How many months of snow for skiing in a year in Alaska?

Answer 1

In South-central Alaska (Anchorage, Kenai Peninsula) X-C skiing sometimes starts in October in a great winter, but usually November. We can get some warmer or low-snow winters when there's only a few weeks with decent snow at sea level before a rain or temps in the high 30's mucks it all up.

April is "mud season" when the snow is melting and everything is pretty messy. So N-D-J-F-M make 5 solid months for skiing.

If you get a bit of elevation, 1000 feet or more, then an October start and going through April and a bit of May is pretty reliable.

Add a month on each end for Fairbanks, Eagle, Tok because they're further north.

If you are willing to hump up the mountain for rondinae (sp?) skiing, you can find permanent snow fields all year. One friend has skiied 54 times since May. He's hardcore.

Downhill? There's only one area in the state - Alyeska 40 miles east of Anchorage. They're higher up and they make snow so usually all of October through May is fine - 8 months.

Heliskiing out of Valdez, etc, is year round with a big enough checkbook. There's always snow a few thousand feet up.

Answer 2

12

Answer 3

All year long if you Heli-Ski. It is costly.