Skiing Reports

Question
What exactly does the base refer to in a ski report? How do they arrive at that number?

Answer
Hey David,

The reported base is the measurement of the amount of snow at a specific spot near the lodge or the base of the mountain. Many places also report a top base which is a measurement somewhere near the highest lift on the mountain. The spot is usually an undisturbed area where the snow is settled. They may report an amount of snow per 24 and 48 hours. That is the amount that has fallen recently. As more snow comes down the 'base' packs down due to weight and melt. The base is usually quite less than the actual amount of snowfall due to settling. Early season reports can be decieving due to grooming and skiers packing down the snow on the runs. My rule of thumb for good coverage all over the mountain is about a 60" base. This usually ensures that most hazards are covered up and skiing off the groomed slopes is usually safe. Always take care when skiing off of a groomed run. Hope this helps.
Windlover