The following table shows the cumulative inches of snow in Silverton on the first day of each month. Note that the course conditions on run day are most closely correlated with how much snow fell late in the season, for instance, the 1993 running came after a winter of very heavy total snowfall, but there was little snow on the course because most of it fell before March. In contrast, the run was cancelled in 1995 due to the snowpack, much of which fell during March, April, and May. The annual snow year report posting will begin each year in December.

The snow year in the San Juans runs from November through May and the resulting snowpack has a profound influence on course conditions for the Hardrock event in July. We’ve had extremes on both ends of the spectrum: in 1995 and 2019 large snowpacks resulted in cancellation of the run — conversely, in 2002 (a year of very little snow) the run was cancelled due to the Missionary Ridge Fire which started in June. In 2025, extremely poor air quality on the course (due to wildfires and wind patterns) unexpectedly threatened the event beginning only twelve hours prior to the run’s start time. Course conditions in heavy snow years are evaluated with an assessment of the snow water equivalent (SWE) at the Red Mountain SNOTEL station. In dry years, this evaluation tends to be made closer to the run and is based on broader set of conditions including forest closure status, smoke conditions and the proximity of wildfires to the Hardrock course. In both cases, we will communicate as early as possible with participants about conditions that are of concern for the safe conduct of Hardrock.