Garbage. The potential for 90 inches of rain, putting an immediate end to anything resembling a mountain resort, leaving us with brown streaks scaring the landscape and snowcone material to ride on after its over.

That halfpipe at 7springs should shrink about 1 foot or more with this rain.

Meanwhile, the damn plains get TWO blizzards, the NE and East get hammered while we suffer with the few persistent but not enough to call it a powder day snowfalls that we were blessed enough to received.

All in all this season , weather wise was not all that bad as it could have been. The Farmers puke bucket screwed up again, but that's a given. And our local forecasters stealing this weather from some 20 year old that was changing tires a week before working for the national weather service was expected to blow more than a few forecasts.

I also inherited a monster snow thrower. While it's over 10 years old, the darn thing wouldnt start but was hardly used. THe local lawn and garden place confused one type of champion plug with another with teh same letters/numbers but different arrangement (j8-c vs cj-8 or something like that) As soon as I put the correct plug in, that thing roars like a Lion.
BUT no snow to throw!!!

At least this year the edge of my driveway had snow piled on it vs last year , I had ZERO near Pittsburgh. It all melted before I could even shovel it into a pile.

I wish I could say there was a blizzard heading our way to put down a better base. Alas, it seems Phil was right and it's over. I was JUST getting started too! Busy life interferes with mountain adventures.

I might have a couple more in me. Lets hope one of those is a banner year for powder.

Let's see how the slopes do up here.

11 AM at 7S



I'll take a peak later today.

What 90 inches of rain are you talking about?? The forecast is looking very good for WV Highlands actually. At least the beginning of March is looking pretty sweet!

It's called sarcasm or exaggeration for effect, take your pick.
He's filling in for Mountain Masher.

Come on, just be happy to have the white thing to slide on. It's mid Atlantic after all, what are you really expecting?

Sell the snow thrower. That will guarantee a blizzard or two in these parts.

So I blame YOU, Sincraft, for all the rain we've gotten this Winter. Yes YOU.

And Jimmy for not having brought Ullr out sooner.

Dude do you ever stop whining?

Mountain Masher was invoked this weekend more than once. Lots of brush and deadfall in places that could use a bit of glade clearing.

the 30+ skiers from here and epic that were at Blue Knob might have groused a little bit about the weather, but at least they were out in the weather and literally whooping it up. Thank God we didn't have any real Debbie Downers in the gathering.

Looking at this winter's history in the Laurels:

- Christmans/New Years Week - we received approximately 30" of snow. The skiing was excellent.

- My next trip to the Laurels, Jan. 17-20. Snow showers and excellent conditions; cold enough for extended snow making.

- Next trip - Feb. 2- 5. On top of the Ravens winning the Super Bowl (sorry Steeler's fans) we received 8--10" of lake effect fluff Sunday nignt providing for a great Monday of skiing.

Next trip - Feb. 15 -18. 2" of snow on Friday; 14" Sunday morning; I called in sick Monday; condtions are ideal.

Next trip - March 1-3. Forecast calls for snow almost everday.

Other than the big rain storm we had at the end of January, the weather has actually been quite good for skiing in the Mid-Atlantic.

Sincraft - I think you need to attend the Mountain Masher School of Positive Thinking. It is rumored that ole Mountain Masher had a positive epiphany and became a motivational speaker. I think he changed his moniker to something like Mountain Moonbeam. Peace, love and skiing.

Nice post snowsmith. I gave it a good rating and it bumped you up a star

From the bottom of the WG page:

"Your Fearless Canaan Weatherman differs significantly with public forecasts through mid-week in the Canaan and surrounding high country. While public forecasts have a "Winter Storm Watch" posted for periods of snow, sleet and freezing rain from Monday night into Wednesday, I do not anticipate the ice amounting to much in the WV high country. I see a mainly rain event (about three-fourths of an inch) more likely out of the next system through early Wednesday morning. I believe strong SE winds will usher in milder, above freezing air at higher elevations with this storm, resulting in rain there. Some lower, deeper valleys like Germany Valley (Seneca Rocks) may get cold air trapped in, resulting in more ice there. While the rain may start with a brief period of icy precipitation in the high country, I see a changeover to plain rain in higher elevations of Canaan and above quickly within several hours. Wednesday morning I see colder air working in with rain showers turning to snow showers above 2,500 feet elevation during the morning. Some snow accumulations are possible Wednesday in my opinion. Again, I do not see rain likely Wednesday as indicated by public forecasts for the high country. Beginning Wednesday, I foresee an extended period of chilly, windy, snowy weather which may continue intermittently for 5 days or more. This period will see mostly cloudy, breezy conditions with a little below average temperatures (not brutally cold) and on-and-off measurable upslope mountain snows every day ( greater than 1 inch). While I do not anticipate any large single day storm snowfall amounts, totals for the 5-day period may be in the 10-to-15 inch range (as measured on Canaan Heights) with higher totals possible on the highest summits. I will keep you advised as mid-week draws nearer of if I see conditions changing. As always, stay tuned to your local National Weather Service public weather forecasts for Tucker County for more frequent updates on this winter weather situation. Your Fearless Canaan Weatherman Bob Leffler"

Yikes, I already see a bit of 'see through' there in the slow area. NOT GOOD. And with 7S basically saying 'screw it' to snowmaking after presidents day, NOT THAT THEY MADE MUCH THIS YEAR ANYWAY, well - I dont expect to be riding in April.

Snowglobe - I expect to see snow like I used to when I was a kid. Lots of it. I dont remember the warm temps like this. I only remember being either very cold or damn cold. Hell our windows had frost at the edges. My parents have the same windows and this hasn't happened since we were very young. Sigh

YellowSnow - yes whomever that is, I'm filling in for him if he was a glass half empty with mold on top kind of guy.

John - THATS WHAT MY WIFE SAID, and damnit would you believe the ONE year that I didnt put snow tires on the family car is the year we had snowmaggedon?

HombreRojo69 - No not really, but piss off anyway.

SnowSmith - WV faired better. There were only a few OK weekends for us WPAers unfortunately. Sure there were ok weekends. Shrug, such is life. I'll be positive if there is a purpose. Like a solid foot of fressh landing within 6 hours. Or if I hit the lotto and can ski/ride mid week.

Sincraft piss off yourself ya little wanker

tough guy, goes into peoples threads and starts [censored] with them, then cant take them firing back at them. Probably has a long lineage of failures in his life "due to everyone else but themselves damnit!"

Nope failures here but you sure do whine a lot

Tough guy indeed. Not much to offer here. 7 total posts and all 7 attacking someone (you and Lou) about something.

Sniff, it's ok. I've actually changed my life because of this guy. Maybe I do whine too much! Maybe I should be more positive about things and just ACCEPT what I do have vs what I dont?!??!

On second thought, seeing the glass half empty keeps me striving ahead vs stagnating. And how would I poke fun at 7Springs then?

Just sell the dang snow thrower and take the snow tires off the car and listen to your wife more often. For the sake of all of us skiers/boarders in teh Mid A!!!!

JimK - thanks for the star. I was feeling abit star'ved (sorry).I am a reformed poster.

I must say,if I did give out stars, you would be the best poster on this site. Your posts are about skiing,are well written and avoid taboo subjects such as politics. In fact, your trip reports are the highlight of this web site. I wish I could experience the ski travels that you and your son have experienced recently. Would you like to adopt a 59 year old son? Jim - if you don't mind me asking - are you retired? I am striving to reach that lofty place.

hombrerojo69: We expect forum community members to keep things civil and show respect to each other. If that's going to be a problem for you, please don't post. If you can be respectful, your voice is welcome.

Funny stuff!!..Remember a month or so ago I gave you a smurf name of "Freon"?..you were So negative it brought "Chills" down my back..
Anyway..Keep posting your mind...its kinda funny fun...I'll just call you Sincraft..sounds Smurfy enough as it is!...spunky smurf..

haha I prefer grumpy smurf but, sure I'll take whatever I can get.

Yes I actually think I will sell this snowthrower beast come next season. It takes up the same room as my lawn tractor takes up in the shed. Maybe I'll get something a bit smaller vs the 28" cut on this beast.

If we get a major dumping, I just need to go out there a couple times during the snow.

I really wanted to try it out before hand on say, 10" of dry powder. That would be fun to watch for some I suppose...

Hey Sincraft - It seems 7S held up OK based on this web cam image at 9:12 AM

What ARE you talking about? I can CLEARLY see the darksome doom-shadow of soppy wet trickle melt under all that Photoshopped white stuff.

EDIT:

I found a photo of some guy using Sincraft's snow blower at 7S this morning with out permission. (he he)

lol nice, very nice

Yes it seems that 7springs didnt suffer what they did a couple times this year due to rain/poor weather which was disconnected slopes. YIKES.

Heck, it looks like somehow they held the snow in between snowmaking areas. Im shocked. That much rain usually devastates

If you noticed it was 25 degrees and raining in Canaan yesterday. I'm sure similar temps (maybe a little warmer) in the 7S area. Rain sucks, but it's not near as bad as rain + 60 degree temps.

It appears that the storm sitting and spinning to the west of us is giving the Laurels snow and will continue to do so for the next few days. This weekend is looking good.

Sadly, I'm sick and even more stiff / pain than normal so I couldnt go today. Looked nice. Dick Barron is stating that this is the BEST day of the winter. Fat chance Dick, maybe for the 3 turns you make down the middle of wagner at 8:30.

Those old ungroomed areas last weekend, that looked like left over powder, albeit SLIGHT covering, was SOLID ice. I ran through one of the fields and it felt like white cement.

I'm hoping that those areas softened a bit this week then the new snow fixed them up.

I'm heading up tomorrow, 40 tissues in hand and will get at least a couple hours in before I cough my head off. It's got to be better than it was last weekend.

Things are shaping up to make it to April! OH I shouldnt have said that.

Lets hope this new storm isn't a big fizzle like the others have been. Even if it hits Snowshoe/TLine I'll head down there and take off work.

Hopefully, 7S was good for you as HV was for us today (Sunday).

We arrived right before 9 AM to a few flurries and about 2" fresh snow on top of the trails. The usual ZERO lines until about 10:30.

Snowed light to moderate ALL DAY. We jumped in the car around 5 PM and the snow seemed to pick up intensity.

Ski patrol said they are "planning to close on 3/17 unless conditions warrant otherwise.

7S had a few inches, maybe more. On top of what they had over the last few days , or as of Friday as I hear.

The conditions changed to be much much better than they were last weekend.

Absolutely AMAZING! I was in areas were there is no snowmaking, and no grooming. I was pounding through piles of pow , hitting the sides of groomers - pouncing in the air and riding down like a streak, able to hold an edge with moderate effort.

All the trees were covered. The only bad was , there was some SERIOUS problems under the snow in spots, I'm talking solid sheets of ice in some BAD spots. LIke, in the glades YIKES, on a couple slopes. At one point I went toe edge and my board let go. Never felt like that before. I planted my hands and slide my way down. It was actually fun because I stopped onto a pile of powder, flipped 90 degrees forward and was cruising at 35 again.

I'm very seriously considering taking off tomorrow or, leaving early. Damn project going on tomorrow. Figures.... and Tuesday - it's going to all melt.

I wished for one more powder day, and rode until my legs were bleeding inside. Lift after lift after lift. 1-2 min lift lines.

Epic.