SNOW PATROL
NS= new snow; PO = powder; PP= packed powder; HP=hard-packed snow; HB=hard base; GR=granular; FG=frozen granular; CO=corn snow; BC = breakable crust; UC=unbreakable crust; W=wet; IC=icy condition; BS=bare spots; DC=dangerous condition; CL = trail or slope closed.
NUMERALS REPRESENT INCHES OF SNOW
This season begins to look like one of the best in the sport's history, with plenty of snow and good skiing conditions at almost all areas
FAR WEST: MT. BALDY, CALIF.: 48-60 PP. Old hands are beating traffic jams and lift lines by skiing in midweek; and beating discomforting high winds by skiing the bowls.
SUGAR BOWL, CALIF.: PP surface on 84 base. Waiting time at chair lift has run as high as 20 minutes.
SQUAW VALLEY, CALIF.: Best skiing of the season, thanks to 6-12 new PP on 48-108 base. Daytime temps. 50-55°. About 700 came last weekend. Waiting time on chair lift was only about five minutes; but weekend accommodations are usually filled, so make reservations.
EDELWEISS, CALIF.: 10-12 new PP on 36-72 HP base.
RENO, NEV.: 12-18 PO on 72 base. About 125 youngsters, 6 to 18, were in first junior meet here last Sunday.
NORTHWEST: MT. BAKER, WASH.: Recent rains interrupted a streak of fine skiing. 3 W on 103 HP. Auto chains a must. The Chute is now open but not skiable. Standard Slalom races here Jan. 30.
GROUSE MT., BRITISH COLUMBIA: 7-9 NS, some W. on 65 86 HP. Mild weather has made surfaces heavy. Ski school set record last weekend with 1,375 students.
SNOQUALMIE PASS, WASH.: Skiers wore slickers, not parkas, as rain poured down. Conditions are poor.
ROCKY MTS.: ASPEN, COL.: 1 NS on 18-40. Temp, range has been 10 below to 10 above. All trails have PP and some rate excellent.
ARAPAHOE, COL.: 5 PO on 23 HP, with some BS in upper basin. Conditions are fair to good.
BERTHOUD PASS, COL.: 8 NS on 20-27 HB, with skiing fair to good. Crowds have been light due to severe cold.
SUN VALLEY, IDAHO: Still excellent. Base goes from 15 on valley floor to 36 atop Baldy.
ALTA, UTAH: 43 NS on 60 HB and the top 24 is light powder. Present conditions rival any here in past five years. Snow Cup races are scheduled for Jan. 29-30.
SANTA FE, N.MEX.: 24 light PO fell last week and skiing is now good. Midland, Texas, Ski Club has snow carnival here Jan. 29.
WEST YELLOWSTONE, MONT.: 8 PO on 40 HB. Roads are clear.
BANFF, ALBERTA: 12 NS needed to make slopes even fair. Many skiers going to Mount Temple and Sunshine, higher up in Rockies.
MIDWEST: TERRY PEAK, S. DAK.: 10-12 NS on 24 30. Skiing rates excellent and chair lift is drawing customers from five nearby states.
RIB MT.. WIS.: 3 more PO on 7 HB. Slopes are fine, with some skiing on trails. Weekend crowds have averaged 500-600 but no waiting for lifts.
BOYNE MT.. Mien.: Heaviest snowfall in seven years. 18 NS in 72 hours over 8-10 PP, has made for superb skiing. Main highways are open, with side roads being cleared.
PENNSYLVANIA: LIGONIER: Temps, have varied from 20s to 40s. 3 PO on 2-7 HB, with skiing rated good as thermometer registers 18°.
NEW YORK: TURIN: 3 PO on 18 base, and fine skiing.
WHITEFACE MT.: 3-5 PO on 10 HB. There has been no waiting for T-bar lift.
QUEBEC: MONT TREMBLANT: Temps, have been well below freezing and skiing a delight thanks to 3-4 new PO on 26-42 base. Taschereau race here Jan. 30.
LAC BEAUPORT: Maximum depth is now 38, with PO and OR surface. Winter carnival continues in Quebec City.
NEW ENGLAND: JIMINY PEAK, MASS.: After seven lean weeks, skiing came at last to the Berkshires. At Jiminy there is 3-6 PO on 4-6 FG. At Otis Ridge, junior ski camp got underway after shaved ice was blown on slopes. Main area remains closed, needing 4-6 NS.
MT. SNOW, VT.: Welcome fall of 4 PO over rock-hard 5-25 base has produced good skiing.
BIG BROMLEY, VT.: 4 PO on 7-20 HB. Total attendance last weekend again topped 5,000.
MAD RIVER GLEN, VT.: Area has best base—20-40 HB—in years, and as long as intermittent PO falls all is well. College crowd on midterm vacation moves in this week.
STOWE, VT.: Wonderful PO surfaces on 24-36 HB of ice and FG. Comparatively light crowds and negligible wait for lifts.
FRANCONIA, N.H.: Recent PO made skiing fine, after cold wave had turned base rock-hard.
NORTH CONWAY, N.H.: 3 PO on 7-10 HB. Veteran skiers coming Jan. 29 for "Old Schussers' Reunion" and 20th birthday of Hannes Schneider ski school.
BELKNAP, N.H.: 2 NS on 2 10 HB. More needed NS falling.
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