skiable

Skiable is an adjective used to describe terrain or conditions that permit skiing. In mountain environments, a slope, trail, bowl, glade, or backcountry route is considered skiable when snowpack and terrain allow safe, playable skiing with typical equipment. The term is common in ski area operations, guide services, and snow science to indicate what can be skied under current or anticipated conditions.

Skiability depends on several factors. Snow depth and quality (powder, packed, crust, or wet snow) and the stability of the snowpack influence how well a surface can be skied. Temperature, sun exposure, wind redistribution, and recent precipitation affect surface conditions. Terrain features such as slope angle, exposure, and gullies, as well as access and grooming, determine whether a run is practically skiable. Avalanche risk and management also gate access to certain terrain. In resorts, skiable areas are the portions of the mountain that are maintained and open for skiing.

The concept is used in marketing, planning, and safety contexts. Resorts may report skiable terrain and skiable days, while researchers discuss skiability as part of snow science and climate studies to assess how conditions suitable for skiing change over time. Etymologically, skiable derives from ski plus the suffix -able, with development in English-language skiing literature in the 20th century.

Overall, skiable describes the practical viability of skiing on a given patch of terrain under prevailing conditions, recognizing that conditions can fluctuate and do not guarantee daily skiing.