The 2003-04 ski season had a promising start over most of the West in November, led by Utah with about double normal snowfall. Early December western storms hit the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies, followed by a week of widespread storms. After a short respite, big dumps over the holidays confirmed the best overall Christmas season since 1996-97 for western destination resorts. There were epic dumps in the Sierra and Wasatch in particular, and many Colorado areas shared this bounty at New Year's. Since the holidays there has been some snow in the Northwest and Northern Rockies but very little elsewhere. Nonetheless skiing remains very good at most destination resorts on the deep base from the holiday storms.
With more areas posting season snowfall in 2003-04, I am no longer tracking the less reliable numbers from RSN, except in regions where no nearby area has up-to-date information.
California: From Halloween through mid-November there were several small storms totalling 3-4 feet. After nearly 3 dry weeks there were numerous storms totalling 3-6 feet in mid-December. All areas were at least 80% open before Christmas. During the 2-week holiday period it dumped 8-12 feet in the Sierra. Current base depths range from 4-12 feet after just a few inches since Jan. 4. Nearly all of this season' s storms have bypassed Southern California and Arizona, where Snowbowl just opened this week and the only SoCal skiing is on snowmaking. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.
RSN December Snow: Northstar 80, Sierra-at-Tahoe 85.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Squaw 8,000 |
214 |
116% |
100% |
|
Kirkwood |
287 |
151% |
100% |
|
Mammoth |
258 |
175% |
100% |
|
Southern Cal |
15 |
37% |
0-65% |
Pacific Northwest: There was little snow for the first half of November, but this region was pounded over the next month, with some rain mix at low elevation. Whistler reached full operation a week before Christmas. Washington and Oregon have had comparable snow, and most areas have been in majority to full operation since Thanksgiving. There was 3-6 feet over the holidays and 1-2 feet the following week. bBase depths range from 50-107 inches, topped by Mt. Baker's 112-128 inch base, but this week there has been some rain below 5,000 feet.
RSN December Snow: Mt. Bachelor 84.
RSNJanuary Snow: Mt. Bachelor 26.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
Whistler |
220 |
114% |
100% |
Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: The Banff region had a snowy November and has been in majority operation since early December but with just a few inches per week since then. The Kootenay region has had consistent snow since early December from Northwest storms. Whitewater opened most terrain Dec. 6 and Red Mt. Dec. 13. The Okanagan region has been more average, but all areas in B.C. were at least 80% open as of New Year's and now 90%. Fernie has the most snow with an 76-inch base.
RSN December Snow: Red Mt. 31, Sunshine 25.
RSN January Snow: Red Mt. 18, Sunshine 7.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Lake Louise |
88 |
86% |
95% |
|
Fernie |
169 |
91% |
100% |
U. S. Northern Rockies: Jackson had its best opening weekend in 7 years, 75% operation including the tram on Dec. 6. The Tetons had another 7 feet over the holidays plus 2 feet a week ago and Targhee's base is now 54-76 inches. Bridger Bowl had 6 feet in 2 days at Christmas, and the 4 feet at Big Sky over the holidays allowed the Lone Peak runs to open. Most of Sun Valley's trails were covered by snowmaking before Christmas, and the whole area is in good shape after 4 feet new since Christmas. Schweitzer has been 100% open since mid-December and its base is 54-78 inches.
RSN December Snow: Big Sky 82, Schweitzer 41.
RSN January Snow: Big Sky 31, Schweitzer 33.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Big Mountain |
147 |
98% |
100% |
|
Grand Targhee |
255 |
122% |
100% |
|
Jackson Hole |
243 |
136% |
100% |
|
Sun Valley |
107 |
121% |
100% |
Utah: Utah had double normal snow in November. A significant sign of the strong start to Utah's season was that Park City and the Canyons were about 2/3 open for Thanksgiving, including the advanced runs in Jupiter Bowl and 9,990. Most of December was more average but it dumped 8-10 feet over the holidays. There was up to a foot new a week ago. All areas are 100% open and base depths are 6 feet in the Park City region and 8 feet in the Cottonwood Canyons.
RSN December Snow: The Canyons 100.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Alta |
330 |
150% |
100% |
|
Snowbird |
310 |
163% |
100% |
|
Jupiter Bowl at Park City |
278 |
159% |
100% |
|
Snowbasin |
237 |
170% |
100% |
|
Brian Head |
155 |
118% |
100% |
Northern and Central Colorado: November/December snowfall was close to normal at most areas, with a typical few inches per week at most areas. Steamboat had the most snow and has been close to full operation since before Christmas. Advanced terrain was mostly open at the high snow areas of Steamboat, Vail and Winter Park, but more limited in Summit County. At New Year's most areas got 2-3 feet new snow and more terrain has opened. Just a few inches have fallen since the holidays.
RSN December Snow: Loveland 32.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Beaver Creek |
141 |
98% |
98% |
|
Breckenridge |
96 |
81% |
90% |
|
Copper Mt. |
121 |
109% |
90% |
|
Keystone |
68 |
83% |
96% |
|
Steamboat |
179 |
108% |
100% |
|
Vail |
141 |
89% |
98% |
|
Winter Park |
149.4 |
94% |
86% |
Southern and Western Colorado: Wolf Creek was once again North America's early season leader. It reached full operation Nov. 15 and currently has a 92-97 inch base after 7 feet new snow over the holidays. Most of western Colorado was hit with 4-7 feet new over the holidays, thus opening steep terrain earlier than most seasons. Just a few inches have fallen since then. Telluride and Crested Butte are 97% and 94% open. New Mexico, like SoCal and Arizona, has been coming up short this season with only 2 feet new over the holidays and advanced terrain (Taos only 40% open) remains limited.
RSN December Snow: Telluride 54, Crested Butte 49, Taos 39.
RSN January Snow: Telluride 36, Crested Butte 54, Taos 10.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Aspen |
152 |
159% |
97% |
|
Durango |
140.5 |
137% |
100% |
|
Wolf Creek |
223 |
157% |
100% |
Northeast: With a warm late October and change in Killington's early season strategy, no Eastern area opened before November 9. With ongoing rain and warm weather even the snowmaking leaders were no more than 10-15% open at the end of November. December was a tumultuous month, with several huge storms but not all of them snow. The first two weekends of December featured 2-4 foot dumps but there was a big rain in between. Late December storms were mostly snow in Quebec and northern NH and Vermont but mostly rain elsewhere in New England. The Northern Vermont snowbelt had over 100 inches snowfall for the month and 90+% of terrain remains open. Other percents of area open: Mt. Ste. Anne 83%, Mt. Tremblant 100%, Sunday River 86%, Sugarloaf 51%, Killington 70%, Okemo 89%, Stratton 90%. Surface conditions over the holidays were reported ugly at many areas due to the rain on Christmas Eve and ensuing variable temperatures. Since the holidays there has been extreme cold, so surfaces are improving with snowmaking and trail counts are rising again. I strongly recommend checking First Tracks Online Ski Magazine No-Bull Ski Reports for up to date information in this region, where both weather and surface conditions can change so rapidly.
RSN December Snow: Killington 74, Okemo 51, Stratton 66, Sugarloaf 81, Mt. Ste. Anne 24, Mt. Tremblant 40 Snowshoe 49.
RSN January Snow: Sugarloaf 11, Mt. Ste. Anne 10, Mt. Tremblant 16, Snowshoe 15.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Jay (min.) |
166 |
116% |
88% |
|
Stowe |
202 |
166% |
98% |
|
Sugarbush |
150 |
126% |
90% |
|
Cannon Mt. |
106 |
180% |
44% |