2007-08 Ski Season Progress Report as of December 16, 2007

There was some snow in the Northwest and some of the Rockies in early to mid-October. However, the next month was exceptionally dry, so most western areas were well behind schedule in opening terrain and building a natural snow base. High snowfall areas like Alta, Kirkwood and Steamboat did not open for Thanksgiving, and most western U.S. areas that were open only had snowmaking runs and less than 10% of terrain. Therefore I will attempt wherever possible to exclude October from season totals in the tables below. Whistler was the conspicuous exception, opening 1,200 acres November 16 after a substantial dump, and 5,000 acres for Thanksgiving. Elsewhere in the West skiing remained limited through the first weekend of December despite some unusual storms. Substantial snow during the first half of December has been concentrated in the Souithwest and the Northeast, which now have the best ski conditions.

With more areas posting season snowfall since 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. I am now including season snowfall from some areas italicized from SnoCountry.

California:Mammoth opened a very sketchy snowmaking ribbon Nov. 9 and added a couple more runs at Thanksgiving. A few Tahoe areas also opened for Thanksgiving. Late November was good for snowmaking, but no one in the Sierra was more than 10% open Dec. 1 on natural snow of only 2-8 inches. About 2 feet of snow Dec. 6-7 opened about 20% of terrain at areas like Northstar, Sierra-at-Tahoe and Sugar Bowl. But far more is needed to open advanced terrain anywhere by the holidays. Avoid before mid-January unless there is a major dump earlier. The Southwest storms allowed Arizona Snowbowl to open most runs Dec. 13. 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	36	37%	10%
Kirkwood	32.5	32%	15%
Mammoth	28	34%	20%
Southern Cal	9	54%	0-50%
Arizona Snowbowl	71	151%	90%

Pacific Northwest: Whistler had 4 feet of snow to open on November 16. It remains an excellent bet for early season skiing in North America this year. Some storms reached Washington and Oregon in late November, but starting with a high rain/snow line. The big early December storm started snow but ended with heavy rain and left Whistler with a hardpack base. Mt. Bachelor's Summit received enough snow to open December 10. Skiing has more restricted in Washington due to lower elevation and more rain in early December. Up to 2 feet of recent snow has resurfaced Whistler and opened most terrain there. More snow is expected soon in the Northwest.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Whistler	114	102%	92%
Crystal	60	63%	28%
Stevens Pass	72	59%	41%
Mt. Bachelor	53	53%	70%

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.:Snowmaking at Lake Louise opened one trail Nov. 9, but November skiing was very limited. Sunshine has a 51 inch base, and after 2+ feet new snow opened Goat's Eye Dec. 7. Snowfall is also above average at Kicking Horse, which opened a week early on Dec. 8. Elsewhere the season is off to a slower start. The Okanagan areas have had below average snow, and Red/Fernie have received too much rain, like Washington State.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Lake Louise	46	95%	65%
Sunshine	81	121%	83%
Kicking Horse	96	124%	66%
Fernie	83	78%	36%
Sun Peaks	61	114%	50%

U. S. Northern Rockies: Grand Targhee was 75% open by November 30, maintaining its perfect early season track record. Jackson got some of this snow, but locals report a low December natural snow base below mid-mountain. Big Sky is 55% open on its easier lower mountain. Bridger got 32 inches in late November and opened most terrain on schedule Dec. 7. Schweitzer got 4 feet of snow from the Northwest storm before it turned to rain. It and Big Mountain have opened many more runs after 1-2 feet last week. In general, snowfall has been close to average in the region at high elevation but below average with some rain lower down. Northwest storms predicted early next week are likely to move into this region next.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Big Mountain	64	75%	84%
Bridger Bowl	93	132%	100%
Grand Targhee	96	84%	100%
Jackson Hole	74	74%	51%
Schweitzer	63	91%	54%
Sun Valley	52	105%	39%

Utah: The Cottonwood Canyons had up to 4 feet of snow in mid-October, bringing out substantial numbers of backcountry skiers Oct. 21. But November was the driest since 1976, exceeding that drought year only in the final week. 1+ foot of snow at the start of December and up to 3 feet Dec. 6-8 got Utah's season off the ground. After just a few inches last week much less terrain than normal is open, with only Alta approaching full operation. Avoid destination trips until after the holiday crush.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Alta	74	58%	88%
Snowbird	56	51%	48%
Brighton/Solitude	62	56%	63%
Park City group	48	71%	41%
Snowbasin	43	53%	35%
Brian Head	46	60%	46%

Northern and Central Colorado: Loveland received 22 inches snow in October and had 105 acres open by Nov. 4. November snowfall was less than half normal throughout the region and record low along the Continental Divide. But so far in December 4-5 feet of denser than normal snow has fallen. Therefore, with the exception of Steamboat more terrain is now open in the region than normal for mid-December even though snow totals are still below average.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Beaver Creek	80	92%	79%
Breckenridge	67	96%	85%
Copper Mt.	59	90%	59%
Keystone	53	119%	88%
Loveland	58.5	73%	70%
Steamboat	75	74%	48%
Vail	75	78%	96%
Winter Park	74	77%	79%

Southern and Western Colorado: The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, located at Gothic 9,400 feet between Crested Butte and Aspen, had 34 inches of October snow, but a 30+ year record low of 14 inches in November. Telluride did not open for Thanksgiving, and even Wolf Creek was less than 10% open. But this region has had an outstanding first half of December, with 5-6 feet of high density snow at most areas, and 13 feet at Wolf Creek. Much more terrain is open than normal for mid-December on 4-5 foot bases (88% at Aspen/Snowmass), with just a handful of the steepest sectors like Crested Butte's North Face needing more coverage. Taos opened Dec. 14 with far more than average base depths and open runs.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Crested Butte	70	123%	65%
Gothic	105.5	132%	N/A
Durango	112	179%	99%
Telluride	84	144%	76%
Wolf Creek	182	214%	100%
Taos	105	147%	56%

Northeast: Sunday River made enough snow for a "marketing opening" on Halloween. A few areas opened for the weekend of Nov. 10-11, and many more for the next weekend, assisted by over a foot of new snow at many areas. For Thanksgiving trail counts increased from the 10% to 20% range, though surfaces were less than ideal due to midweek rain. November had overall average conditions by historical standards though much better than the past few years. Upper New England and Quebec have had 3-7 feet of December snow with no rain or thaw, so conditions are midwinter excellent. Percents open: Okemo 94%, Stratton 86%, Hunter 78%, Sunday River 76%, Tremblant 91%, St. 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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