Do you always call the mountain snow phone they day you plan on riding?

[deadheadskier]

I don't, but will from now on. Last Friday I called Black Mountain, NH to see if they would be open today as I have a free mid-week ticket and the day off work. I didn't call and headed up there this morning. I didn't rush out the door figuring a late start would benefit me in softening up the snow.

I get to the mountain and the parking lot is EMPTY. They were closed for the day. I went to the administrative office and they said because of the rain and some maintenance issues with their grooming equipment that they decided not to open. They said they 'might' open after 1pm and would offer me a discount ticket.

So...at this point I wasn't going to go spend a bunch of money for a ticket at one of the other White Mountain areas as I only had about three hours available to ski as I had to get home and get ready to travel to Christmas Eve dinner with family.

Moral of the story, I will always call before I go from now on, especially if it's a Mom and Pop resort.

 

[riverc0il]

Almost never. Sometimes I will call from the road if there is a question of lifts operating or not. I generally rely on web pages for official beta and decisions are almost made long before the snow phone gets updated.

 

[deadheadskier]

Almost never. Sometimes I will call from the road if there is a question of lifts operating or not. I generally rely on web pages for official beta and decisions are almost made long before the snow phone gets updated.

Typically same here. I didn't check the web page this morning, but I have a feeling that Black probably isn't too quick to update both that and the snow phone. It's unfortunate as I was really looking forward to ski there today, even if marginal conditions were to be expected.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I don't..unless there are serious wind issues. Blue mountain is always open through rain, sleet, fog, high winds...even if there are 5 paying customers. Camelback closes every chance they get..to save costs..even during snowstorms..their reasoning was so employees could get home safe.

 

[Breeze]

Some days ( like today) , there is the good chance that neither snow phone nor web site will be up-to-the minute until the staff actually punch in and get hands on the situation, and start talking to each other.


Breeze

 

[billski]

I don't, but will from now on. Last Friday I called Black Mountain, NH to see if they would be open today as I have a free mid-week ticket and the day off work. I didn't call and headed up there this morning. I didn't rush out the door figuring a late start would benefit me in softening up the snow.

I get to the mountain and the parking lot is EMPTY. They were closed for the day. I went to the administrative office and they said because of the rain and some maintenance issues with their grooming equipment that they decided not to open. They said they 'might' open after 1pm and would offer me a discount ticket.

So...at this point I wasn't going to go spend a bunch of money for a ticket at one of the other White Mountain areas as I only had about three hours available to ski as I had to get home and get ready to travel to Christmas Eve dinner with family.

Moral of the story, I will always call before I go from now on, especially if it's a Mom and Pop resort.

Sorry to hear that. I've noticed that small places are not fast to update web sites. I do call the afternoon before if there is any question in my mind. The phone reports don't update until about 7-8 am and I'm already on my way, so the call is mostly for entertainment's sake. However, if you've really gotta know, I've called as early at 5:30 am to some resorts (i.e., Cannon) and found a live body to talk to. If they are a non-skier type, I ask what the drive in was like, etc. etc.

From Black's email last night, it suggests that they don't even try hard until after New Year's.

BTW, I'm planning a New Year's day sojurn somewhere as I always do. I find the hills mostly empty, at least until noontime. I'm not a big partier, and would much rather be on the hill. the only bad part is the holiday rates.

 

[thetrailboss]

If I'm going to SB, I can check online. For Burke, I call ahead if weather is an issue. I will say that Burke's snowphone as of late has not been too helpful. I prefer a snowphone that is updated 2-3x per day...once in the early AM, once at noon or so, and once at 5 or 6pm. I also want to hear which lifts are open/closed, how many trails are groomed, weather forecast, temperatures, and special events. I think they have a new guy who is just learning the ropes...

The WORST snowreporting I have seen was in 2003-2004 with the old Tenney Regime...they had the same snowphone report for three days in a row....

 

[billski]

If I'm going to SB, I can check online. For Burke, I call ahead if weather is an issue. I will say that Burke's snowphone as of late has not been too helpful. I prefer a snowphone that is updated 2-3x per day...once in the early AM, once at noon or so, and once at 5 or 6pm. I also want to hear which lifts are open/closed, how many trails are groomed, weather forecast, temperatures, and special events. I think they have a new guy who is just learning the ropes...

The WORST snowreporting I have seen was in 2003-2004 with the old Tenney Regime...they had the same snowphone report for three days in a row....

If I get a bad snow phone report, I call back and knock around until I can find someone who I can talk to. Most often I'll ask for ski school, race, etc. I have also been known to call a local establishment (restaurant, gas station, etc.) if I think I'm getting BS from the resort.

 

[thetrailboss]

If I get a bad snow phone report, I call back and knock around until I can find someone who I can talk to. Most often I'll ask for ski school, race, etc. I have also been known to call a local establishment (restaurant, gas station, etc.) if I think I'm getting BS from the resort.

Very true. With 10e, they had it set up so that you could not speak to a live person, which was DUMB.

 

[shwilly]

Not always, but pretty often.

It can be a fun way to pass a minute when you're 30-45 minutes away from the hill. Sometimes it may give a hint as to what to hit first, maybe which base to park at if it's a sprawling multi-base place like Sunday River. If there are iffy conditions like high wind or unfrozen precip the day before, you may get some useful information.

I never base a yes/no "should I head up" decision on the snow phone. If it's a day trip there won't be any update by 5 AM, and if I'm up for the weekend I'll at least head to the hill to see what's up for myself.

 

[tcharron]

I don't, but will from now on. Last Friday I called Black Mountain, NH to see if they would be open today as I have a free mid-week ticket and the day off work. I didn't call and headed up there this morning. I didn't rush out the door figuring a late start would benefit me in softening up the snow.

I get to the mountain and the parking lot is EMPTY. They were closed for the day. I went to the administrative office and they said because of the rain and some maintenance issues with their grooming equipment that they decided not to open. They said they 'might' open after 1pm and would offer me a discount ticket.

So...at this point I wasn't going to go spend a bunch of money for a ticket at one of the other White Mountain areas as I only had about three hours available to ski as I had to get home and get ready to travel to Christmas Eve dinner with family.

Moral of the story, I will always call before I go from now on, especially if it's a Mom and Pop resort.

If I'm going out of my way, I generally call. I honestly find better reports on the automated line or with a person then are typical on most web sites.

 

[andyzee]

Mountain have snow phones? What is this snow phone thing you all speak off?

 

[tcharron]

Mountain have snow phones? What is this snow phone thing you all speak off?

Maybe I'm on crack, extremely lucky, or both, but generally most do have an option on the phone when you call for the daily snow report. Worst comes to worse, '0' to talk to the shmoe at the front desk works too.

Personally, I like Chris at crotched. Generally doesn't give much more info then is on the web site, but he also will say 'watch out for these crusty spots on these hills'.

 

[billski]

Mountain have snow phones? What is this snow phone thing you all speak off?

Back in the olden days of cubco bindings, newpapers and rear-entry boots, before the internet, there was this old communications method called the telephone. Most areas had (and continue to have) a breathing body who uttered sounds into a recording device for all to hear, upon dialing a special, pre-arranged set of digits on the "telephone". The human figure usually recorded an announcement at the end of and beginning of each ski day. :lol:

While hurtling down the valley at 65mph, it can be combined with present-day cellular technolgy to garner and inkling of snow conditions. Some areas have a specially coded number, in others you ask the human figure who answers the calling device to connect you to it.

In the olden times, it was rife with lies and fantastic imagry. As today, the most important thing to listen for is what is NOT being said.

Thomas Edison and Morse code days were not far behind, so you can see what a huge advancement this was in the days of olde.

 

[Mildcat]

Back in the olden days of cubco bindings, newpapers and rear-entry boots, before the internet, there was this old communications method called the telephone.

That never worked for me. I always had Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple cranked too loud on my Hi Fi 8 track tape player to hear anything on the phone. I only wish they had invented some type of "Remote Control" so I could have turned down the volume without getting up.

 

[eatskisleep]

From Black's email last night, it suggests that they don't even try hard until after New Year's.

Can you post that e-mail for us?

:beer:

 

[severine]

I never call. I always check the website, though. Then again, I pretty much stick to what's local so it wouldn't be as big of a loss if I were wrong, I suppose. And if I go further than local, it's Brian's fault if there's a problem.

 

[billski]

That never worked for me. I always had Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple cranked too loud on my Hi Fi 8 track tape player to hear anything on the phone. I only wish they had invented some type of "Remote Control" so I could have turned down the volume without getting up.

When we were cleaning out my Mom's place I found my old 8-track player, but nary a tape to be found, so I deep-sixed it. From what I recall, 8-tracks had a way of disintegrating as you played them.

 

[chfriend]

Mountain have snow phones? What is this snow phone thing you all speak off?

It's similar to calling the operator, except Ernestine usually isn't on the other end

"Well if you want to know what the conditions are like come up and find out for yourself *SNORK*"

 

[Mildcat]

When we were cleaning out my Mom's place I found my old 8-track player, but nary a tape to be found, so I deep-sixed it. From what I recall, 8-tracks had a way of disintegrating as you played them.

My brother actually still uses his. At one point he had hundreds of tapes. I don't know how many he has now though. I always hated hearing a song fade out, switch to the next channel, and fade back in again.