The Early Season Signs Are Great For A Bumper 21/22 North American Ski Season
If you’re anything like me, this time of year you start looking for early indications of what type of snow season it will be.
Are we in for a bumper ski season of endless deep light dry snowstorms requiring daily digging out our cars and gasping for air between face shots on every turn? We certainly hope so! Especially given last season was cut short, you would think it only fair that mother nature does her thing and deliver a seriously mindblowingly good 2021/22 ski season.
The early signs are looking awesome for an amazing 21/22 ski season with plenty of snow falling already in the US and Canada.
Early Snow Depth Signs In The US As At November 12th
| Resort | ||
| Boreal | 35″ | 89 cm |
| Mammoth | 32″ | 81 cm |
| Arapahoe Basin | 21″ | 53 cm |
| Keystone Resort | 18″ | 46 cm |
| Loveland Ski Area | 18″ | 45 cm |
| Palisades Tahoe (Alpine Meadows) | 14″ | 36 cm |
| Palisades Tahoe (Olympic Valley) | 13″ | 33 cm |
| Wolf Creek Ski Area | 13″ | 33 cm |
Which US ski resorts are open as at November 12, 2021?
Wolf Creek, Colorado opened on October 16th but for weekends only, which was closely followed by Arapahoe Basin who fully opened on October 17th, as did Keystone on October 22nd, and Loveland Ski Area on October 30t th, 2021.
With Mammoth now open top to bottom, as the snow keeps coming you can expect more resorts to open as soon as possible.
Which Canadian ski resorts are open as at November 12th, 2021?
In Canada, Mount Norquay opened on October 24th which was the earliest opening date in its 95-year history. This is a great sign to kick start what will hopefully be an amazing Canadian ski season with dry light sundrenched powder days. Norquay was closely followed by Lake Louise Mountain Resort opening on November 5 and Banff Sunshine Village opening on November 11th.
What are the forecasters saying about the snow for the 21/22 ski season?
In the US, weather scientists and forecasters are predicting a La Niña event from December 2021 to February 2022 with wetter-than-average conditions across the Pacific Northwest, northern Rockies, Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and western Alaska. Often there is a double-dip of La Niña episodes, meaning that you get a flow-up La Niña event from last season’s and that’s what the prediction is for this season. Temperatures in the US are forecasted to be below-normal temperatures along areas of the northern tier are forecasted, while many parts in the South will experience above-normal temperatures
In Canada, La Niña tends to be linked to winter weather that includes above-average precipitation in British Columbia, colder-than-normal temperatures in the Prairies, and more rain and snow than average in Ontario and Quebec.
Who Is Getting The Early La Niña Snow This Season So Far?
Whistler is looking in great early shape, as are a number of resorts, but as the resorts aren’t officially open yet it’s hard to get a take on actual snow depths other than really well positions Instagram snaps from mountain operations showing the resort in it’s most desirable state. There have been some great early snowstorms in California in late October that lead to early openings, but right now it’s a bit of a waiting game.
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What is the best way to prepare for the snow this season?
We do like a snow dance in here, and don’t worry we have been dancing every day! We are constantly scanning the snow cams and reports for any sign of snowfall activity. One of the best ways to get ready for skiing is to get the boards out and get waxing. Hopefully, you remembered to get your storage wax on last year but if you didn’t there is still time to get everything sorted so you can hit the slopes with no excuses.
We can’t wait to put on our boots, click into our bindings, and ride our favorite chairlifts while looking around at the endless white stuff and possibilities.
For what is worth, our forecast for the 2021/22 ski season is for an amazing snowfall season of endless power turns and bluebird days. Now wouldn’t that be awesome, if it comes true?
Wishing you the very best for the upcoming 2021/22 ski season and to get skiing and riding again as soon as humanly possible.
We’ll leave you with this below from our friends at Sunshine Village and remember to make sure you ski and ride more than you did last season and if anyone has a problem with that, get them to talk to us!
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See you on the slopes.
Peter Alan Stone
Peter Alan Stone has completed over 40 international ski trips and is a former instructor at Beaver Creek, Whistler, Fernie, Hemlock, Buller, and Perisher. A former ski improvement and adventure tour operator at Fernie and Perisher, and successful masters ski racer. He currently works as a ski travel writer and part-time ski and golf coach to his twin boys, Jack and Matt aged 10.