snow

High temperatures and a poor snowpack led to a lackluster winter for nearby ski resorts. But according to experts and trail users, those conditions could have consequences for summer sports, too.

The stretch from Chief Joseph Scenic Byway to the Montana state line will open on Saturday, conditions permitting.

Ski areas with special-use permits must be primarily focused on skiing and other snow sports. But in a final rule, the U.S. Forest Service said that focus will no longer be determined by revenue, which could help ski areas to adapt business to a changing climate.

Thirty-two-ton machines at 10% grade, careful parking and probing questions join in the fight against slides.

Cross-country ski areas are doing their best to adapt, but they lack the same tools available in the far bigger downhill skiing industry.

In its latest quarterly earnings report, Vail Resorts said North America skier visits were down roughly 12% through the beginning of March compared to last year, and revenue fell about 5% for the quarter.

Colorado's state climatologist said long-range forecasts are also not signaling a 'Miracle March.'

Declining snowpack is creating new challenges for irrigation, livestock, and traditional food systems in tribal communities

Less snowfall means less water in rivers and reservoirs. The economies in many of these communities rely in part on water activities.

At less than 140,000 square miles, snow cover across the region was the lowest ever recorded on February 1 in the satellite record, which goes back to 2001. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) call it the “worst snowpack on record.”