Damage from the thaw

[kingslug]

Oh..I've found that out the hard way..its just like hopping on a chairlift in a blizzard and wondering why no one but you is on it..you'll find out soon enough...

 

[KevinF]

LOL. I was out in Vail one year in April. Apparently the back bowls face south, so they get a lot of sun in April and get really soupy and then freeze up overnight. We dropped into one of them figuring it must be getting to a nice consistency. Wrong. Frozen up tracks, breakable crust, some of the most unskiiable crap I've ever been in.

We went to ski something else for a bit, finally went back to the back bowls where they had now melted into a soupy mess of thigh-deep mush, which I found to be somewhat more skiable, but it still sure wasn't easy.

Out West is most definitely not all "hero" snow. They just recover faster from the thaw-refreeze events.

 

[AdironRider]

Yeah, everyone likes to talk about how awesome it is out west, and when its good it really is that much better. (I fall into this category).

But one avenue noone ever brings up but the West absolutely sucks at is bringing back terrain after rain, freeze/thaws, etc. The West relies pretty much on natural snow for these types of situations, which can turn into pretty bleak conditions after a few weeks with no snow.

These events are much more rare than back East sure, but man, Ill wholeheartedly agree that Ive had the worst conditions of my life out here compared to back there. Ive also had the best days of my life as well.

Also, outside of the CO resorts and probably Deer Valley, grooming skill out West pales in comparison to the talent in the cabs back east. A good experienced dude in the machine can cover up a ton of Mother Natures PMS.

 

[Puck it]

And there is usually a window when the mess is frozen solid and then it gets too mushy to ski even. I had that experience at JHMR.

 

[AdironRider]

And there is usually a window when the mess is frozen solid and then it gets too mushy to ski even. I had that experience at JHMR.

Thats a pretty typical spring day here in Jackson. Our corn snow window is like one or two runs at best then it turns to mush, which, if Im perfectly honest, is less fun on natural snow than manmade IMO.

 

[kingslug]

Some of the best grooming I have ever seen was at Solitude..and no one was there to mess it up.......

 

[AdironRider]

Some of the best grooming I have ever seen was at Solitude..and no one was there to mess it up.......

Im not saying everywhere sucks at grooming, but on the whole I think the East does it better.

 

[Edd]

Some of the best grooming I have ever seen was at Solitude..and no one was there to mess it up.......

I do remember the grooming there to be particularly good. Made me go a couple notches faster than normal without realizing it at first.

 

[Mpdsnowman]

Lol boy you guys are treading dangerous waters insinuating the West isnt the best everyday out there lol...

I remember years ago, there was this forum, snowboarding primarily but skiers there too. Heavily populated by PNW Perhaps the most popular site online at that time. Welp I remember I wanted to put on a trip on the east coast. I did do utah, colorado of course. But when I mentioned doing an east coast meet I got shot down big time..now mostly by kids still in school and all of them never been east of the ole miss...

But even adults who lived out there would say its a waste of time..The east as we all know is the ice coast...They dont get powder in the east....

Ok,. so we know theres no powder on the east right Lol....

I have noticed a trend where the chances of people taking a trip out west and getting epic pow is reduced compared to years ago. In other words...today you really need to plan a trip out west (if you want snow) more on an impulse when its here vs planning a trip months in advance..

Its just not like it used to be ...imo

 

[skiking4]

My local hill, Thunder Ridge (Big Birch) NY, is down to 5 trails! Which skis like 2 runs. :-D
Gotta love the local hills!

I was supposed to have a race there today! I don't think I'm practicing there for quite a bit... those webcams look nasty

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Some of you are real negative nancies. The guns are already blasting around the region with 3-6" of new snow forecast around Vermont, tomorrow. Yup, there might be some icy spots, that's why your skis come with edges. Five days of around the clock snowmaking in cold temps can lay down alot of snow and the groomers then get to do their magic. Think positive, the weekend will be fine. If the conditions don't suit you go bowling. I realize some of you drive a long way to get to your fav resort, if you stay home I think you'll regret it. :smile:

 

[SIKSKIER]

Some of you are real negative nancies. The guns are already blasting around the region with 3-6" of new snow forecast around Vermont, tomorrow. Yup, there might be some icy spots, that's why your skis come with edges. Five days of around the clock snowmaking in cold temps can lay down alot of snow and the groomers then get to do their magic. Think positive, the weekend will be fine. If the conditions don't suit you go bowling. I realize some of you drive a long way to get to your fav resort, if you stay home I think you'll regret it. :smile:

Tell that to MRG skiers.I'm sure they will think being closed is just fine.

 

[kingslug]

AH...we're all just a bunch of sugarplums...lol

 

[kingslug]

But I do remember years ago on MLK day at Stowe I started seeing a lot of people wearing ski patrol jackets from....JAckson Hole, Snowbird, even met a guy from Alta, 80 something years old..and why where they there...3 feet had fallen and the west was bare...

 

[SIKSKIER]

This sounds like lipstick on the perverbial pig:

Heading towards the weekend, we will continue to hit as many existing (open) trails as possible for a refresh then move to Rocket and Zoomer Friday am and Gary's on Friday pm.

Special notes:*The Tossup Terrain Park may open late today.*

*Spookie may close for snowmaking*
*Race training will be in progress on Time Zone, Gary's, part of Tramway -

Never heard of race training on Tramway before.Things must be pretty bad there right now.I see the webcam still shows huge bare spots on the top where manmade snow was made.

Can't wait for Saturday

 

[fbrissette]

Some of you are real negative nancies. The guns are already blasting around the region with 3-6" of new snow forecast around Vermont, tomorrow. Yup, there might be some icy spots, that's why your skis come with edges. Five days of around the clock snowmaking in cold temps can lay down alot of snow and the groomers then get to do their magic. Think positive, the weekend will be fine. If the conditions don't suit you go bowling. I realize some of you drive a long way to get to your fav resort, if you stay home I think you'll regret it. :smile:

If you enjoy the big highways that have become the norm and where snowmaking is usually done, yes, by all means, this week-end might be OK. If you enjoy tree skiing, narrow ungroomed runs and the slackcountry, then this week-end is going to suck. There is nothing negative about stating the facts. I will ski the groomer early on and will be back home early, cause I get bored after 3-4 icy groomer runs.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I will ski the groomer early on and will be back home early, cause I get bored after 3-4 icy groomer runs.

Pretty much this.

If the fact I'm looking into some non-ski activities to throw into the vacation mix this weekend for entertainment purposes makes me a negative nancy, so be it. Personally, I think noting this will probably be the worst MLK weekend in a decade makes me a realist, not a pessimist. At least the FIS World Cup Aerials will be cool.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

from the Bush this morning.....doesn't look too bad.

 

[jrmagic]

If you enjoy the big highways that have become the norm and where snowmaking is usually done, yes, by all means, this week-end might be OK. If you enjoy tree skiing, narrow ungroomed runs and the slackcountry, then this week-end is going to suck. There is nothing negative about stating the facts. I will ski the groomer early on and will be back home early, cause I get bored after 3-4 icy groomer runs.

I certainly prefer trees and ungroomed and slackcountry but I much prefer skiing to sitting indoors so I will be out there each day. Like you it helps that I have a condo on the side of the hill. I wil probably do a morning session each day then have a nice long lunch break and maybe do 3-4 afternoon runs. if the natty and snowmaking fills in stuff enough then maybe I will extend the morning sessions. Last year it was groomers for most weekends of the season. At least we've had an excellent late December/early January.

 

[drjeff]

If you enjoy the big highways that have become the norm and where snowmaking is usually done, yes, by all means, this week-end might be OK. If you enjoy tree skiing, narrow ungroomed runs and the slackcountry, then this week-end is going to suck. There is nothing negative about stating the facts. I will ski the groomer early on and will be back home early, cause I get bored after 3-4 icy groomer runs.

I certainly prefer trees and ungroomed and slackcountry but I much prefer skiing to sitting indoors so I will be out there each day. Like you it helps that I have a condo on the side of the hill. I wil probably do a morning session each day then have a nice long lunch break and maybe do 3-4 afternoon runs. if the natty and snowmaking fills in stuff enough then maybe I will extend the morning sessions. Last year it was groomers for most weekends of the season. At least we've had an excellent late December/early January.

If i'm out on the hill, reguardless of what the type of terrain is and/or the snow conditions + crowds, i'm happy. I just love to slide downhill on a pair of skis on some form of a frozen substance!