2009-10 Ski Season Progress Report as of December 30, 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. In mid-December the storm track returned to the Northwest and Canada. There have been only scattered snow showers during the holiday period. Holiday skiing is excellent in the the Northwest and Canada, but is 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. With 1-2 feet in late December most areas are 75-90+% open for the holidays, with only the most expert terrain such as Heavenly's Mott 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. With 3-5 feet of mid-December snow 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 38-55 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 depths 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 is having its worst Christmas since 1997-98. Schweitzer and Whitefish got 2+ feet mid-December 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 with about a foot new snow. Other Wasatch areas are 2/3 - 3/4 open but more snow is still needed to open some 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 3 feet in December. Holiday skiing is the most limited since 1998-99 on base depths averaging less than 3 feet. Snowfall leader Steamboat has recently opened most terrain but was only 56% open as late as Dec. 24. Advanced skiers should avoid most of this 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 73 in December. Most areas have had 4-5 feet in December and 8+ feet at Wolf Creek. With current base depths of 3+ feet this is 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 big mid-December East Coast storm missed the ski areas, but trail counts rose with cold weather. It rained 2 days over Christmas weekend over the entire Northeast except for the Quebec City areas which got 3 feet of snow. New England has had 1+ foot of snow since then to improve surfaces. 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 52%, Okemo 81%, Stratton 94%, Hunter 91%, Ste. Anne 97%, Tremblant 54%

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