Worst Ski Season Ever?

[cdskier]

He was saying objective vs subjective. I still think the statement "Worst ski season ever" is subjective.

Agreed. What is the definition of "worst"? Has this season been bad? At times, yes. There have also been legitimately good days though if you caught the timing right. Can anyone definitively say it is the worst? Not at this point as you need to look at the entirety of the season once it is actually over. For me January-early April is the main season. From that pov, we're only just over half-way through and can still have a great second half. To me December (and November) is always a bonus in the east as is late April/May.

Weather can change quickly. A big dump or two of snow and all of a sudden people will start laughing about this topic.

 

[Smellytele]

Worst season = objective

YOUR worst season = subjective


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disagree both are subjective. Now if you said warmest or the least snowiest then that is objective but that isn't what was said.

I do think it has sucked

 

[Cannonball]

Nine pages of bickering about the definition of "worst" speaks for itself. This season sucks in the Northeast.

 

[drjeff]

Okay, so you're saying the early 80s may have been worse than this on February 18th?

Then I take it all back. I started skiing in 83, which I guess is the mid 80s. I haven't seen it this bad in my skiing life.

I guess I look at it differently.

To me, If it's a snowmaking trail, I will expect it to be open and in decent shape by Mid January. If it's a natural snow trail, as I'm guessing the one in the picture you posted is as I don't recognize that trail and/or see any sign of pipes along the side of it, then as a REALISTIC New Enlgand skier, I know that those are way more of a crap shoot. Without a doubt I'm guessing, what frozen stuff is on the trail in the picture you posted (using "snowpack" I'm guessing is a bit of a reach ) is very low, if not historic for mid February (who knows if some February thaws in the past took it down to those levels or not??) however, especially as someone who's spent most of my skiing career on Mountains South of mid VT or mid NH, there have been some years when I haven't been able to ski all the trails in a season (one of my annual goals) because the snowpack either was never deep enough, or in some cases never safe enough due to freezing up solid and no natural on top of it to all me to ski it.

For natural snow trails, this year has sucked, no ifs and's or buts about it. For snowmaking trails, while the start of the season generally sucked, they have been decent more days than not the last 6 weeks, and that's something that I couldn't always say back in the 80's.

My determination of what makes a bad season has evolved over the years, and is something today that is different than yours, and others here. That is cool with me. As long as I have some snow to slide down the hill on, I generally content. For sure though some days are more memorable than others (both good and bad), and this year when I likely look back on it in a few months when it's July and 90 degrees out, probably won't have a ton of GREAT days (I have had a few though this year), and likely will have more days that either weren't memorable at all or that are memorable for some rough conditions. That's all part of a ski season for me today, and has been since 1979 when I made my 1st turns

 

[steamboat1]

I remember ski areas being closed this time of the year before the advent of snowmaking. So no it's not the worst I've seen. Not that I was alive then but did you know that the first year MRG was scheduled to open they never did because of lack of snow.

I started skiing in 1960 so I've been around longer than most here.

 

[SIKSKIER]

79/80 was worse AND we had limited sm.In the 90's I remember Cannon closing on St Patricks day weekend.

 

[bdfreetuna]

This season is just getting started IMO and I've had mainly great days and skied plenty of fun woods; although I've had to reduce the number of days to avoid crappy skiing. Missed out on the short good period early in the season due to work and got a late jump on the season.

A couple more big storms and we'll have a good spring.

Right now the best place to go is Mad River Glen or Sugarbush, they've had the most snow and if you don't mind thin cover here and there you can ski just about everything there.

As for whether or not I can remember a worse year: not really. But recent seasons have been mostly awesome so I don't mind a glitch every decade or so.

You can tell a lot of mountains basically threw in the hat this year to save money.

 

[slatham]

As far as Presidents week at Mt Snow over the past 12 years, this Presidents week has been the worst without argument as per my group of 15+ that have skied it every year. Natural snow depth is the least, terrain open is the least (even with better snowmaking) and surface conditions the worst (a rain day followed by a hard freeze). Simply ugly.

Looking back further I do have clear recollection of '82/83 where in NH it was beyond abysmal. I have no hard facts or stats, but my recollection was that winter would be worse. In Plymounth NH I recall only one snow of 5-6" and that was it. Long time ago but clearly an ugly winter.

I will also note, as it was above, that this winter is not over and there is hope! But so far it has been overly painful to be a skier in the East.

 

[Cannonball]

Right now the best place to go is Mad River Glen

FYI to random people lurking this forum for info on conditions: the above poster has a weak grip on reality. Please read MRG's own conditions report before choosing to go there.

 

[Edd]

I finally bought some carvers last week, inspired by dismal conditions. Head Supreme Instinct ti. Tested them today at Gunstock and I like them. 13m turn radius in a 170 length. Hopefully, a part time ski but nice to have for the lean times.

 

[cdskier]

FYI to random people lurking this forum for info on conditions: the above poster has a weak grip on reality. Please read MRG's own conditions report before choosing to go there.

Maybe Tuna hasn't been following the weather/snow conditions since prior to the rain event the other day. MRG does have very open and honest reports which is nice to see. Actually, right now their report is surprisingly more positive than you would have expected after the recent weather. Obviously a lot of trails are closed though.

 

[Los]

Yes, this is all due to Global Warming.

It has nothing to do with a highly predictable meteorological phenomena at all, instead it's all attributable to the 1 degree Fahrenheit surface anomaly increase in temperature that has slowly occurred over the last 80 years (aka Global Warming).

Whatever you need to tell yourself.

If skiers are not unified in understanding that this needs to be addressed NOW, it's very difficult to believe humanity will do anything to save our winters.

Our ski seasons on average are going to continue getting worse and worse. If we fail to take collective action, which appears likely, skiing will become extinct. And sooner rather than later.

http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_t...anthropocene_or_age_of_man_began_in_1610.html

 

[Jcb890]

I've had a blast this season and have gone snowboarding a lot... but most of it has been at the local mountain in MA. Only one trip up North to VT so far this season because the snow has been so crappy.

So, yes, I've had a lot of fun. But, yes, this might be the worst ski season ever for me from a weather standpoint.

Heck, I've even had 1 real powder day locally in MA... that was a blast! And 1 other fresh snow day here in MA also. I'm certainly not complaining about that.

At this point, I/we are all just holding out hope things get better. Let's all pray that storm projected for the middle of next week (Wed/Thurs) slams New England with heavy snow, up Needs it bad.

 

[dlague]

disagree both are subjective. Now if you said warmest or the least snowiest then that is objective but that isn't what was said.

I do think it has sucked

Agree! The question has no context. My worst season was when I tore my ACL.

The question should be - is this the worst season ever with respect to conditions and weather?


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[bdfreetuna]

Maybe Tuna hasn't been following the weather/snow conditions since prior to the rain event the other day. MRG does have very open and honest reports which is nice to see. Actually, right now their report is surprisingly more positive than you would have expected after the recent weather. Obviously a lot of trails are closed though.

Yeah its a lot of frozen granular. I didn't say go now lol. But mad river valley is where the best base is and where the skiing will be really nice once it either snows more or thaws a little. Only reason anything is closed at either Sugar or MRG is icyness. There's no lack of snow at either.

Also... global warming... :lol: ... where do I sign up to pay my taxes to the United Nations and Al Gore and Leonardo DiCaprio? Each fart is going to be 50 cents.

A link to a Slate blog as well. That proves it. Maybe Jezebel.com has some good articles about that as well.

All of a sudden El Nino hits and "global warming!" even though we've still managed to shatter record lows all over the country at times. Have you forgotten recent history? I'm sure you'll say "But California!". Do you know what a high pressure ridge is?

Learn more about weather before you demand collective action from every human on Earth.

Otherwise put your money where your mind is, and sing along.

 

[Edd]

the above poster has a weak grip on reality.

Tuna,

This quote pretty much applies to post # 95.

 

[ALLSKIING]

Skied under the guns all day today! Awesome day.

 

[Smellytele]

Was at pats peak this afternoon. Still coverage on everything. Groomers skied well. Didn't hit Hurricane or Vortex those were looking sketchy.

 

[Cannonball]

Right now the best place to go is Mad River Glen or Sugarbush,

I didn't say go now lol.

Fight it out amongst yourself.

 

[deadheadskier]

Fight it out amongst yourself.

Lol