2006-07 Ski Season Progress Report as of February 13, 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. During the second week most western ski areas had Arctic high pressure and unusually cold temperatures. Each week of January was progressively drier, with virtually no snow during the last week, and most areas had less than half normal snow for the month. At the first of February the central and southern Rockies got 1.5 to 2 feet while the drought persisted another week on the west coast. Moderate snowfalls have hit more of the West over the past week, but the majority of areas remain well below average.

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. From early December to early January there were a series of small storms but no big dumps. During the ensuing dry month coverage was less than half normal and inadequate on most advanced terrain. Last weekend's storm brought 3-4 feet of snow above 8,000 feet, so 70-90% of Sierra terrain is now skiable. However the storm total of 7 inches at Squaw Valley's base indicates some rain, and low elevation skiing is likely still marginal. Some expert sectors like Heavenly's Mott Canyon and Squaw's Silverado still need more snow to open. 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	171	64%	70%
Kirkwood	140	49%	90%
Mammoth	109	49%	80%
Southern Cal	16	23%	10-95%
Arizona Snowbowl	85	61%	40%

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 152-170 inches at Mt. Baker, 106 inches at Whistler and 6-9 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. As the U.S. dried out, Whistler got another 2 feet mid-January. In the past 3 weeks only Oregon has had more than a foot of snow, and most skiing is now spring conditions on the still deep bases.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Whistler	385	145%	106%
Mt. Baker	436	105%	100%
Stevens Pass	290	94%	100%
Crystal Mt.	300	124%	100%
Mt. Bachelor	278.5	119%	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 continued in early January, with all areas getting at least 2 feet, and some more than 4 feet. Conditions remained excellent with another 1-2 feet mid-January. A late January dry spell brought some hardpack and spring conditions, but surfaces have recentely been resored by up to a foot new snow.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Lake Louise	122	116%	100%
Sunshine Village	181	119%	100%
Kicking Horse	293	175%	100%
Red Mt.	169	92%	100%
Fernie	242	96%	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 after Christmas to get Big Sky about 80% open, but after the past dry weeks base depths are only about 3 feet. 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. Mid-January Schweitzer and Big Mountain near the border got about 2 feet of snow, while areas farther south got less than a foot. After a dry late January early February snowfall has ranged from 1-3 feet, but base depths at most areas remain well below average.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Schweitzer	235	134%	98%
Big Mountain	199	95%	100%
Bridger Bowl	122	68%	100%
Grand Targhee	261	85%	100%
Jackson Hole	164	65%	100%
Sun Valley	98	78%	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 have since been close to 5 feet in the Cottonwood Canyons and 3-4 feet elsewhere. Brian Head got 2+ feet the week before Christmas to open most runs. January snowfall totalled about 1/3 of normal and resulted in mostly hardpack surfaces. The early February light snowfall was mostly blown off, but surfaces were greatly improved by 1.5 to 2 feet of denser snow last weekend.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Alta	204	66%	98%
Snowbird	180	67%	93%
Solitude	176	74%	98%
Park City group	138	78%	96%
Snowbasin	120	61%	99%
Brian Head	126	66%	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, surfaces improved with 1.5 - 2 feet in early January, but hardpack has returned later in the month. January regional snowfall was no more than half normal. Surfaces improved with 1.5 feet average new snow at the beginning of February.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Beaver Creek	178	80%	100%
Breckenridge	157	93%	94%
Copper Mt.	155	100%	100%
Keystone	142	120%	98%
Loveland	175	93%	98%
Steamboat	191.5	79%	98%
Vail	178	82%	98%
Winter Park	171	79%	93%

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. Crested Butte's North Face lift opened mid-January, but only about half of its terrain is skiable. A year end storm dropped 22 inches at Taos, and another isolated southwest storm hit Durango and Taos with 2.5 feet and Wolf Creek with 4 feet the second week of January. Arizona and New Mexico areas got up to another foot mid-January, while the Colorado areas were drier. Gothic is between Aspen and Crested Butte and normally gets about 30% more snow. These 3 areas had less than half normal January snow. But the whole region has had 2-3 feet of new snow so far in February.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Gothic	178	92%	N/A
Crested Butte	142	103%	85%
Durango	158	110%	100%
Telluride	162	114%	95%
Wolf Creek	298	144%	100%
Taos	170	110%	100%

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 the second week finally got a few eastern areas up to half open, and in the northern areas 1-2 feet mid-January brought the first quality powder days of the season. Early February snowfall has been close to average, and a large nor'easter is predicted to dump 2-3 feet over the next few days. Current percents open: Sunday River 92%, Sugarloaf 75%, Okemo 86%, Stratton 89%, Hunter 78%, Tremblant 95%, Mt. Ste. Anne 100%, 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.

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