Haines heliski companies had one of the worst seasons ever this year as bad weather and snow conditions limited time in the mountains.

Southeast Alaska Backcountry Adventures (SEABA) owner Scott Sundberg said persistent cold, dry and windy weather didn’t allow the buildup of a stable snowpack.

SEABA, Alaska Heliskiing and Alaska Mountain Guides used an average of 37.5 percent of allocated skier days, according to the “Commercial Heli-skiing 2018 Season-End Report” required by borough code to be compiled in July.

Alaska Heliskiing used only 18 percent of 1,325 available days this year, compared to 51 percent of 1,425 in 2017, and 72 percent of 1,300 in 2016. SEABA used 60 percent of 975 days in 2018, compared to 62 percent of 975 last year, and 70 percent of 900 in 2016. Alaska Mountain Guides used 48 percent of 300 days this year, and 90 percent of 250 last year.

Sundberg said the state forecasted the season as a “horrible winter” early last year.

“Once we had people here, cold temperatures and rough surface conditions like compacted ice and things that make it difficult to ski if you don’t have a lot of visibility made us stay out of the mountains when it wasn’t perfect,” Sundberg said.

According to National Weather Service data from the U.S. and Canada border stations, Haines had significantly less-than-average snowfall in 2018 at 97.5 inches. In 2017, 215.5 inches fell and in 2015, 150.9 inches (No data was available for 2016.) Erik Stevens of the Haines Avalanche Center said there is not consistent data from high elevations.

The lack of a good snowpack limited the areas in which the company could take people skiing by 50 percent, Sundberg said. He said some SEABA clients who pay close attention to forecasts knew ahead of time that Alaska skiing was rough and didn’t book trips, but bad weather and snow conditions were still the main reason for a decline in days spent skiing.

The report said the season was “cut short voluntarily for lack of opportunity.” Sundberg said SEABA normally ends its season on May 3 but ended on April 26 largely due to instability of the snowpack. He said a late snow at high elevation added six feet of powder on an unstable snowpack, and winds were blowing up to 80 miles per hour.

“We knew it would be hazardous. We had a safe season and decided to pull the plug,” Sundberg said.

Sean Brownell of Alaska Heliskiing could not be reached for comment.