My Friday dilemma . .

[gmcunni]

Going to southern VT for a 3 day weekend. No turning back, the house is paid for.

Friday was supposed to be the big day for skiing. Put the kids in ski school and then the adults hit the empty slopes. But based on the weather forecast i don't think i'm going to throw the 8/9 year olds out there for the day.

Question is with the warm temps we've had this week and bad weather predicted for Friday in south vt:

Friday: Periods of freezing rain before 8am, then periods of rain. High near 42. East wind 8 to 14 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

where do the few of us who want to ski go?

a. tough it out, ski MT Snow near where we'll be staying
b. go cheap, ski Bromley for $25 and if it really stinks we didn't waste cash
c. go further north... Okemo (I know most of you guys hate that mtn) has great grooming and might have the best conditions because of that.
d. start drinking @ lunch and catch first chair on Saturday
e. other suggestions?

Thanks,
Gary

 

[Greg]

Option A

Provided you have waterproof outerwear, skiing in the rain can actually be quite tolerable, if not enjoyable. I vote for option A.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Provided you have waterproof outerwear, skiing in the rain can actually be quite tolerable, if not enjoyable. I vote for option A.

Rain gear and A is what I would do too. Fri. might actually be your best day snow wise. A feeze Fri. night will make first chair ride down Sat. bullet proof.

 

[snoseek]

Provided you have waterproof outerwear, skiing in the rain can actually be quite tolerable, if not enjoyable. I vote for option A.

I agree, also I would consider going to Stratton or killington because they have gondolas which is key on a rainy day. Call to make sure they are running before going. If riding chairs consider carrying a small umbrella, it really helps!

 

[gmcunni]

so what makes for good rain gear? I've never skied in rain before. I've got a sturdy jacket which i'm sure would hold up in the rain but pants are basic. I'd guess they'd soak thru pretty quickly. I've heard stories of folks skiing in heft bags but never seen it first hand.

 

[snoseek]

so what makes for good rain gear? I've never skied in rain before. I've got a sturdy jacket which i'm sure would hold up in the rain but pants are basic. I'd guess they'd soak thru pretty quickly. I've heard stories of folks skiing in heft bags but never seen it first hand.

Hefty bags will help. I bet the kind with the drawstring work better. The trick is do whatever it takes to stay comfy on the lift ride, your probably going to get pretty wet, but it is sometimes fun, and you should have the place to yourself. Seriously try the umbrella thing, it really works. Bring soup for lunch.

 

[2knees]

my advice to you son is to start drinking heavily.


sorry couldnt help myself. with the forecasts i've seen, friday may be the best ski day. It could be a bit firm for the rest of the weekend.

 

[Hawkshot99]

so what makes for good rain gear?

Real nice jacket/pants:lol::smash:

Last spring I sat on a dead lift for 45 mins. in the rain, and never got wet. Helli Hanson pants, an Predetor jacket.

 

[billski]

I am going to be seriously un-funny for a minute. Skiing in the rain stinks. Especially for parents once their kids get wet. I'll give you that an adult can find the silver lining and get out there, but when you're a parent of three like I am, it can be a royal PITA. At that age, you are still at the kids beck and call and it's kinda late (and difficult and expensive) to buy rain gear for a whole family, especially after you've just dropped a load of cash for the trip. For me, it has always been, multiply every expense by five. I wouldn't even consider buying nice rain gear for an 8/9 year old, since they'll outgrow it in a couple of years, maybe one. These are the big money years (if we don't count college.) Even the kids day to day(apres ski) snow gear (i.e., snow boots) can be a challenge. Besides what are you gonna do with all those wet clothes when the kids are shivering in the lodge and you're trying to completely change them. You begin to feel like a Chinese laundry and butler/maid service. .

Trash bags are a real waste of time - you get hot, they are slippery and your pants and gloves get soaked anyways. (I agree if you're a clever adult you can do it...)

Here's my two cents. First of all, most forecasts are for the valleys and flatlands. Weather on the mountain could be entirely different. It could be snowing, or, at least, not raining.

Focus on the kids. If possible, get the kids out as early as is practicable, into ski/board lessons and activities when it's not raining. (subject to Mr. Iceee, see below) Chances are good the learning areas will be in good enough snow shape for them to progress. Me? I'm sitting the weekend out. I'm worried about Mr. Iceee coming. It takes days for a resort to recover.

Chances are, you as a more accomplished skier, quite frankly, are not going to have a very good time skiing (I'm very sorry to say, and I hope I'm wrong), so focus on getting the family stress level down by seeing to it the kids are at least happily occupied. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. (As foxworthy says, "if she ain't happy, you ain't happy." applies to kids too.)

Call the Customer relations, see what other activities they have, scour the chamber of commerce sites for things to do if you must.

Friday looks like the best rain chance, with Sat/Sunday being appreciably better for outdoor activities. what's your ski day flexibility? Good news is you won't have much company other than yourself.

If it's icy in the AM, let everyone sleep late and go out at noon when things soften, depending what the temps do. Nobody says you have to be out there first lift;

With regards to Okemo, that is a real good idea. If Mr. Iceee comes, it's the grooming that make all the difference. And they may actually have more non-ski to do at Okemo. Travel/traffic probably won't be a problem (you didn't say where you are staying, I think). Ski Instruction quality is as good only as the individual instructor IMO, so don't let a ski school's reputation sway you. [Editorial, I will posit that most people who don't like Okemo are single males.../sorry guys.../)

I don't like the Bromley option, I think you have to maximize the opportunity to have fun.
Whatever you do, bring a bunch of extra clothes changes for the kids, you will need them if they get wet.
Call the ski school for advice. They have to deal with grumpy kids all the time, that's the last thing they want too.

Bottom line, go, but be prepared with contingencies, keep you eye on the weather and be real flexible.

now back to our regularly scheduled jibbing....

 

[ckofer]

I like Bill's take on the matter. If you're already committed to trip, make the best of it. Flexibility and creativity are key at times like this. Just commit to enjoying the weekend. Personally, if it looks like rain and it looks like a whole day outside seems unlikely, find an inexpensive way to get on a mountain (maybe Bromley) and just spend a few hours skiing with the kids instead of putting them in classes. Also, if anybody starts whining, including yourself, use the phrase: I guess I need to call a waaaahmbulance for somebody.

 

[kingslug]

I skied Mt.Snow in the rain a few weeks ago. Not heavy rain though. It was tolerable, but they had very good coverage. And there is no way that I know of to prevent you from getting soaked.

 

[dropKickMurphy]

Bromley could be your best bet, for a number of reasons:

1) Since you're near Mount Snow, it will be a reasonably short trip to Bromley

2) Bromley's ski school (particularly the kids program) is excellent

3) The $25 adult weekday ticket is the best deal in New England. If you only end up skiing for a couple of hours, you won't feel like you've wasted your $$$.

4) Shorter runs, all ending up at the base lodge, make it easy to dry off next to the fire as often as you want

5) Bromley does have a really good selection and variety of trails. I've always enjoyed skiing there every bit as much as Stratton or Mount Snow.

6) If you end up cutting your day short due to the weather, there really isn't too much in the way of indoor activities in southern Vermont. However, you could change into some dry clothes and head over to Manchester for some shopping. After that, you could head south on Rt 7 to Bennington, which has a pretty interesting museum featuring the largest collection of Grandma Moses paintings in the US. Might not be a bad way to spend at least part of a rainy day.

 

[dropKickMurphy]

....6) If you end up cutting your day short due to the weather, there really isn't too much in the way of indoor activities in southern Vermont. However, you could change into some dry clothes and head over to Manchester for some shopping. After that, you could head south on Rt 7 to Bennington, which has a pretty interesting museum featuring the largest collection of Grandma Moses paintings in the US. Might not be a bad way to spend at least part of a rainy day.

Oops, I just checked out the Bennington Museum website....They're closed until February 1st.

 

[tjf67]

so what makes for good rain gear? I've never skied in rain before. I've got a sturdy jacket which i'm sure would hold up in the rain but pants are basic. I'd guess they'd soak thru pretty quickly. I've heard stories of folks skiing in heft bags but never seen it first hand.

I use a rain jacket and my golf rain pants. Pull them over the LJ and you will all set. Garbage bags not such a good idea. Put whatever the kids use when they go to school in the rain as the outer layer. If you can make it through the first two chair rides you will be there the rest of the day the snow will be in pretty good condition.

 

[billski]

Oops, I just checked out the Bennington Museum website....They're closed until February 1st.

I thought about the Bennington connection as I considered Bromley, but it seems more attractive for adults than kids. I don't know about your kids, but shopping and museums are not on the radar of most 8/9 year olds. Restaurants are good for about one hour, tops. I would have a riot on my hands.

 

[tjf67]

Going to southern VT for a 3 day weekend. No turning back, the house is paid for.

Friday was supposed to be the big day for skiing. Put the kids in ski school and then the adults hit the empty slopes. But based on the weather forecast i don't think i'm going to throw the 8/9 year olds out there for the day.

Question is with the warm temps we've had this week and bad weather predicted for Friday in south vt:

Friday: Periods of freezing rain before 8am, then periods of rain. High near 42. East wind 8 to 14 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

where do the few of us who want to ski go?



a. tough it out, ski MT Snow near where we'll be staying
b. go cheap, ski Bromley for $25 and if it really stinks we didn't waste cash
c. go further north... Okemo (I know most of you guys hate that mtn) has great grooming and might have the best conditions because of that.
d. start drinking @ lunch and catch first chair on Saturday
e. other suggestions?

Thanks,
Gary

I would stick with My snow. A ride back in the car will create butt soup for the whole family. Plus Mt snow Made the most snow so they will have the most.