Issued: 22 January 2020 By Patrick "Snowhunter" Thorne North American Roundup European Roundup Asia Roundup INTRODUCTION NORTH AMERICA Some of the best conditions of the season so far right now on North America's east coast, Whiteface Mountain Ski Resort reports 18 inches (45cm) of fresh snow. It has been one of the snowiest weeks of the season so far in North America.  The Pacific Northwest continued to be dumped on, but the snowfall is now covering a much wider area with resorts down in southern California seeing some good snowfalls after a mostly dry month. Even out over the Pacific there was 50cm of snowfall reported on the world's highest mountain, Mauna Kea (albeit with three-quarters of it under-water). The

Last time round I was very hopeful that the snow taps would have been turned on from Christmas onwards and over New Year. Unfortunately, it pains me to say that those taps have yet to be turned on properly and when thinking about what to write about this time round, there was only ever one topic this time round. But before I continue, it is important to say upfront that there is good to be had - I have so far enjoyed quite a few days in some excellent quality snow. While many lower ski resorts are indeed struggling, snow cover is generally not a problem in higher areas even as they have less snow than usual. A few (admittedly

Plans to build a year round ski area on a pristine site on the BC side of the provincial border with Alberta in Canada appear to finally be over. The plans for Jumbo Glacier were first mooted almost 30 years ago back in the early 1990s and the project has ridden the wave of public opinion and political changes over the decades.  Five or so years ago it appeared that it might finally be coming close to actually happening as the site was given official status, some statutory state funding and the first base buildings almost appeared. But construction in zones with high avalanche risk and on land that was both of high environmental value and sacred to the Ktunaxa

Although Afghanistan sadly may not have the favourable image it deserves on the world stage, the country is home to some great  back-country skiing in the Koh-e Baba mountain range and in recent years there has been an effort to both revive and encourage snowsports in the country. This winter ISHKAR Explore, a social enterprise that runs trips to places including Afghanistan and Iraqi Kurdistan are launching a completely unique backcountry skiing experience. The group are organising a small ski trip to the historic Bamiyan valley which they say is a stable region of Afghanistan. “This is a chance to see the country that exists beyond the headlines and ski undiscovered mountains,” said Zanna Baker, the company’s Head of Travel.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming says it has had more snow ion the first fortnight of 2020 than in the first half of January in any previous year.  As a result its upper slope base depth is also the deepest it has ever been for this early in the season. The resort has had snowfall every day of the year so far with over a foot (30cm) of snow falling in five of the 14 days, all but one of them in the past week. Altogether this has added up to more than 11 feet (134 inches / 335cm to be precise) of snowfall giving a current 91 inch (2.3 metre) upper slope base depth – and very deep