2011-12 Ski Season Progress Report as of January 21, 2012

Late October 2011 will be remembered for its snowfall in the eastern metro areas, which also opened a few eastern ski areas. Aside from Wolf Creek, no western areas had a meaningful snowpack at the end of October to get a jump on the upcoming season. I was out of the country the entire month of November and unable to follow progress in snowfall or ski area openings during that time. November snowfall reflected a classic La Nina pattern with an outstanding start in the Pacific Northwest and much of western Canada, drier in regions farther south.

December was bone dry over nearly the entire West until Christmas. Some snow got through to the Southwest in December, bringing most areas there close to average but only Wolf Creek far above average. During Christmas week the Northwest and Northern Rockies of both U.S. and Canada got 3 feet of snow, but it remained dry farther south. With warm weather and Christmas crowds degrading the mostly manmade snowpack, California, Utah and I-70 Colorado were in the worst shape in January since at least 1980-81. Only the Pacific Northwest and western Canada had normal or better conditions and most of the snow through the first half of January was in those same regions. The weather pattern finally changed last week. Major storms hit the Pacific Northwest but then moved into the Northern Rockies and eventually Utah. A second big system is bringing the Sierra its first snow in 2 months, but it's still early to predict the ultimate result there. Colorado is getting snow in its usual moderate amounts, so it is still likely to be a few more weeks before the most severe drought stricken regions of California and I-70 Colorado reach full operation.

California: There was an 18+ inch storm during the first week of October but it all melted up to at least 10,000 feet by the end of the month. Mammoth had about half normal snowfall in November and Tahoe was even drier. There was no snow in December, so this was the worst Christmas at Mammoth since 1999-2000 and the worst at Tahoe since 1976-77 with very limited skiing only on manmade snow. The first half of January remained dry and a 2+ week period around the holidays was also too warm to make snow. A major storm is underway, dropping 1-2 feet so far. Advance commitments should be avoided until seeing how much terrain is opened after the storm. Southwest storms opened most of Arizona Snowbowl by mid-December and snowmaking terrain in Southern California opened in the same timeframe with cold temperatures. However both SoCal and Arizona have been warm and dry since Christmas. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Squaw 8,000	28	14%	3%
Northstar	31	23%	8%
Mt. Rose	48	31%	18%
Kirkwood	44	21%	8%
Mammoth	50.5	32%	15%
Southern Cal	32	69%	0-97%
Arizona Snowbowl	95	90%	65%

Pacific Northwest: The entire region had an excellent start in November. Mt. Bachelor had a solid base that could open most of the mountain, but did not get that last dump to open Summit and Northwest until Christmas week. Mt. Baker has been 100% open and Mt. Hood 80% since early December. There was no snow in the region in December before Christmas, but with 3 feet over the holidays base depths reached 4-5 feet with excellent conditions. In early January there were 3 feet at Whistler, 2 feet in Washington and less than a foot in Oregon, but storms are expected all next week. Last week's snow was spectacular, with 5 feet in Washington and 90 inches at Mt. Bachelor but only a foot at Whistler as the storm track finally moved south. Base depths are now 5-8 feet.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Whistler	228	105%	100%
Crystal Mt.	244	121%	100%
Stevens Pass	244	102%	100%
Mt. Bachelor	185	97%	100%

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: November snowfall was high through most of the region. Modest snowfalls in December before Christmas averaged less than a foot near the U.S. border and 1-2 feet farther north. But 2-3 feet of snow during Christmas week throughout the region bought base depths up to 3-5 feet with excellent conditions. First half of January January snowfall was 1-2 feet near the U.S. border but 2-3 feet farther north Big White is 90% open and Silver Star and Sun Peaks 100%. Last week's snow was 5 feet at Fernie but 1-2 feet elsewhere. Revelstoke and Kicking Horse snow totals are likely inflated by including October, but both were 50+% open in early December.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Lake Louise	124	144%	94%
Sunshine	183	151%	96%
Revelstoke	230	126%	100%
Kicking Horse	204	150%	94%
Whitewater	181	93%	100%
Red Mt.	94	67%	100%
Fernie	189	112%	100%
Castle Mt.	115	84%	90%

U. S. Northern Rockies: Snowfall in November was close to average at areas reporting. Jackson opened a bit early with more terrain than normal available but added little during dry spell before Christmas. Schweitzer got off to a good start with the Northwest influence, and along with consistent Grand Targhee was the only area in full operation by Christmas. Big Sky was 61% open for Christmas (95% now) but the rest of the region's ski areas were less than half open, and Brundage and Bogus Basin not open at all. Conditions improved during Christmas week with up to 2 feet of snow at most areas, allowing Jackson's tram and Brundage to open Dec. 30. After less than a foot of snow in the first half of January base depths were 4 feet in the Tetons and at Schweitzer but no more than 3 feet elsewhere, far below average. Last week's storm brought 3-4 feet to Whitefish, Idaho and the Tetons, so those areas are finally in good shape. Snowfall elsewhere in Montana was 1-2 feet.

Utah: Utah's November was close to average but there were less than 2 feet of snow in the Wasatch in December. Brian Head had 3+ feet in December from Southwest storms. The Cottonwood areas were 2/3 to 3/4 open for the holidays on 3 foot bases. Other Wasatch areas were less than half open on 2 foot bases, mostly on snowmaking. With warm weather during Christmas week New Year's conditions were the worst since 1980-81. Outside the Cottonwood Canyons much advanced terrain will not likely be open until mid-February. The first week of January there were several inches new snow which improved surfaces but were not enough to open more terrain. The current storm has dropped 1-2 feet so far but considerably more is expected. The Cottonwood areas should be close to full operation after control work is done.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Alta	129	53%	73%
Snowbird	129	63%	60%
Brighton/Solitude	115	50%	77%
Park City group	81	58%	58%
Snowbasin	96	68%	52%
Brian Head	92	63%	65%

Northern and Central Colorado: This region had a very bad start. Loveland had 46 inches in October but only 36 inches in November and 20 in December. It is possible that some other area snow totals may include October snow that probably did not last. Historically most of these areas are at least half open by mid-December but were only quarter open this year. Going into New Year's many areas were still only 1/3 open. This holiday season was the worst since 1980-81, with crowds bringing up the rocks on the limited terrain in warm weather. 2-3 feet has fallen so far in January, so new terrain has opened gradually and total terrain open now is similar to mid-December of an average year. With base depths of 3 feet advanced terrain will likely take a few more weeks to open. Advance commitments should be avoided for the next month as snow tends to accumulate gradually in this region.

Southern and Western Colorado: The Gothic Snow Lab between Crested Butte and Aspen (snowier climate than either) had 22 inches in October, 39 in November and only 14 in December. In the Southwest December snowfall snowfall was average or better, so Taos was 76% open at Christmas (86% now) on a 4 foot base vs. 41% open on average. Wolf Creek's 87 inches of December snow was nearly twice as much as any other U.S. area. Eyewitness reports from Snowmass over Christmas were very rocky. Nearly the entire region was dry for 3 weeks after Christmas but theree was about a foot last week. So at the Colorado areas with base depths of 3 feet (all but Wolf Creek) it may be a few weeks before more expert terrain is opened. I would not expect Crested Butte's North Face to be open before March.

Northeast: The late October storm dropped 15 inches at Killington, which opened Oct. 30. Sunday River, Mt. Snow and Plattekill also opened on a limited basis. The natural snow was much less than in October 2005, so operations were more limited and any natural base soon disappeared. November and early December were very poor with low snowfall and very limited operations. This Christmas in the Northeast rivals 2006-07 as the worst since 2001-02. Christmas week and early January had mixed precipitation, but with more snow than rain. Most places had only half as much terrain open as usual at New Year's. Trail counts rose considerably in mid-January with 1-3 feet of new snow. Percents open: Okemo 82%, Stratton 85%, Hunter 80%, Sunday River 67%, Sugarloaf 59%, Tremblant 100%, Ste. Anne 100%. 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.

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