Ski area businesses confront Washington's dwindling snowpack

John Adams, co-owner of Glacier Ski Shop, an outdoor gear outfit in the tiny town of Glacier next to Mount Baker, loves his job. He manages the store with his brother Drew, who started the business with him in 1999. He waxes a lot of skis. And he skis almost every day, racing through a powdery white landscape of Douglas firs and snow-capped Cascades.

It’s a perfect setup — except during bad snow seasons like this year's.

Ski area businesses across the state told the Business Journal that this year had the worst snow they’ve seen in more than a decade. As of early April, when snowpack typically reaches its peak, Washington had on average half its usual snowpack.

Delayed starts to the ski season and ski area closures hit businesses with an unexpected downturn in visits and revenue.

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2026/04/16/low-snowpack-washington-state-ski-area-businesses.html