Another high snow week throughout most of the West has brought most areas to at least average conditions for the first of December. Utah is much better than that, with 6-12 feet new snow in the past 2 weeks. Since the warm weather early in November impeded snowmaking, high snowfall / high altitude areas are particularly favored now..
California: Mammoth has the best conditions in California with most lifts (weather permitting) and 70+% of terrain open after 63 inches new snow in the past 2 weeks. Squaw Valley got 61 inches at high elevation but only 20 inches at the base. Squaw and Heavenly are 15% open while Alpine Meadows, Sugar Bowl, Kirkwood and Northstar are 30-50% open. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.
Pacific Northwest: Washington and Oregon got pounded with up to 5 feet of snow this week, so most areas there are 60-80% open with fresh powder conditions over 4-6 foot bases. Whistler missed out on these storms but has received a foot so far in a new large storm, bringing its alpine base to 50 inches. Whistler/Blackcomb is only 15% open now, but should have much more by next weekend.
Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: Big White had the earliest natural snow skiing in North America, opening October 27 with 2 high speed lifts over 20% of the terrain. Big White closed one weekend but is now 35% open on a refreshed base of 45 inches. Fernie and Red Mt. will have major openings next weekend. Base depths are currently 3-4 feet with ongoing snowstorms. Lake Louise is open with snowmaking plus 50 inches natural snow so far, and Sunshine is now 80% open on a 35-inch base.
U. S. Northern Rockies: Jackson Hole's season snowfall is now 50 inches and it opened today on a limited basis. Grand Targhee has more terrain open on a 2-4 foot base. Big Sky has also had recent snow and is now 40% open. Schweitzer had 6 feet new the past 2 weeks and is about half open. Big Mountain's season snowfall of 65 inches at the peak and 29 inches at the base has opened its north facing backside for skiing.
Utah: Alta got 144 inches of snow in the second half of November over a midmonth base less than a foot. Alta/Snowbird are about 70% open on a 76-inch base with ongoing snow stabilization. Brighton/Solitude are 90+% open. The Park City region has received about 6 feet of snow, and Park City and The Canyons are both about 50% open. Snowbasin is 35% open.
Northern and Central Colorado: Some of the Utah megastorm continued into Colorado, hitting Vail (now 52% open) the hardest with 82 inches. Next best are Steamboat (58 inches snow, 45% open) and Winter Park (53.5 inches snow, 30% open). Then the storms dissipated, leaving only 39 inches at Copper and 30 at Breckenridge. Breck, Copper and Loveland are only 20% open while Keystone is 10% open. Advanced terrain at the latter areas will be limited for the holidays unless December is well above average.
Southern and Western Colorado: Wolf Creek's season-to-date snowfall is 77 inches, nearly all in the past 2 weeks, and has all lifts and most terrain open. Telluride has received 5 feet of snow and is 35% open on a 33-41 inch base. No one else in this region is more than 20% open, and as usual skiers should not expect advanced runs at Christmas unless the heavy snowfall continues in December.
Northeast: The East continues to suffer from abnormally warm weather, including some rain last week. Therefore, even at the snowmaking leaders no one is more than 15% open. I strongly recommend checking Scenes of Vermont Ski Page or 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.