2013-14 Ski Season Progress Report as of March 16, 2014

There was a widespread western storm at the start of October, but that snow is gone. Snow from a late October storm of 1+ foot in some of the West probably persists in well preserved locations or those with good November snow. November snowfall was below average in the western coastal regions but well above average at many areas in the Rockies. Most western areas got 1-2 feet in early December, but the middle weeks were more erratic. The western coastal regions continued to be shortchanged through the holidays, when storms flowed through Canada, Montana and northern Colorado. During the second week of January the storm track moved far enough south to bring the first big dumps to the Pacific Northwest, continuing on to the Northern Rockies, Utah and most of Colorado. The ensuing 2 weeks were dry over the entire West. Late January through mid-February saw major storms concentrated on a track from Oregon through the Tetons, Utah and Colorado, with moderate snows in other regions. Later in February through early March the track shifted slightly north, hitting the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies hardest, though other regions still got some snow. Snow totals exclude October for most areas, though for some whose online reporting starts at area opening it's not possible to separate it out.

California: Minimal snow was left from 2 October storms after the first 3 dry weeks in November. There was less than one foot of snow in late November, about a foot in early December, 1+ foot of light snow mid-month and a few inches before Christmas. The drought continued 4 more weeks until 1+ foot of snow fell at the end of January. During the first week of February 5 feet fell on the Sierra Crest at Tahoe, with about 3 feet east of the crest and farther south at Mammoth.There was substantial rain at low elevation: Squaw got 63 inches up high but only 10 at its base. With an ensuing warmup Kirkwood was the only area with terrain close to fully open from this storm. The next storm at the beginning of March dropped 4+ feet above 8,000 feet on the Sierra Crest, with lesser amounts farther east and some low elevation rain. Most terrain over 8,000 feet is open, but lower elevation skiing is more confined to maintained trails and is likely to melt out early unless there is a lot of new snow in spring. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Alpine Meadows

129.5

51%

75%

Squaw 8,000

175.5

49%

45%

Northstar

96

39%

42%

Mt. Rose

127

47%

65%

Heavenly

139

59%

90%

Kirkwood

243

63%

100%

Mammoth

122

43%

95%

Southern Cal

25

24%

0-40%

Arizona Snowbowl

90

45%

70%

Pacific Northwest: The early storm caused Crystal and Stevens to open for one day each in early October. November snowfall was below average and there was about 2 feet in early December. There was average only a foot the rest of the month, so the region had a poor holiday season. A solid base was finally established with 4+ feet during the second week of January, though surfaces were variable with a fluctuating rain/snow line. Early February storms dumped 7 feet in Oregon, 5 feet in Washington but less than 3 feet at Whistler. Later February and early March storms dumped 10 feet at Whistler and in Washington and 7 feet in Oregon. The last big storm had high snow levels and thus skiing is mostly spring conditions now on base depths of 8-12 feet.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Whistler

273

78%

100%

Crystal Mt.

283

85%

82%

Stevens Pass

398

102%

100%

Mt. Bachelor

282

91%

100%

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: November snow was well above average in most of this region. The Okanagan and Kootenay areas had over 4 feet in December and most had excellent holiday skiing. Base depths are 6+ feet at the upper elevations at Revelstoke, Fernie and Whitewater. Silver Star and Sun Peaks were 90+% open by mid-December. Farther east was sketchier through most of December, with bases 3 feet or less, but conditions improved with 2+ feet of snow in late December. Most areas got 4 feet of snow in the first half of January, but only a few inches during the second half. There was 1-2 feet in early February as the major storm track was farther south. Late February snowfall was 1.5 to 3+ feet. Most areas got 3-4 feet during the first week of March though as in the Northwest it ended with some low elevation rain and spring conditions.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Big White

219

95%

98%

Lake Louise

197

148%

83%

Sunshine

252

130%

99%

Revelstoke

331

112%

100%

Kicking Horse

243

118%

90%

Whitewater

307.5

96%

96%

Red Mt.

172

77%

100%

Fernie

312

103%

100%

Castle Mt.

208

97%

95%

U. S. Northern Rockies:Targhee opened 3/4 of terrain the weekend before Thanksgiving and Whitefish shared the early storms in Canada. Elsewhere in the region November was about average. December snow ranged from 6 feet in much of Montana to only 2.5 feet at most Idaho areas. Base depths were 5 feet at Whitefish, Bridger and Targhee for the best holiday skiing. First half of January snow was 4 feet in Montana and Wyoming and 3 feet in Idaho. Second half of January snow was less than a foot. The early February storms dumped 5+ feet in the Tetons and 3+ feet in central Idaho but less than 2 feet elsewhere in the region. The later February/early March storm track dumped another 10 feet in the Tetons and 4-7 feet elsewhere in the region.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Grand Targhee

391

101%

100%

Jackson Hole

354

113%

97%

Whitefish

267

102%

100%

Bridger

307

130%

100%

Schweitzer

199

87%

100%

Brundage

191

76%

100%

Sun Valley

136

83%

97%

Utah: The Wasatch got the early October storm but it melted out. November snowfall was half of normal, and first half of December storms were 2-3 feet. A mid-December storm of almost 2 feet brought Cottonwood Canyon base depths close to 4 feet. Advanced skiing was limited elsewhere during the holidays with base depths no more than 3 feet. Conditions greatly improved with 3-4 feet during the first half of January. After a dry 2 weeks there was a foot at the end of January and 4-5 feet in the first half of February. 1-2+ feet fell in the second half of February and average 3 feet in the first half of March.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Alta

299

72%

100%

Snowbird

299

86%

95%

Brighton/Solitude

276

71%

100%

Park City group

226

96%

97%

Snowbasin

228

94%

100%

Brian Head

119

47%

82%

Northern and Central Colorado: A-Basin and Loveland opened their first snowmaking runs on October 13 and 14. Early snowfall was above average and December slightly below average. Steamboat and Winter Park had most terrain open in mid-December, while most other areas passed the half open mark just before Christmas. A-Basin is 100% open since Mid-February. Most base depths were in the 4+ foot range after an excellent first half of January with 3-5 feet of snow. There was up to a foot during the second half of January and over 5 feet of snow from late January into mid-February. There were 2-4 feet in the first half of March, with areas nearest the Continental Divide getting the most snow. There were 1-2 feet in late February. Some areas are reporting snow totals including early October snow that I exclude below.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Beaver Creek

225

87%

100%

Breckenridge

333

120%

100%

Copper Mt.

265

122%

100%

Keystone

197

111%

100%

Loveland

313

125%

100%

Steamboat

290

98%

100%

Vail

263

94%

100%

Winter Park

313

115%

100%

Southern and Western Colorado: Early October snow melted out, but late October snow was built upon in November. A strong southern storm came through during the week before Thanksgiving, followed by another 2 feet in early December and up to a foot mid-December, so base depths are well above average at 3.5 feet, and 5.5 feet at Wolf Creek. Taos had its best opening since 1996-97, but had only 8 inches in next 6 weeks with other southern areas getting only somewhat more. Aspen and Crested Butte fared better, with 3 feet of snow during the first half of January. The late January to mid-February storms dumped 7 feet at Wolf Creek, 6 feet at Crested Butte, 4-5 feet elsewhere in Colorado and 3 feet at Taos. About 1.5 feet fell in the second half of February except only 6 inches at Taos. The region got 2+ feet of snow in the first half of March.

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Gothic Snow Lab

288

103%

N/A

Aspen/Snowmass

228

117%

100%

Crested Butte

254

131%

95%

Telluride

220

105%

96%

Durango

192

93%

100%

Wolf Creek

310

104%

100%

Taos

171

84%

91%

Northeast: Killington and Sunday River opened at the end of October on snowmaking. November and early December were above average for snowmaking though mostly below average for snowfall. There were 2-3 feet of snow mid-December but it rained at least to the Canadian border the weekend before Christmas. The holiday week was been cold with up to a foot of snow, with another foot in early January. Trail counts were then reduced by a severe rain/freeze. Conditions improved during the second half of January with 1-2 feet of snow and consistent cold temperatures, and were the best of the season after 3 feet of snow in the first half of February. There was up to 2 feet of snow in the second half of February but also a warmup and some variable surfaces. There was 3 feet of snow in the first half of March, with some recent rain in many areas, but the northern areas remain mostly packed powder. Percents open: Okemo 100%, Stratton 98%, Hunter 78%, Sunday River 100%, Sugarloaf 99%, Tremblant 98%, Ste. Anne 100%

Area

Season Snow

Pct. of Normal

Pct. of Area Open

Jay Peak (mid)

241

87%

97%

Stowe

228

90%

100%

Sugarbush

206

93%

100%

Killington

177

87%

100%

Cannon Mt.

164

123%

98%

Whiteface

133

90%

98%

Le Massif

156

82%

98%

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