US ski season extended as record snowpack dents Western drought

Image credit: activenorcal.com]

‘Record snowpack’, ‘staggering snowfall’ – dismal climate doomsters take note.
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Record snowfall across much of the western United States has not only helped to alleviate drought—it has also brought a massive boon for the region’s ski resorts, with many hoping to keep their lifts running deep into summer, says Phys.org.

Sitting more than 10,500 feet (3,200 meters) above sea level, Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin has long been famous for its long seasons. The resort’s frozen pistes were the state’s first to open last fall, and typically don’t close until June.

“I bet you, here, we might make it into July. I hope so,” said local ski enthusiast Ian Burkle, 52.

“We always aim for July 4. If you can ski up here on the fourth, it’s always great. It’s been a couple years since that.”

But this year, with mountains across California, Utah and Colorado reporting staggering snowfall, “A-Basin” has plenty of competition for spring skiing, in what is shaping up to be a bumper-sized season across the West.

While Colorado can thank consistent, steady snowfall and low temperatures for its positive ski and snowboard outlook, California’s Mammoth Mountain has recorded its snowiest ever winter, with 704 inches (nearly 18 meters) and counting.

That shatters the previous record of 668 inches.

“It’s going to be a legendary spring up here and we’ll be open daily through at least July!” the resort wrote on Instagram.

Utah passed its statewide record for snowpack on March 24, according to the federal government’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, with a number of ski resorts there pushing back their closing dates too.

Full article here.