Avalanches Broke Free at Two Unlikely Ski Areas This Week

Avalanches aren't a threat to skiers at Wild Mountain, Minnesota, but as the ski area reported over the weekend, they can happen when conditions align.

An avalanche occurred on 'The Wall,' the ski area's only double-black diamond trail, on December 14, 2025. Wild Mountain posted an aerial photo of the avalanche debris with an explanation of how the slide occurred.

Did Mother Nature dump copious amounts of snow on Wild Mountain to trigger the slide? Did a ski patroller from a western resort accidentally throw a hand charge all the way to Minnesota? Nope. It was all snowmaking.

"Our most legendary trail had an avalanche last night," writes Wild Mountain. "One of the snowmaking piles collapsed and slid down the face."

Check out the photo below. Keep reading for more.

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Wild Mountain clarified that The Wall was closed when the avalanche occurred, most likely for snowmaking efforts, and reminded their guests to abide by all trail closures for their safety. "It's a good reminder to always stay off closed terrain," the ski area wrote.

According to Wild Mountain's daily snow report, The Wall remains closed as of today, December 16, 2025; however, the ski area is approaching 100% open status. "We are getting closer to being 100% open by the holiday break. Just a few trails left!" writes Wild Mountain.

Western skiers are most likely scratching their heads at an avalanche occurring in Minnesota, of all places, but yes, avalanches can be triggered from large snowmaking piles. It's not common, per se, but midwestern and eastern skiers have heard tales of small slides breaking out at their local hill.

In perhaps one of the most bizarre coincidences POWDER has ever reported on, a small avalanche allegedly occurred yesterday, December 15, 2025, at Holiday Valley in Western New York. The trail name? The Wall.

According to Snowology Weather & News, the avalanche occurred due to natural snowfall, and the trail, also known as The Wall, was closed at the time of the slide.

The Wall at Holiday Valley runs directly beneath the Snowpine Quad chairlift. The trail reportedly holds a 40-degree pitch for a small section, which is steep enough for an avalanche to occur. The ski area has recorded close to 20 inches of snow in the last five days.

Check out a photo of the avalanche below.

To ensure we're driving this point home, two avalanches occurred within two days, both on trails named The Wall, at ski areas in Minnesota and New York. That certainly wasn't on POWDER's BINGO card for news stories this week.

What a weird winter, indeed.

Let these two avalanches serve as a valuable reminder to alwaysobey trail closures, no matter the ski area. It's unlikely that an avalanche will occur at ski areas in Minnesota and New York, but they can happen.

On that note, an ignorant snowboarder once told me during a powder day at Palisades Tahoe, California (a ski resort known for its avalanche danger), "Dude, just duck the rope to find fresh tracks. Nobody is riding over there."

Don't be like that guy. That guy is putting his life, and potentially the lives of others, unnecessarily on the line. Be safe. Have fun. Don't duck ropes. It's pretty simple.