This Season Above, Below or Meeting Expectations

[ss20]

Meeting expectations. 2 out of my three days were in the "window" after the big storms, but before the big thaws. I had 4 days so far last season. Over MLK weekend I'm going to Sunday River, which (like last year at Smuggs over the same weekend) it will probably be man-made trails only :sad:

 

[Brad J]

But you hit 75MPH!!!!!!

don't exaggerate I think he said 73MPH

 

[deadheadskier]

Rain give Attitash a beating? Was there Saturday and thought it was great.

I had heard the skiing there this weekend was fantastic. It was frozen granular hard pack on all the open terrain today. The rain beat the place up probably no worse than everywhere else. Natural base isn't all gone, so 8-12" and things should be back in business in the glades and non-snowmaking trails.

My comments were made mainly about Crotched's dedication to refreshing their terrain following bad weather events. Tuesday I skied there and several of their main runs were already back to mid-winter conditions of perfect packed powder; on those trails you wouldn't have known it had been pouring rain there less than 24 hours prior. And I'm not talking a crazy/expensive effort, just flip the fan guns on for a couple of hours and mix in the dry man made and it makes all the difference. The trails that they hadn't done already, they were working on that day.

I saw zero evidence of any refresh efforts going on at Attitash. Maybe mountain ops doesn't think it's worth it with the bad weather arriving again this weekend? Wandering Skis was getting blasted and should be open by Friday if not tomorrow. They're apparently going to get going on White Horse and Upper Ptarmigan next. I just think after Monday's hell, they'd be better served touching up Illusion, Spillway and a few other popular trails more so than focusing on expanding terrain at this time.

 

[yeggous]

I had heard the skiing there this weekend was fantastic. It was frozen granular hard pack on all the open terrain today. The rain beat the place up probably no worse than everywhere else. Natural base isn't all gone, so 8-12" and things should be back in business in the glades and non-snowmaking trails.

My comments were made mainly about Crotched's dedication to refreshing their terrain following bad weather events. Tuesday I skied there and several of their main runs were already back to mid-winter conditions of perfect packed powder; on those trails you wouldn't have known it had been pouring rain there less than 24 hours prior. And I'm not talking a crazy/expensive effort, just flip the fan guns on for a couple of hours and mix in the dry man made and it makes all the difference. The trails that they hadn't done already, they were working on that day.

I saw zero evidence of any refresh efforts going on at Attitash. Maybe mountain ops doesn't think it's worth it with the bad weather arriving again this weekend? Wandering Skis was getting blasted and should be open by Friday if not tomorrow. They're apparently going to get going on White Horse and Upper Ptarmigan next. I just think after Monday's hell, they'd be better served touching up Illusion, Spillway and a few other popular trails more so than focusing on expanding terrain at this time.

Attitash never resurfaces except for maybe Illusion. They are almost entirely dependent on the guns they'd have to lug around the mountain which is too much effort for them. Instead they just bury one trail at a time and move on.

Crotched has the advantage of pole mounted fan guns so they can quickly resurface and do so frequently. Their snow surface is excellent during snowmaking season.

 

[HowieT2]

14 days so far including 3 powder days. Yearning to get into the trees but otherwise, no complaints.

 

[deadheadskier]

Attitash never resurfaces except for maybe Illusion. They are almost entirely dependent on the guns they'd have to lug around the mountain which is too much effort for them. Instead they just bury one trail at a time and move on.

Crotched has the advantage of pole mounted fan guns so they can quickly resurface and do so frequently. Their snow surface is excellent during snowmaking season.

That's why I suggested Illusion and Spillway due to the pole mounted fan guns. Doesn't Moat have some too? There are other areas of the mountain with tower air/water guns that could be turned on as well. Plenty of ski areas like Okemo and Sunday River run those and always refresh a few trails a week, maybe more after bad rain storms.

Oh well, it is what it is. It's just surprising to see Peaks little feeder hill in NH put such a great effort into producing a consistently good man made surface with frequent refreshes, and yet their marquee NH resort doesn't do the same.

 

[Edd]

Cranmore - greatly exceeding expectations. They are rapidly becoming the shining star of the White Mountains. Their snow making has been impressive and is competing with the typical big boys! They've gone toe-to-toe with Bretton Woods and have now pulled ahead and tied Loon with their trail count. They are still blowing while BW sits quiet..

This is great to hear. I haven't been this season but we try to get there every year. Great bunch of folks working there.

 

[skiNEwhere]

Way, way, above expectations. Growing up with my parents I'd get 10-15 days a season max.

After I moved out when I turned 18, I was lucky to even get 8.

Now that I've finally settled down, I've been able to get my priorities straight! So far this season I'm at 14

 

[Cornhead]

This season has been great so far, but it's required a little work for me to get the goods. As others have stated, the early season was great, one of the best ever for me personally, then the thaw/freeze cycles began. Snow Ridge to the rescue, day four there today, all powder days. Who'da thunk a 500ft "mountain" could be so much fun? Also a couple solid days at Platty, last Friday, 14", was pure bliss til my "good" knee started giving me grief. So glad it felt good today, I was afraid my season would be cut short.

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk 2

 

[gostan]

The combination of some lingering health issues and the recent up and down conditions continue to result in this season being well below my expectations. I had expected day one to be in place after first of 2014, but it is now looking like day one will be celebrated in February, 2014. Waiting is difficult, but it will be well worth it!

 

[ScottySkis]

This season if it stops now was still better then last 2. Platty 3 awesome days of natural. I like going new hills, just waiting for north Vermont to get snow again so I can use my ski Vermont Card and ski Bush( got to love Bush) and or Jay , Stowe.

 

[WWF-VT]

I have skied 19 days so far this season which is comparable to the number of days I had at this time last year. I had high expectations for the conditions and snow after last year when Sugarbush had about 100" of snow through December and no thaw/freeze cycle until mid January. This year has been brutal with multiple meltdowns on natural snow trails and the mountain spending lots of resources resurfacing snowmaking trails rather than expanding terrain. Let's hope this weekend the warm up passes and we get back to winter with plenty of snowfall in VT.

 

[yeggous]

This is great to hear. I haven't been this season but we try to get there every year. Great bunch of folks working there.

As of today the trail count at Cranmore exceeds Loon. They now have the most open terrain in the White Mountains.

 

[Euler]

This season shows why averaging is not always a good metric...it's been split down the middle for me. Nov-Mid december was the best early season I've had. My last two times out have been among the worst skiing experiences I've ever had. I have to remind myself not to get grumpy about the weather...out of my control.

 

[dlague]

Well looks like more days being missed according to schedule! My son had surgery to fix a broken nose so instead of two days of comps at Sugarbush we will be skiing local at Gunstock on a 2 fer! Maybe Ragged on comps too in hopes to get the days in.

 

[WoodCore]

I would say about average so far. Way too early to start judging the ski season. Remember a few(5) years ago when things were absolutely dire and dreadful until the Valentines Day blizzard? That late season kicked serious ass, made powder turns right up until the 3rd weekend in April.

Guess I'm a glass 3/4 full guy regardless, the natural snow will come. Meanwhile, on the bright side because of the lack of natural, the ski areas have had to, and been able to, make some ridiculous amounts of man-made snow in these uber cold temps. The base depths on the trails is growing fast and as long as this weather pattern shifts slightly we are set up for a great conclusion of the season. Better to get all these grapefruit express/blowtorch systems out of the way early on in the season!

 

[RootDKJ]

Above, despite the rain and warm up, the base is better, there's more trails open and the snow quality has been exceeding expectations.

 

[kykiee]

I snowboarded only once this season, but then again. I live in NJ. . .

 

[RootDKJ]

I snowboarded only once this season, but then again. I live in NJ. . .

17 days so far, but then again, I live in NJ too. :wink:

 

[jrmagic]

I would say about average so far. Way too early to start judging the ski season. Remember a few(5) years ago when things were absolutely dire and dreadful until the Valentines Day blizzard? That late season kicked serious ass, made powder turns right up until the 3rd weekend in April.

I remember that season and I remember a certain season of more recent vintage which shall remain nameless so as not to upset Ullr where I hoped for a strong 2nd half and it really never materialized. Given that memory I've been pretty happy so far and am looking forward to having the bulk of my days still ahead.