Manmade snow is far better than it was when the technology was first put into use. A frequent skiier will be able to tell the difference between the natural and the less finely-grained machine-made snow, but it allows resorts to stay open longer into both fall and spring and provide better coverage all over the mountain even in the middle of winter. The manmade snow is also used for creating low-elevation "beginners areas" as well as advanced terrain parks for thrill-seeking snowboarders and skiiers. Many resorts, including big-name ones, spend tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars making snow each year. As a result, their slopes are more reliably and more evenly covered, which is better for business and better for skiiers. Over the weekend, the Wall Street Journal (subscription req'd) compiled a list of some of the top snowmaking resorts and what percentage of their slopes are covered with the stuff to help give you some insight when planning a trip to the mountains this season:

• Aspen/Snowmass, Colorado (12%)
• Big Sky Resort, Montana (10%)
• Crested Bute, Colorado (25%)
• Jackson Hole, Wyoming (10%)
• Mammoth Mountain, California (20%)
• Park City, Utah (33%)
• Swuaw Valley, California (15%)
• Stowe Mountain, Vermont (80%)
• Sunday River, Maine (92%)
• Taos, New Mexico (50%)
• Telluride, Colorado (17%)
• Whistler Blackcomb, British Colombia (7%)