Finding Christmas Pow: A Holiday Season Full of Snow

As the Christmas holidays approach, it’s no surprise that the mountains are blanketed with great snow—perfect for chasing powder and curing your FOMO (fear of missing out).

Finding Christmas pow should is easy this season, we can thank La Niña for delivering the snowpack that was lacking last year. Conditions are promising, with good stability overall, despite isolated pockets of surface hoar and wind slab. The good news? Climax avalanches are not a concern. Merry Christmas to all powder lovers!

Powder resorts proudly post total snowfall and snowpack stats from their snowplots, and while location influences the numbers, patrollers measure and report conditions honestly—they’re passionate about keeping riders informed and safe. Snowfall is the total for the season, snowpack is the settled total. Lift-serviced resorts with low snowfall usually don’t report total snowfall and boost snow-base numbers with artificial snow – these are not powder resorts.

For those wondering where to head, the snowpack varies depending on elevation and location. Lift-serviced resorts are generally closer to communities and at lower elevations, while backcountry ski facilities often sit higher, boasting snow depths that can be double what you’ll find at resorts.

BC’s Powder Triangle is Thriving
The famed Powder Triangle—Revelstoke, Fernie, and Nelson—kicked off the season strong with a “November to Remember,” stacking up early-season snow. By December, Whistler and Red Mountain joined the party with copious dumps, making this a true powder season across the province.

So here are the Top Powder Resort Total Snowfalls and Snowpacks as listed on the resorts websites:

Total Snowfall and Snowpack

Revelstoke – 499 – 173
Whistler – 370 – 133
Fernie – 352 – 182
Whitewater – 340 – 152
Red Mountain – 295 – 145
Kicking Horse – 213 – 106

Whether you’re hitting the lifts or venturing into the backcountry, there’s no shortage of holiday pow this Christmas. Be sure to check avalanche forecasts, stay safe, and enjoy the gift of BC’s incredible snow!

Happy holidays from PowderCanada.com—get out there and find your line!