Halfway Point
Basically just past the unofficial halfway mark for the ski season in North America. Three months down...three to go. Since I'm trying to procrastinate at work all the while looking and sounding busy, I've decided to provide a little synopsis of the stats for the year.
East
After a pretty fucking epic December, New England not only has slipped, it landed on its face in January. Hopefully things turn around in February. Sounds like beginning this weekend, we may see a big turnaround. At the beginning of January Jay Peak snowfall totals were running neck-and-neck with Alta's totals. They came around the New Year turn with basically ~200" each. I look today at both websites; the beginning of February: Jay Peak 243"; Alta 451". Quite a difference split since the New Year. Bolton Valley is reporting 183" but I don't believe they reported a lot of the November snowfalls. The season totals quickly drop as you head south in VT with Killington reporting 157" for the season, and I doubt Stratton would be above 100" for the season. I would like to comment on natural snow bases, but unfortunately New England ski areas don't deal with natural snow depths. Mad River would be the only one I would trust, but they don't report their snowpack.
West
Wow, what a season for basically every ski area west of the Mississippi. The only place that seems to be about average is Summit County, CO and maybe the Canadian Rockies. Even Taos is reporting a 108" base depth which I don't think they surpassed a 100" base even in their epic year of '00-'01. Alta base depth 152" (fuck me, they'll probably surpass a 200" base this year), Alpine Meadows 105-161" (that is about what Mad River is reporting for their total snowfall for the year), J-Hole 90-109", Mt. Baker 175-190".
Some other base depths: Kicking Horse 64", Big Sky 58-87", Arapahoe Basin 52" mid-mountain, Steamboat 82", Crested Butte 90"
My take...time for New England to start harvesting some big storms.
East
After a pretty fucking epic December, New England not only has slipped, it landed on its face in January. Hopefully things turn around in February. Sounds like beginning this weekend, we may see a big turnaround. At the beginning of January Jay Peak snowfall totals were running neck-and-neck with Alta's totals. They came around the New Year turn with basically ~200" each. I look today at both websites; the beginning of February: Jay Peak 243"; Alta 451". Quite a difference split since the New Year. Bolton Valley is reporting 183" but I don't believe they reported a lot of the November snowfalls. The season totals quickly drop as you head south in VT with Killington reporting 157" for the season, and I doubt Stratton would be above 100" for the season. I would like to comment on natural snow bases, but unfortunately New England ski areas don't deal with natural snow depths. Mad River would be the only one I would trust, but they don't report their snowpack.
West
Wow, what a season for basically every ski area west of the Mississippi. The only place that seems to be about average is Summit County, CO and maybe the Canadian Rockies. Even Taos is reporting a 108" base depth which I don't think they surpassed a 100" base even in their epic year of '00-'01. Alta base depth 152" (fuck me, they'll probably surpass a 200" base this year), Alpine Meadows 105-161" (that is about what Mad River is reporting for their total snowfall for the year), J-Hole 90-109", Mt. Baker 175-190".
Some other base depths: Kicking Horse 64", Big Sky 58-87", Arapahoe Basin 52" mid-mountain, Steamboat 82", Crested Butte 90"
My take...time for New England to start harvesting some big storms.
posted by More Cowbells at 9:22 AM
9 Comments:
4-6 yesterday, 8 throughout the day today, and more to come this weekend. Things have changed A LOT in northern VT in the past 24 hours. We're back for sure....add to that the 12-16 we've recieved over the past week, and things should be quite nice today on the hill.
Bolton's snow reporting is done when they feel like it, and generally doesn't happen at all. Their snow report is a running joke at this point. Some resorts tent to inflate snow readings...Bolton just doesn't bother to turn the computer on. Suffice it to say, it would be safe to add at least 40 inches to the total.
Thank GOD it can still snow in the NE.
Glad to here the west is still balls deep, at least those of you who aren't nursing back injuries.
Just wait until tomorrow Quinn, it only gets better!! Dumping rain down here this morning, but calling for 4-8" tonight down here, and more in central Vt. Another storm rolling up the coast Saturday.
Haha. Wait, my back still hurts and I can't ski or climb yet, not that funny.
11-14 inches forecasted from now til Friday AM. It looks like a storm on Saturday might continue the tremendous-ness.
today was nice. about 25 ticket holders on the hill, freshies were plentiful til the very last turn.
Heavy snow continues.
Erik Balzbaugh...is there a Balzbaugh in the house?? Have you been able to crawl out of the elephant's ass since super tuesday?
J-Hole is currently under another severe winter weather warning. For the second time this week all roads out of town have closed. We have had 65 inches of snow since February started, with 6 inches so far today and calling for another 6 inches by tomorrow. This shit is nutty. After resting up for a week, I am looking forward to the deep stuff tomorrow!
Hey fucker, Vail is over 300 inches for the season (they average 346") and most locations in Colorado are at 150%-200% of their average snow-water equivalent. Spent the weekend taking airs at Vail with my buddy Eric. Aired the first 25-footer in a while, nice to feel like I haven't lost all of my JH skillz. Longest lift lines I have ever seen there. Luckily the first 2 hours were solitary.
TK, what are avy conditions like in CO?
they eat balls in most areas
Post a Comment
<< Home