In most ski regions this was a warmer and drier than normal October and early November. However, there was substantial snowfall in the northern and central Rockies in the rest of November to put the season on a normal track in many regions. Open terrain for Thanksgiving was mostly on snowmaking but with some natural base at many areas. The first half of December was mostly dry in the Rockies, leaving most areas below average as of mid-December. Over the past weekend there has been a strong storm of unusually dense snow in parts of Utah and much of Colorado just in time for the holiday season.
California: The first Sierra winter storm hit November
1-2. Tahoe ski areas got 3-8 inches. The storm track was centered
farther south so Mammoth got 12 inches. Unfortunately the next
week was record warm, and the next storm missed Mammoth and
was mostly rain at Tahoe. There have been three storms so far in December
in the 1-2 foot range plus a couple smaller events. Snowfall has been
concentrated near the Sierra Crest west of Lake Tahoe, with much lesser amounts
at the resorts near and east of the lake, as noted in the tables below. Advanced terrain
is still sketchy or closed, as base depths are no more than 4 feet at high elevation and in
some cases less than 2 feet lower down. Squaw has had only 1/3 as much snow at
its 6,200 foot base as higher up. 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 |
99 |
85% |
47% |
|
Northstar |
33 |
42% |
34% |
|
Mt. Rose |
64 |
62% |
62% |
|
Sierra-at-Tahoe |
57 |
62% |
72% |
|
Heavenly |
27 |
31% |
6% |
|
Kirkwood |
99 |
83% |
85% |
|
Mammoth |
53 |
58% |
77% |
|
Southern Cal |
18 |
83% |
0-35% |
Pacific Northwest: The entire early season has been characterized by storms
with a high rain/snow line. Thus the Whistler alpine has a solid 52-inch base. Mt.
Bachelor's Summit opened Dec. 13 and has a 6-7 foot base, but the recent storm iced
the Summit lift and it will take some time to reopen. Other Northwest areas have had
excessive rain and only opened this week on a limited basis with base depths less than 3 feet.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Whistler |
112 |
81% |
73% |
|
Crystal Mt. |
78 |
63% |
25% |
|
Stevens Pass |
65 |
44% |
21% |
|
Mt. Bachelor |
104 |
86% |
70% |
Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: There is quite a bit of terrain open
in this region though most of the snow came in November. Base depths are a still low tide
3 feet in Alberta and closer to 4 feet in interior BC. Lower areas near the US border
have had some of the rain from the Northwest storms.
Silver Star is 47% open and Sun Peaks is 85% open. Revelstoke, Sun Peaks and the Okanagan
have the best holiday conditions.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Big White |
85 |
89% |
68% |
|
Lake Louise |
55 |
97% |
77% |
|
Sunshine |
73 |
92% |
75% |
|
Revelstoke |
118 |
97% |
100% |
|
Kicking Horse |
94 |
108% |
77% |
|
Whitewater |
100 |
84% |
51% |
|
Red Mt. |
69 |
83% |
7% |
|
Fernie |
86 |
76% |
56% |
|
Castle Mt. |
50 |
62% |
70% |
U. S. Northern Rockies: There were several storms in
November in Wyoming and Montana. There was not much early December snow
except for Sun Valley getting snow from the south. Big Sky is 58% open.
Idaho skiing has improved with recent storms except at the panhandle areas which
probably had some Northwest rain. The Tetons got about 3 feet last week.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Grand Targhee |
117 |
85% |
100% |
|
Jackson Hole |
111 |
98% |
99% |
|
Schweitzer |
52 |
61% |
21% |
|
Sun Valley |
76 |
129% |
81% |
Utah: The season started dry but the Cottonwood areas got a mid-November 3 foot dump.
Other areas did not get so much and have had very limited skiing mostly on snowmaking. The recent
storm dumped 2-3 feet of heavy snow in the Cottonwoods, bringing the base up to 4-5 feet, and a foot
of fluff is predicted to top that off over Christmas. All 4 areas should be close to full operation
once snow is stabilized. The areas outside the Cottonwoods are still quite restricted because some of
that storm was rain up to 8,000 feet and bases remain under 3 feet. These areas are unlikely to get
fully open until sometime in January.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Alta |
116 |
76% |
95% |
|
Snowbird |
116 |
94% |
40% |
|
Brighton/Solitude |
81 |
61% |
67% |
|
Park City group |
55 |
66% |
24% |
|
Snowbasin |
54 |
60% |
25% |
|
Brian Head |
39 |
46% |
13% |
Northern and Central Colorado: A-Basin opened one
snowmaking run on October 17 and is now 52% open. Most of November
was stormy in this region, so much more terrain than usual was open for
Thanksgiving. There was little snow the first half of December
so base depths settled to the 2 foot range. Last weekend's dump of
up to 3 feet of dense snow has pushed the base depths into the 4 foot range
for likely very good holiday skiing at most areas.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Beaver Creek |
114 |
118% |
90% |
|
Breckenridge |
141 |
159% |
80% |
|
Copper Mt. |
130 |
158% |
82% |
|
Keystone |
87 |
130% |
73% |
|
Loveland |
114 |
121% |
36% |
|
Steamboat |
105.5 |
96% |
92% |
|
Vail |
128 |
121% |
96% |
|
Winter Park |
12.5 |
116% |
77% |
Southern and Western Colorado: November snowfall was above average
north but below average south. Snowfall and open terrain have lagged the Front
Range areas. Last weekend's storm brought 2+ feet to Aspen and Telluride and
lesser amounts elsewhere. Base depths are in the 3 foot range, so much advanced
terrain is still sketchy until there is more snow. Taos is 53% open with a
37 inch base.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Aspen/Snowmass |
80 |
118% |
80% |
|
Gothic Snow Lab |
87.5 |
90% |
N/A |
|
Crested Butte |
81 |
119% |
33% |
|
Telluride |
108 |
145% |
77% |
|
Durango |
44 |
61% |
84% |
|
Wolf Creek |
77 |
74% |
70% |
Northeast: October was too warm for any areas to open
by the end of the month. November was good for snowmaking but
there was intermittent rain along with some snow late in the month.
The first half of December was colder with 2-3 feet of snow, so
skiing was much better than normal for early season. Unfortunately
widespread rain is falling just before Christmas.
Percents open: Okemo 94%, Stratton 70%, Hunter 74%, Sugarloaf
83%, Sunday River 57%, Tremblant 48%, Mt. St. Anne 49%.
|
Area |
Season Snow |
Pct. of Normal |
Pct. of Area Open |
|
Jay Peak (mid) |
82 |
98% |
94% |
|
Stowe |
89 |
97% |
89% |
|
Sugarbush |
80 |
109% |
90% |
|
Killington |
61 |
91% |
85% |
|
Cannon Mt. |
44 |
112% |
96% |
|
Whiteface |
56 |
99% |
57% |
|
Le Massif |
80 |
118% |
73% |
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