Two US resorts have announced extended spring and summer opening as a result of the lrge amount of snow that has already fallen in Western North America.
Mammoth Mountain in California has had more than 250 inches (6.3m) of snow already in January, more than 40 inches/1m past the previous all time monthly snowfall record set in December 2010. With a base of more than 7m it says it already knows it will open for skiing on July 4h, 2017 and is offering free skiing on that day to anyone who buys a lift pass in January.
Meanwhile Keystone Resort in Colorado has announced it will extend its main season after its snowiest winter season in more than 10 years including their third snowiest December in history. It is extending its season by one week to Easter Sunday, April 16 it says.
"The record breaking snow seemingly has not stopped falling the past two months," said Mike Goar, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Keystone Resort. "We've received more than 13 feet of snow in December and January, the second highest combined total ever for those two months. With such an impressive and historic amount of snowfall at Keystone, we are delighted to extend our season through Easter."