How are the mountains from today's heatwave? (need firsthand reports)

[New Daddy]

Today's heatwave is a big bummer.
Places like Attitash and Cranmore will be flooded at the base by late afternoon and placed into a thaw-freeze cycle at night.

So, can we have some firsthand reports on the conditions at various mountains?
I was thinking of hitting Waterville Valley this weekend, but even Waterville's high elevation will not likely escape this onslaught.

 

[SIKSKIER]

How about second hand?The northern 4000 ft mts will only get into the 30's at the base today.Not the quite the pond skimming you describe.

 

[john1200c]

Just looked at Attitash webcam. The base area looks like its holding up ok....

 

[New Daddy]

How about second hand?The northern 4000 ft mts will only get into the 30's at the base today.Not the quite the pond skimming you describe.

Well, that's why I solicited for firsthand reports, because the weather forecasts that I rely on (accuweather.com and weather.com) all call for low 40s (not 30s) at the bases of even northern mountains.
I remember from my science class (long time ago) that the temperature goes down by about 3 degrees for every 1000 feet you climb up.
That means even the summits won't stand good chance if their base hit low 40s today.

 

[Rambo]

Here we go! If the novices see no snow in their backyard it is next to impossible to convince them that ski resorts have deep bases and great skiing. Even if you show them a webcam shot they just don't beleive it.

Even if it warms up a lot - machine made snow bases hold up well and melt real slow as compared to natural snow.

 

[Black Phantom]

Here we go! If the novices see no snow in their backyard it is next to impossible to convince them that ski resorts have deep bases and great skiing. Even if you show them a webcam shot they just don't beleive it.

Even if it warms up a lot - machine made snow bases hold up well and melt real slow as compared to natural snow.

No doubt. The four feet that blanketed the north country must be all gone if the temps get close to 30.

 

[WJenness]

Threads like this make me love skiing in March and April even more...

New Daddy, even a 45 degree day won't melt snow that quickly in the mountains...

One day (or even a week) of temps like this won't destroy skiing at all.

In fact, a week or two of weather like this will lead to great corn harvests all over your favorite resort.

If you haven't done a lot of spring-like skiing, I suggest you take this year and make it happen.

Thaw - freeze cycles can make the skiing awful, that's for sure, but without a heavy rain, or a flash freeze situation (dropping back to sub zero temps and staying there for several days straight), some time in the 40s isn't really much to worry about.

-w

 

[New Daddy]

Here we go! If the novices see no snow in their backyard it is next to impossible to convince them that ski resorts have deep bases and great skiing. Even if you show them a webcam shot they just don't beleive it.

Even if it warms up a lot - machine made snow bases hold up well and melt real slow as compared to natural snow.

How do you know I'm novice?
BTW, does a deep base somehow magically prevent a thaw-freeze-thaw cycle?

I want to find out if the snow holds up and maintains its packed powder condition through the weekend, or it becomes scratcy from thawing-freezing before that.
Even if the latter is the case, the deep base will help to a degree like you said (but it will still not be packed power), but I'm only willing to cancel my prior engagements for packed powder.

 

[gmcunni]

Here we go! If the novices see no snow in their backyard it is next to impossible to convince them that ski resorts have deep bases and great skiing.

good news for me, less crowded this weekend

 

[New Daddy]

Threads like this make me love skiing in March and April even more...

New Daddy, even a 45 degree day won't melt snow that quickly in the mountains...

One day (or even a week) of temps like this won't destroy skiing at all.

In fact, a week or two of weather like this will lead to great corn harvests all over your favorite resort.

If you haven't done a lot of spring-like skiing, I suggest you take this year and make it happen.

Thaw - freeze cycles can make the skiing awful, that's for sure, but without a heavy rain, or a flash freeze situation (dropping back to sub zero temps and staying there for several days straight), some time in the 40s isn't really much to worry about.

-w

Thanks for your input.
But like I said in another post, I'm not really looking for spring snow conditions this weekend, because I already have other engagements that need to be canceled if I decide to go ski and that will be worthwhile only if I can enjoy packed powder.
I can do spring skiing for the next two months.

 

[hammer]

How do you know I'm novice?
BTW, does a deep base somehow magically prevent a thaw-freeze-thaw cycle?

I want to find out if the snow holds up and maintains its packed powder condition through the weekend, or it becomes scratcy from thawing-freezing before that.
Even if the latter is the case, the deep base will help to a degree like you said (but it will still not be packed power), but I'm only willing to cancel my prior engagements for packed powder.

In your worst case, you will have spring-like conditions on a deep base...what is wrong with that?

I get conflicted at this time of the year...it's hard to see the snow melt in the flatlands (the snow cover in my north-facing yard is mostly gone) but the snow conditions in the spring can be so nice...

 

[WJenness]

Thanks for your input.
But like I said in another post, I'm not really looking for spring snow conditions this weekend, because I already have other engagements that need to be canceled if I decide to go ski and that will be worthwhile only if I can enjoy packed powder.
I can do spring skiing for the next two months.

This is totally different than the vibe your original post put forward.

Sorry for misunderstanding.

Are you looking for packed powder on trails or in the woods?

-w

 

[New Daddy]

This is totally different than the vibe your original post put forward.

Sorry for misunderstanding.

Are you looking for packed powder on trails or in the woods?

-w

Well, I mentioned in my OP that I was concerned about thaw-freeze-thaw cycle, not about the deep base evaporating entirely. :roll:
(Was it because I said "flood"? Well, if the temp hits 40s at the bases, trust me, there will be plenty of H2O at the base by late afternoon, regardless of how deep the snow depth is in upper parts of the mountain.)

In any event, I'm definitely looking for PP on trails. I haven't had the pleasure of ripping PP on groomed trails for almost two months, due to making trips to all the wrong places (e.g., North Conway during MA vacation week).
In the woods, my preference is fluffy powder >>> spring snow > packed powder, which also goes for bumps.

 

[Rambo]

How do you know I'm novice?
BTW, does a deep base somehow magically prevent a thaw-freeze-thaw cycle?

I want to find out if the snow holds up and maintains its packed powder condition through the weekend, or it becomes scratcy from thawing-freezing before that.
Even if the latter is the case, the deep base will help to a degree like you said (but it will still not be packed power), but I'm only willing to cancel my prior engagements for packed powder.

I was responding in general and not to you specifically. I think that deep machine made bases can hold up into mid-April. However if it does get too warm the bases indeed can become crudy, sticky and heavy (like wet cement). But regardless I love spring skiing in the warmer sunny weather.

 

[WJenness]

Well, I mentioned in my OP that I was concerned about thaw-freeze-thaw cycle, not about the deep base evaporating entirely. :roll:
(Was it because I said "flood"? Well, if the temp hits 40s at the bases, trust me, there will be plenty of H2O at the base by late afternoon, regardless of how deep the snow depth is in upper parts of the mountain.)

In any event, I'm definitely looking for PP on trails. I haven't had the pleasure of ripping PP on groomed trails for almost two months, due to making trips to all the wrong places (e.g., North Conway during MA vacation week).
In the woods, my preference is fluffy powder >>> spring snow > packed powder, which also goes for bumps.

If you can, go to northern VT.

Stowe isn't predicted to see temps over freezing for the rest of the week.

-w

 

[psyflyer]

Today's heatwave is a big bummer.
Places like Attitash and Cranmore will be flooded at the base by late afternoon and placed into a thaw-freeze cycle at night.

So, can we have some firsthand reports on the conditions at various mountains?
I was thinking of hitting Waterville Valley this weekend, but even Waterville's high elevation will not likely escape this onslaught.

Burke's base lodge did not crack 30 today. Mid 20's at the top, high 20's at the base lodge. Snow here is the best that it has been all season.

 

[WWF-VT]

When did temps in the low 40's become a heat wave ?

 

[marcski]

Today's heatwave is a big bummer.
Places like Attitash and Cranmore will be flooded at the base by late afternoon and placed into a thaw-freeze cycle at night.

So, can we have some firsthand reports on the conditions at various mountains?
I was thinking of hitting Waterville Valley this weekend, but even Waterville's high elevation will not likely escape this onslaught.

I was at MRG today. It was pretty warm, but not an issue. The bottom couple hundred feet became some super soft bumps. But the top, even with the warmer temps, was still relatively dry. It was I'd say a perfect ski day weather wise today. A pretty thin wicking top, with the neck unzipped (yes I was sporting the chest hair look!) and a shell with pitzips open and unzipped to the belly.

 

[Smellytele]

Today's heatwave is a big bummer.
Places like Attitash and Cranmore will be flooded at the base by late afternoon and placed into a thaw-freeze cycle at night.

So, can we have some firsthand reports on the conditions at various mountains?
I was thinking of hitting Waterville Valley this weekend, but even Waterville's high elevation will not likely escape this onslaught.

Attitrash, Rainville and Crackmore had lots of rain last week anyway

 

[Glenn]

They've got maple syrup buckets out in parts of Dummerston as of Sunday evening.....