bwt3650

Went ikon this year as I have some trips planned to sun valley and squaw, so for a quick day trip when I’m in jersey, windam replaces hunter for me. It was my first time there yesterday and to me, it blows hunter away. The mountain itself (trails, trees etc) just have a cooler vibe to me. Reminded me more of Vermont skiing. Hunter base seems run down in comparison. There were some trails on the far west side that were natural, and a ridiculous hike to get to, but outstanding. I’ve heard hunter has the better terrain and steeps, but I don’t really see it. The front trails on the west side of windam had some pitch and the east side, though closed, looked pretty cool. I’m guessing they have nothing as steep as westward, purna and lower k, but honestly, westway and purna have been open a total of about 5 days in 5 years and lower k isn’t much higher. Hunter seems like the same 5 trails down the front, where windam seemed to have slightly more character. Could it just be that’s it’s new and just had 20”; sure. (though 2 weekend days in the Catskills is an eternity for trails). But it definitely exceeded my expectations and I have no issues hitting up windam this year, instead of hunter. .

You know I’m going to chime in…. There was NOT 22” at my place, which is between 1850-1900, just above the tramside base. I’ve heard from friends up there that it did get significantly deeper on the top half of Kitz, which I would guess starts at about 2500’. I’m going to guess it’s the upslope and better ratios that led to the increase. They did score another 2-3 at 1900 last night. Could that have been higher up top? Maybe. They were higher than you guys, but I won’t fight you on the 22 being a stretch. Personally, I hate the complete lack of snow cameras. It’s the snowiest place in the east; show it off. Not sure where you could put a snow board up on that ridge that wouldn’t be useless in the wind, but I’d love to see them try. I retire in 6 and and then I’ll be up there to measure first flake to last.

Completely agree; and you know better than me. But this past week was a great example of “we don’t know sh!t” past 5 days. 3 inches of surprise upslope on a clipper could do wonders. .

Gfs at day 7 had an east coast blizzard everyone was ready to call historic and two days later it’s showing 50 and rain; yet at day 12 some are sure there won’t be any upslope to fix it? Not saying it looks great, but isn’t 12 days an eternity? Though I saw a decent clipper around the 29th on a few runs. .

I wonder if they have a panic room out there when the GFS only shows like 36" three days out when it had 60" the prior run and some guy starts screaming to cancel winter.

Go big or go home I guess? He was at 30 on his 12/13 report so I guess he went with "can always adjust up". Seems like a cool dude from his write ups. Think he heads up here often. I keep looking at the 3k and I see the great upslope window, but it's like I'm squinting and thinking, ehhh, don't quite see 40" inches. Either way, probably the right side up storm we needed. I'd guess some of the low-mid angle natural stuff and woods will be in play next week. If we can avoid the melt SNE is having with the 24th storm and hold onto frozen, it will be the best end to December in several years. I'll take it. Eyeballing my deck, looks like about 6 so far, but snowing pretty decent right now.

TIm Kelly going all in on the upslope saying maybe 40” here by mid week. That would make up for some lost time. .

Upslope needs to over perform. I’d go mt snow to Killington for ski area bullseye in vt. .

Stratton on Monday for the leftovers. .

Yeah, it’s too bad because the guy has some knowledge, but is focused on turning it into dollars and pushing political views. Lots of bitching and whining too. Anytime you miss a two foot powder dump has to suck, but you might be back just in time for the goods if this pattern holds. Feel better, dude.. .

It’s hard not to get really excited about the look today. Hope it holds, as this would turn into one of the best Decembers in ski land in quite a few years. It’s nice that there’s multiple ways to get there; synoptic storms ,long upslope periods, decent cold shots; and no grinch in sight. I’m going to hang on for the ups and downs of model runs in the next few days, though. .

The pope has left the chat. .

Jet lift down at jay til at least Saturday. Bad timing for both Stowe and jay. I know there was a bashing of Stowe on the skiology Facebook group based on total false info by the guy who runs it and the “vail sucks” crew. Wonder if they’ll do the same for jay. There were comments like “I bet they didn’t do maintenance” by people who have no clue. Might be a good weekend to chase southern vt and catskills anyway. .

Vt ski area approved 12z runs…days and days of fake snow. .

I was just thinking that..phin must be doing backflips with that setup. And Randolph will upslope on the departure. Up here, I think we’ll cash in on the upslope more than the storm itself. Looks a little shredded once north of about killington. Days and days of snow , tho and Christmas Eve looks sweet. That would make A LOT of people who paid a ton of money to ski that week very happy. .

I actually just checked the heavenly site and they are reporting 74” in 48 hours. Absolutely crazy. .

It’s been a while since we even pulled 18 in 24 hours. I bet the Tahoe numbers have been insane too. .

It’s a sharp cutoff…nothing south of rt 80, but your old area managed a sloppy couple inches. Terrible drive down the thruway through Albany Sunday night. .

Days and days of snow upcoming for the northern greens. In a perfect world Friday is nice and dense followed by the fake snow machine and a reload for Christmas. One can dream. .

It looks like even some of the missed out to sea still put the lows in good spots for upslope…fake snow season starts this weekend! .

River quai is one of my favorite trails anywhere, but it doesn’t matter if it’s snowing 3” an hour, you are always scraping on that head wall. .

A fun challenge out there today. Frikin hard and fast. Need snow bad. Tramside still bare waiting for the guns, but looks like they are done on northway and should be there soon. .

It’s bare here too at 1850..some up top, but not much. A few years back I remember a thanksgiving wash out to bare here, but not sure how long it took to get it back. .

8 degrees out at 9am..decent cold. .

That map was drawn by a NE skier. .