There’s been little or no fresh snow this week, but the glaciers have huge snow bases so that’s not a problem.  Conditions are typical for Spring skiing with overnight freezing followed by thawing from lunchtime, so morning conditions are generally best.The Kaunertal glacier has had nearly 10 metres (33 feet) of snow this winter and currently has 155cm (over 5 feet) lying on the upper slopes with five lifts accessing the slopes. On the Kitzsteinhorn glacier above Kaprun there’s 353cm (12 feet) of snow to enjoy. The Stubai and Tux glaciers are also open with three to four metres of snow each.Switzerland currently has skiing available at Engelberg on the Titlis glacier and on Europe’s highest ski slopes at Zermatt. There are 8km (5 miles) of runs available at Engelberg, where a 4m (13 foot) snow base is available with five lifts running. Zermatt has a similar amount of terrain open and also boasts more than four metres (13 feet) of snow – it will remain open year round.

In North America, Alberta’s final snow sports for the season ended last weekend when Sunshine’s long season came to an end. So the only remaining open ski area in the country is Whistler Blackcomb, with skiing on the Blackcomb Glacier. There’s been no new snow here in the past week but the resort is reporting a 169cm (just under six feet) base with recommended runs Upper and Lower Zig Zag.South of the border in the US, four ski areas remain open following the closure for the season of Mt Bachelor in Oregon after its last ski day at the weekend.

On the upside however, Snowbird in Utah has announced an extended ski season.In Colorado Arapahoe Basin has about a dozen runs open with a mid mountain snow base of 115cm (46 inches).  Timberline in Oregon, which is open almost year round, closing only for a few weeks in September, has a 480cm (16 foot) base.Mammoth Mountain in California’s famed Spring Super Duper Pipe opened on Monday, May 18th.  Located above McCoy Station at an elevation of 10,000 feet, the new halfpipe boasts 22-foot tall walls and measures 400+ feet in length.  Mammoth currently has terrain parks open on Forest Trail and Unbound Main, and a selection of jumps and rails will soon be added to the new spring park to complement the massive halfpipe ensuring that Mammoth will have a terrain park open until the last day of the season.   

With a base depth of 120-240cm (4-8 feet) of snow near Main Lodge (8,900ft) and 4.5 – 4.5m (14-18) feet of snow at the summit (11,053ft), Mammoth’s spring skiing conditions are in full effect.  Thanks to nearly 13m (40 feet) of snowfall throughout the 2008/09 winter season, Mammoth Mountain has extended its winter operations until at least June 14, and possibly later.The southern hemisphere’s ski season is still due to kick off a fortnight ahead of schedule at Mt Hutt in New Zealand next week on Saturday 30 May (conditions permitting). The centre has received around two metres (seven feet) of fresh snow this month.