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What Will Conditions Be Like at AZ Summit?

St. Bear

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I went looking for yearly March snowfall for Sugarloaf, and found this site, bestsnow.net. I don't know if anybody else has seen it, but there's lots of information, much of it very interesting.

Over the 13 years that he has information on, 11 of them include some sort of snowfall total regarding Sugarloaf in the month of March. The comments are for eastern resorts in general.

  • 08/09 - 16"
  • 07/08 - 35" - rain in middle of month, heavy snow late
  • 06/07 - 35" - heavy snow St. Pattys day, little snow late
  • 05/06 - N/A - no significant snowfall listed
  • 04/05 - 94" - lots of snow early, dry later but no thaw or rain
  • 03/04 - 14" - warm first half of month
  • 02/03 - 30" - snow early, warm late
  • 01/02 - 31" - Warm early, snow late
  • 00/01 - 87" - big snow early, big snow late
  • 99/00 - 38" - snow early, warm late
  • 98/99 - N/A - snow throughout
  • 97/98 - 41" - warm weather mixed with regular snowfall, very warm late
  • 96/97 - 4ft+ - consistently good conditions throughout month

That comes out to an average March snowfall of 42.64" The optimist in me says that we are due for another 87" or 94" season as they happen every 4-5 years.
 

riverc0il

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March is definitely a very snowy month typically in the northern white mountains. Sugarloaf definitely benefits big time due to its location and elevation. However, March in New England can be the best of times or the worst of times depending how things play out. Two Marches ago was absolutely horrendous in March and made what might have been an epic season only just better than average because March just died and it barely snowed at all with late March being particularly difficult on conditions. Who knows.

But, despite Who Knows, odds are very good that the skiing will be very good that weekend. It could be powder, it could be corn, it could be hard pack, or it could be raining.
 

tjf67

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the thing i notice about the loaf is that they get a decent amount of snow and it NEVER melts. Ive been ther three different time and have skied the snowfields every time.
 

Skimaine

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err . . . folks its east coast skiing. Who knows what we are going to get. The weather could be great or it could suck. One thing you can count on, the folks at SL and Boyne will do what ever they can to get the best conditions from what is available.
 

SLyardsale

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March is definitely a very snowy month typically in the northern white mountains. Sugarloaf definitely benefits big time due to its location and elevation. However, March in New England can be the best of times or the worst of times depending how things play out. Two Marches ago was absolutely horrendous in March and made what might have been an epic season only just better than average because March just died and it barely snowed at all with late March being particularly difficult on conditions. Who knows.

But, despite Who Knows, odds are very good that the skiing will be very good that weekend. It could be powder, it could be corn, it could be hard pack, or it could be raining.

2 Aprils ago (06/07) was absolutely epic at Sugarloaf. Snowfields were open thru April 20th. I know - torn ACL on April 6th ended my season. For those without torn up knees the 06/07 season at SL was special.

March is typically snowy, but windy with NE storms coming in from the gulf of ME. March 8th 2003, -20(f) with winds gusting to 65mph. Brr.
 
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snoseek

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2 Aprils ago (06/07) was absolutely epic at Sugarloaf. Snowfields were open thru April 20th. I know - torn ACL on April 6th ended my season. For those without torn up knees the 06/07 at SL was special.

March is typically snowy, but windy with NE storms coming in from the gulf of ME. March 8th 2003, -20(f) with winds gusting to 65mph. Brr.

I remember doing a lot of days at Sugarloaf/Saddleback/Wildcat/River that April-it was insane. Maine particularly got absolutely bombed that April. Maybe the deepest snow I ever had in the East except for Jay years ago. It was so good I had to push back May 1 a couple weeks for starting work and seriously was doubting my move to Colorado in the fall. I still get so excited thniking about that pattern especially the last Coastal that came through.

The loaf is as good a bet as anywhere after March 1st IMHO.
 

riverc0il

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2 Aprils ago (06/07) was absolutely epic at Sugarloaf. Snowfields were open thru April 20th. I know - torn ACL on April 6th ended my season. For those without torn up knees the 06/07 at SL was special.

March is typically snowy, but windy with NE storms coming in from the gulf of ME. March 8th 2003, -20(f) with winds gusting to 65mph. Brr.
Sorry, I think it was actually March this past season then that was terrible?
 

SLyardsale

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I am a little upset I'll have to share 1st tracks with you lemmings on that Sunday :razz:

But I'm thinking more than half of the 75 1st track passes given out will be wasted due to the heavy hangover factor :razz:

I do think you will all find SL worth the trip. Heres hopin' the wind gods take good care of of us all that weekend and that the Bag has plenty of Pick Pole Pale Ale, that Gepets has plenty of PBR and that you all stay away from the Rack! - I look forward to meeting many of you.
 

SLyardsale

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Sorry, I think it was actually March this past season then that was terrible?

That is true. Really no snow of any significance after 03/03. The difference was that it stayed cold. Really a drout with no r**n or snow in March. SL was still able to stay going til late.
 

Greg

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I'm pretty sure they'll planning on 40" of snow that weekend.
 
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