2006-07 Ski Season Progress Report as of January 15, 2007

In the Northwest and western Canada November snowfall was at or near record levels. Colorado's snowfall started in October and most areas there had an above average Christmas, though not as good as last year. The first week of December was fairly quiet; during the second week the storm track resumed a similar northwest pattern as in November. The Denver blizzard of Dec. 20-21 with a few exceptions dumped less snow in Colorado ski areas than in Denver. Christmas week brought about a foot of snow to most western areas, and 2+ feet along the West Coast and a few areas in the Northern Rockies. For the first week of January storms were once again concentrated in the Northwest and western Canada. For the past week most areas got just a few inches except for some locally heavy dumps in the Southwest. Most western ski areas are currently experiencing Arctic high pressure and unusually cold temperatures.

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: November was almost completely dry except North Tahoe was brushed by a couple of the Northwest storms. Since early December there have been a series of small storms but no big dumps. Thus coverage is less than half normal and is still inadequate on much advanced terrain. The largest storm, about 2 feet on Dec. 26-27, created a base adequate to open 50-70% of terrain as opposed to the 20-50% before Christmas. Estimated percents open: Alpine Meadows 80%, Heavenly 40%, Northstar 60%, Sierra-at-Tahoe 75%, Sugar Bowl 90%. Since eyewitness reports indicate the off-piste base is still thin, the estimated percents of acreage open are less than reported percents of trails. It is therefore likely that expert terrain like Mott Canyon, most of the top of Mammoth and numerous steep lines at Squaw Valley will not be skiable before February. 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	128	72%	70%
Kirkwood	87	46%	80%
Mammoth	72	49%	60%
Southern Cal	14	36%	10-90%
Arizona Snowbowl	53	54%	closed

Pacific Northwest: The late October/early November storms rivaled the infamous Tropical Punch of January 2005 for flooding and high snow levels. But for the rest of November temperatures were cold and it dumped record snow. Current base depths are 160-171 inches at Mt. Baker, 122 inches at Whistler and 7-10 feet elsewhere. Mt. Hood Meadows opened fully Dec. 9 after repair of its washed out access road. There was some rain in early December, but 6-8 feet more snow the rest of the month. The epic Northwest early season continued with 4-6 feet of snow in early January.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Whistler	346	180%	100%
Stevens Pass	272	123%	100%
Crystal Mt.	291	168%	100%
Mt. Bachelor	260.5	153%	100%

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: Enough of the Northwest November storms reached interior B.C. and Alberta for a near record start. Most areas have been 80+% open and several 100% since mid-December. Most interior B.C. areas had about 5 feet of snow in December, and Alberta areas only about half as much. Snow has continued in early January, with all areas getting at least 2 feet, and some more than 4 feet.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Lake Louise	106	135%	100%
Kicking Horse	268	213%	100%
Red Mt.	152	116%	100%
Fernie	196	106%	100%

U. S. Northern Rockies: The early Northwest storms hit northern Idaho hard, but otherwise most of this region had average or less early snow through Christmas. Particularly behind schedule were Big Sky (only 27% open Dec. 22) and Bridger, which had to delay its scheduled Dec. 9 opening by 2 weeks. These areas got about 3 feet of snow since Christmas and Big Sky is now about 80% open. Jackson was also lagging, but the 2 feet of snow Christmas week finally opened the lower faces of Rendezvous Mt. by New Year's. As usual Grand Targhee was the exception, maintaining its record of consistency by reaching full operation by Dec. 15. Most areas got at least 1.5 feet in early January, with 3 feet at Big Mountain.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Schweitzer	212	170%	98%
Big Mountain	143	95%	100%
Grand Targhee	215	102%	100%
Jackson Hole	143	81%	100%
Sun Valley	88	100%	88%

Utah: Snowfall has been below average with biggest storms coming in late November. Alta and Brighton had the best cover and current conditions for the holidays. The Park City group and Snowbasin still have a few advanced areas that need more coverage. The Wasatch averaged 1 to 1.5 feet of snow per week in December and early January, and base depths are about 5 feet in the Cottonwood Canyons and 3-4 feet elsewhere. Brian Head got 2+ feet the week before Christmas to open most runs.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Alta	166	76%	98%
Snowbird	148	78%	93%
Solitude	144	83%	98%
Park City group	106	86%	94%
Snowbasin	101	73%	95%
Brian Head	103	79%	100%

Northern and Central Colorado: These areas had 2-4+ feet of October snow and a normal November of 3-4 feet and 1-2 feet in early December. The Denver storms before and after Christmas were only as strong at Winter Park and dropped less than 2 feet at most areas in the region. Some hardpack was reported by the holiday crowds, but surfaces have improved with 1.5 - 2 feet new this month.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Beaver Creek	141	99%	99%
Breckenridge	128	107%	94%
Copper Mt.	137	124%	100%
Keystone	119	148%	98%
Loveland	162	121%	97%
Steamboat	150.5	87%	99%
Vail	147	94%	95%
Winter Park	138.3	89%	91%

Southern and Western Colorado: Wolf Creek had 65 inches in October and 69 in November to reach full operation first. About 90% of Aspen/Snowmass was open for the holidays and 95% now. Through mid-December regional snowfall was well above average north but well below average south. Then the first Denver blizzard originated in southern Colorado and the 2-3 foot dump opened most runs at Durango and Telluride. Some expert terrain like Crested Butte's North Face still need more snow, as it just opened last week on a very limited basis. A year end storm dropped 22 inches at Taos, and another isolated southwest storm last week hit Durango and Taos with 2.5 feet and Wolf Creek with 4 feet. Gothic is between Aspen and Crested Butte and normally gets about 30% more snow.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Gothic	151	107%	N/A
Crested Butte	112	118%	80%
Durango	147	145%	100%
Wolf Creek	250	175%	100%
Taos	126	114%	90%

Northeast: Natural snow in October totalled 21 inches at Jay Peak and 16 inches at Killington (not included in totals below). Unfortunately November was warm so all precipitation was rain and the first openings on snowmaking were for the weekend of Nov. 18-19. There was some cold and snow for the first week of December, but it warmed up for most of the month and holiday skiing was as limited as it has ever been in the snowmaking era. After a dusting of snow the record warmth continued for the first week of January. Cold weather last week finally got a few eastern areas up to half open, and in the northern areas there may be up to a foot of natural snow soon to help. Current percents open: Sunday River 61%, Sugarloaf 38%, Okemo 55%, Stratton 18%, Hunter 46%, Tremblant 75%, Mt. Ste. Anne 67%, Snowshoe 65%. 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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