best snow 2007?

[ericlewandowski]

hey,

stuck in new york city where it feels like october. planning to go skiing out west for my 30th birthday in march and I want to get it right for what feels like a major milestone. Could any one offer a little snow advice?

Where is the best snow this season? The following places are in my price ranger. BC (Red mountain, Whitewater, Kicking horse), Wyoming (Grand Targhee) , Utah (alta, solitude, snowbird)? Any others i should consider?

I'll go anywhere for fresh snow. I know its always about luck, but where is the best bet?

I heard Alta was having a down year. Expect a killer March?

thanks,

Eric

 

[Tony Crocker]

My website http://bestsnow.net discusses historical factors affecting snow conditions and from time to time I update my 2 cents worth on the curretn season http://bestsnow.net/seas07.htm . I've been away so that report from Jan. 31 is a bit stale, I'll have an update in a couple of days.

I can state quite firmly that it is not appropriate to draw conclusions about March snowfall based upon the season to date. Weather does not persist over one month periods, nor do previously dry areas catch up because they are overdue.

No question BC has had the best year so far of the places you mention, but Red/Fernie are low altitude and will go swiftly to spring conditions if it hasn't snowed recently. Kicking Horse and Banff/Lake Louise are a better bet. I was just in the area and their snow is not going anywhere for awhile. KH is 3 hours from Calgary with Banff/Lake Louise in between. You are within driving range (3-4 hours) of Fernie/Castle if it dumps while you're there. Red/Whitewater are 5+ hours from the other places I mention and best accessed from Spokane. I think that's a better trip in January/February than March.

On average the Cottonwood Canyons have the most consistent March conditions and would be a safe bet also. I would not do Jackson/Targhee due to Jackson's sun exposure flaws and I think you would want more than just Targhee for a whole week. Targhee has sun exposure issues too, though they are usually mitigated by chronic overcast and snow.

The Cottonwood Canyons are generally safe year-in and year-out. Kicking Horse and Banff/Lake Louise are not, so I would be inclined to go there considering the good year they are having.