As a data nerd, I'm usually skeptical when I hear phrases like "all-time" thrown around in the lift line. But looking at the telemetry coming out of Palisades Tahoe this week, the numbers don't lie. The resort—which holds a respectable ShredIndex score of 70.5/100—just experienced a winter comeback that defies the average precipitation curves.
We are talking about a storm cycle that dropped over 100 inches of snow in just two weeks. For context, that's deeper than the standing height of an NBA center, deposited directly onto the Sierra Nevada snowpack.
The Storm Data Breakdown
I pulled the accumulation reports to see exactly how this stack-up occurred. It wasn't just one freak event; it was a sustained atmospheric delivery system.
- Phase 1 (Dec 22, 2025): The holiday storm cycle kicked off with a massive 80+ inches over seven days. This provided the crucial base layer needed to fill in the steeper, rock-strewn terrain Palisades is famous for.
- Phase 2 (Jan 2, 2026): Just as the legs were recovering, a second system slammed the region, dumping an additional 44 inches leading into January 5th.
- Season Total: As of January 5, 2026, the resort hit 143 inches total.
On-Mountain Conditions
When you get 44 inches of fresh on top of an 80-inch base, the physics of skiing change completely. You aren't edging; you're planing.
Locals were calling January 5th "all-time," and the footage backs it up. We saw pro skiers like Ryan Faye and Carson McCarron dropping POV clips that looked more like snorkeling than skiing. Noah Gaffney managed to score a clean line down The Fingers—a technical zone that requires significant coverage to be skiable without base damage.
However, deep snow brings high consequences. It's important to note that despite the hype, significant upper mountain terrain remained closed on the big day. When you load a slope with that much mass that quickly, avalanche danger spikes alongside wind loading. The patrol team made the right call keeping the high alpine locked down while mitigation work was underway.
The Gear: What You Need for 40"+ Days
If you showed up to this cycle on your daily driver (90mm-100mm underfoot), you likely spent half your day digging out. Snow of this depth requires specific surface area to generate lift.
For conditions this deep, I recommend moving to a dedicated powder shape with a waist width of at least 110mm and significant tip rocker/taper.
- My Pick for Deep Days: The Atomic Bent 110 Skis offer a great balance of float and playfulness without feeling like you're driving a boat.
- For pure float: If you want maximum displacement, look at the Salomon QST Blank Skis, which sit at 112mm and crush variable deep snow.
Planning Your Strike
With a base this solid, the rest of January is setting up to be prime. If you are planning to chase this cycle, you can find accommodation near the resort here. Just remember to check the daily operations report—when it dumps this hard, patience with lift openings is part of the game.
Source: Original reporting by Powder
