MT. SHASTA COULD SHATTER THE RECORD FOR MOST SNOW

Remember the shutout snow year last winter? The dumpage still going on at California’s Mt. Shasta, will suffocate, blur, and white-out all remnants of that drought, with possibly more than 18 FEET of snow (213 inches) in a single four-day window. That’s world record turf — the previous world record, according to Weather Underground, was 189 inches. But that took place in a six-day period. Not surprisingly, it happened at Mount Shasta Ski bowl (now Mount Shasta Ski Park) in February 1959, which was the first year that the ski resort opened. The previous four-day high, according to the National Climatic Data Center, took place at Sierra-at-Tahoe ski resort near Lake Tahoe, where 145 inches fell during a March-April period in 1982. Some perspective, though: Ski Park is at a relatively low 5,500 and it’s been getting rain out of the current deluge; you’ll have to skin higher to get to the goods…if it ever stops snowing. Via Examiner.com.

MAD RIVER NAMED TO NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES

Wicked! Mad River Glen has gotten special recognition for what it means to American ski lore. It opened in 1948, still won’t let in snowboarders, doesn’t believe in grooming, and doesn’t suffer wussies. It’s as crusty New England as mountains get, right down to its iconic single chair. The nomination places a special emphasis on the natural flow of Mad River Glen’s ski trails, most of which were cut by hand, without the use of dynamite and large machines, and without altering rock ledges and other natural features. “Most of Mad River Glen’s carefully placed trails become visible only to those who are descending the mountain,” reads the nomination. “These trails define the skiing experience and are much less intrusive to the face of the mountain than the broad, open swaths visibly apparent at other ski resorts.” Said Terry Barbour, the area’s ski school director, a few years back, “Mad River Glen is like skiing in a museum.” Via ESPN.

COLORADO IN DESPERATE NEED OF MORE SNOW

After a brutally dry November, the weather pattern may be shifting in early December, bringing at least a chance of snow to parts of Colorado during the next few days. Statewide snowpack was at 41 percent of average as of November 29, with some river basins as low as 26 percent. Beyond the need for snow on the slopes, Colorado’s reservoirs and rivers are running dangerously low, while high temperatures for the month of November averaged an eye-opening 7 degrees above average. The hope is that approaching weather systems finally start to dust the high country with some regularity. Big dumps aren’t expected, but even modest, and especially consistent, snow is crucial for the state’s water levels and to start to prevent a repeat of last year’s brutal fire season; there are still wildfires raging in the state and, yeah, it’s December. Via Summit County Voice.

BODE MILLER, DONE FOR THE SEASON? FOREVER?

Last season Bode Miller had a particularly bad knee injury, requiring microfracture surgery to repair. Since then there’s been speculation about when, or if, Miller will return. His coaches say later this season, but the don of the World Cup circuit has mostly been mum on the subject. Chris Davenport said Miller’s unpredictable: “The thing with Bode is, you just never know. He could just as easily throw his hands up and say: ‘I’m done. I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished. I’m having fun being married, and I’m looking forward to the rest of my life.’ ” Davenport said if Miller hung it up there’d be a big void on buzz, but one of Miller’s biggest rivals, Norwegian Aksel Lund Svindal, said that’s an exaggeration. “I would say the media works a little bit differently in Europe compared to the U.S.,” Svindal said. “In Europe, it’s more about who wins. Even if you are a character outside of the slopes, it’s not as important in Europe. It’s more about who is the fastest. It’s more about the actual performance. Svindal, who placed second in Friday’s Birds of Prey downhill at Beaver Creek, compared Miller’s race results with those of another American, Ted Ligety. Over the last three seasons, Ligety has won seven races, Miller only two. But in the United States, unlike in the rest of the world, it’s Miller who gets the media love, Ligety, not so much. Via New York Times.