Powder Compass

Atlas · Colorado · CO

Aspen Snowmass

12,510′ summit · 4,406′ vert · 3,362 acres · avg 300″/yr

Solid odds — Apr 16–30

Delivered 24″+ in 7 of the last 10 seasons

Over 20 winters: 12 of 20 · typical 25", most land 21"–30"

Before you book

This bet missed 3 of the last 10.

None of the last 10 came in under 8″ — a bust, under a third of the bet.

Odds count natural snowfall only. At snowmaking-dependent resorts, early-season cover can be fine in a low-natural-snow year.

The season, window by window

The bet: 12″ of new snow per week, scaled to each window. Counted from real seasons — how our odds work.

Aspen Snowmass · the shape of a typical winter

Typical new snow, window by window

The middle season — median new snow per window, counted from the last 20 winters. A picture of timing, not a forecast. Snow is streaky; hover any window for the usual range.

0 15 30 45" NovDecJanFebMarApr
Window Bet Delivered Verdict Typical Biggest Leanest
Nov 1–15 24″+ 2 of 10 · 4 busts Long shot 17" 31" 2014 0" 2019
Nov 16–30 24″+ 6 of 10 Solid odds 23" 47" 2024 1" 2012
Dec 1–15 24″+ 6 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 26" 63" 2007 5" 2006
Dec 16–31 30″+ 3 of 10 · 1 bust Long shot 23" 122" 2021 4" 2011
Jan 1–15 24″+ 3 of 10 · 1 bust Long shot 20" 107" 2017 5" 2010
Jan 16–31 30″+ 1 of 10 · 1 bust Long shot 26" 35" 2016 7" 2025
Feb 1–15 24″+ 7 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 22" 48" 2019 6" 2022
Feb 16–28/29 24″+ 4 of 10 Coin flip 24" 49" 2022 9" 2025
Mar 1–15 24″+ 6 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 21" 88" 2019 8" 2018
Mar 16–31 30″+ 4 of 10 · 1 bust Coin flip 27" 57" 2023 5" 2012
Apr 1–15 24″+ 3 of 10 Long shot 18" 45" 2010 5" 2015
Apr 16–30 24″+ 7 of 10 Solid odds 25" 53" 2011 9" 2012

Biggest and leanest are the two ends of the same 20 winters Typical is counted from — the year is when it happened, most recent first where more than one season ties.

At the snow sensor

Reading the snow sensor…

Field notes

The workhorse of the Aspen four — every terrain type stacked on serious vertical. The Cirque and Hanging Valley Wall bring genuine steeps, Big Burn brings the famous cruising, and the sheer scale swallows crowds whole.

Fly-in logistics are easy by Colorado standards — Aspen's airport sits twenty-five minutes away. Base Village is convenient and quiet at night; downtown Aspen is a short bus ride for the scene. It skis emptiest of the four on powder mornings, because the locals bolt for Highlands.

Watch this window

We'll email you when Aspen Snowmass's odds move on the Apr 16–30 window — and the quote gets recorded as it stands today, so we can be graded on it later.

Planning a whole season? See the season outlook.

These are historical odds from the last 20 winters — not a forecast. Inside 16 days of a trip, a forecast is the better instrument; beyond that, counting real seasons is the honest play. Every number on this page is quoted under methodology v1.2.0, the same math we grade ourselves against in public.