Snow falls this winter have been unusually unpredictable. In Europe, Italy, south of the Alps, has done better than Alpine rivals to the north. Canada hasn't enjoyed quite the powder falls its smaller, fast-developing resorts were counting on. Some of the great Colorado resorts suffered their 'driest' January for years although more recent snow has evened things out. Despite this, bookings have recovered from the millennium year slump.
ANDORRA: Early week light snowfalls gave way to sunny days. Depths in all five resorts are adequate, especially higher up, for enjoyable piste skiing (off-piste is varied) in Arcalis (100cm on lower slopes and 160cm higher up), Pal/Arinsal (70/105cm), Pas de la Casa (100/130cm) and Soldeu (80/140cm), with almost all runs open.
AUSTRIA: Busy Ischgl (25/160cm), had good pistes higher up, fair lower ones, and 'packed' off-piste. The big story from this rather pricey resort is that Sting will be this year's end-of-season artist with a concert on the last day of April in the natural amphitheatre at Idalp. The concert is free for all those with lift tickets. Neighbouring Galtur (70/130), scene of the horrific avalanche two years ago, has slightly more snow lower down. St Anton (40/210cm) has been slushy on low runs. Obergurgl (50/160cm) was fine up high and expecting more snow to help resort runs. Kitzbuhel (18/70cm) was similarly placed. Saalbach/Hinterglemm (35/70cm) had some early-week snow.
BULGARIA: Snowfalls have improved conditions at Borovets and Pamporovo (both 20/35cm).
CANADA: Whistler with a mid-mountain 180cm was using its snowmaking to good effect lower down. It was expecting varied weather with some light falls and occasional winds. Lake Louise (60/80cm) was cold and sunny and expecting light falls.
FRANCE: Puy St Vincent (60/220cm) with skiing up to 2,750m is enjoying good conditions. French resorts will still be busy with the last week of the school ski holidays. In the Three Valleys there's been some great, sunny skiing higher up and some slushy home runs. Conditions improve towards Val Thorens (70/170cm). La Rosiere (80/150cm) had excellent pistes and was drawing the Italian weekenders from La Thuile. Les Deux Alpes (40/200cm) was colder and better at the top.
ITALY: Madesimo (150/530cm) and Livigno (140/315cm) had the world's deepest snowbases. Earlier in the week conditions at Courmayeur (90/300cm) and La Thuile (140/250cm) were terrific, especially higher up. Aprica (20/370cm), Cervinia (100/300cm), Passo Tonale (50/220cm) and Selva (20/200cm) were typical. Both Sella Ronda and Milky Way, Sestriere were still a very skiable 80/140cm.
NORWAY: Hemsedal (140/210cm) and Geilo (130/145cm) are still good; Voss (40/60cm) is still struggling. In Sweden, Are (40/65cm) was needing more low down.
SPAIN: Sierra Nevada (100/280cm) still holding well. In Formigal (45/235cm) rain threatened lower runs.
SWITZERLAND: St Moritz (150/320cm) is having a superb season. Saas Fee (85/300cm) has had great skiing higher up. Davos (60/150cm), Verbier (35/90cm) and Grindlewald (25/105cm) hoped for more snow. Zermatt (60/215cm) was better placed after some snowfalls. South-facing Crans Montana (160/220cm) had been sunny everywhere and slushy low down.
USA: Snowbird in Utah (190/240cm) was lying fourth in the world deepest snow list. In the East, Vermont's Smuggler's Notch (70/130cm), a family-first resort just over a pass from Stowe (95/140cm), had expected early week falls to continue. Killington (75/175cm) too was excellent. It was gusty but there had been some fresh snow at Winter Park (mid-mountain 150cm). Other Colorado resorts were doing equally well. It was packed powder with a little fresh snow almost everywhere: Aspen (92cm), Breckenridge (104cm), Steamboat (127cm), Telluride (137cm) Vail (106cm) and its ritzy neighbour Beaver Creek (124cm). In California, Mammoth (210/240cm) and Heavenly (80/130cm), both popular with British skiers, were doing well.
ON THE SLOPES: King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan have been skiing in Lech. Earlier this year Michael Schumacher ('a duck on roller skates') tempted fate by skiing in Madonna di Campiglio.
BEST SKIING: Puy St Vincent, where Snowbizz (01778 341 455, www.snowbizz.co.uk) offers seven nights self-catering, departing next Sunday, for £374, based on two sharing a studio, including flights and transfers.
The AITO directory of ski operators, whose reps help with this report, is available free by calling 020 8607 9080.
