2011-12 Ski Season Progress Report as of December 31, 2011

Late October 2011 will be remembered for its snowfall in the eastern metro areas, which also opened a few eastern ski areas. Aside from Wolf Creek, no western areas had a meaningful snowpack at the end of October to get a jump on the upcoming season. I was out of the country the entire month of November and unable to follow progress in snowfall or ski area openings during that time. November snowfall reflected a classic La Nina pattern with an outstanding start in the Pacific Northwest and much of western Canada, drier in regions farther south. December was bone dry over nearly the entire West until Christmas. Some snow got through to the Southwest in December, bringing most areas there close to average but only Wolf Creek far above average. During Christmas week the Northwest and Northern Rockies of both U.S. and Canada got 3 feet of snow, but it remained dry farther south. With warm weather and Christmas crowds degrading the mostly manmade snowpack, California, Utah and I-70 Colorado are in the worst shape at New Year's since at least 1980-81. Only the Pacific Northwest and western Canada have normal or better conditions and any snow likely to fall in the next week will again be in the northern regions.

California: There was an 18+ inch storm during the firm week of October but it all melted up to at least 10,000 feet by the end of the month. Mammoth had about half normal snowfall in November and Tahoe was even drier. With no snow in December, a warm Christmas week and no snow expected next week advance commitments should be avoided until at least February. This is the worst Christmas at Mammoth since 1999-2000 and the worst at Tahoe since 1976-77 with very limited skiing only on manmade snow. Full operation of expert terrain in the Sierra is not likely until well into February. Southwest storms opened most of Arizona Snowbowl by mid-December and snowmaking terrain in Southern California opened in the same timeframe with cold temperatures. 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	18	13%	5%
Northstar	22	23%	7%
Mt. Rose	24	22%	18%
Kirkwood	35	24%	8%
Mammoth	32	29%	14%
Southern Cal	32	119%	0-97%
Arizona Snowbowl	91	129%	80%

Pacific Northwest: The entire region had an excellent start in November. Mt. Bachelor's snowfall was close to average but eyewitness reports showed a solid base that could open most of the mountain, weather and demand permitting. Farther north November snowfall was well above average. Mt. Baker is 100% open and Mt. Hood 80% since early December. There was no snow in December before Christmas, but with 3 feet in the past week base depths are 4-5 feet with excellent conditions.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Whistler	177	110%	100%
Crystal Mt.	157	109%	91%
Stevens Pass	148	87%	100%
Mt. Bachelor	88	62%	49%

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: November snowfall was high through most of the region. Modest snowfalls in December before Christmas averaged less than a foot near the U.S. border and 1-2 feet farther north. But 2-3 feet of snow during Christmas week throughout the region have bought base depths up to 3-5 feet with excellent conditions. Big White is 68% open and Gem Lake will open Jan. 1, Silver Star 91% and Sun Peaks 97%. Revelstoke and Kicking Horse snow totals are likely inflated by including October, but both were 50+% open in early December.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Lake Louise	91	142%	88%
Sunshine	136	151%	92%
Revelstoke	184	136%	95%
Kicking Horse	160	158%	88%
Whitewater	127	91%	94%
Red Mt.	75	75%	100%
Fernie	111	84%	84%
Castle Mt.	72	74%	85%

U. S. Northern Rockies: Snowfall in November was close to average at areas reporting. Jackson opened a bit early with more terrain than normal available but added little during dry spell before Christmas. Schweitzer got off to a good start with the Northwest influence, and along with consistent Grand Targhee was the only area in full operation by Christmas. Big Sky was 61% open for Christmas (69% now) but the rest of the region's ski areas were less than half open, and Brundage and Bogus Basin not open at all. Conditions improved during Christmas week with up to 2 feet of snow at most areas, allowing Jackson's tram and Brundage to open Dec. 30. Base depths are 4 feet in the Tetons and at Schweitzer but no more than 3 feet elsewhere.

Utah: Utah's November was close to average but there was less than 2 feet in the Wasatch in December. Brian Head had 3+ feet in December from Southwest storms. The Cottonwood areas are 2/3 to 3/4 open for the holidays on 3 foot bases. Other Wasatch areas are less than half open on 2 foot bases, mostly on snowmaking. With warm weather during Christmas week New Year's conditions are the worst since 1980-81. Outside the Cottonwood Canyons much advanced terrain will not likely be open until February.

Area	Season Snow	Pct. of Normal	Pct. of Area Open
Alta	96	54%	80%
Snowbird	99	67%	50%
Brighton/Solitude	88	52%	66%
Park City group	61	59%	42%
Snowbasin	66	64%	50%
Brian Head	91	87%	74%

Northern and Central Colorado: This region is also off to a very slow start. Historically most of these areas are at least half open by mid-December but were only quarter open this year. Going into New Year's many areas are still only 1/3 open. This holiday season was the worst since 1980-81, with crowds bringing up the rocks on the limited terrain in warm weather. With base depths still around 2 feet much advanced terrain will not likely be open until February.

Southern and Western Colorado: The Gothic Snow Lab between Crested Butte and Aspen (snowier climate than either) had 22 inches in October, 39 in November and only 14 in December. In the Southwest December snowfall snowfall was average or better, so Taos was 76% open at Christmas (84% now) on a 4 foot base vs. 41% open on average. Wolf Creek's 87 inches of December snow was nearly twice as much as any other U.S. area. The entire region has been dry the past week with no new snow expected soon. So at the Colorado areas with base depths of 3 feet (all but Wolf Creek) it may be a few weeks before more expert terrain is opened. I would not expect Crested Butte's North face to be open before mid-February.

Northeast: The late October storm dropped 15 inches at Killington, which opened Oct. 30. Sunday River, Mt. Snow and Plattekill also opened on a limited basis. The natural snow was much less than in October 2005, so operations were more limited and any natural base soon disappeared. November and early December were very poor with low snowfall and very limited operations. This Christmas in the Northeast rivaled 2006-07 as the worst since 2001-02. Christmas week has had mixed precipitation, but with more snow than rain. So trail counts continue to rise, but at many places are only half of normal for New Year's. Percents open: Okemo 45%, Stratton 52%, Hunter 55%, Sunday River 39%, Sugarloaf 20%, Tremblant 63%, Ste. Anne 63%. 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.

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