Grand Targhee today's big winner

With a 13" dusting while temperatures remain frigid, Wyoming's other major ski resort (Jackson Hole still not opened) Grand Targhee has taken over the nations leadership of open terrain with 4 of it's 5 chairs running. Adding to the mid-winter conditions is glorious sunshine with unlimited visibility. One of the most incredible views can be seen with brilliant clarity today from the top of the hill. The Grand Teton's, only 5 miles as the crow flies from Targhee is viewed with remarkable detail. The majestic sharp and narrow spires of this distinctive mountain wonder is quite the site from Grand Targhee's summit. Closer to home, Mammoth mountain, with more skiable terrain than any California resort opens tomorrow with top to bottom skiing. 2200 vertical feet will be accessible, despite less than half of the mountain being open. A few inches of fresh rests above a foot or more of man made. Mammoth's snow guns are blowing 24/7, but this weekend offers no hope for natural powder. Monday and Tuesday however may bring snowfall to California resorts as another storm is poised to break on through. So far this early season, all potential fronts have stalled. Meanwhile, at North America's #1 ski resort Whistler, it's a cold bluebird day. However, that all changes tomorrow, with an anticipated weeklong event of non-stop snow. Let's hope that system crosses into the Northwest and works it's way south to blanket all the resorts in the west. Stay tuned.

Oregon, Washington and Montana get powder, but few lifts are running

Colorado and Utah resorts are hurtin' for certain in the early season, but mountains in the Northwest US all recieved their first significant snowfall of the season yesterday. Mt. Hood has opened with 4 lifts thanks to a foot of new, and Mt Batchelor has a couple lifts running this weekend with 8" of fresh. Yesterday's biggest dump was 18 inches at Bridger Bowl in Montana, but the resort remains closed. Leading the way in open terrain is Whistler/Blackcomb with a base approaching 4 feet, with 61% of the over 8000 skiable acres open offering nearly a mile of vertical skiing and riding. WB is by far your best early season snowsports spot in North America. I'm heading up on December 8th. Found a $220. round trip flight on Alaska Airlines out of San Francisco to Vancouver BC. Perimeter Transportation has a Whistler express shuttle from the airport which drops off and picks up skiers at their hotel. There is no need for a vehicle if you stay in Whistler Village. The free village shuttle gets you to hill. Meanwhile, Sierra Resorts are weekend only for the most part, with all coverage a result of man made snow. The guns have been blowing virtually 24/7 thanks to cold temperatures, but nothing off-piste is open, no Tahoe area resort has over 1000 vertical feet, and skiable acreage is very limited. Still, it's not December as yet but while mother nature is cooperating so resorts can make snow, the next possible natural snowfall is Monday.

Aside from Whistler, it's weekend's only for ski resorts in the west.

Some isolated fresh snow has fallen in the Western US, but not enough to prompt resorts to declare everyday operation.
Thanks to Snowmaking and cold temperatures, a decent layer of man made can be found on beginner lifts pretty much everywhere...but only on weekends. Not exactly the ideal with December a few days away. Alyeska in Alaska is closed despite over 200 inches of coverage. It's been warm and wet which translates to avalanche danger, so Alaska's premier resort is on hold until conditions allow. Resorts in BC and Alberta Canada however have Monday through Sunday operation for the most part, with Whistler/Blackcomb leading the way. With 9 new inches on a 42" snowbase, the site for the 2010 games is outpacing all ski mountains in the West.

Alyeska has too much of a good thing

The snow continues to fall, the base is in excess of 200 inches, yet Alyeska Ski Resort is not open. The abundance of snowfall of late has been of the wet heavy variety, and as a result the danger of a severe avalanche has closed the mountain. It will now be at least till Thursday that conditions are safe enough to re-open. The new layer is quite unstable since it sits on a base that is an entirely different snow composition. Things must now settle and dry out a bit, allowing the new wet snow to mesh with the existing coverage at Alaska's finest ski resort.

It's Snowing in Whistler. 3600 feet of vertical now open

While the lower 48 continues to be teased by storms that just don't seem to materialize, our neighbor to the north is off to a good start. Harmony Bowl opened today at Whistler, so North America's #1 ski resort now owns the most vertical skiing with 3600 feet available to skiers and riders. With a 37 inch base that is growing, the coverage is 2nd only to Alyeska in Alaska, with over a thousand more vert. All mountains in the West are blowing snow (if they invested in snowmaking equipment) for the majority of every day thanks to cold temperatures, but very few resorts are open with anything more than beginner runs.

Alyeska is way up on every resort. 200 inches and counting

While Sierra Resort continues to make snow, New Mexico recieved the real thing today. Taos however won't open till December 10th despite the new 10 inches of fresh. It's a slow start for Colorado and Utah mountains but the Northwest should seeing winter as soon as Monday. Whistler opened a week early and enjoys about 35 inches and 1600 vertical open, but the world's best conditions are at our 49th states #1 ski area Aleyeska. Breaking records even for Alaska, Alyeska has over 15 feet of snow depth over the entire hill. Located 40 miles south of Anchorage, I've never had the pleasure of skiing this World Class resort. Now featuring 1400 skiable acres and 2500' vertical and 9 lifts, it has to be one of the most exotic Snowsports venue on the globe. Dozens of ski resorts are now open in the West, but in very limited operation with rock skis and old boards recommended. Thing is, what is open is not hazardous with obstacles. It's a fine time for beginners to hit the slopes. The rest of us continue to wait. There is a favorable weather ridge in Alaska which is starting to work it's way into BC and Alberta Canada. It may reach Tahoe resorts early in the week. Something is needed to break the current weather pattern and open the ski season for everyone. Meanwhile, it continues to be cold enough in the Sierra to keep the snow guns going 18 hours a day.

Sugar Bowl and Boreal go for it this weekend

Enough man made snow is down, so skiers and riders will be up early on opening day this weekend. Coverage is good at both mountains, but anything off piste is out of the question and only the most basic runs will be open. Still, it's a start. As long as the temperatures at night are cold, the season should continue. Early season rains could always be a factor in the Sierra, but it should be clear and cold enough this week to maintain. Early next week, I have a feeling the season will begin big time. It's happening at Whistler now with 1800' vertical open. Clear and cold is the ok for the hosting venue of the 2010 Olympics. A monumental connection linking Blackcomb and Whistler mountains is in the works and will be ready for the games. The project is underway and will open to the public next season.
Meanwhile, closer to home at the Monterey Bay's nearest resorts on Highway 80, Sugar Bowl and Boreal are truely great for beginners since the slopes won't be crowded and the blown snow should not be icy.
Loveland in Colorado also plans to open, so every resort will take the bare minimum to it's potential.
This just in. Northstar at Tahoe opens Friday, and since they spent beaucoup bucks on snowmaking for 50% of the mountain, Northstar plans to showcase it's man made snow before any mountain in the Sierra. Squaw Valley USA has invested in their facilities as Northstar has to develope a village and off slope options.
While Boreal and Sugar Bowl will have about 700 vertical feet available for skiing and riding, Northstar may offer a little more from the top to mid-mountain. Opening at Thanksgiving used to be the norm at most Sierra ski resorts, and that was before snowmaking. Enjoy the slopes while they're white.
Have a happy Thanksgiving, and hopefully it dump in the West next week.

Let the ski season begin

Snowsports enthusiasts will see many Sierra Resorts attempt openings this Thanksgiving weekend, but the few mountains that do operate, will be doing so on man made snow. It's been cold enough at night to consistently blow snow, but no resort around Lake Tahoe can claim any appreciable amount of natural snow thusfar. Next Monday looks like a turning point in the season, when the first meaningful storm is predicted. Meanwhile, in Oregon and northward, significant snowfall has blanketed slopes. Mt Hood received 14 inches yesterday, and Batchelor had 6, but neither hill is open as yet. Whistler in BC Canada however is featuring nearly 2000 vertical feet of skiing over 40 inches. Adjacent mountain Blackcomb opens Thursday with similar coverage. In the adjacent Canadian province of Alberta, 3 resorts are open on 2-3 feet of coverage. Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Marmot Basin all have lifts running about a week earlier than scheduled. So while the Western US resorts wait, Canadian mountains are leading the way. This week's predicted weather in the west is expected clear and dry, but long-range forecasts are looking promising for the beginning of next week. visit 12sportsonline.com daily for current conditions and other info skiers and riders need to know before heading for the slopes.