Well. We had nearly two months of good skiing weather (hurray!) until last week. Now what?
As of Monday morning, March 1, there's another 12 or so hours of this warm, rainy weather on the way, and then the Mid-Atlantic region should return to seasonal temperatures. Daytime highs in the coming week should be above freezing with overnight lows below freezing - at least in the mountains. No prospects for significant snowfall this week, so far.
How well do you think our region's ski areas will recover from our February 2021 thaw? What do you think the prospects are for ski conditions here in the next several weeks? Among the factors I'm figuring will affect March-April skiing in our region are these:
Still thinking skiing and snow!
Woody
The snowpack in the trees in Canaan Valley is down to 10 inches (from a high of 24 inches on February 24). This is from Dave Lesher's site. I think we may be done with (lift-served) glade skiing there for the season, unless we get a major snowstorm.
Massanutten mentioned snowmaking weather returning later in the week. I fully expect their snow guns to be back in action before the weekend. Announced Closing Day is March 21. I'm pretty sure Mnut will go longer if at all possible.
Don't think any decision about when to close at Mnut has much to do with the pandemic. It's been all about Mother Nature providing cold temperatures for snowmaking ever since they figured out a way to have essentially unlimited water.
wgo wrote:
The snowpack in the trees in Canaan Valley is down to 10 inches (from a high of 24 inches on February 24). This is from Dave Lesher's site. I think we may be done with (lift-served) glade skiing there for the season, unless we get a major snowstorm.
How packed down is the snow in the trees at CV? I didn't have time to venture into them last week. Ten inches can be plenty. Wasn't that much at Timberline back in January and it was still good fun.
At Mnut, the snow in the trees lasted longer than usual because it became pretty well skier packed.
I asked at Whitetail yesterday and the consensus was 3/21. They had tons of snow there yesterday, just no people. Understandable due to the weather. Based on what I saw, 3/21 feels right to me.
Our gang is heading down this weekend and we are glued to that Shaver Webcam to see.
Keith_Moon wrote:
Anyone know whether they will blow at Snowshoe again as it gets colder tonight?
Same here.
Blue Don 1982 wrote:
Our gang is heading down this weekend and we are glued to that Shaver Webcam to see.
Keith_Moon wrote:
Anyone know whether they will blow at Snowshoe again as it gets colder tonight?
The more popular routes thru the trees were pretty packed down in mid-Feb. I would still personally be hesitant about taking some of the sportier lines. But this is just a guess on my part - I have not been there since mid-Feb.
marzNC wrote:
wgo wrote:
The snowpack in the trees in Canaan Valley is down to 10 inches (from a high of 24 inches on February 24). This is from Dave Lesher's site. I think we may be done with (lift-served) glade skiing there for the season, unless we get a major snowstorm.
How packed down is the snow in the trees at CV? I didn't have time to venture into them last week. Ten inches can be plenty. Wasn't that much at Timberline back in January and it was still good fun.
Massanutten cranked up the snow guns last night. Planned to run some as long as possible this morning. It was 29 degrees at 9am.
Snow Conditions March 2 8am
Snowmaking is in progress this morning, sunny with highs in the lower 40s. Pacesetter Park will be closed today for park rebuild.
Wintergreen is also planning on snowmaking when temps are cold enough this week.
To start March off we are doing to be dealing with a little bit of underdeveloped snow this morning. We are looking forward to a great week of skiing and riding. The lows at night will allow us to make some snow and to freshen up the slopes each day.
Laurel Mountain is skiing well. Laurel Run and Snow Bowl just softened up and will improve this afternoon. Barring a nice March storm the natural will be gone soon. Machine made should hold on until mid March.
Timberline will be good for a while, meaning this week and weekend. Next week shows a good warm up with temps here in the upper 50s. That'll bring out there corn but the base will slowly go away. Check the WG reports where up to 20" are still on the ridges. We will have snow to ski thru the end of the month baring 60s and 70s. Still waiting on that usual March dump of pow to enhance our skiing and improve our lives.
A friend and I had a delightful time at Blue Knob today, Wednesday, March 3. Despite the rains that closed out last week and the freeze-thaw cycles on Monday and Tuesday, BK had done a great job grooming their trails overnight. The snow softened but didn’t get schloppy. Deer Run was closed, but Stembogen was open and skied well, esp. Stembogen Field at the end. At least one of the glades opened after lunch.
Social distancing measures were in place - down to having every other urninal taped off. 😃 All staff members I saw were wore masks, and all were upbeat and helpful.
Well done, Blue Knob!
Woody
Massanutten had snowmaking temps all night last night. Got down to 20 degrees! Snowguns still on at 8:30am on Southern Comfort. :-)
Going to be a good first weekend of March. It's the last weekend with regular season rates.
Hidden Valley... 3/5/21. Snow pack is still above the stairs leading to the slopes.
wgo wrote:
Similar situation at Massanutten on Sunday. I am still keeping and eye on things and will keep going as long as coverage is good. Several 70 degree days coming up this week in Charlottesville, though.
Put the skis/boards away - time to work out, so you can fit into that banana hammock and work on a tan come May?
Haha paddleboarding season will be here soon enough.
Crush wrote:
wgo wrote:
Similar situation at Massanutten on Sunday. I am still keeping and eye on things and will keep going as long as coverage is good. Several 70 degree days coming up this week in Charlottesville, though.Put the skis/boards away - time to work out, so you can fit into that banana hammock and work on a tan come May?
wgo wrote:
Similar situation at Massanutten on Sunday. I am still keeping and eye on things and will keep going as long as coverage is good. Several 70 degree days coming up this week in Charlottesville, though.
Hit the Nut today at 9, snow was soft loose granular, around 11 it started getting very heavy and grabby in sections. Its spring skiing so thats what you get. Had a great time. If its my last day of the year . . . so be it! Great time at the NUT.
Mongo wrote:
Anyone at Snowshoe?
Was at snowshoe last week. After a week with DC temps reaching the 70's, the entire mountain was open all weekend (except the glades sadly). Some really nice Spring conditions to be found. With colder temps this week I'd expect that the entire mountain to remain open for a while
mdr227 wrote:
Had one final day at Whitetail this morning (only two this year once covid restrictions were lifted last Monday). Really great conditions this morning (probably softening up a lot now, but skied for 3 hours and left by noon) and great weather. 100% open with lots of good coverage. Strong crowd there too, lots of kids skipping school it looked like. Not sure how things will hold up the rest of the week with such warm temps ahead (conditions plus skier interest) and beyond as temps don't look to be much colder than mid-30s at night and around 45-55 during the day next week. I know for me the season is over and imagine for many others it is that way too.
I am sure if was very hard to type the words "Had one final day." I have a snowman I hang on my door at work before Halloween and I take him down when I realize my season is over. I plan to take him off the door knob on Monday morning. :-(
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