12/5 Storm Discussion Thread

[ERJ-145CA]

We got 5" here. Looks nice all the trees are white too. Things are looking up, with snowmaking temps at night all week, hopefully I'll finally get to start my season next weekend.

 

[riverc0il]

Looks like Gunstock it is! 6" is generally my preferred minimum for earning turns at a location with no base. Will report back later today!

Bail. I think that Gunstock Twitter post was pretty off the mark. The NWS spotter in Gilford reported 2.5. I can not find a report I trust in the area for more than 3". Even Gunstock's official report is only 2-4" or 2-3" depending upon which part of the report you read as both numbers are listed. With an unfrozen ground and temps coming out of freezing, the snow is melting from both the bottom and the top. I doubt they got much more than 4" let alone that 6" reported on Twitter. Maybe the person reporting for Gunstock lives south east of Lake Winni and was reporting from their home which seems more likely as I saw a NWS report of 5" in the Rochester area, as I recall.

 

[deadheadskier]

We definitely got 5ish here in Newmarket. The ground doesn't reflect that as it was melting from the bottom as it was landing. I did check several fence rails around the property last night and I was sinking my hand a solid 5 inches in.

Certainly nothing to get excited about, but it sure is nice that it at least looks like winter out there.

 

[severine]

According to the news, 4" in our town. I doubt it. Melting already, too. Half the yard is back to grass already.

 

[4aprice]

Was up in the Pocono Mountains yesterday. A nice little thumping. A solid 4-6 inch snowfall up on the plateau at about 1700 ft elevation.

When I arrived at Camelback on Saturday, before the storm, they had started snowmaking Friday night and were working on Upper Marc Anthony, Upper Cleopatra, Marjies Delight, and The Rocket between the elevations of 1500 ft to the summit at 2000 feet. Looks like they got a good day today. Tenative opening day Dec 12th.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[psyflyer]

2 inches on Burke Mt...

 

[riverc0il]

I guess the moral of this week is going to be that beggars can not be choosers. Just read up on the Weds/Thurs event from Fox and FIS and it looks like any snow will be followed by freezing rain and rain with totals only expected to be around the 6" mark on average before the NCP. We continue to not have that promised deep freeze to allow for 24-7 snow making temperatures (though it will be pretty close this next week). I guess I should just be thankful for the melting 2" that are outside my door... but part of me says what the hell were those winter seasonal long term forecasters thinking last month and the month before? Mental note for next year: don't bother reading them. Even though I know they can not be trusted, one can't help but get their hopes up when they are all so optimistic.

 

[ZYDECORICH]

We got 5" here. Looks nice all the trees are white too. Things are looking up, with snowmaking temps at night all week, hopefully I'll finally get to start my season next weekend.

yeah looks about the same here...up the mountain they said they got 7... lets get these mountains covered so we can get going!

 

[amf]

8" @ 3000' in Canaan Valley, WV. More higher up. Sweet!

 

[polski]

part of me says what the hell were those winter seasonal long term forecasters thinking last month and the month before? Mental note for next year: don't bother reading them. Even though I know they can not be trusted, one can't help but get their hopes up when they are all so optimistic.

It's still only early December! Remember, the best analog supposedly is 06-07 and that was an abysmal Dec and most of Jan before it went off big time from V-Day to Easter.

Anyway, can't blame you for the bail on Gunstock today. Only reason I went for a few (literally) turns in 3" on no base was I knew it was on mowed grass, so I figured I'd be reasonably safe from rocks. It was more of a novelty, with some good scouting value.

 

[riverc0il]

It's still only early December!

I think that would be a good reminder for most skiers. But some of my best powder days have come during the early season prior to Christmas when most folks either are out doing holiday shopping or not aware of the surprise storms lampooning the north country. Due to limited terrain offerings, early season also means easily accessible untracked powder is only a short hike away from the few lifts running when powder is around. Simply put, this is the worst off season I have seen in the six years that I have been really going after things. 20-25% of my days are Oct-Dec so I can not so easily write it off as only December.

 

[billski]

I'm pretty happy that it's almost all sticking around my place, even the trees are still covered and stuck with ice/snow. Not like spring storms that when the warmer sun comes out clear all the snow from the trees. I can dream.....

 

[Greg]

Remember, the best analog supposedly is 06-07 and that was an abysmal Dec and most of Jan before it went off big time from V-Day to Easter.

This is what I've been thinking. Yeah, November sucked, but December has proven to be much better already than December 2006.

 

[riverc0il]

This is what I've been thinking. Yeah, November sucked, but December has proven to be much better already than December 2006.

October through December in 2006 was far superior to this year. Even if you nix October 06 (which was unreal), November saw resorts open on Thanksgiving. Even though December was not so hot, at least resorts were actually open during the first two weeks. Not to mention a one foot powder day (12/09/06). Things are starting to turn around and it looks like the second half of December will be way better than 2006. But so far, I would take Dec06 vs Dec09 for the first 10 days of the month.