First signs of winter

[dlague]

Not a physical sign but today my daughter came in my office with the Okemo trail map asking me 1) Where our condo (rental) is, and 2) how do we get to XYZ Trail. She proceeded to map out alternate routes to avoid liftlines to get there.

This is actually funny! I can relate - our kids get season boredom. Around April of every year they start to look forward to Summer and by the end of August they start to look forward to Winter! As a result, my wife and I enjoy Spring skiing trips without them and August seems to get filled with fall sports ramping up!

 

[dmc]

Hunter blowing out the mice today...

 

[ScottySkis]

Hunter blowing out the mice today...
View attachment 9119

I like this picture.

 

[ceo]

Had my first ski dream of the season last week. (I typically get a few of these each late summer and fall.)

 

[ss20]

Actually Ski and Snowboard Liquidators started in July - JULY 26, 2013 - AUGUST 18, 2013 to be exact.

I meant it was the first sale at Ski Haus, not the first for the region.

 

[dlague]

Ski show tour dates are being announced! Warren Miller, TGR

 

[Cannonball]

I'm heading out to AK tomorrow for a few weeks of work. Forecast is for temps in the 20s-low 40s with some snow. Had to breakout my ski clothes for the trip. Once the gear is out...

 

[Huck_It_Baby]

Had to breakout my ski clothes for the trip. Once the gear is out...

I formally request some AK pictures! =)

 

[SIKSKIER]

When and where are you going?I couldn't find any snow in the forecast except in Barrow.

 

[Cannonball]

I formally request some AK pictures! =)

Will do for sure. My avatar is one of my pics from last year.

When and where are you going?I couldn't find any snow in the forecast except in Barrow.

Yeah, departing out of Barrow or Wainwright depending on ice conditions then heading offshore to the northwest. Unusually heavy ice pack right now.

 

[skiberg]

Is that ice frozen ocean or broken floating ice? Btw just got back from Ak. Spent 10 days on kenai. 60 and rain everyday. Into high 30's a few clear nights.

 

[Cannonball]

Is that ice frozen ocean or broken floating ice? Btw just got back from Ak. Spent 10 days on kenai. 60 and rain everyday. Into high 30's a few clear nights.

It's first year ice, so basically frozen ocean as opposed to older bergs floating around (not skibergs!). It's all stuff that will eventually melt this summer.

I love the Kenai. Definitely can be a rainy place in the summer. But it's still so beautiful with so much to do and see. Fishing?

 

[skiberg]

Ok, was not sure what it means? This ice still has not melted? Isn't it too late to melt? Won't it start freezing again in a few weeks. Any correlation with winter weather in lower 48? If I recall in the 2011-12 year we had very low summer sea ice and then had a really crappy winter. Wondering if you know if any correlation with the inverse.

 

[Cannonball]

Ok, was not sure what it means? This ice still has not melted? Isn't it too late to melt? Won't it start freezing again in a few weeks. Any correlation with winter weather in lower 48? If I recall in the 2011-12 year we had very low summer sea ice and then had a really crappy winter. Wondering if you know if any correlation with the inverse.

It still has some time to melt and will likely do so (though no guarantees). I'm in the Northern Chukchi Sea. The predominant winds and currents are from the south, bringing (relatively) much warmer air and water into the region which continues to melt the pack usually into the beginning of October.

Like most large climate trends....it's complicated and I wouldn't make that correlation. For example, last year we also had unusually extensive, and long-lasting ice in this area. But the overall arctic ice was way below normal. We had a great ski season here in the NE. But I wouldn't correlate that to either more ice in Chukchi or less ice overall in the arctic. This year the melt throughout the arctic has been far slower than compared to 2012...but still above rates from the 1990s.

 

[skiberg]

Kinda what I figured. Tough to draw any real correlations with weather in general. Any correlation between this and the NAO?

 

[4aprice]

Acorns (some big ones too) have started falling in this area. Back in 09-10 before that epic winter we had tons down (and started falling about this time too), 10-11 had almost none and a terrible winter. Last year we had some but not like 09-10. I take this as a good sign.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[dlague]

Pumpkin ales are showing up on the shelves!

 

[RENO]

August 7th at Breckenridge

 

[ScottySkis]

August 7th at Breckenridge

Looking very good.

 

[ss20]

August 7th at Breckenridge

Soon that'll be Mt. Washington! :beer: