Chow Down on Pow for Thanksgiving
There are a lot of traditions centered around the Thanksgiving holiday — feasting, family and football being the most common.
But in the snowsports world Turkey Day marks the traditional, semi-official opening of the skiing and snowboarding season.
While the snow may not be bountiful in all parts of North America, there’s still enough of the good stuff to go around, allowing more than 70 resorts to spin their lifts for the Thanksgiving weekend.
The following is a rundown of ski hills — with base snow depth in inches and lifts reported operating as of Tuesday, Nov. 21 — that plan to serve up some tasty fun for the holiday.
East
Vermont: Killington (12-14 inches, 2 lifts); Jay Peak (NA); Mt. Snow (13-16, 4); Okemo (12-18, 2); Stowe (12-38, 4); Sugarbush (7-30, 1).
New Hampshire: Bretton Woods (4-12, 3); Loon Mountain (8-15, 1).
New York: Bristol Mountain (6-12, 1); Whiteface (12-36, 2).
Maine: Sugarloaf (3-8, 1); Sunday River (16, 2).
Pennsylvania: Big Boulder (24, 2); Roundtop (NA).
Massachusetts: Jiminy Peak (8-20, 3); Wachusett Mountain (NA).
North Carolina: Sugar Mountain (8-24, 2).
Midwest
Michigan: Big Snow/Indianhead (12-20 inches, 3 lifts); Boyne Highlands (26-40, 2); Boyne Mountain (11-21, 2); Hyland Ski and Snowboard Area (12-14, 1); Ski Brule (36, 2).
Minnesota: Afton Alps (12-24, 3); Andes Tower Hills (12-38, 2); Buck Hill (4-18, 5); Lutsen (NA);
Powder Ridge (12-18, 3); Wild Mountain (40, 8).
Wisconsin: Granite Peak (18-36, 2); Trollhaugen (4-42, 4); Tyrol Basin (12-18, 1).
Rockies
Colorado: Arapahoe Basin (18-inch base, 4 lifts); Breckinridge (18, 3); Copper Mountain (18, 5); Keystone (18, 4); Loveland (24, 4); Monarch (NA); Purgatory (10-14, 2); Winter Park (18, 6); Wolf Creek (14, 4).
Montana: Great Divide (10-20, 3); Lost Trail (NA).
Wyoming: Grand Targhee (49-59, 5).
New Mexico: Sipapu (14, 1).
Idaho: Sun Valley (NA).
Utah: Brighton (22, 2).
West
California: Alpine Meadows (18-inch base, 1 lift); Boreal (15-20, 2); Heavenly (NA); Kirkwood (NA); Mammoth (20-60, 12); Northstar (NA); Squaw Valley (18, 9).
Washington: Crystal Mountain (32-54, 9); 49 Degrees North (18-31, 4); Mission Ridge (NA); Mt. Baker (70-88, 6); Mt. Spokane (19-23, 3); White Pass (23-41, 4).
Oregon: Mt. Bachelor (40, 3); Mt. Hood Meadows (36-45, 6); Timberline (38, 5).
Nevada: Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe (19-37, 4).
Canada
British Columbia: Cypress Mountain (43-inch base, 3 lifts); Grouse Mountain (47, 2); Sun Peaks (33, 7); Whistler Blackcomb (NA).
Alberta: Canada Olympic Park (2-5, 5); Lake Louise (37-46, 7); Marmot Basin (31, 6); Mt. Norquay (28, 2); Nakiska (20-22, 4); Sunshine Village (32, 10).