Weather in the Northern Black Hills can be somewhat unpredictable. We can be below 0°F temperatures one day and 50°F and above the next. The average temperature for mid winter days is 29°F. The beginning of December is the start of the ski season. Stewart Slope and the Surprise Runs are usually the first to open after we have made ample snow on those areas. Once those areas have been prepared by manufactured and or natural snow the snowmaking crew will move on to the more advanced areas of the mountain.
Due to the unpredictable nature of the snow in the Northern Black Hills the snowmaking system is extremely important to be able to provide a solid base over 60% of the terrain. The goal is to have the entire mountain open by Christmas, however some seasons require additional time to reach that goal. Natural snowfall averages 150 inches per season which helps to open areas that are not accessible by snowmaking.
