2007-08 Ski Season Progress Report as of February 27, 2008

There was some snow in the Northwest and some of the Rockies in early to mid-October. However, the next month was exceptionally dry, so most western areas were well behind schedule in opening terrain and building a natural snow base. High snowfall areas like Alta, Kirkwood and Steamboat did not open for Thanksgiving, and most western U.S. areas that were open only had snowmaking runs and less than 10% of terrain. Therefore I will attempt wherever possible to exclude October from season totals in the tables below. Whistler was the conspicuous exception, opening 1,200 acres November 16 after a substantial dump, and 5,000 acres for Thanksgiving. Elsewhere in the West skiing remained limited through the first weekend of December despite some unusual storms.

Substantial snow during the first half of December was concentrated in the Southwest and the Northeast. Since mid-December Utah, the Northwest and most of the northern Rockies had multiple storms, completely recovered from the slow start and had above average holiday conditions. The Sierra was the only western region still lagging at New Year's.

The Sierra caught up spectacularly with a huge dump in early January. The first half of January had nearly continuous snowfall in the Northwest, Northern Rockies, Utah and some parts of Colorado. So after the very slow start to the season most western areas are now well above average. Mid-January snow was concentrated mainly in the Northern Rockies and Utah. Late January snow was widespread, but heaviest in California.

The first half of February brought huge snows to the U.S. Northwest and Northern Rockies, the border areas of western Canada and onwards to Utah and Colorado. Mid-February had scattered snow but few big dumps. Last weekend a significant storm hit the Sierra, then pushed on to Utah and Colorado. With 4 of the 8 regions I track having big years and the other 4 above average, 2007-08 has a chance to rival 1981-82 and 1996-97 as the best overall ski season of the past 30+ years.

I am now including season snowfall from some areas italicized from SnoCountry.

California:Mammoth opened a very sketchy snowmaking ribbon Nov. 9 and added a couple more runs at Thanksgiving. A few Tahoe areas also opened for Thanksgiving. Late November was good for snowmaking, but no one in the Sierra was more than 10% open Dec. 1 on natural snow of only 2-8 inches. About 2 feet of snow Dec. 6-7 opened about 20% of terrain at areas like Northstar, Sierra-at-Tahoe and Sugar Bowl. The Sierra had 3+ feet of snow Dec. 18-20, and some areas were 70-90% open on 3-4 foot bases. This all changed with the major storm of 5-9 feet Jan. 3-8. The Southwest storms allowed Arizona Snowbowl to open most runs Dec. 13. Southern California and Arizona got 2-3 feet of snow in early January, and the Sierra and Southern California both got 3-6 feet the last week of January. After 3-5 feet of snow early in February it was dry for 2 weeks. Last weekend's storm totalled 2-4 feet and all areas are in full operation with Sierra base depths of 7-14 feet. This storm was mostly rain in Southern California but 20 inches snow in Arizona. 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	375	122%	100%
Kirkwood	420	125%	100%
Mammoth	312	121%	100%
Northstar	231	113%	100%
Mt. Rose	269	108%	100%
Southern Cal	105	120%	90-100%
Arizona Snowbowl	225	137%	100%

Pacific Northwest: Whistler had 4 feet of snow to open on November 16. It was the best bet for early season skiing in North America this year. Some storms reached Washington and Oregon in late November, but starting with a high rain/snow line. The big early December storm started snow but ended with heavy rain and left Whistler with a hardpack base. Mt. Bachelor's Summit received enough snow to open December 10. Skiing was more restricted in Washington due to lower elevation and more rain in early December. Up to 2 feet of snow resurfaced Whistler and opened most terrain there by Dec. 15. In the second half of December there was 5-9 feet new snow, so all Northwest areas were in good shape for the holidays on 6-10 foot bases. The first half of January was continuously stormy, dumping 7-9 feet of snow throughout the region. In the second half of January there was about a foot of snow at Whistler and 2 feet in Washington/Oregon. Early February it dumped again, with 7-10 feet in Washington/Oregon, though only 3+ feet at Whistler. The rest of February was warmer with less than a foot of snow, so low elevation areas have spring conditions.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Whistler	306	103%	100%
Crystal	390	144%	100%
Stevens Pass	440	127%	100%
Mt. Bachelor	390.5	148%	100%

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.:Snowmaking at Lake Louise opened one trail Nov. 9, but November skiing was very limited. After 2+ feet new snow Sunshine opened some of Goat's Eye Dec. 7. Early snowfall was also above average at Kicking Horse, which opened a week early on Dec. 8. Elsewhere the season started slower. The Okanagan areas had below average snow and Big White was less than half open until after Christmas, now 74%. Red/Fernie received too much rain in early December, but were in great shape by Christmas with 4-6 feet new snow from Northwest storms during the second half of December. The first half of January Northwest storm track dropped 4-5 feet at Red and Fernie and an average of 2 feet elsewhere in western Canada. Later in January Fernie had 3 feet, with 1-2 feet elsewhere as frigid Arctic air settled into much of the region. Most areas had 2-3 feet in early February, but the strong Northwest storm track dumped over 8 feet at Fernie. There have been only a few inches new snow in the past 2 weeks, so some surfaces are hardpack or spring now.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Lake Louise	106	92%	91%
Sunshine	188	111%	96%
Kicking Horse	205	111%	100%
Fernie	352	127%	100%
Castle Mt.	250	122%	100%
Red Mt.	205	100%	100%
Sun Peaks	174	121%	100%

U. S. Northern Rockies: Grand Targhee was 75% open by November 30, maintaining its perfect early season track record. Jackson got some of this snow, but locals reported a low mid-December natural snow base below mid-mountain. 5 feet of snow at Jackson later in December opened most terrain for Christmas. Big Sky was 50+% open on its easier lower mountain since Dec 8, increasing to 85% at Christmas. Bridger Bowl got 32 inches in late November, opened most runs on schedule December 7, and had 7 feet over the next month. Schweitzer got 4 feet of snow in early December before it turned to rain. It and Big Mountain got most runs open by Dec. 21 and had 5-6 feet of late December snow from the Northwest storms. These areas had 4-5 feet of snow in the first half of January, with 6 feet in the Tetons and 2-3 feet at Sun Valley, Big Sky and Bridger. Snow continued strong with 4-5 feet at most areas over the rest of January. Sun Valley got 3 feet from the late January storm tracking NE from the Sierra. First half of February snow was 3+ feet at most areas but 6 feet in the Tetons and 7 feet at Big Mountain from the same Northwest storm track hammering nearby Fernie. In the last half of February the Tetons have had close to 3 feet and Sun Valley 18 inches but no more than a foot elsewhere in the region.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Big Mountain	352	151%	100%
Bridger Bowl	270	134%	100%
Grand Targhee	395	114%	100%
Jackson Hole	348	124%	100%
Schweitzer	257	132%	100%
Sun Valley	197	141%	100%

Utah: The Cottonwood Canyons had up to 4 feet of snow in mid-October, bringing out substantial numbers of backcountry skiers Oct. 21. But November was the driest since 1976, exceeding that drought year only in the final week. 1+ foot of snow at the start of December and up to 3 feet Dec. 6-8 got Utah's season off the ground. At mid-December only Alta approached full operation. Then the Cottonwood areas got another 3 feet and most runs there were open by Dec. 21. Additional storms finally opened most runs at Snowbasin and the Park City areas by Christmas. Total December snowfall of 8 feet at Park City and 12 feet in the Cottonwood Canyons made the November drought a distant memory. The bounty continued with 6-7 feet of snow in the first half of January and 3-4 feet the rest of the month. With 6-9 feet in the first half of February Utah's season moved far above average. After a dry week there has been 2-4 feet in late February.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Alta	463	132%	100%
Snowbird	380	125%	100%
Brighton/Solitude	395	147%	100%
Park City group	319	160%	99%
Snowbasin	332	149%	100%
Brian Head	266	120%	100%

Northern and Central Colorado: Loveland received 22 inches snow in October and had 105 acres open by Nov. 4. November snowfall was less than half normal throughout the region and record low along the Continental Divide. But 4-5 feet of denser than normal snow fell during the first half of December. Therefore, normal percentages of terrain were open for the holidays even though many snow totals were still below average. Steamboat's snow was lagging past mid-December, but not after 6 feet new during the holidays. By year end snow totals were noticeably below average only at the Continental Divide, where A-Basin was less than half open until mid-January, now 80%. 1-2 feet of snow fell in early January. Mid-January storms dumped 7.5 feet at Steamboat, 4-5 feet at Vail, Beaver Creek and Winter Park and average 2 feet elsewhere, with slightly less along the still lagging Continental Divide. Late January snow was a typical 1 to 1.5 feet through out the region. The first half or February was outstanding, with 3-5 feet at most areas and 7+ at Steamboat. After a brief slowdown, last weekend's storm dropped 1-2 feet.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Beaver Creek	285	128%	100%
Breckenridge	229	121%	100%
Copper Mt.	221	126%	100%
Keystone	172	126%	100%
Loveland	212	100%	100%
Steamboat	382	141%	100%
Vail	306	126%	100%
Winter Park	246	101%	94%

Southern and Western Colorado: The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, located at Gothic 9,400 feet between Crested Butte and Aspen, had 34 inches of October snow, but a 30+ year record low of 14 inches in November. Telluride did not open for Thanksgiving, and even Wolf Creek was less than 10% open. But this region had an outstanding first half of December, with 5-6 feet of high density snow at most areas, and 13 feet at Wolf Creek. Much more terrain was open than normal for the holidays on 4-5 foot bases, and even most of Crested Butte's North Face was open, rare by Christmas. Taos opened Dec. 14 with far more than average base depths and open runs and was 90+% open by Christmas. Second half December snow ranged from 3+ feet at Aspen, which roughly tied 1983 for its snowiest December, to 2 feet in southern Colorado. Nearly all western Colorado areas got 4-5 feet during the first half of January and should be in great shape for the rest of the season with historically excellent snow preservation. The late January California storms continued into this region with an average of 2 feet but 4 feet at Wolf Creek. The pace picked up again in early February with 4 feet at most areas and 8 feet at Wolf Creek. During the mid-February lull over most of the West these areas got another 2 feet of new snow, plus 1-2 feet last weekend.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Aspen	277	179%	99%
Crested Butte	291	182%	94%
Gothic	338.5	151%	N/A
Durango	315	191%	99%
Telluride	288	176%	100%
Wolf Creek	489	206%	100%
Taos	244	139%	100%

Northeast: Sunday River made enough snow for a "marketing opening" on Halloween. A few areas opened for the weekend of Nov. 10-11, and many more for the next weekend, assisted by over a foot of new snow at many areas. For Thanksgiving trail counts increased from the 10% to 20% range, though surfaces were less than ideal due to midweek rain. November had overall average conditions by historical standards though much better than the past few years. Upper New England and Quebec had 5-8 feet of snow the first 3 weeks of December with outstanding conditions. Unfortunately surfaces were degraded by rain just before Christmas, though with the ample base depths there was only a moderate drop in open trails. 2 feet of snow over the holiday period restored excellent conditions for New Year's week. The second week of January brought a major thaw with some rain, so trail counts dropped at many areas. During the rest of January there was 2+ feet of snow in Northern Vermont areas, again restoring power/packed powder conditions. Farther south there was more hardpack with just a few inches new natural snow. February thaws were followed by refresher snowstorms, so most areas remained close to full operation though with variable surfaces. This week's storms of expected 2+ feet are more substantial and should restore powder/packed powder conditions. Percents open: Okemo 100%, Stratton 100%, Hunter 76%, Sunday River 98%, Tremblant 99%, St. 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.

Directory of Ski Report Links