Snow Zone

The days of writing a message on the sign near the chairlifts seem quaint now that most people are texting friends and family.
People can track down lost members of their party and make plans to meet. If you got a good signal the days of losing people at a ski area are reduced.
I’m at Killington for a few days and I’ve noticed more people texting.It right to the point and you answer your phone on the lift and maybe drop it.
Texting seems to cross all age groups.
If you have an iPhone, reception is good here for AT&T users.
Conditions today are pwdr and pp. It’s still cloudy on the summits, but clears lower mountain. Seems like the bid snow, more than 3 feet has brought lots of people here and many are from CT. Met several people from Fairfield already.

Things greatly improved at The K. More lifts opening every hour. Awesome snow and skiing.

OK, I’ll use the word to describe Wednesday’s snowfall: EPIC.

Often overused, but I think this time the word fits.

The photo above taken Wednesday at Jay Peak helps tells the story.

Big winners from Wednesday’s impressive snowfall: Vermont areas and some New York State areas like Whiteface and Hunter that got up to two feet.

New Hampshire areas didn’t fare as well. Loon, Bretton Woods, Waterville and Ragged got less than a foot. Mount Sunapee, that’s closer to Vermont, received 14 inches.

Here are some of the snowfall totals that blessed Vermont ski area:

Stowe: 49 inches past seven days.

Sugarbush: 46 inches past two days.

Killington, Pico and Bolton Valley: 40 inches past 48 hours.

Smuggler’s: 39 inches past seven days.

Mount Snow: 37 past 48 hours.

Jay Peak: 36 inches in the past two days.

Magic Mountain: 26 inches.

Mad River Glen: 25 inches.

Stratton: 32 inches past two days.

Bromley: 29 inches past two days.

Okemo: 26 inches storm total.

But now to the meat of this blog … Are there any downsides to this storm?

This snow was not the dry, fluffy powder that you’d find in Utah or New Mexico. It had a high moisture content that made it heavy, especially on the lower elevation trails.

And today, there’s some snow, mixed with rain, and just plain rain … and in most parts of the north country many summits are covered in clouds. It is possible, however, that some Vermont areas could get another foot.

But the biggest problem I see is the wind as this nor’easter winds up toward Canada. This has prevented some lifts from running, particularly summit ones.

Winds will reach their peak speeds in Vermont tonight with gusts up to 55 mph. They diminish Friday with speeds between 16 and 25 mph with gusts up to 39 mph. That’s enough to affect some lift operations.

Since mountain weather can vary, it’s wise to check out the higher summits forecast.

Go to a ski resort’s web site and look for details that may tell you conditions are not perfect. Take Sugarbush’s, for example, many the lifts are on wind hold. And its weather report: Fog and 35 degrees this a.m.

Mount Snow’s noon update:  “Several more trails have been opened on the Main Face. Ego Alley, Drop and Short Fuse have been groomed and the ropes dropped while Pat’s Pitch and Roller Coaster are open without grooming. The North Face is now open.

Anywhere else on the mountain trails that have not been groomed will not be open today for safety reasons. As well the Summit and Sunbrook lifts will start off on hold and we hope to have them open late this morning. Today’s lift ticket rates will be at afternoon pricing.”

In Stratton’s mountain report:  “Due to the powerful nature of this storm and forecast icing some trails, lifts, will be delayed or closed. All terrain parks are closed for grooming.”

Okemo: ”The Jackson Gore and Solitude lifts are on hold, in addition to the South Face. Terrain Parks on hold while the Parks and Pipe Crew digs out the features.”

Stowe: ”We currently have cloudy skies and the forecast calls for high elevation snow showers today. So although it may be rain in the valleys, we hope to pick up some additional snowfall today thanks to Mount Mansfield’s lofty elevation.”

Jay Peak: “What a day we had yesterday.  Hope you were able to make it up as we picked up 28 – 36″ yesterday with more snow on the way today through Friday. Please be aware that the winds are forecasted to be high today which could put delays on the upper mountain lifts.  As always it’s a good idea (802) 988-2611 to call before making the trip to the mountain.”

Bottom line: Look beyond the impressive snowfall totals at other factors that can affect the quality of your ski day.

Friday and the weekend look to be much better days with a few inches of fresh snow.

Electrical problems and some wind has shut down many of Killington’s lifts. Only Ramshead, Smowshed and Northbrook running. Hope to open more ASAP.

It’s a Pow Pow Day!

The photo above was taken at Killington, Vermont this morning that already has 23 inches!

About an hour up Route 100 from Killington, Sugarbush is reporting 31 inches as of 4 p.m.  In the ticket section of The Bush’s Web site: “Today…PRICELESS! But, if you’re keeping track, an all-mountain adult ticket costs $77.”

Now, I gotta tell you if you want to enjoy this fresh snow this weekend, you better act quickly. Many of the inexpensive chain hotels around Killington and down into Rutland are filling up fast. And because demand is high they are not honoring the discount Roomsaver coupons.

“So far this is the most snow we have received since the first of the year, and it comes at a great time as we’re heading into the second half of the season,” said Patricia Ryan, Killington’s director of sales, marketing and reservations. “The phone lines at Killington Central Reservations have been ringing off the hook since the snow starting falling on Tuesday.”

Sure, you can find rooms at the resorts, but you’ll be paying more. So again, start making your plans today; it’s going to be an epic weekend. And with more snow forecast for Friday, there will be plenty of powder stashes remaining.

The snow reports are coming in from the front: it’s the biggest snowfall of the season for Vermont resorts.

No I’m not counting the 33 inches that hit Burlington, Vermont in January because that was a very fickle storm that was stingy with ski resorts. This is the snow that really matters.

Across Vermont nearly two feet has already fallen and it’s still snowing.Photo above is from the base area of Mount Snow in Vermont. At noon, Snow reported the total was 22 inches. But… the resort reports strong winds have closed the South Face.

Okemo is reporting 26 inches of freshies on the ground today.

When all is over, by Saturday, Vermont ski areas could pick up more than tw0 feet! Or more!!! Here’s the current Vermont forecast.

Among the totals, southern Vermont areas including Mount Snow, Bromley, Magic and Okemo totals approaching two feet.

In central and northern Vermont it’s the same deal with Jay, Stowe and Killington reporting hefty totals well on their way to the 2-foot mark by the end of the day.

However, VT Trans is reporting poor road conditions in the Green Mountain State with “difficult driving conditions with packed snow on the roadways.” Details here.

Closer to home, Butternut and Catamount in Massachusetts have between 6 and 10 inches.

In Connecticut, Mohawk and Ski Sundown are logging in with 5 new inches.

New Hampshire areas missed the big snowfall, except for Mount Sunapee (closer to Vermont) picked up 6 inches.

This is what we’ve been waiting for all season, snow falling every day this week. At least in northern New England, not necessarily Connecticut.

Check out this forecast for central Vermont and you’ll see what I’m talking about.

So start making your plans and start using those vacation days. It’s going to be a pow pow day all week!!!

Here’s one guy I trust when it comes to snow forecasts, Josh Fox from Mad River Glen in Vermont.

I got this e-mail from AccuWeather earlier today.

Talk about hype!  We’ll see. Oh my God it sounds like the end of the world. This kind of talk is enough to scare a storm out to sea.

Here’s the e-mail: I’ve bold-faced the hyperbole.

Hurricane-Like Storm Aims for Pennsylvania to Maine Thursday, Friday

State College, PA – February, 23, 2010 – A powerful storm of historical proportions is aiming for much of the Northeast Thursday into Friday and will follow up to a foot and a half of snow through Wednesday over upstate New York and western New England.

This second storm will be nothing short of a monster. Even in light of the blizzards earlier this winter that targeted the southern mid-Atlantic, this may be the one that people remember the most this winter in parts of New England and the northern mid-Atlantic.

At peak the storm will deliver near hurricane-force wind gusts (74 mph) blinding snow falling at the rate of over an inch per hour. For some people in upstate New York and eastern and northern Pennsylvania, this may seem more like a “snow hurricane” rather than a blizzard.

Cities likely to be impacted by heavy snow for all or at least part of the storm include: New York City, Albany, Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton, Scranton, Allentown, Reading, Williamsport and Burlington.

The storm will also deliver heavy rain and flooding northeast of the center of circulation.

The cities of Boston, Providence and Portland may have their hands full with coastal flooding problems.

The combination of wind, heavy rain and heavy snow will lead to extensive power outages and property damage. Where numerous trees and lines are blown down, the power could be out for a week in some areas.

Impacts on travel in the region may be severe. The effects of the storm will lead to flight delays and cancellations. Some major roads may be blocked by snow, downed trees or flooding.

Many schools will be closed or have early dismissal.

Blowout tides caused by strong offshore winds from New Jersey to North Carolina may pose problems for coastal waterway interests.

(Here’s their disclaimer)

Exactly where this storm forms and tracks will determine whether you get all snow, all rain, snow to rain or just snow showers. A difference in track of as little as 50 miles will mean the difference.

On thing is for sure, most people in the mid-Atlantic and New England will have problems from this storm’s strong winds.

Keep checking in at AccuWeather.com for updates on snowfall and other impacts on this potentially very dangerous, destructive storm.

Story by AccuWeather.com Expert Senior (???) Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski

With one bronze and a silver medal AND NOW A GOLD in the 2010 Winter Olympics, what did Bode Miller do to make this all possible?

Was it training in the gym? In his van? Working hard on or off the slopes? His diet?

This video may provide some answers on how the former Bad Boy of Skiing changed his ways from years ago.

Go Bode! Who now holds the most Olympic medals of any U.S. skier in history. Hey, he’s a New England guy from New Hampshire who’s used to skiing under any kind of conditions. It shows.

This video from Mad River Glen shows that the big bad “Ski It if You Can” area in central Vermont can be lots of fun, especially for intermediate skiers.

This video shows the Antelop trail and the skier is Eric Friedman. Now, I’ve skied with Eric and I can tell you he is really holding back, would rather be in the trees. I remember one time I was at MRG when there was very little snow, but Eric assured me everything would be cool because there’s lots of moss on the ground and the rocks have been hit so many times by skiers that they are smooth.

I like this video because it shows what a beautiful place MRG is. It has a charm all by itself. It’s the place to go when you’re sick of ski areas that all look and feel alike.