During the third week of October a widespread western storm hit many regions of the West with up to 3+ feet of snow. No areas opened to the public from this storm. This October snow is not counted in season totals except for a few higher and colder places that were at least half open formThanksgiving weekend. Overall western November snowfall has been average or better with the conspicuous exception of Colorado, which has had less than half normal snow and has very limited skiing. Best bets for early and holiday season are the highest altitude areas in the Northwest, western Canada, Utah and California.
California: North Tahoe had some of the most October snow, with 37 inches at Squaw Valley which opened a couple of runs for a one-day
private event. Farther south Kirkwood got 24-31 inches and Mammoth 17 inches. Mammoth and Kirkwood preserved the early base and with 3 feet of
dense new snow are 60% and 50% open with very good skier reports. While Squaw has had 20-49 inches in November it is only 16% open. Northstar,
Sierra and Sugar Bowl are about 1/4 open.
Pacific Northwest: Whistler has had 68 inches snow, most of it in the past week. It is only 15% open but with a 4 foot base should be at
least half open very soon. Mt. Bachelor is similar, 68 inches, 21% open now but solidly covered by local reports. Crystal is 70% open and Mt. Baker
has a 56-67 inch base. Overall a good start but lower elevations in the Northwest have had some rain.
Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: October snow fell over most of these areas, topped by Revelstoke's 69 inches, some
of which was in September. Lake Louise has had 59 inches snowfall through Novemver and is 70% open. Sunshine has had 87 inches and is 63% open.
Sun Peaks is 44% open. Other western Canadian areas do not open until December due to remote location but rate to have strong openings with the
November snowfall (Revelstoke 75 inches, Kicking Horse 48, Whitewater 54, Fernie 48, Red Mt. 43), except for possibly low elevations that may have had some rain.
U. S. Northern Rockies: Targhee had 39 inches in October, 48 so far in November and is 58% open. Jackson had 26 in October, 29 in November but is only 3% open. Schweitzer has had 52 inches and is 10% open. Big Sky is 7% open. Overall the region is having an average start with Targhee's big advantage consistent with its outstanding historical record.
Utah: The northern areas in Utah got the most October snow, 45 inches at Powder Mt. and 36 at Snowbasin, but the Cottonwood areas got a
4+ foot mid-November dump. Alta is 59% open on 78 inches snowfall with excellent local reports. Snowbird is about 30% skiable on 58 inches November snowfall.
Brighton/Solitude are 80% open on 72 inches snowfall. The Park City group has had about 2 feet in November and probably did not preserve its
October snow because Park City and the Canyons are only 5% open on a few snowmaking runs. Snowbasin also had 2 feet in November but is 32% open.
Northern and Central Colorado: This region has had a very dry November: 14 inches at Steamboat, 25.5 inches Winter Park, 19 inches
Breckenridge and only 8 inches at Loveland and Copper. All areas are less than 10% open and it is a big red flag to see historical snowfall
leaders Steamboat and Vail 1% and 2% open for Thanksgiving. The region is about 3 weeks behind normal snow accumulation and should be avoided until
after New Year's.
Southern and Western Colorado: The Gothic Snow Lab between Crested Butte and Aspen (snowier climate than either) had 10 inches in October, 19 in November, 2nd driest start in 39 years. Snowfall leader Wolf Creek has had only 22 inches, so it must be very thin on the open 30% of terrain. Elsewhere no one is more than 4% open, and with snow accumulation 3 weeks behind normal the region should be avoided until after the holidays.
Northeast: Hurricane Sandy was all rain in New England and eastern Canada so Sunday River missed a Halloween opening for the first time
in 5 years. Killington was open 2 days earlier in October but then closed. The snow from Sandy was in the Appalachians, where 2 North Carolina
areas opened with snowmaking assitance but none in West Virginia where over 2 feet of snow fell. Northeast ovember snowfall has been less than a
foot, but Sunday River, Killington, Stowe, Okemo and Stratton are all ~15% open on snowmaking.
All content herein copyright © 1996-2012 Bestsnow.net
All Rights Reserved.
No copies or reproductions may be made in whole or in part without express permission by Tony Crocker.
Prices for commercial users will be determined based upon intended use and distribution.