winner at the end of the season. See this week's top entries in the gallery at the top of the page.

Pro photographers can win a Sony 4k action cam with helmet side mount and board mount valued at $697 (they are not eligible for the Whistler prize) by tagging their pics #misssnowitall #skimaxholidays #pro. We'll choose one pro shot a week as a finalist with one overall winner at end of season.

Click here for competition terms and conditions. See the latest entries below.

The Sydney Morning Herald