Snowfall is dramatically lower this year: for example, 49 percent below normal in Colorado and 61 percent below normal in Utah. The temperature in the Northern Hemisphere is the second highest ever, making snowmaking difficult. La Nina is blamed.

Some ski slopes cannot open, others have a limited number of runs open. Lift-ticket sales are down. Those slopes that are open are crowded.

Skiers are responding by canceling trips or going elsewhere - to places such as Europe and Canada, as well as to other ski slopes in the U.S. Canada has profited not only from higher snowfall amounts, but also from the depreciation of the Canadian dollar, which has made Canadian trips cheaper.

Resorts are fighting back. Some are reducing lift ticket and accommodation prices, and a few offer rebates on future ski vacations if the snow is inadequate this year. Others picture current snow levels on their web sites, and are marketing their resorts more aggressively.

(Updated February 1, 1999)