2009-10 Ski Season Progress Report as of March 16, 2010

October was colder and snowier than average, so a few areas opened earlier than normal. In November the big news was the record breaking snow at Whistler. In the Pacific Northwest and much of western Canada November snowfall was far above normal and many areas opened a lot of terrain early. In early December there was a moderate storm in California and the Southwest followed by a substantial dump in the Sierra and Utah. In mid-December the storm track returned to the Northwest and Canada. There were only scattered snow showers arouind Christmas, so holiday skiing was excellent in the the Northwest and Canada, but the worst in over a decade in Front Range Colorado and Jackson Hole. Over New Year's the Northwest/Canada storm track resumed but also brought some relief to the Northern Rockies. The next 2 weeks were dry over most of the West, and by mid-January the western season overall was possibly the worst since 1992. In the second half of January major storms pounded the Sierra, Utah and the Southwest with moderate amounts in nearby regions. In early February snow was scattered but strongest in Utah and the Tetons. During the rest of February and into March the major storm track was through the Sierra but it also pushed through Utah and Colorado.

California: The Sierra had a major mid-October storm but with average snow level of 10,000 feet. Mammoth opened Oct. 16-18, then closed in warm weather until a snowmaking reopening of about 5% of terrain on Nov. 7. Boreal, Mt. High and Bear Mt. also opened limited snowmaking runs in early November. But the Sierra had only 2 feet of snow in November, half of on the last weekend, so no one was more than 5% open for Thanksgiving. The Sierra got 2-3 feet of snow around Dec. 7 and another 3-5 feet a week later. With 1-2 feet in late December most areas were 75-90+% open for the holidays, with only the most expert terrain such as Heavenly's Mott Canyon and Squaw's Silverado needing more snow to open. Holiday and early January base depths were 5-6 feet on the Sierra Crest but a below average 3-4 feet farther east. Over New Year's there was 1+ foot snow in North Tahoe but just a few inches farther south. After a dry week+ there was 1+ feet of snow before the MLK weekend. In the second half of January the Sierra has had 6-9 feet of snow, so conditions are excellent on bases of 5-12 feet. Southern California got 4-5 feet of snow and Arizona up to 9 feet in the second half of January. Early February Sierra snowfall averaged 2 feet but then 3-6 feet fell later in the month. Early March snowfall has been 1-2 feet per week. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.

Pacific Northwest: This region has the best snow odds in early season, but the start to this season was truly spectacular. Whistler shattered its November snow record with 218 inches and was half open for Thanksgiving, including steep tarrain like some of the Spanky's Ladder runs. Mt. Baker and Whistler had 6 foot bases and other Northwest areas about 4 feet at Thanksgiving. Early December had little snow, so some surfaces were variable after low elevation rain Thanksgiving week. With 3-5 feet of mid-December snow holiday base depths were 5-8 feet. Conditions were excellent through New Year's with 2+ feet of snow. In early January it rained to at least 5,000 feet so low elevation conditions became variable. During the rest of January it dumped 7 feet at Whistler and 3-4 feet in Washington and Oregon to restore surfaces. There was 2-3 feet during early February but with some rain at lower elevation, and then 1-2 feet later. Conditions were variable for about 3 weeks at low elevation or where sun exposed but still mostly winter conditions at Mt. Bachelor and in the Whistler alpine. Last week the region was refreshed with 2-3 feet of snow.

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: Western Canada also got off to a fast start. Sunshine's 107 inches broke its November record. Sun Peaks was 95% open before Christmas and Big White 81%. Whitewater, Revelstoke and Fernie opened the last weekend of November on 4 foot bases. As in the Northwest, not much new snow the first week of December but 1+ foot at the Banff areas and 3-4 feet in most of interior B.C later in the month. Holiday base depths were 4-5 feet and there was 1-2+ feet of snow over New Year's. Some of the Northwest rain temporarily affected lower elevations near the US border but surfaces were then refreshed with 1-2 feet new snow. Farther north there were 2-3 feet through mid-January. Late January was mostly dry in this region, so there were some hardpack conditions in busy areas and sunny exposures. There were 1-2 feet in interior B.C. in early February, and another 1-2 feet later in the month as far east as Red/Whitewater and Revelstoke. The Banff areas were exceptionally dry with less than a foot of snow in February. Fernie/Castle were also dry for 3 weeks. So conditions became variable in low, sun-exposed or busy runs at many of these areas. Conditions improved at these drier areas with 1-2 feet of snow last week.

U. S. Northern Rockies: Early snow totals were variable, as the big November storms tracked more heavily into into Canada. Big Sky and Bridger were the only areas above average in open runs by mid-December. Schweitzer and Whitefish got 2+ feet mid-December to reach close to normal Christmas conditions. Jackson was less than half open and had its worst Christmas conditions since 1997-98. With 2-3 feet of New Year's snow at most areas only Jackson and Sun Valley remained in limited operation. There was only about one foot of snow in this region in the next 2+ weeks except for 29 inches at Sun Valley from the California storm. Jackson's Hobacks finally opened Jan. 20 and 3+ feet of snow in late January finally brought Jackson to full operation. Late January was mostly dry at the areas closer to Canada. Bridger and the Tetons had 4+ feet of snow in the first half February, the most in North America during that time, while the rest of the region had 1+ feet. During the rest of February there was 1+ foot in the Tetons but less than a foot elsewhere, so spring conditions arrived early. There has been less than a foot at most areas so far in March, continuing a very low season in the region except for Sun Valley, which gets most of its snow from the south.

Utah: The Cottonwood Canyons had about 40 inches of October snow, but less than 2 feet in November. The first lift served skiing was on snowmaking at Solitude Nov. 7 and Brighton Nov. 14. Skiing was very restricted into early December. The first Southwest storm dumped 30 inches on Brian Head but only a few inches in the Wasatch. The mid-December storm was nearly 4 feet in the Cottonwood areas and 2-3 feet elsewhere. Cottonwood areas were 90+% open on 4-foot bases for the holidays with about a foot new snow. The Cottonwood and Ogden areas got 1+ foot over New Year's but more snow was still needed to open some advanced terrain at the Park City areas. Storms in the 2nd half of January dropped nearly 8 feet in the Cottonwood areas (base depths now 6 feet) and 4-6 feet elsewhere, bringing excellent conditions through the region. Utah averaged about 1.5 feet of snow per week in February and at least that much so far in March, with Brian Head getting the most and the Ogden areas the least.

Northern and Central Colorado: Loveland opened its first snowmaking run Oct. 6. At Thanksgiving Loveland was 11% open and Breckenridge 14%, with everyone else under 10% open. By mid-December even the snowfall leaders were only 1/3 to 1/2 open compared to about 90% in a normal year. Snowfall from November 1 up to Christmas was about half of normal. Holiday skiing was the most limited since 1998-99 on base depths averaging less than 3 feet. Snowfall leader Steamboat was only 56% open as late as Dec. 24 but had 4 feet of snow over the next 2 weeks. Vail and Winter Park were less than half open until they got 20 inches around New Year's. This region continued to lag through most of January, averaging only one foot of new snow over the first 3 weeks. Vail/Beaver Creek finally got a 2+ foot dump in late January. Most of the region had 2-3 feet in early February to finally bring adequate coverage to advanced terrain with base depths averaging 4 feet. During the second half of February this was one of the best regions with 2-3+ feet of snow. There has been about 2 feet so far in March, and a fairly normal late season is likely with base depths of 4-6 feet. The Continental Divide areas have had the toughest time, as evidenced by A-Basin being only 49% open to late February and just recently reaching full operation in March..

Southern and Western Colorado: Wolf Creek opened Oct. 31 and has been in full operation after 30 inches mid-November. The Gothic Snow Lab between Aspen and Crested Butte had 42.5 inches of October snow, 30 in November, 73 in December and 67 in January. Most areas had 4-5 feet in December and 8+ feet at Wolf Creek. With base depths of 3+ feet this was an average Christmas at most areas with some but not all advanced runs open. There were just a few inches in the first half of January. Storms in the second half of January have dumped 6-7 feet at Durango and Wolf Creek and 3-4 feet elsewhere. Crested Butte's North Face finally opened the last week of January. Taos reached full operation after 2.5 feet in early February. Most other areas had about a foot in early February but 2-3 mid-month and a few inches later on. March snowfall has ranged from about 1 foot north to 3+ feet south.

Northeast: Cold October weather allowed Sunday River to open on snowmaking Oct. 14. Killington opened Oct. 31. The East had an exceptionally warm November, too warm to make snow most of the time even in Quebec. Sunday River and Mont St. Sauveur were the only areas open at Thanksgiving, about 3% each. The first major storm of the season of 1-2 feet hit at the end of November with another 2-3 feet in the first half of December. The big mid-December East Coast storm missed the ski areas, but trail counts rose with cold weather. It rained 2 days over Christmas weekend over the entire Northeast except for the Quebec City areas which got 3 feet of snow. By the first week of January most areas reached close to full operation due to sustained cold and at least a foot of snow, led by Killington, Cannon and Sugarloaf with 30+ inches. In mid-January there was only 1+ foot new snow but temperatures mostly remained cold. There was a major rain during the last week of January, cutting back some trail counts. Since the rain there were several small storms (totalling 1-3 feet) over the next 3 weeks but no large ones as in the mid-Atlantic, leaving packed powder in some of the woods and low traffic areas but are variable conditions on busier trails. Conditions were the best of the season after major dumps of 3-5 feet over most Northeast areas in late February. march has had little snow and one widespread rain event, but major areras remain close to full operation with spring conditions. 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. Percents open: Sunday River 85%, Okemo 100%, Stratton 100%, Hunter 84%, Ste. Anne 100%, Tremblant 84%

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