Stowe Current Conditions

[CMcKenna]

Sorry I kind of suck at this forum, noob alert.

Heading up tonight, car camping and skiing Thur/Fri. How has it been up there? Any backcountry skiable on Mansfield or is it all sand at this point?

Thanks!

 

[CMcKenna]

..anyone?

 

[Angus]

report from an employee on another board is that the snow is manky/sticky and recommended bumps. probably depends on freeze/thaw cycle. stowe is at least close to their normals... the snow stake is OK...

http://www.uvm.edu/skivt-l/?Page=depths.php

 

[riverc0il]

report from an employee on another board is that the snow is manky/sticky and recommended bumps. probably depends on freeze/thaw cycle. stowe is at least close to their normals... the snow stake is OK...

http://www.uvm.edu/skivt-l/?Page=depths.php

Huh?

Don't forget that the snow stake doesn't record total snow fall. It records what is currently on the ground. Which means a lot of factors besides total snowfall effects the graph. Once the blow torch gets turned back on, it is going to go quickly. And don't forget that the snow stake is above the lifts. It is more important what is happening at the base than what is happening close to the summit.

Also, if you look at that snow stake graph, it is currently a foot below average and we know that warm temps are due back by the end of this weekend. Without any additional snowfall, it is probably going to be one of the fastest melt outs ever.

 

[Angus]

your graph certainly makes things look bad...I did look at a webcam and saw bare spots on a trail...Stowe is reporting a snow total for year almost 2X what you reference below...

SNOWFALL
Last 24 Hours: 0-1"
Last 72 Hours: 0"
Last 7 Days: 4-7"
Season Total: 204"

flip side is their 5 year average states for the the 2nd 10 days of march their average base is 32"-61"

they are reporting right now

AVERAGE BASE DEPTHS
Snowmaking: 30" - 48"
Natural Snow: 12" - 36"

I do think they made a lot of snow this year but agree things will melt out fast.

I do know I was taken back by lack of snow at MRG's summit last weekend

 

[riverc0il]

The stake has weird a weird measuring system. I can't recall the specifics but basically the folks that do the reporting don't have accurate numbers and under report. But it is internally consistent. This is the most important aspect. You can't just look at the data, you have to know what the data is measuring and how. But it is a good point of comparison since it is a long term data set with consistent measuring system.

If there are bare spots on trails at Mansfield this early, we are pretty much screwed.

I wouldn't read much into how resorts measure average base depths. Those numbers are pure bunk. Total rubbish.