2009-10 Ski Season Progress Report as of December 22, 2009

October was colder and snowier than average, so a few areas opened earlier than normal. In November the big news was the record breaking snow at Whistler. In the Pacific Northwest and much of western Canada November snowfall was far above normal and many areas opened a lot of terrain early. In early December there was a moderate storm in California and the Southwest followed by a substantial dump in the Sierra and Utah. Last week the storm track returned to the Northwest and Canada. Only a couple of moderate storms are expected over the holidays, so it is not likely that open terrain will increase much beyond what it is now. Holiday skiing should be excellent in the the Northwest and Canada, but may be the worst in over a decade in Front Range Colorado and Jackson Hole.

California: The Sierra had a major mid-October storm but with average snow level of 10,000 feet. Mammoth opened Oct. 16-18, then closed in warm weather until a snowmaking reopening of about 5% of terrain on Nov. 7. Boreal, Mt. High and Bear Mt. also opened limited snowmaking runs in early November. But the Sierra had only 2 feet of snow in November, half of on the last weekend, so no one was more than 5% open for Thanksgiving. The Sierra got 2-3 feet of snow around Dec. 7 and another 3-5 feet a week later. After another foot recently most areas are 75-90+% open for the holidays, with only the most expert terrain such as Heavenly's Killebrew Canyon and Squaw's Silverado needing more snow to open. Base depths are 5-6 feet on the Sierra Crest but a below average 3-4 feet farther east. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.

Pacific Northwest: This region has the best snow odds in early season, but the start to this season was truly spectacular. Whistler shattered its November snow record with 218 inches and was half open for Thanksgiving, including steep tarrain like some of the Spanky's Ladder runs. Mt. Baker and Whistler had 6 foot bases and other Northwest areas about 4 feet at Thanksgiving. Early December had little snow, so some surfaces were variable after low elevation rain Thanksgiving week. The past 2 weeks there have been 3-5 feet of new snow and holiday base depths are 5-8 feet.

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: Western Canada also got off to a fast start. Sunshine's 107 inches broke its November record. Sun Peaks has a 19-50 inch base and is 95% open. Big White has a 38-53 inch base and is 81% open. Whitewater, Revelstoke and Fernie opened the last weekend of November on 4 foot bases. As in the Northwest, not much new snow the first week of December but 1+ foot at the Banff areas and 3-4 feet in most of interior B.C since then. Holiday base deopths are 4-5 feet.

U. S. Northern Rockies: Early snow totals were variable, as the big November storms tracked more heavily into into Canada. Base depths average 3-4 feet at the open areas. Big Sky is 72% open on a 28-42 inch base. It and Bridger are the only areas above average in open runs, and the Tetons are lagging despite nearly 3 feet over the past 2 weeks. Jackson will likely have its worst Christmas since 1997-98. Schweitzer and Whitefish got 2+ feet last week to reach close to normal Christmas conditions.

Utah: The Cottonwood Canyons had about 40 inches of October snow, but less than 2 feet in November. The first lift served skiing was on snowmaking at Solitude Nov. 7 and Brighton Nov. 14. Skiing was very restricted into early December. The first Southwest storm dumped 30 inches on Brian Head but only a few inches in the Wasatch. The mid-December storm dumped nearly 4 feet in the Cottonwood areas and 2-3 feet elsewhere. Cottonwood areas are 90+% open on 4-foot bases for the holidays after extensive control work. Other Wasatch areas are about 2/3 open but more snow is still needed to open most advanced terrain.

Northern and Central Colorado: Loveland opened its first snowmaking run Oct. 6. At Thanksgiving Loveland was 11% open and Breckenridge 14%, with everyone else under 10% open. Now even the snowfall leaders are only 1/3 to 1/2 open compared to about 90% in a normal year. Snowfall has been half normal since November 1 with average 2 feet total so far in December. Holiday skiing will be be the most limited since 1998-99 on base depths averaging 2 feet. Advanced skiers should avoid the entire region until at least mid-January.

Southern and Western Colorado: Wolf Creek opened Oct. 31 and has been in full operation after 30 inches mid-November. The Gothic Snow Lab between Aspen and Crested Butte had 42.5 inches of October snow, 30 in November and 68 so far in December. Aspen/Snowmass are about 70% open. Most areas have had 4-5 feet in December and 7+ feet at Wolf Creek. With current base depths of 3+ feet I would expect an average Christmas at most areas with some but not all advanced runs open.

Northeast: Cold October weather allowed Sunday River to open on snowmaking Oct. 14. Killington opened Oct. 31. The East had an exceptionally warm November, too warm to make snow most of the time even in Quebec. Sunday River and Mont St. Sauveur were the only areas open at Thanksgiving, about 3% each. The first major storm of the season of 1-2 feet hit at the end of November with another 2-3 feet in the first half of December. The recent East Coast storm missed the ski areas, but trail counts are still rising with cold weather. 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. Percents open: Sunday River 56%, Okemo 68%, Stratton 79%, Hunter 76%, Ste. Anne 46%, Tremblant 32%

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