BA is out this week at Operation Sierra Storm, so Mike and Evan take the mic — and stare down a stubborn January ridge that just won’t budge.

They break down why the West has gone quiet on the powder map (hello, gray squares) and why parts of the Sierra’s snowpack story are strangely uneven heading into a dry stretch. Meanwhile, the Great Lakes and Northern New England continue to see snow with lake effect and a favorable storm track.

Plus, OpenSnow meteorologist Zach Butler joins for a quick snow-science chat on SWE vs. snow depth and the Community Snow Observations (CSO) project — and how community-submitted measurements help improve snowpack modeling across Tahoe, Oregon, and Colorado.

Thanks to Alta Ski Area and Smartwool for supporting The Flakes Podcast. Whether you’re waiting out the ridge or chasing storms elsewhere, we appreciate you being part of the Flakes community.

If you’re hunting fresh turns this week: go east… or Japan — because out West, the moose is still standing in the trail.

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