Comparison
Aspen Snowmass vs Telluride: which has more reliable snow?
Aspen Snowmass or Telluride? Natural snow month by month, at the village, mid-mountain and summit, from thirty winters of weather data.
The season at a glance
Each cell is one month: the share of days with 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow at mid-mountain over the last 30 winters, from brown (often thin) to deep blue (snow-sure). Blank means almost none.
The short answer
Both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 5 months of the year, but Aspen Snowmass has had the edge more often. Month by month, Aspen Snowmass has the edge in November, December and May.
Month by month
November: Aspen Snowmass 14 of 30, Telluride 6 of 30 snow-sure winters (68% and 45% of days).
December: Aspen Snowmass 29 of 30, Telluride 24 of 30 snow-sure winters (99% and 90% of days).
January: Aspen Snowmass 30 of 30, Telluride 29 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 99% of days).
February: Aspen Snowmass 30 of 30, Telluride 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
March: Aspen Snowmass 30 of 30, Telluride 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
April: Aspen Snowmass 30 of 30, Telluride 30 of 30 snow-sure winters (100% and 100% of days).
May: Aspen Snowmass 17 of 30, Telluride 8 of 30 snow-sure winters (86% and 61% of days).
A snow-sure winter is one where mid-mountain had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on at least 90% of that month’s days.
Height and terrain
Aspen Snowmass and Telluride are 161 km apart as the crow flies. Aspen Snowmass first, then Telluride: Village 2,473 m against 2,659 m; Mid-mountain 3,143 m against 3,245 m; Summit 3,813 m against 3,831 m. Mapped downhill runs: Aspen Snowmass 120 km, Telluride 102 km (OpenStreetMap).
In February, the village had 30 cm or more of natural snow on 99% of days at Aspen Snowmass and 97% at Telluride.
Questions
Which has more reliable snow, Aspen Snowmass or Telluride?
Both have been snow-sure at mid-mountain in 5 months of the year, but Aspen Snowmass has had the edge more often. Month by month, Aspen Snowmass has the edge in November, December and May.
Which has better snow down to the village, Aspen Snowmass or Telluride?
In February, Aspen Snowmass: its village had 30 cm or more of modelled natural snow on 99% of days, against 97%.
Does this include snowmaking?
No. These are modelled natural snow figures only, from ERA5 weather. Groomed pistes with snowmaking often ski better than this.