With rain coming, what should I do?

[swampwiz]

Here's my situation. I am from Louisiana and have skied around 300 resorts around the world. I decided for part of this season I would do New England to catch resorts I have not caught already.

I currently have 6 more areas to do (including 2 that I have already done, but would like to do again):

Have not done yet:

Burke
Gunstock
Tenney
Mad River Glen

Have done, but want to do again:

Sugarbush
Okemo (fastest quads in the world!)

Today is Saturday, and I am resting my legs after 2 strong days, and will be going somewhere on Sunday. I am staying near Ascutney, so every place is within 2 hours, and with getting back to my car at 4:30, I will get be back to my place at 6:30, just in time to watch my New Orleans Saints demolish the Vikings (kind of like the way they demolished the Pats.)

Anyway, I'm only going to be around until a week after next Friday, and I would like to do all these areas, but it seems that this rain is going to make everything super icy. However, there is supposed to be some very cold temps coming, so hopefully with some good grooming during the rain, and some snowmaking after, the conditions can get decent again - although obviously not as good as the last few days (my goodness, Pico on Thursday was like Colorado!)

The order of desirability of my days is:

Burke
Gunstock
Sugarbush
Okemo
Tenney
Mad River Glen

I think that with the Mississippi River level of water flow for snowmaking that Okemo has (OK, I'm using a little hyperbole), that Okemo should be back in business with a few good cold days. I understand that Gunstock is pretty good as well with snowmaking.

But I tend to think that the others are poor at snowmaking, especially the last two, who don't seem to even like grooming!

So it seems that so long as Gunstock can get back to good conditions after the cold temps following the rain, that I should do Burke on Sunday, and then do Gunstock after the rain and cold. However, if Gunstock cannot get back up with snowmaking, but Burke can, maybe I should do Gunstock on Sunday instead. How good is Burke snowmaking after a rain?

I am presuming that Okemo can get back up, but what about Sugarbush (the side that is not Mt. Ellen)?

I am also presuming that Tenney and Mad River Glen are going to be terrible until a nice 6" of snow can happen (which could happen.) In any case, they are farthest down my list.

 

[thetrailboss]

Burke does not do much snowmaking. Pretty much to get the place going and then one resurface. Do it tomorrow.

SB has said that they will wait and see what happens.

 

[Rambo]

The year is 2010! Ski resorts like Okemo and Sugarbush have had massive snowmaking capabilities for decades. The major trails with a good machine made base will get through several rain storms with little damage. Not so with trails with only natural snow. Natural snow trails could take a big hit. So ski on the machine made base trails which can actually improve as the rain percolates down through the base. This is why Sugarbush can ski into May.

 

[Smellytele]

MRG will be looking very sad after the rain. burke shows it will be getting some snow after the rain or i would say go there. Tenney has been pretty sad for the last couple of years. Nice trails but sad grooming and snow making. Sugarbush and okemo will hold up the best. Gunstock is middle of the road decent snow making. In the rain they will all be okay, it is after the rain when it gets cold again that will suck.

 

[from_the_NEK]

It is a tossup between Burke and MRG. Burke will fare better with the rain than MRG but it will take a while (10" of new snow) for the glade skiing to get back into shape. Burke's snowmaking trails will come out okay if you give them a few days of repeat grooming. After Monday's weather issues, I would stay away from any skiing Tuesday and Wednesday until the surfaces can recover a bit (although Okemo may be okay by Wednesday).

 

[JD]

Get your skis tuned.

 

[swampwiz]

OK, I'll do Burke

I don't care about glade or double diamond skiing. I like packed powder groomed or heavily cutup, moguled powder. I am a long cruisers guy (like Saas Fee in Switzerland that has a 1750 meter continuous drop!) :flame:

I'll wait until Thur to do Okemo, then Sugarbush, then Gunstock.

And I guess I'll have to blow off Tenney, although the temptation of a dirt cheap $15 1/2 day mid-week might be worth a little ice. :-D

After consideration, I'm going to blow off Mad River Glen. I don't like wearing a helmet, and the Glen seems to have tiny trails with lots of glades.

Many years ago, I did Stowe, but it was early, and only one part of the area was open (I think it had a triple chair.) I probably should go again, but I am loathe to shell out the cash for that place (yes, I know, Okemo is pricey too.)

 

[KingM]

After consideration, I'm going to blow off Mad River Glen. I don't like wearing a helmet, and the Glen seems to have tiny trails with lots of glades.

:roll:

 

[RootDKJ]

Ski in the rain, it makes the snow nice and soft.

Stowe probably will recover quickly. Looks like some small amounts of snow after the ncp passes.

 

[swampwiz]

Ski in the rain, it makes the snow nice and soft.

Stowe probably will recover quickly. Looks like some small amounts of snow after the ncp passes.

I once skied Saalbach-Hinterglemm (Austria) when it was raining. That was not fun, but the next day, there were some great conditions. I remember on the rain day that before the rain there was a lot of fog, and I could barely make my way around in the foot deep powder.

I'm thinking that if I have the extra day to ski after doing the other four, that Stratton would be the good choice (fairly close to me, and good fast lifts and good vertical.) I had done Stratton back at the end of 2000-2001 season (lots of corn powder), but it seems like there has been an expansion since then (or perhaps some of the lifts were not working then?) Do you think that Stratton would be able to take care of rain as well as Okemo or Sugarbush?

 

[billski]

Do you think that Stratton would be able to take care of rain as well as Okemo or Sugarbush?

Yes

I agree with what everyone has said. Given your interests, and conditions tolerance, I think you can hit any or all in any sequence you want. Everyone is going to be grooming, you'll have FGR until it snows, which it might, but only the Voodoo Lady knows for sure.

I'm fixated on helping you knock off your A-List.

If you'll be here until "A week after next Friday" that's essentially two weeks, Feb 5th. The world will change by then. I'd say do them all in any order you want. I don't think that's what you meant.

You're doing yourself a disservice if you exclude MRG. They do in fact groom their blues and greens.

If I had only this week (to 1/30, I'd do Tenny and Gunstock on Sunday, skip the rain day, then hit the rest in any order you want. Midweek in the week, conditions will be better, due either to natural snow, more grooming or fewer skiers on the hill. I'd hit the bigger areas midweek due to the more-people-beat-up-the-groomers-faster syndrome and that bigger areas have more trail choices if conditions have deteriorated..

 

[Rambo]

Stratton sounds like a good bet. They are reporting a 42 to 50" base and have a "Snow Gurantee":

http://www.stratton.com/mediaroom/091016_great_snow.htm

 

[puckoach]

Miight I suggest that you stick around for a few more days and attend Armando's Black n Blue Ski Club's Superbowl Party and Ski Trip on 2/7-9 at Loon !

 

[skiadikt]

sounds like you wouldn't be interested in mrg since groomers ain't their thing. i'd hit burke today (since they'll be one of the slower ones to recover). should be nice & soft with the warmup before the flood. then okemo will be fastest to recover with the great groomers you seem to like prolly by wednesday.

 

[Gunstock]

Gunstock will watch what happens with the weather forecast changing hourly. We are hoping for less of a rain event as of Sunday morning. Monday will be very iffy, and we make a day like monday a "call in day" we will keep most machine off the mountain for the weather event and then get right on the grooming when the weather changes back in our favor. Looks like sunny days this week and good cold temps for the snow to set up and be groomed at nights. This week will be moisture management and we will get back out there when it gets cold Monday night. By the way, I am jealous of you getting to ski 200 areas!

 

[bigbog]

Get your skis tuned.

..and pray.
Motha Nature's going to stick it to us again....:angry:

 

[hrstrat57]

IMHO that list is incomplete until you experience the vibe of MRG....

Gunstock views are worth the price of admission....the skiing is ok.....

 

[psyflyer]

On Thursday I drove to CT from Burke and I was impressed by how much mroe snow there was on the ground in Northern VT than Southern VT. It might not mean much but there was less than half the snow on the ground here in the NEK (St. J) than the last exits of Southern VT. By the time I hit northern Mass it was almost bare and by the time I hit CT there wasn't one spot of snow anywhere. Of course the resorts that do heavy snowmaking might fare out a touch better but Northern VT would be your best bet. Have fun!

 

[swampwiz]

I ended up going to Burke. I was amazed as how good the conditions were, although some of the main steep runs got a bit bare towards the end.

I was a bit peeved that I did not know about the $18 1/2 day special, as well as being raped for paying $59 because I was not a VT resident (would have been $41.) :angry: :angry: :angry: The ticket clerk did not tell me about the $18 special until after I had bought the ticket. :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry:

But I did have a great day (although it was definitely chilly toward the end!), and I did drive back to my place near Ascutney with no freezing rain issues.

But probably most importantly, I got back in time to watch the SAINTS win.

I will be joining my friend (a Louisiana native now living near Bean Town) for Super Bowl weekend.

WHO DAT!

 

[swampwiz]

IMHO that list is incomplete until you experience the vibe of MRG....

Gunstock views are worth the price of admission....the skiing is ok.....

I thought the view from Burke was pretty amazing. I can see why it's called "the kingdom" - somewhat in the ballpark as the view from Crans-Montana (Switzerland) - but not quite.

I can live without the vibe from MRG. For a skier (especially), I have a high self-preservation instinct.