2004-05 Ski Season Progress Report as of January 30, 2005

The Sierra had the most snow in October since at least 1945. These storms also dumped substantial snow in Utah. Thus Mammoth, Kirkwood, Brian Head and Utah's Cottonwood Canyons were in full operation with excellent conditions for Thanksgiving. November snowfall was well below average throughout the West until a strong final week, so skiing was still limited in other regions. After a snowy first week of December high pressure set in for over two weeks. Thus many resorts were subpar at Christmas in terms of both open terrain and surface conditions. For the next 2 weeks big storms finally hit the West, once again heaviest in the Sierra and Utah, but also huge in the Southwest. In mid-January the weather changed dramatically. Most of the West turned dry, and the Northwest and much of western Canada was drenched by a "Tropical Punch" storm with snow levels of 6,000 - 8,000 ft. Last week the Sierra got 2-3 feet, with lesser amounts in Utah and Colorado and the norethern areas remaining unseasonably warm.

California: The October storms centered on Mammoth, which had 82 inches of snow and was 40% open for Halloween. Tahoe areas on the Sierra Crest had 4-6 feet of snow and were also partially open at least on weekends since Halloween despite only 2 feet on November snow. After a 2-4 foot storm most Tahoe terrain including KT-22 and Mott Canyon opened the second weekend of December. Two+ weeks of warm and dry weather brought hardpack/spring conditions to low elevations and sunny exposures, and conditions at Christmas were about average at most Sierra resorts. Christmas week brought massive dumps of 3-7 feet, followed by another 5-10 feet in the first 2 weeks of January. Mid-January was warm, bringing spring conditions at low elevation and in sunny exposures, but last week the Sierra got another 2-3 feet. Base depths are 6-15 feet. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth. Arizona Snowbowl was in full operation for Thanksgiving, very unusual, and has continued to benefit from the Southwest storm track.
RSN December Snow: Northstar 112, Sierra-at-Tahoe 137.
RSN January Snow: Northstar 137, Sierra-at-Tahoe 137.

Pacific Northwest: November storms had fairly high snow levels and were mostly rain in the ski areas. Early December storms dropped 1-3 feet but still substantial rain at low elevation. This was a very poor holiday season by the standards of the usually snowy Northwest despite some new snow in late December. Early January snowfalls were modest, so the Northwest was devastated from Whistler to Mt. Hood by the "Tropical Punch" storm. Only Mt. Bachelor (48 inch base) was high enough and far enough south to be spared much damage and remain in full operation. Whistler is only 55% open and most other areas are closed. This is nearly unprecedented for the end of January, and odds are now better than 50/50 that this season will fall short of 1976-77 and be the worst ever in the region.
RSN January Snow: Mt. Bachelor 19.

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: Everything west of Rogers' Pass was rained upon in mid-January. Big White, Silver Star and Sun Peaks have been in full operation since mid-December and retain their 4-6 foot bases, but surfaces will be difficult until they get more snow. East of the Selkirks at Panorama, Kicking Horse and Banff/Lake Louise the storm was 2+ feet of heavy snow above 6,000 feet, adding to the thinner than normal New Year's base depths of 2-4 feet. Kootenay areas like the Northwest had too much early season rain but improved with 2-4 feet new snow between Christmas week and early January. These areas had heavy rain from the "Tropical Punch" and the lower part of Fernie is mostly washed out.
RSN December Snow: Sunshine 30.
RSN January Snow: Sunshine 28.

U. S. Northern Rockies: The Tetons had 7+ feet of snow from Christmas to mid-January, so Jackson Hole reached full operation at New Year's. Most of Tahoe's December/January storms continued on to Sun Valley, which still has a 43-76 inch base despite the past 2 dry weeks. Schweitzer had a more NW rainy weather pattern and was only 32% open for the holidays, was 95% open after 2.5 feet in early January, but is now down to 35% again due to rain. Big Sky is about half open (Lone Peak scenic rides only) after 2 dry weeks.
RSN December Snow: Big Sky 26, Bridger 55.
RSN January Snow: Big Sky 19, Bridger 31, Schweitzer 39.

Utah: 4-8 feet of snow fell in October, opening Brighton for Halloween and Snowbird a week later. The Wasatch had 2-4 feet in early December, but some hardpack/spring conditions emerged in sun-exposed areas after a week of warm and dry weather. Utah got 2-4 feet new Christmas week plus another 5-7 feet in the first half of January. The Park City areas were 70% open by mid-December and 90+% by New Year's. Mid-January was warm and dry, but surfaces were refreshed with a few inches last week.

Northern and Central Colorado: After a slow start these areas got 2-3 feet at the end of November and close to 2 feet in early December. After a couple of dry weeks, the region had a below average holiday. Much expert terrain opened in early January, when most areas got 3-5 feet of snow. Most areas got a few inches last week.
RSN December Snow: Loveland 35.
RSN January Snow: Loveland 41.

Southern and Western Colorado: Wolf Creek is 100% open on a 125-137 inch base and 10 feet of early January snow and almost 2 feet last week. Durango and Telluride benefited from several early Southwest storms and were in full operation for Christmas. The Southwest areas were hit with another 4-8 feet in early January. These storms were more widespread, finally opening Crested Butte's North Face and most of the expert terrain at Snowmass and Taos. After a dry week the 4-6 foot bases were refreshed by several inches last week.

Northeast: November 9 was Killington's opening day, same as last season, and the East struggled with frequent rain for the next month. After a week of snow and cold, eastern skiing was set back again with widespread rain just before Christmas. With erratic natural snow and rain, areas were only partially open through much of January. Late January has brought the biggest dumps fo the season, but mostly to southern New England. Percents open: Killington 86%, Okemo 97%, Stratton 100%, Sugarloaf 71%, Sunday River 94%, Hunter 100%, Mt. St. Anne 94%, Tremblant 94%, Snowshoe 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.
RSN December Snow: Killington 29, Stratton 24, Sugarloaf 39, Sunday River 27, Mt. Ste. Anne 35, Snowshoe 28.
RSN January Snow: Killington 43, Stratton 46, Sugarloaf 16, Sunday River 36, Mt. Ste. Anne 19, Snowshoe 26.

Directory of Ski Report Links