2005-06 Ski Season Progress Report as of March 15, 2006

There were 2 northern storm tracks in November and the first week of December. Both hit Washington, Oregon, the Northern Rockies, and Northern and Central Colorado, and most areas in these regions were close to full operation by mid -December. The earlier storms hit western Canada, while the later storms dumped on previously dry Utah. The second week of December was mostly dry but there was moderate snow in the week before Christmas in several regions. Christmas week was stormy but warm in most of the West, with some rain at lower West Coast elevations but 3 feet of snow up higher, and cement-like snow at some areas in the Rockies. A final intense storm hit much of the West over New Year's weekend, with a break in weather for the next few days. For the next month the Pacific Northwest was continuously stormy, with considerable snowfalls in most other regions. Only the far Southwest continued to miss out, with some areas restricted on less than half normal snow. Mid-February was mostly dry and warm, with average but not huge snowfall later in the month. The first week of March brought substantial storms to the Pacific states, with decreasing amounts farther inland. The second week of March brought big dumps to the Sierra and some relief to the parched Southwest, with moderate snows in most other regions.

More areas are posting season snowfall since 2003-04, so I track the less reliable numbers from RSN on a more selective basis. I now include season snowfall from several areas italicized from SnoCountry and RSN through December. The Snocountry season totals are only reliable enough to use beyond New Year's for a handful of areas.

California: Mammoth opened a few runs on snowmaking Nov. 10. Boreal was the only other area to make enough snow to open for Thanksgiving. After 3 feet the following week, most Sierra areas opened for the first weekend of December, but with less than half of terrain. A surprise storm dropped 3 feet at higher elevations Dec. 18-19, so Mammoth, Kirkwood, Mt. Rose and the upper parts of Heavenly were in decent shape by Christmas. The Christmas week storms were stronger, averaging 3+ feet, folowed by huge dumps of 3-10 feet over New Year's weekend. Snow levels fluctuated, but were occasionally as high as 9,000 feet. High elevation base depths reached 12+ feet, but holiday conditions were still sketchy below 7,000 feet and just adequate up to 8,000 feet. Mid-January storms of 3-5 feet were colder and improved the lower elevations, along with another 2-3 feet in late January. Early February storms barely reached Tahoe with a few inches, and nothing farther south. Two moderate storms hit the Sierra later in February, totalling 2-5 feet depending upon elevation. So far March has been huge, with 4-6 feet of new snow the first week and 5-8 feet last week. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.
RSN December Snow: Heavenly 75, Northstar 78, Sierra-at-Tahoe 80.
RSN January Snow: Heavenly 95, Northstar 78, Sierra-at-Tahoe 95.
RSN February Snow: Heavenly 35, Northstar 40, Sierra-at-Tahoe 30.
RSN March Snow: Northstar 118, Sierra-at-Tahoe 124.

Pacific Northwest: Mt. Baker opened Nov. 8 with 100% of terrain and a 5-7 foot base. Crystal opened Nov. 4 on about 4 feet as did Blackcomb and Timberline on lesser amounts. Another 2-3 feet of snow fell on Washington and Oregon areas in early December, and these areas had 3-6 foot bases for the holidays with variable surface conditions due to low elevation rain. Whistler had only 20 inches in the first half of December, and then it rained to the top on Christmas. Christmas to New Year's storms finally opened up the Whistler alpine with up to 7 feet of snow, but lower elevations were variable and snowmaking dependent. Mt. Bachelor and Mt. Hood had more snow and less rain than other Northwest areas through the holidays. In January Whistler and the Washington areas were pounded with up to 15 feet of snow. 2+ more feet in early February, finally a break mid-month and 2 feet in late February. Early March snow was most abundant in the north but more widespread last week.
RSN January Snow: Mt Bachelor 74.
RSN February Snow: Mt Bachelor 20.
RSN March Snow: Mt Bachelor 24.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Whistler	397	118%	100%

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: Snow was above average in November but far below average in most of December. Skiers reported that low snow sectors like the front of Lake Louise, lower half of Kicking Horse and upper parts of Panorama were sketchy through the holidays. Conditions dramatically improved in January with at least 4 feet of snow in the Banff region and as much as 10 feet in some Kootenay areas. Most areas had 1-2 feet in early February and another 1-2 feet late in the month. Another 1+ foot first week of March at most B.C. areas, but fairly dry since as the storm track moved south.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Lake Louise	141	110%	100%
Kicking Horse	260	126%	100%
Fernie	309	100%	100%

U. S. Northern Rockies: This region has had a very strong start since early November. Big Sky opened Lone Peak at the end of November, a rare occurrence. Jackson Hole opened all lifts December 10. All areas were close to full operation with excellent conditions by mid-December, and most of these areas had 3-5 feet more through the holidays, and another 6-11 feet in January. February snowfall was 3-5 feet, with the dry period mid-month like most of the West. 2-3 feet new in early March at most areas. This is still the best season in the region since the records of 1996-97.
RSN January Snow: Bridger 56, Big Sky 78.
RSN February Snow: Bridger 52, Big Sky 47.
RSN March Snow: Bridger 18, Big Sky 36.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Big Mountain	344	133%	100%
Grand Targhee	429	111%	100%
Jackson Hole	397	126%	100%
Sun Valley	256	163%	100%

Utah: Utah was much drier than normal for most of November and thus Alta opened a week later than scheduled. But huge dumps from late Thanksgiving weekend through early December brought season totals above normal. The Cottonwood Canyon areas have since been in full operation, and the other Wasatch areas were in full operation for the holidays after 2+ feet the week before Christmas. About 2 feet of very wet snow fell during Christmas week and 3+ feet over New Year's. A mid-January storm dropped another 3 feet in the Wasatch, with 3-5 feet later in the month and average 2 feet in early February. Brian Head was in the Southwest drought through early January but reached full operation with 5 feet later in the month. February snowfall was 3-5 feet, with the dry period mid-month like most of the West. At least 3 feet new so far in March and up to 6 feet in the Cottonwoods after a rain to 9,000 feet storm at the end of February.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Alta	477	119%	100%
Snowbird	432	123%	100%
Brighton/Solitude	463	152%	100%
Park City/The Canyons	335	149%	100%
Snowbasin	315	126%	100%
Brian Head	197	78%	100%

Northern and Central Colorado: Loveland and A-Basin had a couple of runs open on mostly snowmaking since mid-October. November snowfall was much above normal, and by December 1 this region had as much terrain open as at an average Christmas. With another 5-8 feet (10 at Steamboat) in December, everyone was close to full operation for the holidays with the best season start since 1995-96. Steady January snowfall totalling 5-8 feet continued the strong season. February snowfall was an average 3-5 feet. After a dry first week of March surface conditions were a bit tired, but refreshed by average 1.5 feet new snow last week.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Beaver Creek	277	108%	100%
Breckenridge	301	138%	100%
Copper Mt.	316	155%	100%
Keystone	239	149%	100%
Loveland	285	114%	100%
Steamboat	399	142%	100%
Vail	350	125%	99%
Winter Park	321	115%	95%

Southern and Western Colorado: Aspen and Crested Butte have been well above average from the northern storms, but everything farther south was much drier than normal through the holidays. Advanced/expert terrain is often not open until January in these areas in normal years, and the southern Colorado areas barely reached full operation after an average January. February snowfall was a below average 2-3 feet with just a few inches in early March, so conditions were good at Aspen and Crested Butte but sketchy in southern Colorado. Arizona and New Mexico's season was a complete bust through early March. Last week was the first big dump of the season in the Southwest, 3-4 feet at most areas and almost 8 feet at Wolf Creek. Arizona Snowbowl will open on March 17, and Taos' expert runs are now open on a rotating basis.
RSN January Snow: Telluride 63.
RSN February Snow: Telluride 26.
RSN March Snow: Telluride 39.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Aspen	272	149%	100%
Crested Butte	242	132%	100%
Durango	157	82%	100%
Wolf Creek	269	97%	100%
Taos	110	54%	90%
Arizona Snowbowl	66	34%	TBA 3/17

Northeast: The remnants of Hurricane Wilma turned into a Nor'easter that dumped 2-4 feet of snow in parts of New England, prompting Wildcat (24 trails) and Killington (22 trails) to open more terrain on October 29-30 than would be normal for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately both areas closed Oct. 31, and ensuing warm weather wiped out most of the natural snow. Several areas opened on snowmaking the weekend before Thanksgiving, by which time the snowmaking leaders were about 20% open with cold temps and some new snow. Several trails closed with rain at the end of November, but first half of December snowfall and snowmaking conditions well above average, opening about half of terrain. The week before Christmas brought 2-3 feet new snow to much of Vermont, bringing many areas to 90+% open. Conditions degraded from rain Christmas week, mid-January and last week, while being restored from snow and cold in early and late January. The mid-February East Coast blizzard unfortunately brought only a few inches snow to northern New England, but conditions steadily improved with both cold and snow later in the month. The first weekend of March brought 2-3 feet of dry powder to Northern Vermont but only a few inches elsewhere. Last week's warm and rainy weather has reduced trail counts substantially. Percents open: Killington 41%, Okemo 76%, Stratton 64%, Sugarloaf 49%, Sunday River 70%, Hunter 70%, Mt. St. Anne 100%, Tremblant 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.
RSN December Snow: Killington 44, Stratton 24, Okemo 28, Sunday River 33, Mt. Ste. Anne 60, Snowshoe 30.
RSN January Snow: Stratton 38, Okemo 24, Sunday River 32, Mt. Ste. Anne 37, Snowshoe 29.
RSN February Snow: Stratton 25, Okemo 32, Sunday River 12, Mt. Ste. Anne 50, Snowshoe 41.
RSN March Snow: Stratton 3, Okemo 3, Sunday River 11, Mt. Ste. Anne 5.

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