You can’t help but feel a little sorry for parts of the USA this winter and I should know. I am typing this from ground snow zero in Utah, crying daily into my porridge and praying for snow. We know it will come, but when?
“This time last year…” has become a conversation mantra as we reminisce about the buckets and buckets and buckets of powder that had our thighs burning for days. Instead, this season, parts of Utah, Colorado and California (who can forget Mammoth and Squaw’s record season last winter) are struggling for natural snowfall while other resorts in Montana, Washington and parts of Wyoming are, again, this year rejoicing.
Thank the snow gods for snow making and the wise foresight of ski resorts to invest big dollars in snow guns to keep seasons going and running as well as they are this year. But here’s the brutal natural snowfall truth. Resorts such as Telluride in Colorado have had 19 inches of natural snow so far this season. For the metric amongst us, that’s 47.5 centimetres and it’s already the busiest part of their season, Christmas and New Year. Say a prayer for that box canyon.
They are not alone, many resorts in Colorado and Utah are yet to open up all their lifts. I can’t bring myself to talk of my beloved Park City who are still doing better than Telluride with over a metre of snowfall thus far. While the mountain staff have done a stellar job of snow making and grooming and opening up as many lifts as they can (currently 25 of 41 lifts) the truth is there is still only 1250 acres open.
Though to us Aussies that is equivalent to the size of Thredbo. It is times like these being the largest ski resort in the USA (7300 acres) is a clear bonus and there’s always Campos Coffee at the base to keep you smiling.
Those looking to Deer Valley for the FIS World Cup in Utah in January with Australia’s medal winning mogul and aerialists, do not despair, while they too have less snow than they would like, the set up for the event is on track and looking stellar with snow making a plenty.
But what of Mammoth, I hear you cry? The resort that was skiing well into summer, they had that much snow last winter. Well, Ullr is a fickle beast and Mammoth has had a season total at Main Lodge of 42 inches to date (that’s just over a metre).
Do not despair, fine folk, a few good storms and Colorado, Utah and California could surpass the eye watering stats coming out of Montana, Washington, Wyoming and Oregon this season thus far.
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Stevens Pass in Washington has had 114 inches (365cms) so far this season already and are in the middle of another powder storm as I type. Jackson Hole in Wyoming, yes the resort that had so much snow last season it closed for a week, has already had 186 inches (465 centimetres) and counting with more powder (18 inches or 45cms predicted) on the way.
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Mt Bachelor in Oregon are boasting 138 inches (345 centimetres) thus far and Whitfish in Montana have had over 108 inches (275 centimetres). Further north is Canada but that has a snowfall post all to itself and let’s not even mention Japan. You can just read about them, here.
Did we neglect to mention the east coast resorts of the USA? Not so many years ago many didn’t even open for a season it was that dry but this year resorts such as Jay Peak in Vermont are killing it with over 133 inches to date (332 centimetres).
Enough said.
January Snow Hope
Looking ahead and trawling OpenSnow, NOAA and various other snow forecasting sites we can say there is hope.
The top 10 snowfalls for the next 10 days in the USA are to be found in Alaska, Washington, Idaho and Wyoming.
Colorado and Utah are both set to get between 5 and 8 inches (12 – 20 centimetres) over the next 10 days and California between 6 and 17 inches (15 – 43 centimetres).
Of course we all know what’s going to happen. Come mid January the skies will open and tons of snow will fall from the sky and we’ll still be skiing in April. There, I’ve said it.
Yes me at Mammoth and Squaw end of Jan and Feb lm dancing everyday