2012-13 Ski Season Progress Report as of December 23, 2012

During the third week of October a widespread western storm hit many regions of the West with up to 3+ feet of snow. No areas opened to the public from this storm. This October snow is not counted in season totals except for a few higher and colder places that were at least half open for Thanksgiving weekend. Overall western November snowfall was average or better with the conspicuous exception of Colorado, which has had less than half normal snow and still has very limited skiing. There was a substantial storm along the West Coast at the start of December with much snow at high elevation but rain lower down. Then a big Pacific Northwest storm moved into most of the Rockies with more moderate snows. The middle 2 weeks of December have been snowy over most of the West with the biggest dumps along the West Coast. Thus all areas in the Pacific Northwest, US Northern Rockies and Western Canada are close to or at full operation along with Utah's Cottonwood Canyons and most Sierra resorts. These areas all have excellent holiday skiing.

California: North Tahoe had some of the most October snow, with 37 inches at Squaw Valley which opened a couple of runs for a one-day private event. Farther south Kirkwood got 24-31 inches and Mammoth 17 inches. Mammoth and Kirkwood preserved the early base and with 3 feet of dense new snow were 60% and 50% open for Thanksgiving. The late November/early December storms dumped 4+ feet of snow at 9,000+ feet but mostly rain below 7,000. Mid-December storms have been colder, dropping 4 feet of snow even at lower elevations. Thus most but not all of the previously rained upon terrain is now open for the holidays. Mammoth and Kirkwood have been in full operation since early December, and high elevation holiday base depths are now about 8 feet. 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

165

142%

94%

Northstar

105.5

134%

75%

Mt. Rose

150

171%

100%

Heavenly (top)

166

189%

92%

Kirkwood

177

147%

100%

Mammoth

168.5

182%

100%

Southern Cal

13

59%

0-50%

Arizona Snowbowl

56

94%

95%

Pacific Northwest: The entire region got 3-5 feet of snow during Thanksgiving week. Late November snow was mostly rain at base elevations and mostly snow above ~5,000 feet. First half of December snow ranged from 3+ feet in Oregon to 5-7 feet in Washington and at Whistler. Last week's snow was another 5 feet over the entire region and some areas are approaching December snowfall records. Mt. Baker's base is over 150 inches.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Whistler

213

154%

100%

Crystal Mt.

240

143%

97%

Stevens Pass

249

170%

100%

Mt. Bachelor

182

151%

100%

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: October snow fell over most of these areas, topped by Revelstoke's 69 inches, some of which was in September. November snowfall was at least average through most of the region. Base depths are in the 4-5 foot range and much more terrain than normal is open early. Big White is 93% open, Silver Star 100% and Sun Peaks 94%. There was 3-5 feet of snow during the first half of December, including to the areas that had low elevation rain the previous week. Last week's Northwest storm dumped 3 feet in the Okanagan and 4-6 feet in the Kootenays. All of the region is close to full operation for an excellent holiday season. Base depths range from 4 feet in Alberta to 8 feet at Whitewater.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Lake Louise

87

154%

97%

Sunshine

150

191%

97%

Revelstoke

174

139%

100%

Kicking Horse

116

132%

88%

Whitewater

224

186%

100%

Red Mt.

138.5

163%

100%

Fernie

176

155%

100%

Castle Mt.

106

126%

95%

U. S. Northern Rockies: Overall November snowfall was average but as in other regions high elevation areas had more snow, less rain and have more open terrain. Most areas have had 4-6 feet of snow in December but Schweitzer has had 9 feet from the strong Northwest storm track. Sun Valley had 4 feet in November and 3 feet in early December for one of its best early starts. Big Sky was 75% open but mid-December and 92% for Christmas. Most of the region is having a strong holiday season.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Grand Targhee

165

120%

100%

Jackson Hole

135

117%

90%

Whitefish

104

105%

98%

Bridger

99

117%

100%

Schweitzer

148

174%

100%

Sun Valley

105.5

176%

97%

Brundage

83

88%

100%

Utah: The northern areas in Utah got the most October snow, 45 inches at Powder Mt. and 36 at Snowbasin, but the Cottonwood areas got a 4+ foot mid-November dump. The next 2 weeks Utah was dry but in December there have been 3-6 feet of snow. The Cottonwood areas are close to full operation but the Park City group is about 2/3 open and the Ogden areas only about 1/4 open.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Alta

155

104%

95%

Snowbird

129

103%

83%

Brighton/Solitude

138

97%

96%

Park City group

90

103%

68%

Snowbasin

57

68%

20%

Brian Head

55

62%

51%

Northern and Central Colorado: This region had a near record dry November, even worse than last year. Despite 2-3+ feet of snow during the past 2+ weeks most areas are half or less open and should be avoided during the busy holiday period. Only Steamboat is approaching full operation but even there the base is only 33 inches. Vail opened some but not all of the back bowls this weekend. With ongoing normal snowfall the region should recover from the holiday crush and have most terrain open by mid-January.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Beaver Creek

74

75%

72%

Breckenridge

68

78%

50%

Copper Mt.

40

48%

28%

Keystone

52

77%

37%

Loveland

47

49%

14%

Steamboat

79

71%

87%

Vail

80

74%

68%

Winter Park

72.5

68%

54%

Southern and Western Colorado: The Gothic Snow Lab between Crested Butte and Aspen (snowier climate than either) had had the driest start in its 39 years of records through early December but got 38 inches in the last 2 weeks. Snowfall leader Wolf Creek was open but sketchy until it got 4 feet in the second week of December. Aspen/Snowmass is about half open and in similar shape as many of the I-70 areas. Taos is 21% open and Crested Butte 34%. Aside from Wolf Creek the more southern areas are still 3+ weeks behind normal and should be avoided before late January.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Aspen/Snowmass

55

81%

53%

Gothic Snow Lab

70

71%

N/A

Crested Butte

50

73%

34%

Telluride

49

66%

14%

Durango

51

70%

62%

Wolf Creek

101

96%

100%

Northeast: Hurricane Sandy was all rain in New England and eastern Canada so Sunday River missed a Halloween opening for the first time in 5 years. Killington was open 2 days earlier in October but then closed. The snow from Sandy was in the Appalachians, where 2 North Carolina areas opened with snowmaking assistance but none in West Virginia where over 2 feet of snow fell. Northeast snowfall was less than a foot through Thanksgiving, but there was up to a foot of snow in late November. There was minimal snow in the first half of December. Last week there was 2-3 feet of snow in northern New England, the Laurentians and the Quebec City area, topped by 5+ feet at Le Massif. Lower and more southern locations got some rain and trail counts there remain well below normal for the holidays.
Percents open: Okemo 39%, Stratton 51%, Hunter 29%, Sunday River 56%, Sugarloaf 77%, Tremblant 84%, Ste. Anne 66%

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Jay Peak (mid)

56

66%

68%

Stowe

72

73%

61%

Sugarbush

69

94%

77%

Killington

34

50%

50%

Whiteface

27

48%

35%

Cannon Mt.

34

86%

22%

Le Massif

83

123%

87%

Directory of Ski Report Links

All content herein copyright © 1996-2012 Bestsnow.net
All Rights Reserved.
No copies or reproductions may be made in whole or in part without express permission by Tony Crocker.
Prices for commercial users will be determined based upon intended use and distribution.