The PlanetSKI Xmas Week Snow Report

Sunday 21st December

As promised here is PlanetSKI’s general look at overall snow conditions in North America as the season gets underway.

Most of the main areas in the west of the USA have seen a very poor start to the season.

Ski areas in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho and California have had a start they would rather forget.

Precious little snow and warm temperatures.

Delayed openings and then poor snow when things could get going.

Here’s Park City in Utah – the US state that claims to have ‘The Greatest Snow on Earth’ and has even trademarked the phrase.

Er?

However, things see to be finally improving with some much needed snow falling and more in the forecast.

Resorts in the east though have done well with areas in Maine and New Hampshire reporting good Xmas conditions.

The resort of Brundage Mountain in Idaho is typical of many of the smaller ski areas in the western USA.

It opened with optimism in November, but then had to close as conditions deteriorated.

“Skiers and snowboarders eager to get back on the snow have another chance this weekend, as Brundage Mountain Resort has reopened on Saturday December 20th, with the Easy Street Triple chairlift spinning,” said the resort to PlanetSKI.

“If snowfall and snow levels cooperate, additional lifts and terrain could open during the weekend.”

In Canada the resorts around Banff in Alberta have been the opposite – the best conditions of anywhere in the world with record breaking snowfall.

It has been poor in Whistler in British Columbia so far, with rain rather than snow.

The resort has also seen very long lift queues for the terrain that is open.

Things are set to improve in Whistler with snow and colder temperatures forecast over the next few days in the run up to Xmas.

And where is PlanetSKI in North America?

We are delighted to report (and we’re trying not to be too smug about it), that we are in the resorts around Banff – Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Mt Norquay.

THE best place to be skiing anywhere in the world right now.

No ‘probably’ about it.

Right place, right time.

On Sunday 21st December, we are heading for another day in the powder of Lake Louise.

We’ll be reporting back on Sunday’s conditions later.

Do check back.

Other resorts in Canada including Kicking Horse, Marmot Basin and Revelstoke got off to a slow start to winter but that has changed, with all three resorts reporting good Xmas snow.

Kicking Horse has now had over 3m of snow so far this season.

PlanetSKI will be visiting all three areas in the New Year as we continue our Canadian adventures and take to the road:

• PlanetSKI’s adventures in Canada continue

Watch this space….

Saturday 20th December

The resorts are filling up fast as the first main holiday week of winter gets underway.

It has been mild in the Alps, but the huge snowfalls in the north and western Alps a few weeks ago have set things up nicely in many places for the festive season.

Off piste is limited but many of the high-altitude French resorts that are popular with the British over the Xmas period have good piste skiing.

The snow depth is about 1m at 2,000m in many popular French resorts.

More snow is always welcome, but overall it is a solid enough start to the season.

The place for fresh snow is the southern Alps that could receive more than 30cm in places by Monday as a big storm is set to hit.

Some forecast up to 1m in places.

“Over the next few days, rain or snow showers will continue to affect the south-western Alps,”said our resident alpine weather expert,  Fraser Wilkin from weathertoski.co.uk.

“The rain/snow limit will also drop over the weekend, with snow falling to 1,000m or lower by the end of Sunday.

“Regions that may see some useful snow over the next few days include the Milky Way (e.g. Sestriere), the Monte Rosa region (e.g. Alagna) and, to a lesser extent, Zermatt, Saas-Fee and possibly even Val Cenis, Val d’Isère and Tignes.

“The northern and eastern Alps will generally miss out, although it should turn colder everywhere next week.”

PlanetSKI reader, Helen Gillespie, has been in St Anton in Austria this past week.

There are decent enough pre-Xmas conditions at the top of the resort, but lower down there are bare patches.

Resort runs remain open.

Further afield in the Arlberg area it is similar.

Decent enough for early season, but more snow would be very welcome.

The Xmas crowds have yet arrive, so securing a table is a straight forward affair.

More to follow…

Friday 19th December

We start today in Canada where the resorts around Banff probably have the best conditions of any ski area in the world right now.

December records continue to be broken, though it is chilly at -10c.

PlanetSKI editor, James Cove, is in Sunshine Village.

 

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James wasn’t the only one getting into the Xmas spirit in Sunshine Village.

Up the mountain there was evidence of the huge amounts of snow that have fallen so far this winter.

Back in the Alps it has been mild though some of the major resorts and ski areas in France and Switzerland can rely on the heavy snow from a few weeks ago.

PlanetSKI reader, Vanessa Fisher, is in Les Menuires in Les3Vallees in France with friends and family.

“It’s the last Friday before Christmas and Les Menuires definitely feels like there is an influx of locals up to the village for the festive few days ahead.

“Today’s weather started glorious with blue skies but there were signs of some weather over Mont Blanc in the distance.

“Locals say it won’t bring the much needed snow but thanks to the huge dump of a few weeks back, the piste bashers are doing an incredible job of moving snow to where it is needed.

It’s possible to ski all the way to Saint Martin de Belleville at 1450m , to Meribel Village at 1400m but we’ve yet to test the runs down to La Tania, another local friend said there is less snow on the Courchevel side.

“The run from the top of Saulire down to Meribel Village was fast and brilliant.”

“La Masse side of Les Menuires has been stunning in the morning sunshine, and sitting at La Loy restaurant in the sunshine just above Saint Martin, it felt like spring today.

“Once the sun goes down mid afternoon, the chill reminds you it is still early season.

“Most of the lifts are open with the few closed ones, scheduled to open this weekend.

“For anyone heading out to Les Menuires for Christmas or New Year, there is plenty of great piste skiing and lovely chalky firm snow off piste.

“I’m off to sing some carols in the church in Saint Martin this weekend, and maybe pray for some more snow!”

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