2006-07 Ski Season Progress Report as of March 31, 2007

In the Northwest and western Canada November snowfall was at or near record levels. Colorado's snowfall started in October and most areas there had an above average Christmas, though not as good as last year. The first week of December was fairly quiet; during the second week the storm track resumed a similar northwest pattern as in November. The Denver blizzard of Dec. 20-21 with a few exceptions dumped less snow in Colorado ski areas than in Denver. Christmas week brought about a foot of snow to most western areas, and 2+ feet along the West Coast and a few areas in the Northern Rockies. For the first week of January storms were once again concentrated in the Northwest and western Canada. During the second week most western ski areas had Arctic high pressure and unusually cold temperatures. Each week of January was progressively drier, with virtually no snow during the last week, and most areas had less than half normal snow for the month. At the first of February the central and southern Rockies got 1.5 to 2 feet while the drought persisted another week on the west coast. Widespread snowfall over the rest of February brought excellent conditions to most western resorts. There were substantial storms in Utah and some northern Rockies areas in early March, but most of the month substantial new snow was confined to western Canada and most of the U.S. West went to spring conditions in the warm weather, with even some trail closures at areas with below average snow depths. Some Utah and Colorado got 1-2 feet of snow in late March but the the warm weather and spring conditions have swiftly returned.

With more areas posting season snowfall since 2003-04, I am no longer tracking the less reliable numbers from RSN, except in regions where no nearby area has up-to-date information. I am now including season snowfall from some areas italicized from SnoCountry.

California: November was almost completely dry except North Tahoe was brushed by a couple of the Northwest storms. From early December to early January there were a series of small storms but no big dumps. During the ensuing dry month coverage was less than half normal and inadequate on most advanced terrain. A mid-February storm brought 3-5 feet of snow above 8,000 feet, opening 70-90% of Sierra terrain. Then 5-9 feet of snow fell in late February colder storms, raising base depths up to a maximum of 5-13 feet. Areas remained in full operation in March, but with spring conditions and no more than 2 feet new snow all month. Thus Heavenly was only 72% open at the end of March, and earlier than normal run closures in April can be expected at many areas. 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	290	73%	85%
Kirkwood	297	71%	100%
Mammoth	193	60%	95%
Southern Cal	36	30%	10-30%
Arizona Snowbowl	112	51%	0%

Pacific Northwest: The late October/early November storms rivaled the infamous Tropical Punch of January 2005 for flooding and high snow levels. But for the rest of November temperatures were cold and it dumped record snow. Current base depths are 192-202 inches at Mt. Baker, 117 inches at Whistler and 8-12 feet elsewhere. Mt. Hood Meadows opened fully Dec. 9 after repair of its washed out access road. There was some rain in early December, but 6-8 feet more snow the rest of the month. The epic Northwest early season continued with 4-6 feet of snow in early January. As the U.S. dried out, Whistler got another 2 feet mid-January. For the next 3 weeks only Oregon had more than a foot of snow, and most skiing turned to spring conditions on the still deep bases. A mid-February 2-foot storm resurfaced most areas, and deep powder returned with 2-4 feet in late February. Storms have continued in March, but with fluctuating snow levels and much more snow at Whistler than in Washington and Oregon. Now nearly all spring conditions except the highest alpine at Whistler.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Whistler	508	137%	106%
Stevens Pass	404	95%	100%
Crystal Mt.	425	128%	100%
Mt. Bachelor	371	115%	100%

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: Enough of the Northwest November storms reached interior B.C. and Alberta for a near record start. Most areas have been 80+% open and several 100% since mid-December. Most interior B.C. areas had about 5 feet of snow in December, and Alberta areas only about half as much. Snow continued in early January, with all areas getting at least 2 feet, and some more than 4 feet. Conditions remained excellent with another 1-2 feet mid-January. A late January dry spell brought some hardpack and spring conditions, but surfaces were restored by 3-5 feet of new snow in February. First half March snowfall has ranged from 1-2 feet at the Banff areas to 3+ at Red, Fernie and Kicking Horse. In late March Red and Fernie had rain/snow mix while the colder Banff areas had 1-2 feet of snow.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Lake Louise	163	115%	100%
Sunshine Village	260	126%	100%
Kicking Horse	410	181%	100%
Red Mt.	255	101%	4/1 close
Fernie	333	104%	99%

U. S. Northern Rockies: The early Northwest storms hit northern Idaho hard, but otherwise most of this region had average or less early snow through Christmas. Particularly behind schedule were Big Sky (only 27% open Dec. 22) and Bridger, which had to delay its scheduled Dec. 9 opening by 2 weeks. These areas got about 3 feet of snow after Christmas to get Big Sky about 80% open, but after the past dry weeks base depths are only about 3 feet. Jackson was also lagging, but the 2 feet of snow Christmas week finally opened the lower faces of Rendezvous Mt. by New Year's. As usual Grand Targhee was the exception, maintaining its record of consistency by reaching full operation by Dec. 15. Most areas got at least 1.5 feet in early January, with 3 feet at Big Mountain. Mid-January Schweitzer and Big Mountain near the border got about 2 feet of snow, while areas farther south got less than a foot. After a dry late January most areas have received at least a foot of new snow per week in February, resulting in the best conditions of the season. Sun Valley's big dump came in late February from Tahoe, as is often the case. In early March most areas got less than a foot, but Bridger got 30 inches. In mid-March most areas transitioned to spring conditions, and some runs had to close, with Jackson Hole being only 68% open at the end of the month.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Schweitzer	301	125%	100%
Big Mountain	261	92%	100%
Bridger Bowl	209	80%	90%
Grand Targhee	347	82%	100%
Jackson Hole	221	64%	68%
Sun Valley	143	83%	88%

Utah: Snowfall has been below average with biggest early season storms coming in late November. Alta and Brighton had the best cover and current conditions for the holidays. The Park City group and Snowbasin still had many advanced areas that needed more coverage. The Wasatch averaged 1 to 1.5 feet of snow per week in December and early January, and base depths were then close to 5 feet in the Cottonwood Canyons and 3-4 feet elsewhere. Brian Head got 2+ feet the week before Christmas to open most runs. January snowfall totalled about 1/3 of normal and resulted in mostly hardpack surfaces. The early February light snowfall was mostly blown off, but surfaces were greatly improved by 1.5 to 2 feet of denser snow a week later. Late February conditions were excellent after 6-7 feet of snow in the Cottonwood Canyons and 3-5 feet elsewhere. Base depths are now 7-9 feet. There was 1-2+ feet in early March, but it's been very warm for most of the month, and surface conditions were like late spring except immediately after a 1+ foot storm late in the month.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Alta	356	80%	100%
Snowbird	312	79%	100%
Solitude	305	91%	100%
Park City group	240	97%	80%
Snowbasin	210	76%	98%
Brian Head	225	80%	100%

Northern and Central Colorado: These areas had 2-4+ feet of October snow and a normal November of 3-4 feet and 1-2 feet in early December. The Denver storms before and after Christmas were only as strong at Winter Park and dropped less than 2 feet at most areas in the region. Some hardpack was reported by the holiday crowds, surfaces improved with 1.5 - 2 feet in early January, but hardpack has returned later in the month. January regional snowfall was no more than half normal. February started with 1.5 feet new snow and conditions remained excellent with 3-4 feet more over the rest of the month at most areas, topped by 8 feet at Steamboat. There was up to a foot new in early March, and up to 2+ feet at the endd of the month, but the premature and sustained warm weather has brought widespread spring conditions and very slushy snow below 9,000 feet.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Beaver Creek	265	92%	99%
Breckenridge	227	92%	98%
Copper Mt.	241	100%	99%
Keystone	226	123%	85%
Loveland	250	87%	98%
Steamboat	321	99%	100%
Vail	297	95%	96%
Winter Park	269	86%	93%

Southern and Western Colorado: Wolf Creek had 65 inches in October and 69 in November to reach full operation first. About 90% of Aspen/Snowmass was open for the holidays and 95% now. Through mid-December regional snowfall was well above average north but well below average south. Then the first Denver blizzard originated in southern Colorado and the 2-3 foot dump opened most runs at Durango and Telluride. Crested Butte's North Face lift opened mid-January, but only about half of its terrain was skiable. A year end storm dropped 22 inches at Taos, and another isolated southwest storm hit Durango and Taos with 2.5 feet and Wolf Creek with 4 feet the second week of January. Arizona and New Mexico areas got up to another foot mid-January, while the Colorado areas were drier. Gothic is between Aspen and Crested Butte and normally gets about 30% more snow. These 3 areas had less than half normal January snow. But the whole region had 3-5 feet of new snow in February, with 6 feet at Wolf Creek. Early March base depths in the 5 foot range except for 8 feet at Wolf Creek have been reduced by 2 feet in the warm weather, resulting in premature spring conditions and closure of much of Crested Butte's North Face.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Gothic	265	92%	N/A
Crested Butte	200	97%	70%
Durango	217	100%	97%
Telluride	227	100%	94%
Wolf Creek	381	127%	100%
Taos	217	95%	100%

Northeast: Natural snow in October totalled 21 inches at Jay Peak and 16 inches at Killington (not included in totals below). Unfortunately November was warm so all precipitation was rain and the first openings on snowmaking were for the weekend of Nov. 18-19. There was some cold and snow for the first week of December, but it warmed up for most of the month and holiday skiing was as limited as it has ever been in the snowmaking era. After a dusting of snow the record warmth continued for the first week of January. Cold weather the second week finally got a few eastern areas up to half open, and in the northern areas 1-2 feet mid-January brought the first quality powder days of the season. Conditions gradually improved to mid-February, when a large nor'easter dumped an average of 4 feet over the region in just a few days. Conditions remained packed powder for 3 weeks as temps stayed cool, and northern Vermont got 2+ feet new in early March. Surfaces deteriorated with rain the second week of March but St. Patrick's Day brought another 2+ foot storm. Late March has been warm with significant trail closures. Current percents open: Sunday River 84%, Sugarloaf 55%, Okemo 77%, Stratton 75%, Hunter 70%, Tremblant 74%, Mt. Ste. Anne 100%, Snowshoe 50%. 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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