Looks like as fantastic weekend with up to 8" of snow predicted in the Laurels. I can't think of too many early December weekends that were this good. This season is getting a great start. I had 2 ski days in November. If we get any ski days in April, that will mean we will NOT be skiing for less than 6 months out of a ski-year!

My son skied in Apr at Seven Springs and Nov at Liberty.  Only 6 calendar months in 2013 without lift served skiing in the mid-Atlantic, not bad!  But don't take this as an opening for 1000 post Climate Change thread :-)

JimK wrote:

My son skied in Apr at Seven Springs and Nov at Liberty.  Only 6 calendar months in 2013 without lift served skiing in the mid-Atlantic, not bad!  But don't take this as an opening for 1000 post Climate Change thread :-)

Jimmy can top Vince (and me.) He skied April (MT), May (CO) and Nov (7 Springs).

Going to Massanutten on 12/15.  ParaDice expected to open tomorrow!

I might be at Liberty on 12/15.  If anybody spots old dude in green and blue say hello to me.

Nice F-cast Snowsmith!..3 days ago JohnL asked me if i thought that this weekend would be ruined by Freezing rain/sleet..rain..(He was just making conservation..he's a friendly type of dude..)

I responded after making a quick ck of the Man made brains that there did look like there was a warm wedge trying to work north for sat aft/eve but that the cold air and snow would return early sun morn.....Well..looks like the northern Alpps will be spared but the southern Alpps might have to "weather' the elements...here is the pin point f-cast for 4200' just south of Canaan...

Snow and sleet before 3pm, then freezing rain and sleet between 3pm and 4pm, then freezing rain after 4pm. High near 32. South wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 13 to 18 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New ice accumulation of around a 0.1 of an inch possible. New snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible. Saturday Night Freezing rain and sleet likely before midnight, then snow and sleet likely between midnight and 3am, then snow showers likely after 3am. Cloudy, with a low around 25. Breezy, with a southwest wind 8 to 13 mph becoming west 17 to 22 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New ice accumulation of less than a 0.1 of an inch possible. New snow and sleet accumulation of less than one inch possible

Oh..forgot..For all you fair weather fans...watch out for sat the 21st & over to sun (depending on timing of front)...GFS has been pretty consistent in bringing in the R word...just a word to ur mudda..

BUT!!..some serious cold be on tap shortly after...Al Gore COLD!!

snowsmith wrote:

Looks like as fantastic weekend with up to 8" of snow predicted in the Laurels.

7S or HV for us on Sunday.  

JimK wrote:

I might be at Liberty on 12/15.  If anybody spots old dude in green and blue say hello to me.

 

Looks like I'll be at Liberty tomorrow 12/14 instead of 15th.  Powder day?!?

OOPS, back to going on Sunday the 15th.  It works better for me.  Sorry for thinking out loud in this thread. :-o

Blue Don - look me up if your at HV on Sunday.

F'nski- please look into your weather crystal ball and tell me the rain will not make as far north as the Laurels!

man when is the last time whiteail (80% open) and liberty had this much open in mid december......incredible

Mnut has all lifts running.  ParaDice is open!  Don't remember that happening in mid-Dec for a quite a while.  They got the rotating webcam fixed so can see Geronimo and the big terrain park again, in addition to the snow tubing.  Hoping I don't see much rain later today.  Looks like a dusting of snow from last night on the condo roofs.

Wintergreen opened up the Highlands with a few trails.

fishnski wrote:

Oh..forgot..For all you fair weather fans...watch out for sat the 21st & over to sun (depending on timing of front)...GFS has been pretty consistent in bringing in the R word...just a word to ur mudda..

BUT!!..some serious cold be on tap shortly after...Al Gore COLD!!

Here is the latest NWS F-cast ...the NWS 7 day window just came in....
Saturday A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 47.

Things could change..just stay tuned!

Just got off the slopes....legs tired. Still puking snow in the Laurels. I would say at least 8" at this point.

Good for you Mr snowsmith..(Blacksmiths work with Metal...Snowsmith works with and carves Snow!)..Was really amazed how the cold hung tough today....Saw wet drops on the southern Alpps cams but there was still plenty of snow!...Its all over but some drizzle/frx driz till the backside kicks in..

Vince was at Liberty today.  Said they got all snow during the day, about 6".  DC area got pretty much all rain with a little bit of sleet. 

Enjoyed a full afternooon at Whitetail yesterday (Sat, 12/14). Arrived a bit before 2. A lot of folks driving out as we headed in, presumably the ones who got there for opening. Sucked to be them. It dropped at least 5" more, based on what accumulated on the vehicle when we left at 6:30. A bit of liquid was starting to mix in at that point. Fog at the top, but it more added to the aura then detracted.

Ski-up to lifts the whole time. No church, scout or other bus trips are scheduled this time of year. Just folks like us. As someone who spends 20+ days a year at Whitetail (for almost 10 years), yesterday was one of the best - perhaps only beaten by those in Snowmageddon (the much ridiculed road conditions on Blairs Valley that year showing a small touch of the same. Unlike usual, it was PA who sucked, MD had it pretty well treated). Would've been a great day for a pub and bar - damn those evangelist voters.

..a nice start to the season, no doubt.

I'll be heading out to the valley in an hour or so.  Will stay at the new CV Lodge and tomorrow AM head up to the high country using a single ride assist.  It is always lighter, dryer, deeper up high.  In the PM I will probably go to Whitegrass to try out a modification to my junkboards.  If it works out I'll report.  A couple go inches of upslope wrap around snow today and tonight would be nice.  Consider that an order. :)  tues - wed ought to be nice too but onrushing holiday will limit me to just one day.

Last minute trip to Hidden Valley Sunday 12/15.  Windy, cold and a little icy in some spots.  Light snow most of the day.  Sure beat helping my wife make Christmas cookies that day :)

Hidden Valley Dec. 15, 2013 from ChrisD. on Vimeo.

Had a good time at Mnut on Sunday even though it was on the icy side.  Never got much over 34 on the mountain.  So the frozen groomer tracks from Sat night never really softened on DJ and Paradice.  Once the frozen granular was skied off, Showtime was a series of ice patches.  Made the Silver Clinic emphasis a bit different.

Monday, Dec. 16, was much better.  Mnut added enough snow overnight to cover the ice quite well.  With school still in session for most kids, the place was empty.  The temps were in the high 30's so stayed soft pretty much all day.

Blue Don - nice video. I was there all day but I do not remember running into you. I'll look for your Blue ski parka next time.

Conditions on Saturday were much better. It snowed all day. Not quite powder, but not mashed potatoes either. It made for some nice bumps. Send me a PM next time you're there.

snowsmith wrote:

Blue Don - nice video. I was there all day but I do not remember running into you. I'll look for your Blue ski parka next time.

I had planned to message you but we met our buddy to carpool on the way there and were debating 7S or HV until we got off the Donegal exit.

I like what they did to the food court area.