TCR | September 04, 2026 — The Roadless Rule Is on the Chopping Block, Triple Hurricanes Light Up the Pacific, and TGR Counts Down to Launch

Published September 04, 2026

September 04, 2026

The Forecast

The Forecast

Triple hurricanes and the El Niño machine

Three hurricanes are spinning across the Pacific simultaneously — Karina, Lowell, and Marie — the first triple-header since 1974, and it's all being fueled by the same El Niño pattern that every forecaster in the Northern Hemisphere is watching with wide eyes. The Andes, meanwhile, remain absurdly deep: Valle Nevado is holding at 533 centimeters, Portillo at 295cm, La Parva at 244cm, Las Leñas at 241cm. That's an entire hemisphere of skiing that refuses to quit. TGR's office is apparently losing it with 15 days until the world premiere of Actually, It Is Rocket Science in Jackson Hole — their latest teaser has the whole crew making crash noises, which feels about right. Backcountry Magazine just sounded the alarm on the USDA's proposal to gut the Roadless Rule, New Zealand's Mount Cheeseman is already done for the season, and meteorologist Matt Makens just dropped his own El Niño winter forecast. Friday has teeth.

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Fresh Tracks

The Roadless Rule Is Under Attack — and There's Still Time to Fight Back

◆ Backcountry Magazine

The Roadless Rule Is Under Attack — and There's Still Time to Fight Back

The USDA has formally proposed rescinding the Roadless Rule, which protects 58.5 million acres of backcountry — including some of the best ski touring terrain in the Lower 48. Public comment period is open. This one matters.

Matt Makens Drops His 2026-27 El Niño Snow Forecast

◆ Unofficial Networks

Matt Makens Drops His 2026-27 El Niño Snow Forecast

Colorado atmospheric scientist Matt Makens — the guy agriculture and weather-sensitive industries actually pay to get it right — has released his winter outlook. Another voice confirming El Niño, another reason to start waxing.

Damian Anhder and LJ Parra Share Spines Like Gentlemen

★ TGR

Damian Anhder and LJ Parra Share Spines Like Gentlemen

No such thing as your line or my line. Just two skiers threading the same spine field in tandem, which is either deeply trusting or deeply unhinged. Either way, it looks incredible.

New Zealand's Mount Cheeseman Calls It — Rain Killed the Season

New Zealand's Mount Cheeseman Calls It — Rain Killed the Season

The Canterbury club field wrapped its 2026 season today after persistent warm northwest weather and rain stripped the lower mountain bare. A reminder that the Southern Hemisphere winter, while the Andes continue to over-deliver, has been uneven everywhere else.

The Edit

We're burning rubber in Connecticut! 💨 Season 4, episode 3 brings us to Ryan Tuerck's home race in Stafford Springs.

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Off-Piste

🎿 Ski Santa Fe is pushing a major snowmaking upgrade proposal after the resort recorded just 70 inches of natural snowfall last season — roughly half its annual average. The plan would add coverage to key terrain and buy insurance against the kind of seasons that are becoming less exceptional. Powder

🏔️ The FIS Alpine Junior World Championships are headed back to the U.S. for the first time in 33 years. Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid, NY, will host from March 2-12, 2027 — a legitimate statement that East Coast racing infrastructure can still play on the world stage. SnowBrains

🌊 Three simultaneous Pacific hurricanes — Karina, Lowell, and Marie — are churning between Mexico and Hawaii, a phenomenon not seen since 1974. El Niño is supercharging the Pacific basin and meteorologists are paying close attention to what this means for the incoming North American winter. Surfer

🎬 TGR's internal countdown to the September 19th premiere of Actually, It Is Rocket Science has apparently devolved into the whole staff making crash-sound effects on camera. Fifteen days out. TGR

Dropping

OGASAKA KS-AP2/RD vs. VECTORGLIDE MAXI S13 — Japanese precision for skiers who care about how a turn feels, not just how it looks. STEEP Magazine put these two 26-27 models head to head: both are mid-radius all-mountain carvers designed for clean, fundamental skiing, but the OGASAKA delivers a more direct, snap-to-edge response while the VECTORGLIDE rewards patience with a longer, smoother arc. If you've never looked past the major Western brands for your next daily driver, this is a good place to start paying attention.

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Conditions Check

Chile firing

Valle Nevado holds at a staggering 533cm base, Portillo at 295cm, La Parva at 244cm — the Andes season continues to be one for the record books. →

Argentina mixed

Las Leñas is riding a healthy 241cm base, but Chapelco is scraping by on 8cm — a study in contrasts across the border. →

New Zealand thin

Treble Cone is open on a 5cm base and Mount Cheeseman just shut down entirely — rain and warm northwest winds have gutted the Kiwi season. →

Australia thin

Perisher holds on with a 30cm base, Falls Creek at 10cm, and Thredbo reporting zero — the Aussie season is limping to the finish line. →

Oregon / Summer closed

Timberline is listed as open but reporting a 0cm base on Palmer — check before making the drive. →

Alps — Summer thin

Zermatt shows a 5cm base with limited glacier access; Hintertux is open but reporting 0cm — summer glacier skiing is hanging on by its fingernails. →

Fifty-eight million acres of roadless backcountry don't have a lobbyist. They have you. Go comment.

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