2016-17 Ski Season Progress Report as of December 23, 2016

October 2016 was exceptionally stormy over the northwestern quarter of North America. However, most of the moisture was subtropical so snowfall was confined to the highest elevations. The first half of November was bone dry over the western US and it was also too warm to make snow at most areas. Failures of Alta and Grand Targhee, bastions of reliability, to open for Thanksgiving, were huge red flags, as was the cancellation of the Beaver Creek World Cup first weekend of December. Thankgiving skiing was limited to a handful of snowmaking runs. There was a widespread storm just after Thanksgiving, with Utah getting the most snow. The standout area for the early season was Whistler, which had a 76-inch base and 5,200 acres open Dec. 1. During the first half of December the storm track shifted into the western US, with many areas making up the November deficit and more. Widespread snowfall during the third week of December (with another storm in progress over the holiday weekend) has brought most resorts above average in season snowfall. The only regions still lagging normal holiday operation are Tahoe low elevation, Montana east of the Continental Divide and the far Southwest.

All snowfall numbers are since Nov. 1 (which really means Nov. 15 for many areas), as nearly all earlier snow melted out during the first half of the month, and at mid-mountain locations where possible. "Mid-estimates" are for areas that only post upper info online, and apply a long term mid-to-upper ratio to those posted figures.

California:

The Sierra had a major storm mid-October with snow levels in the 9,000 foot range which left an ongoing snowpack in the Sierra only on the upper third of Mammoth, not reflected in Mammoth's Main Lodge snow totals. Second half of November snow was 2-4 feet, with the most north and west of Lake Tahoe. Two major storms during the first half of December were mostly rain below 8,000 feet but dumped 4-6 feet of snow at Mt. Rose and Mammoth and 3 feet at Kirkwood. Other areas had lots of rain and are in limited operation for the holidays with base depths under 3 feet. The current storm is dumping over a foot of snow in the Sierra, which will improve surfaces but it is yet unclear when more terrain will open at lower elevations. 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	76	65%	28%
Alpine Meadows	62	68%	47%
Mt. Rose	113	129%	83%
Northstar (mid-estimate)	53	67%	32%
Heavenly	63	64%	58%
Kirkwood	77	64%	100%
Mammoth	73.5	81%	100%
Southern Cal	9	42%	0-45%

Pacific Northwest:

The region had a record wet October but the rain/snow line was above most of the ski areas. The Whistler alpine was the conspicuous exception. Cams showed a good snowpack at the top of the Whistler gondola at the end of October. After a big November Whistler opened 5,200 acres by December 1. Mt. Baker had 6+ feet of snow in late November to be 87% open Dec. 1. During the first half of December storms focused more on Washington and Oregon, dumping an average 6 feet of snow. With another foot+ of snow last week, base depths average 5-7 feet so the region is set for an excellent holiday season.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Whistler	164	119%	100%
Crystal Mt.	120	97%	100%
Stevens Pass	138	94%	100%
Mt. Hood	170	124%	100%
Mt. Bachelor	156	130%	100%

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.:

This was the only region with widespread November snowfall, though it was above average only at the higher altitude areas. After 2-3 feet during the first half of December and another 1-2+ feet last week base depths are 4-5 feet. Silver Star is 100% open and Sun Peaks is 98% open.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Big White	102	107%	72%
Lake Louise	78	137%	80%
Sunshine	106.5	134%	73%
Revelstoke	150	124%	90%
Kicking Horse	93	107%	81%
Whitewater	150	126%	96%
Red Mt.	62	75%	100%
Fernie	112	98%	85%
Castle Mt.	120	149%	85%

U.S. Northern Rockies:

Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole delayed opening due to the dry first half of November but opened by Dec. 1 due to a late storm after Thanksgiving. The Tetons made up completely for the slow start with 7-8 feet of snow so far in December and are set for a good holiday season with base depths of 6 feet. The interior Northwest areas in Idaho and western Montana also gained some ground and have 3-4 foot bases. Big Sky is farther behind with a 2-3 foot base and is 63% open.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Grand Targhee	137	101%	100%
Jackson Hole	128	113%	90%
Whitefish	105	107%	83%
Bridger	56	66%	100%
Schweitzer	70	83%	100%
Sun Valley	57	97%	76%

Utah:

Utah was far enough south and east to miss most of October's action. There was a bit of snow mid-month but it was long gone by mid-November. Brighton, Park City and Snowbird opened just after Thanksgiving on snowmaking but Alta delayed to Dec. 2. The late November storm dumped 3+ feet in the Cottonwood areas and about half of that elsewhere. There have been 5 feet of snow in most of the Wasatch in December with another 1-2 feet expected over the holiday weekend. Cottonwood Canyon base depths are close to 5 feet and Park City base depths are 3+ feet. Brian Head in the far south is still lagging but is gaining ground with 2 feet of snow last week.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Alta	132	86%	95%
Snowbird	136	100%	77%
Brighton/Solitude	139	97%	80%
Park City (mid estimate)	78	94%	70%
Snowbasin	100	112%	100%
Brian Head	65	77%	70%

Northern and Central Colorado:

A-Basin opened a run on snowmaking October 21, was less than 10% open for the next 6 weeks but is now 87% open due to heavy December snowfalls with above average density. Loveland did not open until Nov. 9 and no one else opened until Nov. 18. No one was over 5% open at Thanksgiving and base depths were still in the snowmaking dependent 18-inch range a week into December. But 5-6 feet of December snow has overcome the early deficit with more snow expected this weekend. Base depths are 3-4 feet so open terrain will be at least average for the holidays at most areas.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Beaver Creek	95	98%	84%
Breckenridge	105	118%	61%
Copper Mt.	91	110%	48%
Keystone	99	147%	88%
Loveland	96	102%	39%
Steamboat	112	103%	98%
Vail	82	78%	97%
Winter Park	114	109%	76%

Southern and Western Colorado:

This region was bone dry the first half of November but got more snow than the northern areas during the second half. Early December storms were on a more northern track but there have been 3-5 feet of snow during the past 2 weeks. Base depths are 3+ feet except for 6 feet at Wolf Creek and thus some expert terrain is not likely to open before January. New Mexico like Arizona and Southern California missed most of the storms through mid-December but has received up to 3 feet since then.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Aspen	83	122%	75%
Gothic Snow Lab	100	102%	N/A
Crested Butte	90	132%	45%
Telluride	95	128%	64%
Purgatory	77	107%	95%
Wolf Creek	126	120%	100%
Taos	63	80%	26%

Northeast:

Killington opened October 25 with a mix of manmade and natural snow. The natural snow melted out in early November but there was enough natural and manmade snow later for Killington to host a World Cup race even though the races in the West were cancelled. The week after Thanksgiving had some rain but the first half of December was been cold with 5-6 feet of snow in northern Vermont and 3 feet elsewhere. There was rain along with snow last week and more rain is predicted for Christmas, so holiday skiing will not live up to the promise of early December. Percents open: Okemo 62%, Stratton 66%, Hunter 76%, Sunday River 39%, Sugarloaf 30%, Tremblant 70%, Mont Ste. Anne 62%.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Jay Peak (mid estimate)	112	133%	92%
Stowe	93	97%	69%
Sugarbush	119	161%	64%
Killington	64	96%	50%
Whiteface	73	129%	44%
Cannon Mt.	56	142%	63%
Le Massif	66	98%	75%

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