Amid the West’s snow drought, several ski areas are storing up manmade snow and saving it under mats for next ski season — a ...

The snow in the mountains is still at historically low levels even after the recent storms. As of Jan. 7, both the Colorado and Arkansas River headwaters were at the lowest snowpack levels on record.

Without snowmaking equipment, Monarch Mountain outside Salida relies on Mother Nature to turn its ski runs white each winter. Yes, but: In low snow years like this one, she needs a little help, says ...