Deep Snow At Alpine Meadows
There have been more huge snowfalls in California, reflecting a trend that has been the theme of winter 2010-11 in the Western US state since last November.
Several resorts including Squaw Valley have reported they've now received more than 50 feet of snow since the start of the season. In Squaw's case this has only happened three times before in the past 40 years and in those cases, never before April.
Snow depths are also at incredible levels with five Californian resorts currently boasting the greatest snow depths in the world at around 7.8 – 8.4m (26-28 feet).
The resorts – where the snow is continuing to fall heavily – are putting the excess snow down to a 'La Nina' affect from the Pacific Ocean. A report by the US Weather Bureau has now said that precipitation this winter has been the greatest for more than 50 years.
Although the vast snowfalls have got powder skiers and boarders highly excited, it has caused some logistical problems. Access roads have had to be closed and the snow has also been falling as torrential rain nearer to California's coast where the main population centres are, and resorts have had a hard job persuading people that as Spring gets in to full swing, they're still being deluged by snow at their higher elevation.
It was the same problem before Christmas when despite receiving a reported five metres of snow in a week, Mammoth Mountain lost 75% of their usual 10,000 guest tally in the week before Christmas due to impassable roads and perceptions of rain rather than snow.
On the slopes themselves groomed pistes are rapidly covered by powder so although its nirvana for powder skiers, those who like hard-packed pistes are having a hard time finding snow they don't sink deep down in tom, even on the trails.