A rare inbounds avalanche was reported at a popular upstate New York Ski resort.
The rare avalanche on Monday is a stark reminder that even well-managed ski areas in New York can become unstable and slide unexpectedly.
Rare Avalanche Breaks Loose At Ski Resort on Monday
The rare inbounds avalanche tore down a steep run at Holiday Valley Ski Resort in Western New York on Monday.
It happened on what’s called “The Wall,” which is one of the steepest double-diamond runs in the East.
The Wall has a slope steepness between 35 and 39 degrees.
How Did This Happen?
Unsplash/ Krzysztof Kowalik
Unsplash/ Krzysztof Kowalik
Experts believe that a slab of unstable snow broke away due to heavy early-season snowfall.
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As of Monday, the resort in Ellicottville, New York already received 62 inches of snow this season, following a freeze-thaw cycle that created a weak layer between fresh snow and frozen hard-pack.
Any Injuries Reported?
Nicolas Cool/Unsplash
Nicolas Cool/Unsplash
The good news, according to Snow Brains, no injuries were reported.
No damage was reported to the resort infrastructure.
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The avalanche happened just 10 days after officially opening for the 2025-2026 season.
Past Avalanches In New York
Matea Nikolina/Unsplash
Matea Nikolina/Unsplash
Avalanches at New York ski resorts are very rare but have occurred under extreme weather conditions in the past. including:
Wright Peak (2022): Two skiers were buried in a slide but were able to rescue themselves without significant injuryBelleayre Mountain (2020): On Christmas Day 2020, a “supersaturated” snowslide triggered by heavy rain. No injuries.Wright Peak (2000): A backcountry avalanche in Essex County killed one skier and injured five others. This marked the first recorded avalanche death in New York State.
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