Folks - it is looking bleak for an extended local ski season. I can't image the former Snowtime resorts will last much longer. The southern resorts in VA can't be doing too well. The Laurels resorts, 7S, HV and LM have a surface that does not ski well and there is a very limited window to make snow for the upcoming Presidents Day weekend. After that, the weather looks bleak. The only MA resorts hanging on to some descent terrain are the higher elevation resorts - Snowshoe and Timberline. That said I am guessing that the snow surface is deteriorating quicky into April like conditions.
In my 48 years of skiing at our little mole hills, I cannot remember a worse ski season. The current La Nina weather pattern which we've had for the last 3 years is supposed to be ending. Will that bring us better weather for the 2023/2024 ski season? Or is this becoming a permanent weather pattern signaling, perhaps, and end to MA skiing. I sure hope not.
I am currently trying to schedule a trip to Utah or Colorado so I can ski on real snow.
This situation is depressing. JimK has the right idea.
No the pattern is changing back to El Nino so I'm hoping to see a rebound again in March. Artic Air will be pushing south.
Yes 2018 March weekend trip turned into a week trip. Truck broke down so I had to get a rental from Staunton (last 4wd they had) to get to Snowshoe. Stayed in a least 4 different places that week. One of the best if not the best time of east coast riding.
Meanwhile it's 22 degrees at Cataloochee in NC as of 6pm on Feb. 17 and snowmaking is going full blast.
Snowmaking in progress at Massanutten, Timberline, and Canaan Valley too.
Going to look different by morning in a number of places.
Somebody say what's up at liberty whitetop please. Hope as manynof yall as possible y'all are shredding it somewhere.
marzNC wrote:
Meanwhile it's 22 degrees at Cataloochee in NC as of 6pm on Feb. 17 and snowmaking is going full blast.
Snowmaking in progress at Massanutten, Timberline, and Canaan Valley too.
Going to look different by morning in a number of places.
Snowshoe received 3" natural and lots of machine made. This brings the total season to a whopping 34.5" which is roughly 30"+ more than all resorts east of Snowshoe! Conditions here on Saturday were exceptional and really good through mid day Sunday.
7Springs had some bare spots this weekend. Sunday was mashed potatoes on top of some really hard stuff that would catch you off guard easily. Lots of muddy/wet butts this weekend. The resort was PACKED, but the lift lines were long for periods of time but not as bad as previous. By 3p on Sunday, it was pretty dead. By 5pm we didnt wait for more than a minute to get on the lift. Everyone must have gone inside.
I fear for 7S. They made enough snow when needed but I think they were banking on some natural, and that didnt materialize but what did was very warm temps/rain, with little opportunity to make snow...
and here we are again. 2 week forecast shows MAYBE two nights that they can make snow with many days being quite warm w/ rain. That's a bad combination for what they have already which is barely holding onto a few inches of base in MANY areas.
Im hoping they are wrong about the forecast....but they are always wrong when it comes to snow and snow totals, never the bad news.
If I can get the kids out 3 more times I wont feel like I lost out on passes this year.
The season is what you make of it honestly, and agreeing it has definitely been poor conditions, but I've still been having a blast going around and skiing the Mid-Atlantic. I suppose that's what a significant hiatus away from the sport will do to someone haha. Enjoy the video from Mnut! footage from 2/21
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrgOWB3s21g
snapdragon wrote:
the mass should have cut their tix in half for the hard cores i see on the cams...i bet the plug gets pulled tomorrow looking at next week's forecast
Massanutten has Snow Moon Fest scheduled for March 3-5. One way or another, there will be a few slopes open next weekend.
The width and depth of the snow on Southern Comfort is more than in the past decade after similar heat waves. Same for Diamond Jim and Showtime. The old stick guns on Upper Showtime were replaced with TT10 fan guns. Can't tell that from the webcams.
When was the last time you skied at Massanutten?
Massanutten fan guns on Showtime, mid-January 2023
Conditions over at Whitetail on closing weekend, their shortest season ever apparently. Made the most of it, enjoy!
Massanutten decided today to suspend operations Wed-Fri in order to have slopes open March 4-5. They have hopes for another chance for snowmaking by the end of the week.
Hey why didn't you drive to 7S? Also wanna say I'm a huge fan of your how to survive fed prison YouTube vids. Keep up the good work. I'm rooting for you.
ShredDMV wrote:
Conditions over at Whitetail on closing weekend, their shortest season ever apparently. Made the most of it, enjoy!
There was SOME excitement a few days ago that the laurels would get a decent snowfall.
Well that's been cancelled. Instead we will get rain again.
I feel like a lactose intolerant person who works for a cheesecake factory.
Wow I just looked at their webcam. How do they think they are going to reopen this weekend?
snapdragon wrote:
it doesn't matter when the last time i was at the mass...i can look at a web cam...read a trail report...analyze a 10 day weather forecast...arrive at the conclusion that muddy corn on 3 trails isn't worth $90...no matter how much lipstick is on the pig
bob wrote:
Conditions in the mid Atlantic might look grim, but the Poconos are looking alright. Actually, Blue, Montage and Elk look pretty good
I skied Jack Frost (AM) and Big Boulder (PM) this Monday (prior to the 7 inches on Monday night). The conditions were pretty solid and not a soul around. It was nice to try somewhere new and my 6 year old enjoyed the "trails in the trees" at Jack Frost.
Seven Springs posted this picture this morning at about 7:15.
This is from Seven Springs 2 days ago. "And we do see opportunities for snowmaking the second half of the weekend – and beyond – which we fully intend to take advantage of once the temps drop!"
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