After the Storm: Video Proof that California is Having One of the Best Winters Ever

Photo: Ben Birk for Squaw Alpine.

It has truly been a magical season in California. The drought-starved state has come out huge in this, one of the best winters in recent memory. Snowpacks have been rejuvenated. In 2014, the southern Sierra snowpack was at a scary 18 percent of normal. Already in the first week of January, it’s coming in at a whopping 183 percent. And while the crux of the last powerful storm was actually too much of a good thing for many California resorts, forcing some to close on Sunday, there were moments of brilliance over the weekend and the end of last week. Here’s a quick social media collection I grabbed of the dedicated enjoying the year of years in the Sierras.

This is Garret Balen, just a little fired up over his line at Kirkwood during “the best day of his life”:

Today was the best day of my life. Sometimes the stoke over flows with a friend and you end up with something like this. @kirkwoodmtn #newschoolers #nsfamous #kirkwood #tahoe #funpow #gopro #hero5 #bigmountain #morefaceshotsthanavietnamesewhore @momentskis @roxa_italian_skiboots

A video posted by Garrett Balen (@gtbalen) on Jan 21, 2017 at 7:04pm PST

Josh Daiek, deep in the white room:

From #Japow to #Tahoe pow! Sooo deep today! ? @djcarr777 #tahoerulz #skilaketahoe

A video posted by Josh Daiek (@joshdaiek) on Jan 21, 2017 at 6:17pm PST

This quote from Sammy Luebke says it all: “In the last 45 years @squawalpine has averaged about 70″ in the month of January. This season January has produced a record 177″ in the first 12 days! At this rate I would say we will easily push past 200″ well before the month ends!” We don’t need to fact check him. Sammy, enjoying the fruits at Squaw:

Just another best day ever!! In the last 45 years @squawalpine has averaged about 70" in the month of January. This season January has produced a record 177" in the first 12 days! At this rate I would say we will easily push past 200" well before the month ends! ?@mosshalladay @686 @jonessnowboards @spacecraftcollective @squawalpine @bluebirdwax @totallyboard @sidesurfers #farmerspine #GLCR #tahoesucks

A video posted by Sammy Luebke (@sammy_luebke) on Jan 20, 2017 at 7:14pm PST

Sierra at Tahoe, giving it up:

Day 3: Tree runs & deep pow stashes ❄️?❄️?@sierra_at_tahoe #powday #powderhounds #januburied #waistdeep #gopro #hero5 #gopole #reachmini #tahoe #sierraattahoe #jacksbowl #salomonsnowboards #sickstick @antanari @russell2686

A video posted by Ryan Vosburg (@firstars) on Jan 21, 2017 at 6:41pm PST

Oh Mammoth, you dirty fiend. Chris Benchetler, enjoying the soft landings, and making it look awesome:

Snowiest January on record for @mammothmountain with more on the way ?? -» ?‍??: @skichef • #chasingadvanture #gopro #hero5

A video posted by Chris Benchetler (@chrisbenchetler) on Jan 22, 2017 at 7:18am PST

And finally, a little comparison, so you can see just how good this year has been to the Golden State: