2015-16 Ski Season Progress Report as of November 30, 2015

October was warmer and drier than normal in most ski regions, but there were widespread small storms through most of the West each week in November, contributing to the usual early openings on snowmaking. However, only areas in western Canada saw major storms and have much more terrain than normal open. Wolf Creek is also in full operation with much more snow than other western US areas.

California: The first storm started with snow levels over 9,000 feet but eventually lowered. Later storms were colder and snowed as low as Lake Tahoe but not yet enough to build a solid natural base. Mammoth and Mt. Rose opened Nov. 5 and several other areas opened mid-November. Mammoth had much more snow up high during the first storm and thus has by far the most open terrain in California including a few of the upper steeps. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.

Pacific Northwest: The November storms had variable snow levels and were strongest to the north. Thus only Whistler has extensive terrain open.

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: The November storms were strongest here. Some areas near the US border had some rain/snow mix like the Northwest, but other areas are far above average in both snow and open terrain. Sun Peaks is 75% open and Silver Star 41%.

U. S. Northern Rockies: November snow was below average but Targhee as usual has some of the most terrain open in North America in early season. Big Sky is 9% open.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Grand Targhee	46	66%	77%
Jackson Hole	39	64%	7%
Schweitzer	18	14%	Dec. 5
Sun Valley	29.5	93%	17%

Utah: Most of the November storms split before reaching Utah, which thus had substantially below average snowfall. Base depths are only about 2 feet even in the Cottonwood areas, and skiing outside those areas is limited to a few snowmaking runs.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Alta	54	62%	20%
Snowbird	55	74%	9%
Brighton/Solitude	53	65%	24%
Park City group	42	90%	4%
Snowbasin	26	51%	8%

Northern and Central Colorado: October was much warmer than usual so snowmaking was delayed until the last week and Loveland and A-Basin each opened a snowmaking run October 29. The consistent modest November snowfalls have accumulated base depths of 2+ feet with mostly average terrain openings (Keystone the positive exception) for early season. A-Basin is 31% open.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Beaver Creek	64	113%	42%
Breckenridge	54	117%	19%
Copper Mt.	53	109%	15%
Keystone	66	167%	52%
Loveland	72	131%	16%
Steamboat	64	100%	16%
Vail	61	98%	26%
Winter Park	78	114%	31%

Southern and Western Colorado: The central Colorado mountains have had a below average November, as evidenced by the Gothic Snow Lab between Crested Butte and Aspen. Aspen/Snowmass is 18% open. The southern areas have done better, notably Wolf Creek which has a 42 inch base. New Mexico has had above average snow also, as evidenced by Taos being 24% open and Santa Fe in full operation for Thanksgiving.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Gothic Snow Lab	37	67%	N/A
Crested Butte	27	70%	8%
Telluride	70	164%	21%
Purgatory	41	99%	23%
Wolf Creek	109	181%	100%

Northeast: Mid-October cold allowed Killington and Sunday River to open first in North America on October 19. After a week of skiing the snow melted and snowmaking did not resume for nearly 3 weeks. With minimal natural snow and only late month snowmaking, terrain open is very limited: Okemo 9%, Stratton 5%, Sugarloaf 4%, Sunday River 14%, Tremblant 4%.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Jay Peak (mid)	2	6%	Dec. 4
Stowe	6	11%	14%
Sugarbush	11	33%	4%
Killington	3	10%	14%
Whiteface	11	36%	7%

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