John E Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 I've not yet been up this season but from everything I've heard, what snow there is in the Colorado mountains is thin & hard. On the national news last night, they indicated that almost the entire US has very little snow. True? How is Canada doing? Europe? Where's my snow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Donnelly Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Jan 5, 2012 from http://www.skyhidailynews.com/article/20120106/NEWS/120109970/1079&ParentProfile=1067 The calendar says January, but the scenery looks more like pleasant early fall.Behind the Kawuneeche Visitor Center at the western entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park, measured average snow depth for this time of year is about 22 inches, according to Park staff. But this year, the depth is 7 inches. And where the average of December snowfall in that area over the past 62 years is about 28 inches, this December averaged 4.8 inches. It's a stark contrast to last year's December, during which an average 48 inches fell there. From Colorado Parks and Wildlife snow surveys located in the Blue River, Middle Creek, Troublesome Creek and Williams Fork areas, compiled by biologists, the average snow depth shows less than 5 centimeters this year, where the 10-year average is about 15 cm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michelle Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Where's my snow? Same place mine is. taking it's time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dingbat Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 We've got the same great snow we always have in Western Mass. this time of year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
newcarver Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 Try WolfCreek! They have had a lot of snow this season. I would guess the Santa Fe area resorts are doing OK too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xy9ine Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 i haven't been up since november, but whistler is looking good currently. all runs open, 84" base (12" new in the last couple days). vancouver mountains are a bit thin, though cypress has had enough to keep me entertained (and it's been open for nearly 2 months now). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Donnelly Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/alaska-snowfall-lasts-24-days-15325971 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef1 Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 In contrast to last year, Europe is currently drowning in snow! It's been snowing nearly constantly since the middle of December and many resorts have already received as much snow as they got all of last season. Up to this week the weather has been pretty poor with not a ray of sun and very poor visibility but the forecast is predicting clear skies until at least this weekend so the lucky buggers who have chosen this week for their ski holidays are going to have the time of their lives! Have a look at this link to see snow conditions at various resorts around Europe: http://www.welove2ski.com/jsp/index.jsp?lnk=520 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icebiker Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 How is Canada doing? Tremblant is about 80% open now. Was there a Christmas/Hanukkah week and it was pretty good. Even got about 8" of natural on one day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John E Posted January 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 I saw a newspaper article this weekend that Vail had only 1500 of their 5300 acres open. Basically the slopes they can blow snow onto and rearrange daily. Can you imagine paying over $100 for a lift ticket and then be jammed onto less than 30% of their acreage with 1000s of other skiers on marginal snow? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lafcadio Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 Sources tell me that conditions at Taos are amazing. They're reporting over 42 inches of base and snowfall regularly over the past several weeks. Oh... and in case you missed it, for the last few seasons snowboards are finally welcome at Taos: http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/travel/escapes/16ski.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strider Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 We've had a grand total of 4 inches this year here in WI and none of it is still on the ground. It's been hovering around 50 for the last week but the local hills have done a good job making snow when its cold. It's been fun to introduce my high school racers to the concept of a "hard" course which they immediately point out means ice. Sharp edges and good technique means fast snow around here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinpa Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 We've got the same great snow we always have in Western Mass. this time of year. hmmmm, dingbat? what are you trying to say here???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lafcadio Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 hmmmm, dingbat? what are you trying to say here???? Yeah, I'd like to know also. Looks like 2-4 inches in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GV27 Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 Where's the snow? I think it's in Alaska.... http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/alaska-town-buried-18-feet-snow-national-guardsmen-recruited-article-1.1003400 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dingbat Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 hmmmm, dingbat? what are you trying to say here???? Yeah, I'd like to know also. Looks like 2-4 inches in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow... Reality is, this time of year, the natural snowfall is usually insignificant compared to the man made. If we had to wait for natural snow to open, most years we'd be well in to Jan or Feb before we had enough cover that it wouldn't get skied down to dirt in an hour. A few seasons ago we consistently had some of the best conditions I've ever seen in Western Mass. without a flake of natural snow. Huge storm after huge storm went south of us. Philly got hammered, D.C. got hammered, NYC got hammered, we got nothing but had awesome conditions because we were in the cold. What I want to know is where's the cold this year? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcaple Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 St Anton in Austria has a 5.45 meter base..... My local hill in France has a 2.5 meter base..... Certainly an "epic" season so far....... :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0815-fahrer Posted January 10, 2012 Report Share Posted January 10, 2012 St Anton in Austria has a 5.45 meter base..... Here´s a Pic of today from a Friend who lives there in St.Anton. Seems he was more digging big style rather than boarding much:eek: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrutton Posted January 11, 2012 Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 Oh... and in case you missed it, for the last few seasons snowboards are finally welcome at Taos: http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/01/16/travel/escapes/16ski.html Damn! Best news ever... Yeah, where the **** is the snow....heading to CO on Sat, and there's 32". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boarderboy Posted January 11, 2012 Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 Damn! Best news ever...Yeah, where the **** is the snow....heading to CO on Sat, and there's 32". near Pagosa Springs. They (like New Mexico) have been getting dumped on. BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boarderboy Posted January 11, 2012 Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 What I want to know is where's the cold this year? And they're outta fuel. Russian ship w/USCG ice breaker is crawling toward them with 1,000,000 + gal. gas and diesel. But they're still more than 90 miles out. Crew of the icebreaker has been at sea since May... BB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barryj Posted January 11, 2012 Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 Bone Dry up here at 6000+ft...hasn't snowed since the week before Thanksgiving! This is a resort town(s) and lots of people leaving - no snow, no work! Just can't wait any longer. Forecast looks like we will be dry into Feb. Went rockclimbing New Years Eve in just shorts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davekempmeister Posted January 11, 2012 Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 Try WolfCreek! They have had a lot of snow this season. I would guess the Santa Fe area resorts are doing OK too. I'll attest - I was there a month ago and it was awesome, 100% open and great snow. They got more a few days after I flew out. Gotta be good, and for the op, in-state. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skatha Posted January 11, 2012 Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 Where's the snow? Here...we actually had a flash flood warning 2 days ago and numerous road closures due to high water. We've actually had our expected monthly rainfall totals every month since October. Of course, Houston finished 2011 with only 25 inches of rain (half our yearly average of 49), so the fact the last 3 months had our expected rainfall is a testament as to how dry it was prior to October. The rain late didn't save the pine trees that died in my neighborhood (about 1/3 of them) nor the trees I see driving to work (about 1/2 of them). The legislature is considering several billion dollars of reservoir work for future droughts and I'm sure Perry will beg the federal government he hates so much to pay for it. The state climatologist mentioned our increasing population and projected warmer temps (getting Perry to admit climate change exists is like Fonzie saying the word "wrong") with the proposal....Ce la Vie:smashfrea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John E Posted January 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2012 The drought in Texas made national news most of this year. Sounds really tragic. The dead trees won't be back to their current size in our lifetimes. The photos of the suffering wildlife were heartbreaking. Because of the record floods in the upper mid-west and the drought in Texas makes me wonder if anyone has looked at the economics of building a pipeline that could solve both problems. However, it would have to be a really big pipeline to make any difference. In years like this one the excess water could be moved from North Dakota to Texas. It would be really expensive but might be cheaper than the billions of dollars spent to react to the flooding and the drought. Anyway, it is snowing lightly here in Denver but looks like nothing up in the mountains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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