Colorado had some early snow opening Wolf Creek October 13 and assisting the Loveland and A-Basin openings a week later. In early November it snowed across the northern Rockies but strongest around the Continental Divide in Colorado. Mid-November snowfall has been mostly in western Canada and the Northeast. Wolf Creek and Grand Targhee have the most open terrain, followed by Breckenridge and Vail.
California: There has been no snow so far and the first modest storm may arrive just before Thanksgiving. Mt. Rose has
opened its 200 vertical beginner lift most weekends since Oct. 19. Mammoth delayed its snowmaking opening from Nov. 8 to Nov. 10
and is now 2% open. Squaw, Alpine and Northstar opened a snowmaking run this weekend. See Current
California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.
Pacific Northwest: The region had just a few inches in October and almost none so far in November. There is a base in
the Whistler alpine but much less than usual for mid-November. The first storm is expected over Thanksgiving, but
significant skiing is unlikely before December.
Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: There has been widespread scattered snowfall in both October and the first half of
November. November totals, base depths, percent or date open: Big White (29 inches, 27 inches, Nov. 22), Revelstoke (54, 37,
Dec. 1), Kicking Horse (36, 29, Dec. 1), Fernie (17, 11, Nov. 30). Lake Louise (52, 27, 29%) and Sunshine (58, 34, 30%)
are off to a promising start to the season.
U. S. Northern Rockies: Grand Targhee is 72% open on a 29 inch base with 28 inches of November snowfall.
Mid-mountain Jackson Hole has a 22 inch base with 34 inches of November snowfall. Idaho November snowfall of 4 inches at
Schweitzer and 10 inches at Brundage is well below average. But Montana is above average with Discovery 21% open on an
18-24 inch base and inches total snowfall. Bridger will open for Thanksgiving, two weeks ahead of schedule.
Utah: Utah had 2+ feet of early October snow that mostly melted out over the next two weeks. Early November snowfall
in the Cottonwood Canyons has totalled about a foot. Brighton is 14% open. Alta and Snowbasin will have limited openings by
Thanksgiving. The first significant storm is expected over Thanksgiving weekend.
Northern and Central Colorado: Cold early October weather and scattered snow allowed Loveland and A-Basin
to open October 19. In late October/early November it snowed 4+ feet over much of this region. Snow totals since late October,
base depths and percents open: Breckenridge (62, 32, 38%), Copper (51, 24, 12%), Keystone (38, 20, 18%), Loveland (54, 24, 14%),
Vail (56, 25, 18%), Winter Park (46, 18, 8%). A-Basin is 16% open on a 23 inch base. All of these percents open are above average
for Thanksgiving.
Southern and Western Colorado: Wolf Creek opened October 13 after a 30-inch storm. After the early November snow
Wolf's season total is now 61 inches and it is 90% open on a 25-28 inch base. The Rocky Mountain Biological Lab at Gothic
(between Crested Butte and Aspen) has had 15 inches season snowfall since late October, Crested Butte 11 inches, Telluride 15
inches and Purgatory 2 inch. Aspen Mountain 27% open and Purgatory 7%, mainly on snowmaking.
Northeast: Killington and Sunday River opened on snowmaking October 19. The first half of November snow has been colder than
normal with some snow: Le Massif 27 inches, Wildcat 35 inches (75% open), Stowe 17 inches (21% open), Sugarbush 26 inches (9% open),
Killington 17 inches (20% open), Whiteface 20 inches, Cannon 14 inches. Okemo is 10% open, Sunday River 30% and Sugarloaf 26%.
Open terrain is comparable to an average Dec. 1.
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