Ski season just keeps going as Breck extends to June 9

OK, first the good news: All the snowstorms in May have Colorado at nearly 200% of the average annual snowpack – all but eliminating drought conditions in 99.99% of the state. Now the better news: ski season at both Arapahoe Basin and Breckenridge has extended through Sunday, June 9. Now the bad news: Can’t really think of any; this is all good for Colorado.

Here’s the announcement from Breck:

“We’re taking the best season ever and extending a little longer! The resort will remain open daily through Memorial Day, May 27 as planned, and then will shift to a weekend schedule, offering skiing and riding Friday through Sunday May 31-June 2 and June 7-9, weather and conditions permitting. This season, we’ve recieved over 450″ of snow and conditions are so good, we’ll be skiing into June. Check out our top photos of the season and reminisce about some amazing days you had in December and March, then plan for another ski day in June!”

For more details on what’s open and how much it all costs, click on the Breck website.

And the latest from Alan Henceroth, COO of Arapahoe Basin, on Thursday:

“It snowed off and on all day long. As I left this afternoon, it was still snowing and as I sit at home at dusk this evening, it is snowing heavily again. Tomorrow we should be skiing at least a few more new inches. This is a very nice May.”

And the thing is, this is a nationwide storm track. Here’s an excerpt of a blog from Snocountry.com on all the resorts (including Purgatory and Aspen) either open or re-opening for Memorial Day weekend, according to snocountry.com:

Memorial Day Weekend is the official kick-off to summer, but don’t tell that to Mother Nature!

More than a dozen ski resorts are currently open, or re-opening, for Memorial Day Weekend and beyond from California, to Colorado and Vermont. Thanks to a series of storms rolling through the Western U.S., Memorial Day Weekend conditions will feel more like February than May. Mammoth Mountain has received more than 700 inches of snow at the summit this season and expects to offer skiing and riding into August. This weekend, Mammoth will have more than 40 trails open for skiing and riding, in addition to the Unbound Terrain parks where you can catch a glimpse of the more than 50 U.S. Snowboard and Freeski Team members training and dialing in tricks for the 19-20 season.

In the Tahoe Region, Squaw Valley has also received more than 700 inches of snowfall this season and will offer more than 50 open trails this weekend. Squaw is scheduled to close out the season July 7 with the Lake Tahoe Freedom Fest – a five-day festival of music, paying tribute to the 1991 concert by the Jerry Garcia Band that took place at Squaw. Plue, more music at the High Camp pool & hot tub and a free show at KT Base Bar with Paul Oakenfold and a fireworks display.

Utah’s Snowbird Resort is also encroaching on the 700-inch mark too, with 690 inches of snowfall this season. The Bird has a 116-inch mid-mountain base and will be open May 25-27.

In Colorado, Aspen Mountain re-opens for Memorial Day Weekend, offering 130 acres of skiable terrain, and the start of Aspen Mountain’s summer operations with access to sightseeing and food/beverage options at the Sundeck restaurant. There will be a live DJ outside on the deck Saturday and Sunday.