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February Banter 2026


George BM
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11 hours ago, Jebman said:

I have certainly enjoyed the last four days of heavy snow in the Sierras. I have gotten quite the FIX.

However, no mercy. We get 4 days off, then Tuesday another three feet of very heavy WET snow descend on Mammoth.

Skiers will get their fill of the white room tomorrow. Main Lodge lifts will be up and spinning by 10am local Pac time. SIX FEET of fresh POW await those who get there first. Palisades Tahoe got EIGHT FEET of fresh POW! Skiers are gonnabe besides themselves with pure JOY!

Every time I close my eyes all I see are huge aggregates being driven by 85 mph gusts at Mammoth! All I see is Plow Guy plowing DEEP snow!

https://www.mammothmountain.com/on-the-mountain/mammoth-webcam/main-lodge

Check out this 6 FOOT DRIFT on the 8200 foot Scope at Palisades!!!!

https://www.palisadestahoe.com/mountain-information/webcams

See also Alpine Lodge https://www.palisadestahoe.com/mountain-information/webcams#tab=alpine

https://blog.palisadestahoe.com/weather/8-feet-with-a-final-foot-thursday/

https://blog.palisadestahoe.com/operations/feb-18-operations-update/

https://blog.palisadestahoe.com/operations/feb-19-operations-update/

Inside Edge Blog https://blog.palisadestahoe.com/

 

 

 

 

One of these days I want to experience this!

I'm thinking Mammoth Lakes or Tahoe -- somewhere where there's some population and infrastructure. The guys at the Sierra Snow Lab in Soda Springs (west of Truckee) are in a pretty sparse location. 

Either way, You want to get your snow fixed, go to the Sierra. Or western/ northwestern Japan. :rolleyes:

Screenshot_20260220_131215_Facebook.jpg

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1 hour ago, WxMan1 said:

One of these days I want to experience this!

I'm thinking Mammoth Lakes or Tahoe -- somewhere where there's some population and infrastructure. The guys at the Sierra Snow Lab in Soda Springs (west of Truckee) are in a pretty sparse location. 

Either way, You want to get your snow fixed, go to the Sierra. Or western/ northwestern Japan. :rolleyes:

Screenshot_20260220_131215_Facebook.jpg

  If you, Jebman or anyone ever get the chance to visit Japan, suggest going to Zao or Naeba.  Zao NW of Tokyo several hours.  It is famous for its "snow monsters", which are the wind-swept snow-encrusted tops of pine trees sticking out of the snow.  When I was there telemark skiing, there were only 10-20' of the tree tops sticking out of the 60-70 feet of snow.  It was amazing how much snow they had, even by Tahoe standards.  

It was very interesting how they deal with the snow.  The Japanese have snow removal down to an art.  Downtown Zao and Naeba (not very big villages) have perforated rubber hoses laying all over the streets and sidewalks.  They pump hot water from the natural springs out to melt the snow.  The whole area smells like sulfur, but you get used to it.  Where they don't have hot water running, they use a variety of snow blowers to discard it.  There's simply no place to push it - too much of it.  They have some really nifty walk behind snowblowers that are really cool and it seems everybody has one.  

When it snows on the western flanks of Honshu (the main island of Japan), the fetch off the Sea of Japan is accented by the upslope from the Japanese Alps.  The result is akin to what Mammoth is experiencing, and then some.  Never seen snow so intense for so long.  If you ever do go, hit me up offline.  Happy to give some ideas.  Heading to Japan in a week for several weeks.  Unfortunately, I don't think we'll be heading to the mountains this time.   

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16 minutes ago, RDM said:

  If you, Jebman or anyone ever get the chance to visit Japan, suggest going to Zao or Naeba.  Zao NW of Tokyo several hours.  It is famous for its "snow monsters", which are the wind-swept snow-encrusted tops of pine trees sticking out of the snow.  When I was there telemark skiing, there were only 10-20' of the tree tops sticking out of the 60-70 feet of snow.  It was amazing how much snow they had, even by Tahoe standards.  

It was very interesting how they deal with the snow.  The Japanese have snow removal down to an art.  Downtown Zao and Naeba (not very big villages) have perforated rubber hoses laying all over the streets and sidewalks.  They pump hot water from the natural springs out to melt the snow.  The whole area smells like sulfur, but you get used to it.  Where they don't have hot water running, they use a variety of snow blowers to discard it.  There's simply no place to push it - too much of it.  They have some really nifty walk behind snowblowers that are really cool and it seems everybody has one.  

When it snows on the western flanks of Honshu (the main island of Japan), the fetch off the Sea of Japan is accented by the upslope from the Japanese Alps.  The result is akin to what Mammoth is experiencing, and then some.  Never seen snow so intense for so long.  If you ever do go, hit me up offline.  Happy to give some ideas.  Heading to Japan in a week for several weeks.  Unfortunately, I don't think we'll be heading to the mountains this time.   

I actually lived in Japan as a youngster (age 9-13) when my Dad was assigned to Yokota Air Base. Went to a Boy Scout Jamboree in Zao, which I believe is north to northwest of Fukushima. Of course, that was in August. I recall it was quite beautiful! 

I hear Aomori, far northern Honshu, is the place to go for snow. Over 300" on average per year! 

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19 minutes ago, WxMan1 said:

I actually lived in Japan as a youngster (age 9-13) when my Dad was assigned to Yokota Air Base. Went to a Boy Scout Jamboree in Zao, which I believe is north to northwest of Fukushima. Of course, that was in August. I recall it was quite beautiful! 

I hear Aomori, far northern Honshu, is the place to go for snow. Over 300" on average per year! 

Great! - been to the BX at Yokota AFB many times.  Hope you have good memories of your time there. 

You are the first person I've ever "met" who knows about Zao.  It's a great area.  Never been there in the summer time, but can imagine it would be a nice place to visit without snow too.  

Heard of Aomori, but haven't been there.  Climbed Fuji san and skied down once (on telemark skis) with a couple snowboarders.  That was a surreal experience.  Had great weather with unlimited visibility just after a cold front went through.  

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