Berkshire East 1-15?

[Mark_151]

Anyone interested in harvesting the freshies on Tuesday? $25 lift tickets mid-week! I was there last Monday, a week after the last dumpage, and conditions were sill great:

 

[billski]

mark, would love to join you, it's just bad timing on two fronts. First, it's bound to be icy after yesterday's fiasco, plus I've already got ski commits for the prior weekend. Keep me on the radar for another time.

 

[madskier6]

I'm not sure if I can make it on Tues due to work but have you considered Monday instead? Consider what I recently posted on the Sundown 1/14 T&E Thread:

"It may be pushing it a bit given the current weather forecast, but what about hitting Berkshire East on Monday during the day? Obviously if its a blizzard on Monday morning, driving to BEast may not be wise but why not at least think about it, subject to weather/travel conditions?"

I'd love to hit the BEast this week after the new snow. Tuesday may be difficult for me however. Let me know what you think.

 

[Greg]

First, it's bound to be icy after yesterday's fiasco

Huh? :blink:

.LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
12/12Z MODELS ARE IN DECENT OVERALL AGREEMENT WITH THEIR SYNOPTIC
SOLUTIONS. HOWEVER...THE DETAILS ARE STILL PROBLEMATIC...
PARTICULARLY THE TRACK. CONFIDENCE IS GROWING FOR A SIGNIFICANT
NOREASTER MONDAY. AS SUCH...HAVE POSTED A WINTER STORM WATCH.

LATEST GFS HAS THE FARTHEST WEST TRACK...WHILE THE NAM HAS THE
SLOWEST. OPTED TO STAY CLOSER TO THE CONSENSUS SOLUTION...WHICH
WOULD HAVE THIS LOW PRESSURE PASS CLOSE TO THE BENCHMARK OF 40N/70W.

LOTS OF INGREDIENTS COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS A SIGNIFICANT
SYSTEM. STRONG VERTICAL MOTION...WITH A DEEP REGION OF POTENTIAL
DENDRITIC SNOW GROWTH AND A LARGE DEFORMATION ZONE SHOULD RESULT IN
SNOW. THE PROBLEM IS IT IS STILL TOO EARLY TO START NAILING DOWN
NUMBERS FOR SPECIFIC LOCATIONS...AT LEAST ON THE HIGH END.

A WIND ADVISORY WILL LIKELY BE NEEDED LATE SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY
ALONG ALL OF THE EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS COAST AND PERHAPS A HIGH WIND
WATCH IF A FASTER INTENSIFICATION OCCURS.

SNOW WILL TAPER TO LIGHTER SNOW SHOWERS AND FLURRIES BEFORE ENDING
BY TUESDAY MORNING.

 

[Mark_151]

I'm not sure if I can make it on Tues due to work but have you considered Monday instead? Consider what I recently posted on the Sundown 1/14 T&E Thread:

"It may be pushing it a bit given the current weather forecast, but what about hitting Berkshire East on Monday during the day? Obviously if its a blizzard on Monday morning, driving to BEast may not be wise but why not at least think about it, subject to weather/travel conditions?"

I'd love to hit the BEast this week after the new snow. Tuesday may be difficult for me however. Let me know what you think.

I was thinking about it, but it's a 70 mile drive from Leominster. Even with 4WD in the truck, it would suck in a blizzard. I also need to take care of stuff at work Monday before I can take yet another powder day in good conscience, and I need to take care of snow clearing duties around the house. So, Tuesday looks like it for me.

 

[billski]

Greg- Sorry, that was a fragmented sentence I never completed writing. I mean it's probably icy right now, before the storm.

Mark - I am starting to re-think my position on BE as I see the storm progressing. If it looks like they are going to get 10+ inches, I may re-arrange my schedule and get out there. Anything 6 or under no thanks. I'll make a decision later in the day Monday.

 

[Mark_151]

I think that's the way I'm playing it myself. As a big portion of the Beast is natural snow, it's going to have taken a big hit last week, so it'll have to be a real good dumping, otherwise I may be waiting for the next storm to burn a vacation day.

 

[billski]

I think that's the way I'm playing it myself. As a big portion of the Beast is natural snow, it's going to have taken a big hit last week, so it'll have to be a real good dumping, otherwise I may be waiting for the next storm to burn a vacation day.

Mark,
If you look at my BE review from December, that was day after a 12" dump. The trails that were heaven were those that had been previously closed, presumably with not base much under them given the early-ness of the season. I would want to be there early though. 12" atop nearly-nothing will ride nice all day with very light traffic. If it gets a lot of traffic, without having been pounded down first, the uglies could start to show themselves. the good news is that the later is unlikely. NOBODY (save for about a half-dozen locals) ever thinks of BE on a powder day. Woods could also be interesting with 12".

Why do I keep saying 12"? Thats about the depth I need to get acceptable "float" on my mid-fats.

Magic could be interesting if they get 12", but given the track, it's more likely they will see about 8", which means rock ski time, but a lot of fun too.

 

[Greg]

I'm kind of in the same boat as the others; i.e. snow total dependent. There are other factors that will need to work out in the right way, but don't count me out here yet.

 

[Mark_151]

Mark,
If you look at my BE review from December, that was day after a 12" dump. The trails that were heaven were those that had been previously closed, presumably with not base much under them given the early-ness of the season. I would want to be there early though. 12" atop nearly-nothing will ride nice all day with very light traffic. If it gets a lot of traffic, without having been pounded down first, the uglies could start to show themselves. the good news is that the later is unlikely. NOBODY (save for about a half-dozen locals) ever thinks of BE on a powder day. Woods could also be interesting with 12".

Why do I keep saying 12"? Thats about the depth I need to get acceptable "float" on my mid-fats.

Magic could be interesting if they get 12", but given the track, it's more likely they will see about 8", which means rock ski time, but a lot of fun too.

There won't be any heavy traffic, and you know it!:razz:

I just re-read your December report, and now I'm really stoked! It's definitely one of my favorite places, and foot for foot offers an incredible value. There isn't a visit when I'm not humbled by something in some way. For some reason, that place has the capacity to reduce me to gaper status on a regular basis!

 

[Greg]

Anyone know what the BEast picked up. Their "conditions" page is a total joke:

http://www.berkshireeast.com/html/conditions.php

 

[billski]

Anyone know what the BEast picked up. Their "conditions" page is a total joke:

http://www.berkshireeast.com/html/conditions.php

Greg, The page is always like this. That's part of their frugality and partly why so many people stay away. In some ways you take a chance, but I've never been disappointed.
You have two choices - pick up the phone after 830am, or extrapolate: Mt. snow says they got about 2 and Jiminy says about 2.5, so I'd estimate 2 is probably right. The forecast is down-rev'd to 2-4 inches today (4-6 storm total) for the region (down from last nights NWS estimate of 7-13). Probably not enough to get me over there.

Looks to me like this storm moved much faster than everyone predicted, so I expect amounts generally half of yesterday's forecast.

 

[madskier6]

I just called BEast. They said they got 5-6 inches. My kids school is canceled so it looks like I'm heading to Charlemont for some powder turns today. I'll report back on conditions later tonight.

 

[Mark_151]

I'll be looking for your report mad, but Wunderground is forecasting 6" total for Charlemont, so barring a real botch of the forecast, I'll probably not sacrifice a vacation day for this one. I might just hit Wachusett tonite.

 

[Greg]

I'll be looking for your report mad, but Wunderground is forecasting 6" total for Charlemont, so barring a real botch of the forecast, I'll probably not sacrifice a vacation day for this one. I might just hit Wachusett tonite.

I'm taking the same approach. Nice base though. Now we need another 6-8" and the BEast should be very good!