Ski season has begun in Arizona, folks! While we aren't drowning in powder yet, you can get in a run to two at this time of the year.
There are three lifts running at Snowbowl in Flagstaff, where there's a 24" base and they've gotten 18" of snow so far this season. The five-day forecast shows windy conditions with 1-2" of new snow {hopefully} on Tuesday. Advanced terrain will be accessible via the Arizona Gondola only. Intermediate terrain will be accessible via the Grand Canyon Express only. Beginner terrain will be accessible via the Little Spruce Conveyor only.
Sunrise Park Resort opens today for the weekends, and they plan to have daily operation beginning on December 16th. For opening weekend, they "have service from Midway down with Spirit Ridge (Lift 8) providing access to Fairway and Pinedale. The Bunny Hill is also open via Pony Chair (Lift 2)." It's still very early in the season, so stay tuned for more fun at Sunrise in the coming weeks and months.
We are hoping the U of A students are able to get a few runs in at Mt. Lemon, but they have no snow yet this year. Nonetheless, Mt. Lemon is open year round with dining, "sky rides", a gift shop, and some great hikes.
If you're disappointed by the snow report in Arizona this week, don't despair! Meteorologist Chris Tomer predicts, "Powder days abound in the West this week. Many ski resorts will be measuring snow in feet. The hot spot through 12/7 is the West with major snow totals from two different storm systems. My picks for where to ski: On Thursday 12/1 ski Schweitzer, Whitefish, or Brundage. On Friday 12/2 ski the Sierras, Tetons, or Wasatch. On Saturday 12/3 ski the Wasatch or the Central and Northern Mountains of Colorado. On Sunday 12/4 ski the Sierras." NOAA agrees, reporting, "a quick round of mountain snow will move across the northern and central Rockies...today...Another round of heavy snow appears likely for the Sierra Nevada by late Saturday and into Sunday as the bulk of the moisture associated with the system pushes onshore. Noteworthy snow is also expected across the higher terrain of Utah, Whyoming, and central Colorado as moisture plume from the Pacific advects father inland, with up to a foot of accumulation possible."
Check out the webcams at Arizona to scope the conditions here:
Use the links at the bottom as your resources to find the best runs as the powder piles up in coming weeks.
Resources:
