October was colder and snowier than average, so some areas have opened earlier than normal. However, open terrain is mostly from snowmaking.
California: The Sierra had a major mid-October storm but with average snow level of 10,000 feet. Mammoth
got 34 inches and opened Oct. 16-18, then closed in warm weather until a snowmaking reopening of about 5% of terrain
on Nov. 7. The upper mountain has a natural base from the earlier storm. Boreal, Mt. High and Bear Mt. have opened
limited snowmaking runs.
Pacific Northwest: Whistler is being hit by major storms expected to continue through the week. An
early opening Nov. 14 is likely with 4+ feet of snow at higher elevation by then. Mt. Bachelor has had 14 inches
from the current storm after 23 inches in October. Natural base depths in Washington and Oregon are already 1.5 -
2 feet, so more early openings may be possible after expected snow this week.
Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: Lake Louise opened a run on snowmaking Nov. 7 and has had
17 inches natural snow. Sunshine has had 45 inches and will open Nov. 11. Sun Peaks has a 25 inch base plus snowmaking
and will open Nov. 14. Revelstoke has had 31 inches and Red Mt. 21. Western Canada has had more early snow than
normal.
U. S. Northern Rockies: Early snow totals of 48 inches at Targhee and 40+ at Jackson are ahead of schedule.
Utah: The Cottonwood Canyons had about 40 inches of October snow. This is above average but some of it
has melted off and the first lift served skiing is on a snowmaking beginner run at Solitude Nov. 7.
Northern and Central Colorado: Loveland opened its first snowmaking run Oct. 6.
Loveland is currently 6% open and A-Basin 3%. This week Copper (3%) and Keystone (3%) also opened on snowmaking.
Early snow totals: Loveland 19.5, Copper 23.
Southern and Western Colorado: Wolf Creek has had 48 inches snow and opened Oct. 31. Base depths are
still a fairly thin 18-20 inches. The Gothic Snow Lab between Aspen and Crested Butte had 42.5 inches of October
snow but now has only one inch of base.
Northeast: Cold October weather allowed Sunday River to open on snowmaking Oct. 16.
Killington is also 5% open now with 6 inches natural snow so far. Le Massif has had 23 inches.