California's two 'still-open-since-last-November' ski areas Mammoth and Squaw Valley reported fresh snowfall yesterday. Snowfall in June is not unheard of but quite rare, and the snow also fell on many closed ski areas across Western North America at least as far as Utah where Alta posted video of heavy snowfall.
Squaw (pictured from the valley yesterday) reported the bigger accumulation – about 10cm (four inches), whilst at Mammoth it was closer to 3cm (an inch). However Mammoth is currently open every day, Squaw only at weekends, so it's a few day's wait there until anyone can ski or board it.
Both ski areas have previously announced they'll be open until at least August – the first time ever for Squaw Valley and only the second time in its history for Mammoth (pictured below yesterday) – the last time more than 20 years ago.
The long seasons are thanks to huge snowfalls last season which have left the snow still lying deeper than it got all winter at most resorts in the Alps. At Squaw it's 3.7m (over 12 feet) deep still, at Mammoth 175cm deep at the base (nearly six feet) and 560cm (nearly 19 feet) at the top of the runs.
Temperatures will continue to drop below zero overnight for the remainder of this week at both areas according to forecasts and more flurries are possible.
Also open in the US are Timberline on Mt Hood in Oregon, the Beartooth Basin summer ski area in Montana and – with snow in a terrain park – Copper in Colorado. Mt Bachelor in Oregon says it will re-open for three days of summer skiing over the Independence Day holiday weekend at the start of July.
