Ski season is underway across most of the western USA with the lone exception being the Pacific Northwest. For the most part, everyone from the east to the west coast is feeling okay going into the holiday season.
Related: DEEPcember Is Off To The Races! | The 10 Biggest Snowpacks In North America
There’s still a lot of time left and although places like northern Montana, parts of Idaho, and most of the PNW are hurting right now, the bulk of winter and snow still lies ahead.
That’s especially good news if you live in one of the high-tide places listed as a ‘winner’ below.
Winners:
Eastern Sierra, South Lake Tahoe
The eastern Sierra and particularly everything surrounding Mammoth Lakes is looking great going into December. That trend is largely true around Lake Tahoe but Kirkwood and Sierra-at-Tahoe are definitely winning the war. Squaw isn’t far behind…
New Mexico
Wow. After a lackluster season, Taos, Ski Santa Fe, and all the other NM ski areas are having a banger start to the 18/19 season. Look for Taos to be a favorite as El Nino is forecasted to go into effect sometime between now and the new year.
Colorado
Colorado was also subject to a worse than average snow season last year and it’s great seeing the high mountains covered in white. Steamboat, Wolf Creek, and Loveland are all doing historically well for it being this early and it’s hard to go wrong right now if you live in CO.
Utah
LCC and BCC are going off. Brian Head is reporting record early season snowfall. It’s going to be a good season for the greatest snow on Earth.
Grand Targhee
Grand Targhee is beating JHMR in the battle for Teton dominance (*by nearly a foot) and it’s not lost on those living on the west side of Teton Pass. People having been lapping up the pow for almost a month and it’s not stopping soon.
Losers:
The Pacific Northwest
Sorry to our friends in the upper-left but it’s not been a great start this season in the PNW. From Mt Hood to Mt Baker things remain low-tide for now but hopefully the Pacific Jet finds its way north before X-mas.
Whistler
Same as the PNW, Whistler could use a little more snow. Not that they haven’t had their fair share of pow days yet, but usually early season pumps out a large percentage of the overall precip they see in a single year. NEED THAT EARLY SEASON SNOW!
Localized Parts Of Idaho
Parts of Idaho could definitely use some more white stuff on the ground. So far, groomers are still the main order of business at Sun Valley.
Northern Montana
After having a banner season last year, northern MT could use some snow on its peaks prior to Christmas. We’re looking a little slim but the good thing about Whitefish specifically is their northern latitude and cold temps which are bound to take over at some point.