The "Sugarbush Thread"

[Hawk]

Plowboy, my first days at Sugarbush were during that period. I can say that I have actually rode the SB gondola and been to those places before they closed. That was a good period of my ski life. Barely anyone skied the woods. I wish I was at Sugarbush full time back then. I am sure you had a blast.

 

[cdskier]

Does anyone think the snowfall totals at MRG vs Lincoln Peak are really as different as being reported or is it more an issue with getting accurate readings due to blowing, drifting, etc?

MRG says 18-22" since the storm started yesterday while SB is reporting 8-15" since the start of the storm.

 

[nhskier1969]

Does anyone think the snowfall totals at MRG vs Lincoln Peak are really as different as being reported or is it more an issue with getting accurate readings due to blowing, drifting, etc?

MRG says 18-22" since the storm started yesterday while SB is reporting 8-15" since the start of the storm.

I think the problem is Sugarbush is relying on the snow stakes to often. Last year the summit stake go wind loaded most every storm, so I believe this year they moved the snows take further into the "thick" woods. It can't get an accurate reading unless the snow is falling straight down. Also shouldn't the snows take be at the level of the snow to take an accurate reading. If it is elevated in the woods with the wind blowing 40+ how do you expect all the snow to stay on the stake. anyway that is my observation .

 

[Hawk]

Yea I don't know what is going on there. I Bet MRG does have a bit more snow. Last Friday we skied there on the last storm and there was definitely 4-5 more inches than SB when I skied on Saturday. I personally think that SB under-reports some times.

 

[nhskier1969]

It's hard to imagine MRG has received 36% more snow for the season than Sugarbush. 133 vs 181. I don't think MRG over reports at all.

 

[cdskier]

I think the problem is Sugarbush is relying on the snow stakes to often. Last year the summit stake go wind loaded most every storm, so I believe this year they moved the snows take further into the "thick" woods. It can't get an accurate reading unless the snow is falling straight down. Also shouldn't the snows take be at the level of the snow to take an accurate reading. If it is elevated in the woods with the wind blowing 40+ how do you expect all the snow to stay on the stake. anyway that is my observation .

Yea...that's my general feeling. I said something somewhat similar earlier this year too maybe back in December when I felt they were under-reporting a bit. I know they aren't relying solely on the snow stakes at this point though and they even have a disclaimer about that under the snow stake cams on the website.

It would be interesting to see Sugarbush report totals at both LP and ME separately instead of just giving LP values.

While I agree with Hawk there can be some differences between MRG and SB (I've seen differences between LP and ME firsthand), I find the current numbers for the season overall a bit tough to see as accurate and think somehow SB is under-reporting this year.

 

[SIKSKIER]

Perhaps MRG is over-reporting.Though they usually seem like their reports are real honest when they are bad.

 

[HowieT2]

Yea...that's my general feeling. I said something somewhat similar earlier this year too maybe back in December when I felt they were under-reporting a bit. I know they aren't relying solely on the snow stakes at this point though and they even have a disclaimer about that under the snow stake cams on the website.

It would be interesting to see Sugarbush report totals at both LP and ME separately instead of just giving LP values.

While I agree with Hawk there can be some differences between MRG and SB (I've seen differences between LP and ME firsthand), I find the current numbers for the season overall a bit tough to see as accurate and think somehow SB is under-reporting this year.

I think what's happened is that last year they relied on the summit snow stake which was recording drifted snow and hence over reported, and so now this season, they are over correcting and under reporting the snowfall. I think if you look at the stats, last season there was an incredible difference between the summit and base elevation snow reports. That was probably due to the skewed results of the summit snow stake. Looking at this years numbers, the difference is minimal, probably less than reality.
Its difficult to accurately measure snow at the summit because of the near constant wind off the ridgeline. While the snow stake currently is protected from drifting, it is missing much of the wind driven snow. and since they clearly overreported last season, in reliance on the summit snow stake, this season they arent reporting anything more than the summit snow stake shows, which is probably not accounting for all the snowfall.
No matter, I will personally make the sacrifice and investigate every nook and cranny of snow I can find this weekend.

 

[Hawk]

Howie's back. I hope to see you on Saturday dude. Go rip it up.

 

[HowieT2]

Perhaps MRG is over-reporting.Though they usually seem like their reports are real honest when they are bad.

Imho thats not the case. I've looked at every snow report up and down the green mountain spine all season, and I'm fairly confident that SB is under reporting.

 

[HowieT2]

Howie's back. I hope to see you on Saturday dude. Go rip it up.

I might just do that.

 

[cdskier]

I think what's happened is that last year they relied on the summit snow stake which was recording drifted snow and hence over reported, and so now this season, they are over correcting and under reporting the snowfall. I think if you look at the stats, last season there was an incredible difference between the summit and base elevation snow reports. That was probably due to the skewed results of the summit snow stake. Looking at this years numbers, the difference is minimal, probably less than reality.
Its difficult to accurately measure snow at the summit because of the near constant wind off the ridgeline. While the snow stake currently is protected from drifting, it is missing much of the wind driven snow. and since they clearly overreported last season, in reliance on the summit snow stake, this season they arent reporting anything more than the summit snow stake shows, which is probably not accounting for all the snowfall.

Last season the difference between summit and base reported snowfall was huge...but I can speak firsthand from being there in early December when many of those huge differences were reported that they were very real. It was really quite stunning last season (particularly early in the year) how elevation sensitive the snow was and how quickly the amounts on the mountain changed as you went down. It definitely was a more significant and noticeable difference than other years for some reason. They may have over-reported a bit, but I also think there was a huge legitimate difference depending on where on the mountain you were.

No matter, I will personally make the sacrifice and investigate every nook and cranny of snow I can find this weekend.

Haha! Me too! This definitely requires an intense up close and personal investigation!

 

[HowieT2]

Last season the difference between summit and base reported snowfall was huge...but I can speak firsthand from being there in early December when many of those huge differences were reported that they were very real. It was really quite stunning last season (particularly early in the year) how elevation sensitive the snow was and how quickly the amounts on the mountain changed as you went down. It definitely was a more significant and noticeable difference than other years for some reason. They may have over-reported a bit, but I also think there was a huge legitimate difference depending on where on the mountain you were.



Haha! Me too! This definitely requires an intense up close and personal investigation!

Its a tough job, but someone has to do it.

 

[cdskier]

I see Sugarbush has now updated their snow totals to say 10-23" since the storm started...unless they had 8" at the summit in the past few hours, looks like they are correcting the totals after further investigation of their own! :razz:

 

[Hawk]

Check the radar. It's nuking again.

 

[cdskier]

Check the radar. It's nuking again.

The videos and pics I've been seeing unofficialsugarbush share on Facebook today have me drooling at my desk at work...Very hard to get work done when I know snow is falling in VT!

 

[jimmck]

The videos and pics I've been seeing...

Yeah, it was kinda stupid good out there today

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[WinS]

I see Sugarbush has now updated their snow totals to say 10-23" since the storm started...unless they had 8" at the summit in the past few hours, looks like they are correcting the totals after further investigation of their own! :razz:

That is correct. Our Snow Stake got "bombed" last night.

 

[Hawk]

The videos and pics I've been seeing unofficialsugarbush share on Facebook today have me drooling at my desk at work...Very hard to get work done when I know snow is falling in VT!

HA, Guinness, Larry and Forenza at it again. Those guys are everywhere all the time. Wish I could have been up but sometimes I have to work. Oh well.

 

[cdskier]

HA, Guinness, Larry and Forenza at it again. Those guys are everywhere all the time. Wish I could have been up but sometimes I have to work. Oh well.

I'll admit, I'm definitely more than a little jealous of them!