Where to go Thursday in Vermont?

[hockeylax]

I have ski vermont passes, so I can go anywhere. Driving up overnight from Maryland so I'm looking for the best resort to aim for. Jay seems like they'll be getting the least rain, but only have two trails open, and are on wind hold today.

Is Stowe worth it this early in the season? Should we be looking for variety if its a little frozen with the mix.

 

[skiadikt]

I have ski vermont passes, so I can go anywhere. Driving up overnight from Maryland so I'm looking for the best resort to aim for. Jay seems like they'll be getting the least rain, but only have two trails open, and are on wind hold today.

Is Stowe worth it this early in the season? Should we be looking for variety if its a little frozen with the mix.

i'd put my vote in for k-ton (i'll be there tomorrow). most terrain open by far. i'd guess east fall could be on-line by tomorrow and the skye/bitter route isn't far behind. might be enough snow to open some of the low angle nat runs like ridge run, great bear, vagabond maybe north star. from the forecasts, looks even jay is gonna changeover at some point so save yourself a couple hours driving.

 

[gores95]

Killington is getting pounded right now and although they are calling for freezing crap later, from the radar it looks solid. I second that recommendation.

I will be there next weekend so I am hopeful it keeps snowing!

 

[Greg]

K-mart on Friday for me. Northstar would be awesome! I think much of Vermont is going to get dry-slotted so rain damage should be minimal. I think the upslope machine kicks in after that so Thursday and Friday should be good. Hopefully wind lays down a bit.

 

[polski]

Looking for lift-served, first I think I'd try to wait until at least Friday or be prepared to stay over until then if you're not already planning to. In my experience forecasting of wind is even less reliable than snowfall, but there's a lot of room for error here while remaining well into wind hold territory - today NWS higher summits forecast for VT is for SE wind 70-90 mph! They expect high (though not quite that high) wind to persist through Thurs and only slowly diminish into Friday.

The good news: lake-effect snow expected as far east as the central and northern Greens as the storm pulls away. Yesterday Scott B said the sweet spot for LES could be Bush/MRG; in a new post today MRG-focused Josh Fox said MRG could see 4-8" fresh from LES by the weekend after 6-8 of snow ending in sleet/ice from today's storm. (Note Bush is now open but MRG said today it probably won't be able to open this weekend.)

Someone with local knowledge may be able to point you to a mountain with good lees from SE/easterly winds. My take is before any LES, this storm will be a great base-builder but not so hot for skiing ungroomed surfaces, which are likely to be severely wind-affected (read: ranging from no surface at all to whalebacks) and in a lot of places probably topped off with crust (though as Greg notes, dry slot timing is critical).

 

[Greg]

Looking for lift-served, first I think I'd try to wait until at least Friday or be prepared to stay over until then if you're not already planning to. In my experience forecasting of wind is even less reliable than snowfall, but there's a lot of room for error here while remaining well into wind hold territory - today NWS higher summits forecast for VT is for SE wind 70-90 mph! They expect high (though not quite that high) wind to persist through Thurs and only slowly diminish into Friday.

The good news: lake-effect snow expected as far east as the central and northern Greens as the storm pulls away. Yesterday Scott B said the sweet spot for LES could be Bush/MRG; in a new post today MRG-focused Josh Fox said MRG could see 4-8" fresh from LES by the weekend after 6-8 of snow ending in sleet/ice from today's storm. (Note Bush is now open but MRG said today it probably won't be able to open this weekend.)

Someone with local knowledge may be able to point you to a mountain with good lees from SE/easterly winds. My take is before any LES, this storm will be a great base-builder but not so hot for skiing ungroomed surfaces, which are likely to be severely wind-affected (read: ranging from no surface at all to whalebacks) and in a lot of places probably topped off with crust (though as Greg notes, dry slot timing is critical).

Sick. NNE is gona get dry-slotted! Woohoo! Then hopefully the lake effect/upslope starts tomorrow and the winds settle a bit. I'm hoping for a repeat of this on Friday:



The set-up so far has been eerily similar.

 

[hockeylax]

Right now we are planning on Killington for Thursday, then Stowe or Jay Friday (have hotel in Burlington Thurs and Fri nights, and rutland Sat night, and don't mind the driving) then we may hit sugarbush or Killington on Saturday, and Okemo or Snow on Sunday.

This is just a warm up trip for us, but since we are using the ski passes we don't have to choose till last minute.

 

[Greg]

Right now we are planning on Killington for Thursday, then Stowe or Jay Friday (have hotel in Burlington Thurs and Fri nights, and rutland Sat night, and don't mind the driving) then we may hit sugarbush or Killington on Saturday, and Okemo or Snow on Sunday.

This is just a warm up trip for us, but since we are using the ski passes we don't have to choose till last minute.

Sounds like a nice little early season tour. Enjoy it!

 

[drjeff]

Mount Snow's just recently posted pic of the day

Looks to me like the pic was taken on the deck on the 2nd floor of the main base lodge just outside "The Midstation" restaurant

 

[billski]

I have ski vermont passes, so I can go anywhere. Driving up overnight from Maryland so I'm looking for the best resort to aim for. Jay seems like they'll be getting the least rain, but only have two trails open, and are on wind hold today.

Is Stowe worth it this early in the season? Should we be looking for variety if its a little frozen with the mix.

Read this.
http://www.famousinternetskiers.com/129-storm-2-update-thread/#more-1894
Your bigger problem could be wind holds.

 

[Glenn]

Mount Snow's just recently posted pic of the day

Looks to me like the pic was taken on the deck on the 2nd floor of the main base lodge just outside "The Midstation" restaurant

tastic!

 

[Smellytele]

Mount Snow's just recently posted pic of the day

Looks to me like the pic was taken on the deck on the 2nd floor of the main base lodge just outside "The Midstation" restaurant

Looks a little fishy the way it rounds off away from the measuring device in all directions.

 

[Greg]

Looks a little fishy the way it rounds off away from the measuring device in all directions.

I thought the same thing, but I'll give the benefit of the doubt. Snow, K-mart and Magic all reported 9" a few hours ago. Hell, I had almost 6" at my house before the changeover so 9+ in Vermont is totally reasonable IMO.

 

[drjeff]

Looks a little fishy the way it rounds off away from the measuring device in all directions.

Tables on that deck are round(I've had many a sandwich and beer on that deck at lunchtime over the years ), and probably a true reading as that deck basically resembles a hockey rink in that's there's roughly 5 to 6 foot high plexiglass windows ontop of the railing to make it pleasant to sit out there when the wind is blowing.

 

[Smellytele]

I thought the same thing, but I'll give the benefit of the doubt. Snow, K-mart and Magic all reported 9" a few hours ago. Hell, I had almost 6" at my house before the changeover so 9+ in Vermont is totally reasonable IMO.

I agree it could be valid but as someone posted about truth in snow reporting. Conspiracy theorist - I am!

 

[Greg]

I agree it could be valid but as someone posted about truth in snow reporting. Conspiracy theorist - I am!

Agreed. But I think Killington and particularly Mount Snow have decided to trade in the ski area yardsticks for real ones this season.

 

[JD]

go as far north as you have to so when you get out of the car and step in the snow it doesn't crunch.

 

[skiadikt]

k now reporting 13". great bear opened today. trail report mentions north star for tommorow. think we can see some rapid expansion.

 

[Greg]

k now reporting 13". great bear opened today. trail report mentions north star for tommorow. think we can see some rapid expansion.

Northstar: NICE!