Powder Compass

Atlas · Pacific NW · WA

White Pass

6,550′ summit · 2,050′ vert · 1,402 acres · avg 400″/yr

Strong bet — Dec 16–31

Delivered 30″+ in 9 of the last 10 seasons

Over 20 winters: 17 of 20 · typical 57", most land 41"–71"

Before you book

This bet missed 1 of the last 10.

None of the last 10 came in under 10″ — 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.

White Pass · 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 25 50 75" NovDecJanFebMarApr
Window Bet Delivered Verdict Typical Biggest Leanest
Nov 1–15 24″+ 6 of 10 · 3 busts Solid odds 23" 63" 2020 0" 2019
Nov 16–30 24″+ 7 of 10 Solid odds 34" 69" 2011 8" 2008
Dec 1–15 24″+ 8 of 10 Strong bet 31" 70" 2015 2" 2011
Dec 16–31 30″+ 9 of 10 Strong bet 57" 89" 2024 13" 2023
Jan 1–15 24″+ 9 of 10 Strong bet 36" 124" 2020 16" 2012
Jan 16–31 30″+ 4 of 10 · 1 bust Coin flip 24" 83" 2012 8" 2007
Feb 1–15 24″+ 6 of 10 Solid odds 23" 102" 2020 8" 2009
Feb 16–28/29 24″+ 8 of 10 Strong bet 35" 78" 2021 8" 2008
Mar 1–15 24″+ 6 of 10 · 1 bust Solid odds 29" 100" 2026 6" 2015
Mar 16–31 30″+ 4 of 10 · 2 busts Coin flip 31" 61" 2012 6" 2019
Apr 1–15 24″+ 5 of 10 · 1 bust Coin flip 20" 57" 2022 2" 2020
Apr 16–30 24″+ 1 of 10 · 5 busts Long shot 14" 34" 2014 3" 2025

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 quiet one southeast of Rainier — uncrowded groomers, Paradise Basin's trees and bowls, and a maritime-continental blend that skis drier than the west-side hills. Local families, zero scene.

Packwood is the modest base town. Its value on a trip is as the crowd-dodge alternative when Crystal's lot fills — same storm, half the people, an hour apart.

Watch this window

We'll email you when White Pass's odds move on the Dec 16–31 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.