2005-06 Ski Season Analysis as of July 8, 2006

2005-06 Progress Reports:

There were 2 northern storm tracks in November and the first week of December. Both hit Washington, Oregon, the Northern Rockies, and Northern and Central Colorado, and most areas in these regions were close to full operation by mid -December. The earlier storms hit western Canada, while the later storms dumped on previously dry Utah. The second week of December was mostly dry but there was moderate snow in the week before Christmas in several regions. Christmas week was stormy but warm in most of the West, with some rain at lower West Coast elevations but 3 feet of snow up higher, and cement-like snow at some areas in the Rockies. A final intense storm hit much of the West over New Year's weekend, with a break in weather for the next few days. For the next month the Pacific Northwest was continuously stormy, with considerable snowfalls in most other regions. Only the far Southwest continued to miss out, with some areas restricted on less than half normal snow. Mid-February was mostly dry and warm, with average but not huge snowfall later in the month. The first week of March brought substantial storms to the Pacific states, with decreasing amounts farther inland. The Sierra continued to get pounded for the rest of March and early April, with the main storm track also hitting Utah and relieving the previously parched Southwest.

With more areas posting season snowfall since 2003-04, I am no longer tracking the less reliable numbers from RSN, except in regions where no nearby area has up-to-date information. The end-of-season blue tables shown below are "official numbers" compiled by ski patrols or avalanche forecasters, which I use to update my data.

California: Mammoth opened a few runs on snowmaking Nov. 10. Boreal was the only other area to make enough snow to open for Thanksgiving. After 3 feet the following week, most Sierra areas opened for the first weekend of December, but with less than half of terrain. A surprise storm dropped 3 feet at higher elevations Dec. 18-19, so Mammoth, Kirkwood, Mt. Rose and the upper parts of Heavenly were in decent shape by Christmas. The Christmas week storms were stronger, averaging 3+ feet, folowed by huge dumps of 3-10 feet over New Year's weekend. Snow levels fluctuated, but were occasionally as high as 9,000 feet. High elevation base depths reached 12+ feet, but holiday conditions were still sketchy below 7,000 feet and just adequate up to 8,000 feet. Mid-January storms of 3-5 feet were colder and improved the lower elevations, along with another 2-3 feet in late January. Early February storms barely reached Tahoe with a few inches, and nothing farther south. Two moderate storms hit the Sierra later in February, totalling 2-5 feet depending upon elevation. March was huge, with substantial snow every week and 13-20 feet over the course of the month, plus another 4-8 feet in early April. See Current California Ski Conditions for more details on Southern California and Mammoth.
RSN December Snow: Heavenly 75, Northstar 78, Sierra-at-Tahoe 80.
RSN January Snow: Heavenly 95, Northstar 78, Sierra-at-Tahoe 95.
RSN February Snow: Heavenly 35, Northstar 40, Sierra-at-Tahoe 30.
RSN March Snow: Northstar 165, Sierra-at-Tahoe 186.

Pacific Northwest: Mt. Baker opened Nov. 8 with 100% of terrain and a 5-7 foot base. Crystal opened Nov. 4 on about 4 feet as did Blackcomb and Timberline on lesser amounts. Another 2-3 feet of snow fell on Washington and Oregon areas in early December, and these areas had 3-6 foot bases for the holidays with variable surface conditions due to low elevation rain. Whistler had only 20 inches in the first half of December, and then it rained to the top on Christmas. Christmas to New Year's storms finally opened up the Whistler alpine with up to 7 feet of snow, but lower elevations were variable and snowmaking dependent. Mt. Bachelor and Mt. Hood had more snow and less rain than other Northwest areas through the holidays. In January Whistler and the Washington areas were pounded with up to 15 feet of snow. 2+ more feet in early February, finally a break mid-month and 2 feet in late February. March snowfall was as consistent as in the Sierra but "only" averaged about 8 feet. Average 2 feet new in first half of April.
RSN January Snow: Mt Bachelor 74.
RSN February Snow: Mt Bachelor 20.
RSN March Snow: Mt Bachelor 40.

Area	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Total	Pct. of Normal
Alyeska	77	63	86	129	81	63	457	97%
Whistler Alpine	45	55	185	44	97	40	466	116%
Mt. Baker	152	68.2	271.2	124	111	55	781.4	122%
Mt. Bachelor	65	101	150	61.5	71.5	28	476	131%

Canadian Rockies and Interior B.C.: Snow was above average in November but far below average in most of December. Skiers reported that low snow sectors like the front of Lake Louise, lower half of Kicking Horse and upper parts of Panorama were sketchy through the holidays. Conditions dramatically improved in January with at least 4 feet of snow in the Banff region and as much as 10 feet in some Kootenay areas. Most areas had 1-2 feet in early February and another 1-2 feet late in the month. Another 1+ foot first week of March at most B.C. areas, but the rest of the month was drier than normal with increasing spring conditions as the storm track moved south.

Area	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Total	Pct. of Normal
Big White	41.9	41.5	100	59.3	33.9	40.3	316.9	115%
Fernie	65.8	54.3	151.6	44.5	38.6	12.6	367.4	99%
Sunshine	46.1	28.4	91.7	48.4	36.2	39.4	290.2	124%

U. S. Northern Rockies: This region had a very strong start since early November. Big Sky opened Lone Peak at the end of November, a rare occurrence. Jackson Hole opened all lifts December 10. All areas were close to full operation with excellent conditions by mid-December, and most of these areas had 3-5 feet more through the holidays, and another 6-11 feet in January. February snowfall was 3-5 feet, with the dry period mid-month like most of the West. March/April snowfall was average except at Sun Valley which benefited from the huge Sierra storms. This was still the best season in the region since the records of 1996-97.
RSN January Snow: Bridger 56, Big Sky 78.
RSN February Snow: Bridger 52, Big Sky 47.
RSN March Snow: Bridger 47, Big Sky 66.

Area	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Total	Pct. of Normal
Bridger Bowl	100	72	57	52	49	9	339	118%
Jackson Hole	57	99	133	56	64	43	361	122%
Sun Valley	38	71	79	27.5	72.5	64	352	187%

Utah: Utah was much drier than normal for most of November and thus Alta opened a week later than scheduled. But huge dumps from late Thanksgiving weekend through early December brought season totals above normal. The Cottonwood Canyon areas have since been in full operation, and the other Wasatch areas were in full operation for the holidays after 2+ feet the week before Christmas. About 2 feet of very wet snow fell during Christmas week and 3+ feet over New Year's. A mid-January storm dropped another 3 feet in the Wasatch, with 3-5 feet later in the month and average 2 feet in early February. Brian Head was in the Southwest drought through early January but reached full operation with 5 feet later in the month. February snowfall was 3-5 feet, with the dry period mid-month like most of the West. After a rain to 9,000 feet storm at the end of February there was at least 8 feet new in March, up to 14 feet in the Cottonwoods and 10 feet at Brian Head, which had previous been lagging with the Southwest drought. 2-4 feet in early April but then warm weather.

Area	Oct/Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Total	Pct. of Normal
Alta	65	141.5	124.5	68.5	157	74.5	631	120%
Brian Head	16	20	67	31	120	33	287	85%

Northern and Central Colorado: Loveland and A-Basin had a couple of runs open on mostly snowmaking since mid-October. November snowfall was much above normal, and by December 1 this region had as much terrain open as at an average Christmas. With another 5-8 feet (10 at Steamboat) in December, everyone was close to full operation for the holidays with the best season start since 1995-96. Steady January snowfall totalling 5-8 feet continued the strong season. February snowfall was an average 3-5 feet. After a dry first week of March surface conditions were a bit tired, but refreshed by 3-5 feet new snow the rest of the month. Average 1.5 feet new in first half of April.

Area	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Total	Pct. of Normal
Vail	75	93	73	64	61	32	398	112%
Winter Park	79.5	87	68	50.6	51.6	29.3	366	103%

Southern and Western Colorado: Aspen and Crested Butte were well above average from the northern storms, but everything farther south was much drier than normal through the holidays. Advanced/expert terrain is often not open until January in these areas in normal years, and the southern Colorado areas barely reached full operation after an average January. February snowfall was a below average 2-3 feet with just a few inches in early March, so conditions were good at Aspen and Crested Butte but sketchy in southern Colorado. Arizona and New Mexico's season was a complete bust through early March. The rest of March brought the first big dumps of the season in the Southwest, 6-7 feet at most areas and 13+ feet at Wolf Creek. Arizona Snowbowl opened on March 17, and Taos' expert runs were open on a rotating basis from mid-March until its April 2 closing. Many other areas close early also due to remote location.
RSN January Snow: Telluride 63.
RSN February Snow: Telluride 26.
RSN March Snow: Telluride 63.

Area	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	Total	Pct. of Normal
Aspen Highlands	45	65	72	32	75	19	308	127%
Taos	16	8	24	9	85	10	152	58%
Wolf Creek	37	35	61	28	160	21	342	94%

Northeast: The remnants of Hurricane Wilma turned into a Nor'easter that dumped 2-4 feet of snow in parts of New England, prompting Wildcat (24 trails) and Killington (22 trails) to open more terrain on October 29-30 than would be normal for Thanksgiving. Unfortunately both areas closed Oct. 31, and ensuing warm weather wiped out most of the natural snow. Several areas opened on snowmaking the weekend before Thanksgiving, by which time the snowmaking leaders were about 20% open with cold temps and some new snow. Several trails closed with rain at the end of November, but first half of December snowfall and snowmaking conditions well above average, opening about half of terrain. The week before Christmas brought 2-3 feet new snow to much of Vermont, bringing many areas to 90+% open. Conditions degraded from rain Christmas week, mid-January and last week, while being restored from snow and cold in early and late January. The mid-February East Coast blizzard unfortunately brought only a few inches snow to northern New England, but conditions steadily improved with both cold and snow later in the month. March brought 4-7 feet of powder to Northern Vermont but only only modest amounts elsewhere. Trail counts therefore declined at most areas with intermittent rain and thaw. Percents open at Easter: Killington 27%, Sugarloaf 41%, Sunday River 23%, Hunter 11%, Mt. St. Anne 83%, Tremblant 50%. 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.
RSN December Snow: Killington 44, Stratton 24, Okemo 28, Sunday River 33, Mt. Ste. Anne 60, Snowshoe 30.
RSN January Snow: Stratton 38, Okemo 24, Sunday River 32, Mt. Ste. Anne 37, Snowshoe 29.
RSN February Snow: Stratton 25, Okemo 32, Sunday River 12, Mt. Ste. Anne 50, Snowshoe 41.
RSN March Snow: Stratton 12, Okemo 8, Sunday River 12, Mt. Ste. Anne 9.

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