Jcb890
Active member
I know it is due to changing weather with the altitude and water nearby, but that is just seems so odd to get 700" of snow and only have 12" base at the bottom.
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Best West Coast conditions (February 2016)?
- Thread starter BenedictGomez
- Start date
I know it is due to changing weather with the altitude and water nearby, but that is just seems so odd to get 700" of snow and only have 12" base at the bottom.
It would be interesting if they had stats for the season total at the base. I hear Anchorage had to truck in snow for the start of the Iditarod. In any event, it sounds like it might be wise to bring extra base layers just for the ride up the lift.
Jcb890
Active member
Very interesting. I had no idea about the Iditarod either.
BenedictGomez
Well-known member
Go take a look at their webcams, it's bizarre.
Jcb890
Active member
I just tried, but they are down. I think I remember looking a couple of months back and it looked like they had awesome coverage up top and then down by the lift it looked like we do on the East Coast.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't they have a HUGE vertical relief difference with the base being near sea level?
Jcb890
Active member
Yes, the base is just about at sea level. So, while they have gotten 700" or so on the season, their base levels at the... base... are very low because it rains quite a bit down that low. Or so I think... I have no personal facts to back any of this up, just hopes, dreams and reading stuff online.
steamboat1
New member
Le Massif in Quebec also has a base elevation at sea level. I don't think they see as a dramatic difference in snow accumulation as Aleyska does.
Cannonball
New member
The tram makes for a great way to get up to where the snow is regardless of base conditions. It's no accident that they have a good upper mountain lift system. But you're right, Grundens rain wear is standard issue for local skiers.
Cannonball
New member
Not really. Only about 2.5k.
Jcb890
Active member
Alyeska's webcams are back up, but its dark right now. :lol:
VTKilarney
Well-known member
They do? I thought that they had only one lift on the upper mountain, the Glacier Bowl Express. One lift does not a "system" make. Perhaps things have changed since I was there.
Cannonball
New member
Alyeska's Tram is the perfect way to access the upper mountain in all conditions. The enclosed tram means that rain, wind, whiteouts, and extreme temps are usually not an issue (and Alyeska can have all of those on any given day). The tram gets you 2,025' of vert in ~4min, bringing you to an elevation of 2,334' (over 80% of the way up the mountain). This is the perfect spot for the tram top station. Any higher and you'd be getting into potential wind and whiteout risks. Plus it would get into more challenging terrain that's not suitable for all skiers. Any lower and you'd be stuck with Alyeska's notoriously bad lower mountain conditions.
Once up top you can lap the tram if conditions are good top to bottom. Or you can stay on the upper 50% of the mountain by riding Chair 6 (aka Glacier Bowl Express) where conditions lean towards the amazing! The tag team of the tram and Chair 6 makes for one of the best thought-out upper mountain lift systems anywhere.
Once up top you can lap the tram if conditions are good top to bottom. Or you can stay on the upper 50% of the mountain by riding Chair 6 (aka Glacier Bowl Express) where conditions lean towards the amazing! The tag team of the tram and Chair 6 makes for one of the best thought-out upper mountain lift systems anywhere.
4aprice
Well-known member
Double Digits in the Wasatch, and Colorado Rockies last 48 hrs:smile:
Alex
Lake Hopatcong, NJ
Alex
Lake Hopatcong, NJ
More on the way. Looks like BenedictGomez played his cards right.
4aprice
Well-known member
What about me
? I'm there April 1st. No, I hope the parade continues and BG gets some Rocky Mtn love. I go out every year and just being out there is good enough for me. March and April have mostly been kind to me out there.Alex
Lake Hopatcong, NJ
What about me
Alex
Lake Hopatcong, NJ
Pattern looks good all next week....at last check. Look me up if you want to take a spin.
KustyTheKlown
Well-known member
hoping this rocky mountain nuking continues thru april 10 for my sake
BenedictGomez
Well-known member
Checked the ski app at dinner and saw 17" at Alta & even 8" or 9" at the PC resorts and was still snowing there. That improved my dinner.
Looks good...on the models anyway. Multiple little shots on goal and maybe some significant upside potential.
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