Cold Miser Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 What a difference a few miles and elevation makes. From this morning. First photo is behind my house. The second photo is 7 miles north, and 200+ feet higher in elevation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorEaster27 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 What a difference a few miles and elevation makes. From this morning. First photo is behind my house. The second photo is 7 miles north, and 200+ feet higher in elevation. this time of year its all about south vs north facing slopes. I was in Utah this past weekend and south facing slopes had little to no snow while north facing slopes had a good 2-3 feet even at a realtive low elvation around 5k. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold Miser Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 this time of year its all about south vs north facing slopes. I was in Utah this past weekend and south facing slopes had little to no snow while north facing slopes had a good 2-3 feet even at a realtive low elvation around 5k. That second hill faces North/East. Even many of the southen sides still have snow on them, but not as much. The woods in some places have a decent few inches as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastalWx Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Still pretty solid snowcover here at work, but that probably won't last much longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderfreak Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 I wonder out loud if this year might be a record in terms of earliest ski resort closings in NNE in history? Had to throw a couple pictures up this morning to combat the troll post (I swallowed the bait whole and got the hook in the jugular) it will be hard to close down all the NNE ski areas by March 22nd no matter how warm it gets. Snowmaking is a wonderful thing these days and technology is improving every year. If you bury all your key routes and trails with many, many feet of wet, caking man-made snow (think 6:1 ratio blue stuff) for a base layer... a couple warm weeks in March isn't going to really do anything. Its usually a classic case of "snow-has-melted-in-my-backyard-so-it-must-have-melted-at-the-mountain" thinking. For reference the tower gun running on skier's right is like 30 feet high and the snow is getting close in spots. These were all back in December/early January so depths on trails have only gotten higher, but this gives a good look at the starting points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderfreak Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Opening all windows before work let that sweet salt air in the house..........spring fever abounds, people have a giddy up in their step this morning, convertibles, scantilly clad co~eds and creamy dreamy milfs prancing around in their latest and greatest. What a wonderful time of year, its the happiest season of all, temps surging along the south coast already, shorts for the win.................AC next week? I gotta say I caught the spring fever a bit this morning... bright sun, temps warming quickly up above 1,200ft (though down here at 800ft we've been stuck under a pesky inversion, still 29F while its 37F at 1,500ft) but I noticed a few puffs of wind so the inversion must be starting to mix out with the solar radiation. Going up for many hours of spring skiing fun and time to start the goggle tan. By mid April all on-mtn resort employees usually look like they just got back from Florida...amazing how much sun you can get off the snow even this early in the season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastalWx Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 LOL reading Joe's post makes me think he hit the bottle early again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderfreak Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 LOL reading Joe's post makes me think he hit the bottle early again. Before I leave for the day I'm running around putting all the AC units back in the windows. Don't want the place to spontaneously combust while I'm gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian5671 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 nice pics of the ski areas...the issue will be getting folks to go there...if it's 60 in my backyard, I'm thinking of hiking or golfing and not driving to a ski resort. That is their big issue here. I'm sure the skiing will be fine in april especially if it remains dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold Miser Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Had to throw a couple pictures up this morning to combat the troll post (I swallowed the bait whole and got the hook in the jugular) it will be hard to close down all the NNE ski areas by March 22nd no matter how warm it gets. Slightly off topic, but: I remember skiing at Waterville a few years back on May 10th. They had 95% of the trails open, and the snow was deep. They were closing for the season the next day. When I asked why they were closing, the woman said a big reason was due to the fact that people in the Boston, and other metro areas are just not in the skiing mindset anymore, and that there's just not enough hard core skiiers to warrant running the lifts. I suppose this is where a place like Killington comes to the rescue by leaving Superstar open til June or whatever they can get out of it. Edit: While I was typing this, Brian kind of summed it up above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Logan11 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 The NAM says Friday and Saturday are probably sub 32 here ...so I'm gonna savor it, knowing what lies ahead. -18C 850 early Saturday morning is decent...if brief. Before I leave for the day I'm running around putting all the AC units back in the windows. Don't want the place to spontaneously combust while I'm gone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderfreak Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Slightly off topic, but: I remember skiing at Waterville a few years back on May 10th. They had 95% of the trails open, and the snow was deep. They were closing for the season the next day. When I asked why they were closing, the woman said a big reason was due to the fact that people in the Boston, and other metro areas are just not in the skiing mindset anymore, and that there's just not enough hard core skiiers to warrant running the lifts. I suppose this is where a place like Killington comes to the rescue by leaving Superstar open til June or whatever they can get out of it. Edit: While I was typing this, Brian kind of summed it up above. Oh yeah that's the problem every year... evaporating skiers before evaporating snow. Last year we closed 100% open. We went over the numbers and considered staying open another week, but it is a business in the end and it just isn't fiscally responsible to continue past like the third week of April. It is a surprising amount of money to just operating one lift, one lodge, and basic services for a week. Its a tough call because you want to reward the seasons pass holders but if you hit your agreed upon operating schedule, (ie when someone buys a pass they expect you to be open from X date to Y date), its hard from a budget standpoint to continue operating with significantly diminishing returns. Of course you have a couple resorts that go longer, but that's a supply and demand issue as there is enough demand in the northeast for say 2 or 3 resorts to operate into May... but if 5 resorts were open, they'd all end up losing big time. Its always a hard call for those of us who work and live here and have such a passion for the mountain and skiing. We want to stay open as long as possible if there is snow, but we can also see the business side of things. Its the most basic business decision there is... if you are losing money, you close. Its like the restaurant that does great business Wed-Sun nights but gets absolutely no one to come in on Monday or Tuesday nights. So they close for two days a week even though they may piss off the one or two people who like to eat there on Monday nights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ski MRG Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Somebody needs to hose LL down with ice water. Nice late Winter day in gC. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ski MRG Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Oh yeah that's the problem every year... evaporating skiers before evaporating snow. Last year we closed 100% open. We went over the numbers and considered staying open another week, but it is a business in the end and it just isn't fiscally responsible to continue past like the third week of April. It is a surprising amount of money to just operating one lift, one lodge, and basic services for a week. Its a tough call because you want to reward the seasons pass holders but if you hit your agreed upon operating schedule, (ie when someone buys a pass they expect you to be open from X date to Y date), its hard from a budget standpoint to continue operating with significantly diminishing returns. Of course you have a couple resorts that go longer, but that's a supply and demand issue as there is enough demand in the northeast for say 2 or 3 resorts to operate into May... but if 5 resorts were open, they'd all end up losing big time. Its always a hard call for those of us who work and live here and have such a passion for the mountain and skiing. We want to stay open as long as possible if there is snow, but we can also see the business side of things. Its the most basic business decision there is... if you are losing money, you close. Its like the restaurant that does great business Wed-Sun nights but gets absolutely no one to come in on Monday or Tuesday nights. So they close for two days a week even though they may piss off the one or two people who like to eat there on Monday nights. I've had some awesome days earning my turns after the ski areas close. Tons of skiing left in this season regardless of the temps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold Miser Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Oh yeah that's the problem every year... evaporating skiers before evaporating snow. Last year we closed 100% open. Knowing this may happen again this year, what do people like you who are working for the resorts do? I can't imagine you just waking up at the end of April, looking at all of those trails and thinking to yourself, "Crap, can't ski today". Do you find ways to keep your season going? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weatherwiz Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 If we get backdoors in May and most of the month is 50's with clouds and drizzle I'm going to flip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoarfrostHubb Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Knowing this may happen again this year, what do people like you who are working for the resorts do? I can't imagine you just waking up at the end of April, looking at all of those trails and thinking to yourself, "Crap, can't ski today". Do you find ways to keep your season going? Lots of folks with the bug hike or skin up the trails and ski down Good workout and environmentally friendly I have not done it myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Typhoon Tip Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Man is that a powerful MJO in Phase 4 - wow. The Wheeler Diagrams are impressive at CDC; I'm sure others may have sources that vary the appeal to some degree, but by and large ...heh, no wonder we're heading right into June. So it seems. It's a pretty big slap in the face for winter weather enthusiasts to have witnessed, ...no, endured, a very strong presentation/propagation of the MJO through 7-8-1, and having nothing ...0 to show for it; yet now, it's of equal magnitude in Phase 4 and the pattern takes liberties with it. Warmth is being greedy beyond the pail - hahaha. Anyway fail to understand the definition of the cosmid dildo? Prediction: Snowiest April in history. Now that would be a pisser. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Logan11 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Embrace the classic SNE Spring. You'll be an AARP member the next time there is ever another tornado outbreak like last year. If we get backdoors in May and most of the month is 50's with clouds and drizzle I'm going to flip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ctsnowstorm628 Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Already 39F...nice and toasty! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Typhoon Tip Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Scott'll get a kick out of this... The 00z operational ECMWF (just saw) hints at a ...duh duh dunnnnnn: Senoran heat release... Seriously, whether it pans or not...it shows at 168 hours some 18+C 850mb air layer originating in that continental region, and precariously situates it next to the westerlies... I tell you what, that could be setting the stage for what magnificent severe weather event with all that longitudinal bias in the flow, while dangling trough so close to the Rockies. F* snow man this is exciting stuff! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbutts Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Knowing this may happen again this year, what do people like you who are working for the resorts do? I can't imagine you just waking up at the end of April, looking at all of those trails and thinking to yourself, "Crap, can't ski today". Do you find ways to keep your season going? I haven't done it in many years, but I believe the number 1 answer is Pinkham Notch/Tuckerman Check it out on a Saturday in April or May and you will find a large # of folks willing to earn some turns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weatherwiz Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Embrace the classic SNE Spring. You'll be an AARP member the next time there is ever another tornado outbreak like last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisM Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Im feeling hugee severe wx this spring wiz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamarack Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Prediction: Snowiest April in history. Now that would be a pisser. Tough to beat 2007 up my way. Farmington's co-op obs date back thru 1893, and the 36.1" in '07 is tops for April by over a foot. I'd take it, though - "real" spring doesn't usually get going here before Patriots' Day, anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cold Miser Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Lots of folks with the bug hike or skin up the trails and ski down Good workout and environmentally friendly I have not done it myself. Skin? WTF is that - hiking naked? I haven't done it in many years, but I believe the number 1 answer is Pinkham Notch/Tuckerman Check it out on a Saturday in April or May and you will find a large # of folks willing to earn some turns. I was really referring to groomed mountains, and trying to get freak to tell me that he and his buddies break into the control building and start up the lifts when no one is around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoastalWx Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 Scott'll get a kick out of this... The 00z operational ECMWF (just saw) hints at a ...duh duh dunnnnnn: Senoran heat release... Seriously, whether it pans or not...it shows at 168 hours some 18+C 850mb air layer originating in that continental region, and precariously situates it next to the westerlies... I tell you what, that could be setting the stage for what magnificent severe weather event with all that longitudinal bias in the flow, while dangling trough so close to the Rockies. F* snow man this is exciting stuff! Yeah +12C at 850 near the southern tip of Hudson Bay. It will be interesting to see how far east this makes it. It's not very easy for those warm plumes to climb the ridge and head east this time of year. However, even a seabreeze this time of year isn't all that bad, so long as the wind is under 10-15 kts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tropopause_Fold Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 man wind is ripping today. going to howl tomorrow. someplace in the BOS / PVD / FMH triangle will gust over 45 knots i think. kinda takes some of the enjoyment out of the warmth when it's sustained SW @ 25 mph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damage In Tolland Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 man wind is ripping today. going to howl tomorrow. someplace in the BOS / PVD / FMH triangle will gust over 45 knots i think. kinda takes some of the enjoyment out of the warmth when it's sustained SW @ 25 mph If you have time tomorrow..will you lay out an tan a bit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tropopause_Fold Posted March 7, 2012 Share Posted March 7, 2012 If you have time tomorrow..will you lay out an tan a bit? of course. right on the hood of my car. already have the coconut dark tanning oil ready. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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