It was a snowy winter in Western North America right from late autumn last year and there have even been big snowfalls up to late May with still-open ski areas reporting up to 60cm/2 feet of fresh snow on top of already deep bases.
More than half-a-dozen US ski areas are open through June but some are open weekends only.
Conditions remain particularly good in California where Mammoth Mountain (pictured above and below) will be open right through June and claims the largest spring skiing area open in the US. Squaw Valley to the north says it will be open through June and indeed the whole summer.
In Colorado Arapahoe Basin is still open and as we enter June has so far extended its planned closing date (June 4th) by a week to June 11th and may stay open longer, deciding on a week-by-week basis.
“We had a tremendous storm in mid-May that brought two feet of snow to the ski area, and the conditions have been outstanding,” said Alan Henceroth, Arapahoe Basin Chief Operating Officer. “We’re not closing yet, and if the snow quality remains this good, we may be able to extend even beyond the 11th.”
Copper Mountain also re-opens on June 4th for summer camps using snow stockpiled through the winter and indeed fresh May snow there too.
Other still-open US options include the near year-round Timberline snow field in Oregon.
North of the border everywhere is currently closed as we enter June but Whistler Blackcomb will re-open for summer glacier skiing and boarding from the 9th.
