2007-08 Ski Season Progress Report as of November 30, 2007

There was some snow in the Northwest and some of the Rockies in early to mid-October. However, the next month was exceptionally dry, so most western areas are well behind schedule in opening terrain and building a natural snow base for the holidays. It is a distinct negative sign that high snowfall areas like Alta, Kirkwood and Steamboat did not open for Thanksgiving, and most western U.S. areas that were open only had snowmaking runs and less than 10% of terrain. Therefore I will attempt wherever possible to exclude October from season totals later this year. Whistler was the conspicuous exception, opening 1,200 acres November 16 after a substantial dump, and 5,000 acres for Thanksgiving. Snow did come to much of the western U.S. last week, but only in average amounts, so most regions remain about 3 weeks behind schedule, with a handful of exceptions discussed in the regional sections

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:Mammoth opened a very sketchy snowmaking ribbon Nov. 9 and added a couple more runs at Thanksgiving. A few Tahoe areas also opened for Thanksgiving. The past week has been good for snowmaking, but no one in the Sierra is as much as 10% open. Natural snow in November in the Sierra was only 2-8 inches. No near term relief is in sight, so odds of a bad Christmas like last year are well over 50%. Avoid before mid-January unless there is a radical change in weather. See 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	8	14%	1%
Kirkwood	6	10%	1%
Mammoth	6	12%	5%
Southern Cal	0	0%	0-8%
Arizona Snowbowl	0	0%	closed

Pacific Northwest: Whistler had 4 feet of snow to open on November 16. It remains the best bet for early season skiing in North America this year. Some storms reached Washington and Oregon in late November, but starting with a high rain/snow line, lowering some last week. Mt. Bachelor has 2 chairs open with 30 inches lower mountain snowfall, but reportedly the Summit got much more snow and could open soon with control work. Hood Meadows is about 25% open. Washington areas are opening this weekend on a limited basis. More snow is predicted soon in the Northwest, so this region, unlike most, is on track for full operation at the holidays.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Whistler	64	97%	41%
Hood Meadows	48	74%	25%
Mt. Bachelor	30	49%	9%

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.:Snowmaking at Lake Louise opened one trail Nov. 9, but skiing is reported still very limited. Sunshine claims to be half open on a 14-28 inch base, but cover is good only on a smaller proportion of sheltered runs. Snowfall in these areas is about average, but above average at Kicking Horse, which will open a week early on Dec. 8. Fernie is in similar shape to some Northwest areas, with a growing base on the upper mountain but still thin lower down.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Lake Louise	31	96%	16%
Sunshine	46	105%	50%
Kicking Horse	63	122%	Dec. 8
Fernie	30	46%	Dec. 8

U. S. Northern Rockies: Grand Targhee is 75% open with 2 feet new in the past week, maintaining its perfect early season track record. Jackson has had some of this snow, but locals report almost minimal natural snow base below mid-mountain. Big Sky is about 25% open on its easier lower mountain. Bridger got 32 inches last week and should open on schedule Dec. 8. Schweitzer and Big Mountain are not open yet, like Fernie due to limited lower mountain cover. In general, snowfall has been close to average in the region at high elevation but limited or rainy lower down. But there is some cause for optimism with the ongoing La Nina and a predicted storm track in early December.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Bridger Bowl	52	126%	Dec. 8
Grand Targhee	57	86%	75%
Jackson Hole	36	56%	8%
Sun Valley	27	86%	2%

Utah: The Cottonwood Canyons had up to 4 feet of snow in mid-October, bringing out substantial numbers of backcountry skiers Oct. 21. But November was the driest since 1976, exceeding that drought year only in the past week. All areas are still under 10% open, most of that on snowmaking. With normal December snow only Alta and Brighton rate to have adequate natural coverage by Christmas. Avoid destination trips before mid-January.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Alta	15	19%	2%
Snowbird	11	16%	2%
Brighton/Solitude	7	9%	10%
Park City group	4	10%	3%
Snowbasin	6	11%	4%
Brian Head	32	6%	closed

Northern and Central Colorado: Loveland received 22 inches snow in October, had 105 acres open by Nov. 4 and is now 15% open. Other areas are 3-7% open (vs. 30-40% at a normal Dec. 1) because November snowfall was less than half normal throughout the region and record low along the Continental Divide. Odds of coverage for the holidays are no better than the 25th percentile analyzed in the Colorado Profile charts I created this past summer, meaning less than half of terrain open by Christmas. As in some other regions I recommend deferring destination trips to at least mid-January. This weekend's storm is coming from the south and will bring some snow but probably not a big dump to make up for November.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Beaver Creek	24	41%	3%
Breckenridge	23	52%	7%
Copper Mt.	12	28%	6%
Keystone	9	33%	4%
Loveland	8	15%	15%
Steamboat	23	36%	5%
Vail	17	26%	3%
Winter Park	13	20%	4%

Southern and Western Colorado: The Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, located at Gothic 9,400 feet between Crested Butte and Aspen, had 34 inches of October snow, but a 30+ year record low of 9 inches in November. Telluride did not open for Thanksgiving, and open areas have 10% or less of terrain, mainly on snowmaking. This weekend a strong storm is hitting the region from the south and could make up much of November's deficit. I would expect at least 3 feet at Wolf Creek and it should open most terrain within a week. Elsewhere this region tends to accumulate a snow base gradually in normal years, so my usual advice that steeper terrain may not be adequately covered until mid-January still applies..

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Crested Butte	9	25%	10%
Telluride	17	44%	2%
Wolf Creek	22	39%	10%

Northeast: Sunday River made enough snow for a "marketing opening" on Halloween. A few areas opened for the weekend of Nov. 10-11, and many more for the next weekend, assisted by over a foot of new snow at many areas. For Thanksgiving trail counts increased from the 10% to 20% range, though surfaces were less than ideal due to midweek rain. Trail counts continued to increase last week, and November had overall average conditions by historical standards though much better than the past few years. Skiing could be excellent early next week if a predicted 1-3 foot storm pans out. Percents open: Okemo 29%, Stratton 28%, Hunter 20%, Sunday River 30%, Sugarloaf 10%, Tremblant 23%, St. Anne 56%. 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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