2011-12 Ski Season Progress Report as of February 14, 2012

Late October 2011 will be remembered for its snowfall in the eastern metro areas, which also opened a few eastern ski areas. Aside from Wolf Creek, no western areas had a meaningful snowpack at the end of October to get a jump on the upcoming season. I was out of the country the entire month of November and unable to follow progress in snowfall or ski area openings during that time. November snowfall reflected a classic La Nina pattern with an outstanding start in the Pacific Northwest and much of western Canada, drier in regions farther south.

December was bone dry over nearly the entire West until Christmas. Some snow got through to the Southwest in December, bringing most areas there close to average but only Wolf Creek far above average. During Christmas week the Northwest and Northern Rockies of both U.S. and Canada got 3 feet of snow, but it remained dry farther south. With warm weather and Christmas crowds degrading the mostly manmade snowpack, California, Utah and I-70 Colorado were in the worst shape in January since at least 1980-81. Only the Pacific Northwest and western Canada had normal or better conditions and most of the snow through the first half of January was in those same regions.

The weather pattern finally changed in mid-January. Major storms hit the Pacific Northwest but then moved into the Northern Rockies and eventually Utah. A second system brought the Sierra its first snow in 2 months, but in most places was only enough to get about half of terrain open. In late January the storm track moved to the north. The first half of February has been drier than normal except for the Southwest. Colorado has getting snow in its usual moderate amounts since mid-January, so more terrain has opened each week and most areas are finally approaching full operation in mid-February.

California: There was an 18+ inch storm during the first week of October but it all melted up to at least 10,000 feet by the end of the month. Mammoth had about half normal snowfall in November and Tahoe was even drier. There was no snow in December, so this was the worst Christmas at Mammoth since 1999-2000 and the worst at Tahoe since 1976-77 with very limited skiing only on manmade snow. The first half of January remained dry and a 2+ week period around the holidays was also too warm to make snow. The Sierra finally got about 4 feet of snow 3 weeks into January, but at Tahoe that was followed by rain and warm weather so less than half of terrain was open with mediocre surface conditions at the end of January. Somewhat more terrain has opened in February with a foot of snow and improved surfaces. Advance commitments to Tahoe should still be avoided until another major storm opens more runs and improves coverage. Mammoth escaped the rain and has preserved the snow better with its higher altitude so conditions are much better there. Southwest storms opened most of Arizona Snowbowl by mid-December and snowmaking terrain in Southern California opened in the same timeframe with cold temperatures. However SoCal and Arizona were warm and mostly dry from Christmas through January. 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	83	30%	55%
Northstar	84	45%	70%
Mt. Rose	75	36%	70%
Heavenly	80	38%	35%
Kirkwood	78	26%	75%
Mammoth	98	44%	85%
Southern Cal	39	52%	0-97%
Arizona Snowbowl	112	76%	75%

Pacific Northwest: The entire region had an excellent start in November. Mt. Bachelor had a solid base that could open most of the mountain, but did not get that last dump to open Summit and Northwest until Christmas week. Mt. Baker has been 100% open and Mt. Hood 80% since early December. There was no snow in the region in December before Christmas, but with 3 feet over the holidays base depths reached 4-5 feet with excellent conditions. In early January there were 3 feet at Whistler, 2 feet in Washington and less than a foot in Oregon. Snow in the second half of January was spectacular, with 9-10 feet in Washington and Oregon and 5 feet at Whistler, bringing base depths to now 6-10+ feet. The first half of February has had about 1 1/2 feet of snow.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Whistler	283	103%	100%
Crystal Mt.	299	115%	100%
Stevens Pass	301	98%	100%
Mt. Bachelor	240	98%	100%

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: November snowfall was high through most of the region. Modest snowfalls in December before Christmas averaged less than a foot near the U.S. border and 1-2 feet farther north. But 2-3 feet of snow during Christmas week throughout the region bought base depths up to 3-5 feet with excellent conditions. First half of January January snowfall was 1-2 feet near the U.S. border but 2-3 feet farther north Big White is 99% open and Silver Star and Sun Peaks 100% on 4-6 foot bases. Last half of January snow was 9 feet at Fernie and 3-5 feet elsewhere. Tyhe foirst half of February has been mostly dry, with less than a foot of snow. Revelstoke and Kicking Horse snow totals are likely inflated by including October, but both were 50+% open by early December.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Lake Louise	151	140%	98%
Sunshine	224	146%	98%
Revelstoke	281	122%	100%
Kicking Horse	251	147%	100%
Whitewater	242	96%	100%
Red Mt.	123	68%	100%
Fernie	244	103%	100%
Castle Mt.	141	80%	95%

U. S. Northern Rockies: Snowfall in November was close to average at areas reporting. Jackson opened a bit early with more terrain than normal available but added little during dry spell before Christmas. Schweitzer got off to a good start with the Northwest influence, and along with consistent Grand Targhee was the only area in full operation by Christmas. Big Sky was 61% open for Christmas (95% now) but the rest of the region's ski areas were less than half open, and Brundage and Bogus Basin not open at all. Conditions improved during Christmas week with up to 2 feet of snow at most areas, allowing Jackson's tram and Brundage to open Dec. 30. After less than a foot of snow in the first half of January base depths were 4 feet in the Tetons and at Schweitzer but no more than 3 feet elsewhere, far below average. The mid-January storm brought 3-4 feet to Whitefish, Idaho and the Tetons, finally putting those areas in good shape, with another 2-3 feet later in the month. Second half of January snowfall elsewhere in Montana was less than half a much as in Idaho and Wyoming. First half of February snowfall was about a foot in Montana and Wyoming but less in Idaho.

Utah: Utah's November was close to average but there were less than 2 feet of snow in the Wasatch in December. Brian Head had 3+ feet in December from Southwest storms. The Cottonwood areas were 2/3 to 3/4 open for the holidays on 3 foot bases. Other Wasatch areas were less than half open on 2 foot bases, mostly on snowmaking. With warm weather during Christmas week New Year's conditions were the worst since 1980-81. Outside the Cottonwood Canyons much advanced terrain will not likely be open until mid-February. The first week of January there were several inches new snow which improved surfaces but were not enough to open more terrain. There was 5 feet of snow in the Cottonwood areas in the second half of January and 4 feet in the rest of the Wasatch, resulting in close to full operation on 6 foot bases in the Cottonwood areas and 4 foot bases elsewhere. So far February Wasatch snowfall has been below average at less than 2 feet but Brian Head has had nearly 4 feet.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Alta	188	59%	95%
Snowbird	185	68%	90%
Brighton/Solitude	171	57%	95%
Park City group	124	67%	93%
Snowbasin	132	71%	98%
Brian Head	156	78%	100%

Northern and Central Colorado: This region had a very bad start. Loveland had 46 inches in October but only 36 inches in November and 20 in December. It is possible that some other area snow totals may include October snow that probably did not last. Historically most of these areas are at least half open by mid-December but were only quarter open this year. Going into New Year's many areas were still only 1/3 open. This holiday season was the worst since 1980-81, with crowds bringing up the rocks on the limited terrain in warm weather. 4-5 feet fell over the course of January and about 2 feet in the first half of February, so new terrain has opened gradually and most areas are finally approaching full operation as of mid-February. Base depths are about 4 feet, and Loveland and A-Basin are still only half open, which indicates likely sketchy coverage on steep terrain at other areas also.

Southern and Western Colorado: The Gothic Snow Lab between Crested Butte and Aspen (snowier climate than either) had 22 inches in October, 39 in November and only 14 in December. In the Southwest December snowfall snowfall was average or better, so Taos was 76% open at Christmas (86% now) on a 4 foot base vs. 41% open on average. Wolf Creek's 87 inches of December snow was nearly twice as much as any other U.S. area. Eyewitness reports from Snowmass over Christmas were very rocky. Nearly the entire region was dry for 3 weeks after Christmas but there was 3+ feet of snow in the second half of January. The Southwest areas have had 3-4 feet of snow in February to get most terrain open on 4-5 foot bases. Farther north it was only 2 feet. Crested Butte opened some of the Headwall but as yet none of the North Face.

Northeast: The late October storm dropped 15 inches at Killington, which opened Oct. 30. Sunday River, Mt. Snow and Plattekill also opened on a limited basis. The natural snow was much less than in October 2005, so operations were more limited and any natural base soon disappeared. November and early December were very poor with low snowfall and very limited operations. This Christmas in the Northeast rivals 2006-07 as the worst since 2001-02. Christmas week and early January had mixed precipitation, but with more snow than rain. Most places had only half as much terrain open as usual at New Year's. Trail counts rose considerably in mid-January with 1-3 feet of new snow, but most areas still remained short of full operation at the end of January. Minimal progress has been made in February with less than a foot of new snow. Percents open: Okemo 75%, Stratton 88%, Hunter 87%, Sunday River 80%, Sugarloaf 71%, Tremblant 100%, Ste. 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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