2004-05 Ski Season Analysis as of June 25, 2005

2004-05 can be described as the year of the pseudo El Nino. The water temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific were only slightly above normal, and not to the degree that meteorologists would define as an El Nino threshhold for the whole ski season. However the weather pattern of western North America was what we would expect in a strong El Nino: warmer than normal temperatures and storm tracks favoring the southern over northern areas. There was a sharp demarcation line, with California, Utah and areas south having mostly outstanding seasons, and Wyoming, Oregon and areas north being below average or worse. The pattern continued into Colorado, where the southern areas were above average and the northern ones below. Comprehensive snow statistics are finally available and shown in the 2004-05 Ski Season Summary.

2004-05 Progress Reports:

The Sierra had the most snow in October since at least 1945. These storms also dumped substantial snow in Utah. Thus Mammoth, Kirkwood, Brian Head and Utah's Cottonwood Canyons were in full operation with excellent conditions for Thanksgiving. November snowfall was well below average throughout the West until a strong final week, so skiing was still limited in other regions. After a snowy first week of December high pressure set in for over two weeks. Thus many resorts were subpar at Christmas in terms of both open terrain and surface conditions. For the next 2 weeks big storms finally hit the West, once again heaviest in the Sierra and Utah, but also huge in the Southwest. In mid-January the weather changed dramatically. Most of the West turned dry, and the Northwest and much of western Canada was drenched by a "Tropical Punch" storm with snow levels of 6,000 - 8,000 ft. In late January the Sierra got 2-3 feet, with lesser amounts in Utah and Colorado and the northern areas remaining unseasonably warm. The first week of February was mostly dry except for some a much needed 1-2 feet in western Canada. The second half of February saw the familiar pattern of the Sierra, Utah and Colorado getting the most new snow. The West was mostly dry in the first half of March, with abundant snows in the previously sketchy Northeast. After a few isolated mid-March storms, the last 2 weeks of March brought abundant snow throughout the West, with huge dumps in the Sierra and Utah. April snowfall was average throughout the West, and the Sierra and Utah had their final shot of powder in early May to cap a long and outstanding season.

California: The October storms centered on Mammoth, which had 82 inches of snow and was 40% open for Halloween. Tahoe areas on the Sierra Crest had 4-6 feet of snow and were also partially open at least on weekends since Halloween despite only 2 feet on November snow. After a 2-4 foot storm most Tahoe terrain including KT-22 and Mott Canyon opened the second weekend of December. Two+ weeks of warm and dry weather brought hardpack/spring conditions to low elevations and sunny exposures, and conditions at Christmas were about average at most Sierra resorts. Christmas week brought massive dumps of 3-7 feet, followed by another 5-10 feet in the first 2 weeks of January. Mid-January was warm, bringing spring conditions at low elevation and in sunny exposures, but in late January the Sierra got another 2-3 feet. After a quiet early February there were another 2-5 feet at Tahoe areas and 6 feet at Mammoth in the second half. Spring conditions emerged during a warm and dry first half of March, but 5-12 feet of snow fell in the second half, followed by 3-5 feet in April and over 2 feet in early May. Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows were open to Memorial Day and Mammoth to July 4. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth. Arizona Snowbowl was in full operation for Thanksgiving, very unusual, and exceeded its previous record snow in 1993 before closing April 17, though unofficial reports indicate that 1973 was higher.
RSN December Snow: Northstar 112, Sierra-at-Tahoe 137.
RSN January Snow: Northstar 137, Sierra-at-Tahoe 137.
RSN February Snow: Heavenly 69, Northstar 44, Sierra-at-Tahoe 66.
RSN March Snow: Heavenly 72, Northstar 96, Sierra-at-Tahoe 111.

Pacific Northwest: November storms had fairly high snow levels and were mostly rain in the ski areas. Early December storms dropped 1-3 feet but still substantial rain at low elevation. This was a very poor holiday season by the standards of the usually snowy Northwest despite some new snow in late December. Early January snowfalls were modest, so the Northwest was devastated from Whistler to Mt. Hood by the "Tropical Punch" storm of January 17-21. Only Mt. Bachelor (which still closed a record early May 15) was high enough and far enough south to be spared much damage and remain in full operation. At the end of January Whistler was only 55% open and most other areas were closed. This was nearly unprecedented and after a mostly dry February and first half of March this was the worst overall ski season ever experienced in the region. In early February there was up to a foot of new snow, so Mt. Baker and Mt. Hood partially reopened and Whistler improved to 85% open. By mid-March Whistler was down to 50% and everyone else except Bachelor was closed. Late March storms dropped 4-5 feet of snow at higher elevations, bringing the best conditions of the year to Whistler and Mt. Bachelor and reopening most terrain at Mt. Baker and Mt. Hood. Heavy April snowfall reopened some runs at Crystal, Stevens and Alpental and finally raised season totals above the record low season of 1976-77.
RSN January Snow: Mt. Bachelor 19.
RSN February Snow: Mt. Bachelor 21.
RSN March Snow: Mt. Bachelor 61.

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: Everything west of Rogers' Pass was rained upon in mid-January's "Tropical Punch." Big White, Silver Star and Sun Peaks had been in full operation since mid-December and retained their 4-6 foot bases. East of the Selkirks at Panorama, Kicking Horse and Banff/Lake Louise the storm was 2+ feet of heavy snow above 6,000 feet, adding to the thinner than normal New Year's base depths of 2-4 feet. Kootenay areas like the Northwest had too much early season rain but improved with 2-4 feet new snow between Christmas week and early January. These areas had heavy rain from the "Tropical Punch" and the lower part of Fernie was mostly washed out. Early February's 1-2 feet of snow resurfaced the Okanagan areas, restored some base at Fernie, and brought powder to Lake Louise and Sunshine. Late February and early March brought only scattered snow, resulting in hardpack/spring, conditions with some loss of cover in low elevation and sun exposed areas. Red Mt. closed March 13, Castle Mt. by March 21 and even the Okanagan areas closed about 1/4 of terrain. In late March new snow ranged from 1.5 at Banff to 4 feet at Fernie, and some terrain at Red Mt. and Big White's Gem Lake reopened. All areas except Sunshine and Lake Louise closed by April 12.
RSN December Snow: Sunshine 30.
RSN January Snow: Sunshine 28.
RSN February Snow: Sunshine 29.
RSN March snow: Sunshine 39.

U. S. Northern Rockies: The Tetons had 7+ feet of snow from Christmas to mid-January, so Jackson Hole reached full operation at New Year's. Most of Tahoe's December/January storms continued on to Sun Valley, which still had a 44-63 inch base after a dry February/March. Schweitzer had a more NW rainy weather pattern and was only 32% open for the holidays, was 95% open after 2.5 feet in early January, but then reduced to 20% again due to the Tropical Punch and extended drought. Big Sky was about half open (Lone Peak scenic rides only) at the end of January, but reopened most terrain with over 4 feet of February snow. The Tetons had similar February snow, but drought persisted farther north. Schweitzer closed March 6 and Big Mountain was only 60% open most of March before closing March 27. In mid-March Big Sky and Bridger were hit by a localized 3-4 foot storm, and most of the region had 2-3 feet in the last 2 weeks of March. All areas closed by April 17.
RSN December Snow: Big Sky 26, Bridger 55.
RSN January Snow: Big Sky 19, Bridger 31, Schweitzer 39.
RSN February Snow: Big Sky 58, Bridger 27, Schweitzer 5.
RSN March Snow: Big Sky 105, Bridger 104.

Utah: 4-8 feet of snow fell in October, opening Brighton for Halloween and Snowbird a week later. The Wasatch had 2-4 feet in early December, but some hardpack/spring conditions emerged in sun-exposed areas after a week of warm and dry weather. Utah got 2-4 feet new Christmas week plus another 5-7 feet in the first half of January. The Park City areas were 70% open by mid-December and 90+% by New Year's. Mid-January was warm and dry, but surfaces were refreshed with a few inches in late January and 4-7 feet in mid-February. The first half of March was dry, bringing spring/hardpack conditions, but the Wasatch was pounded with 6-13 feet of snow in late March, and several storms totalling up to 6 feet in April. With another 2 foot storm in May and the highest Utah snow season in over 20 years, Snowbird extended weekend operation to July 4.

Northern and Central Colorado: After a slow start these areas got 2-3 feet at the end of November and close to 2 feet in early December. After a couple of dry weeks, the region had a below average holiday. Much expert terrain opened in early January, when most areas got 3-5 feet of snow. After a month in its typical "several inches a week" mode, most areas got 2-4 feet in the second half of February. early March brought average snowfall near the Continental Divide, but less farther west. There was 3-5 feet in the second half of March, and 2-4 feet in April.
RSN December Snow: Loveland 35.
RSN January Snow: Loveland 41.
RSN February Snow: Loveland 40.
RSN March Snow: Loveland 58.

Southern and Western Colorado: Durango and Telluride benefited from several early Southwest storms and were in full operation for Christmas. The Southwest areas were hit with another 4-8 feet in early January. These storms were more widespread, well covering Crested Butte's North Face and most of the expert terrain at Snowmass and Taos. After a dry week the 4-6 foot bases were refreshed by some smaller storms and then about 3-4 feet in mid-February. Early March was mostly dry in Colorado, but Arizona and New Mexico got 2-3 feet. Most areas got 3-4 feet in the second half of March and a foot in early April, but all of these areas closed between April 3 and April 10 due to remote location. Due to its huge season Wolf Creek reopened for 3 more Saturdays through May 14. Gothic is between Aspen and Crested Butte and normally gets more snow than either.

Northeast: November 9 was Killington's opening day, same as last season, and the East struggled with frequent rain for the next month. After a week of snow and cold, eastern skiing was set back again with widespread rain just before Christmas. With erratic natural snow and rain, areas were only partially open through much of January. Late January brought snow mostly to southern New England, but was followed by a dry first week of February. Then the Northeast was hammered with snow, 3-6 feet in the rest of February and 5-7 feet in the first half of March. For the next 2 dry weeks everything remained open with hardpack/spring conditions due to no major thaw or rain. Rain at the start of April took out many runs, so most areas closed by mid-April. The next month was cooler than normal, so Killington's Superstar run was well-covered at scheduled closing of May 15.
RSN December Snow: Killington 29, Stratton 24, Sugarloaf 39, Sunday River 27, Mt. Ste. Anne 35, Snowshoe 28.
RSN January Snow: Killington 43, Stratton 46, Sugarloaf 16, Sunday River 36, Mt. Ste. Anne 19, Snowshoe 26.
RSN February Snow: Killington 67, Stratton 42, Sugarloaf 49, Sunday River 63, Mt. Ste. Anne 35, Snowshoe 34.
RSN March Snow: Killington 64, Stratton 48, Sugarloaf 94, Sunday River 83, Mt. Ste. Anne 49, Snowshoe 71.

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