Sometimes you get it... sometimes you don't

Despite all the computer modeling in the world. Ma Nature is gunna do what she is gunna do. We all enjoyed great early season snow and thankfully cold temps which preserved it but that all came to an end on New Years Day with high humidity and rain on the mountain turning that powder into something quite different. Although we are expecting a few inches this week it won't change things that much off-piste. On piste will improve with just a few inches most likely. The Chutes have been closed as a result thankfully as they would be tobogganing people out of there were they open. In one patrollers words "heinous" would be the descriptor to describe some aspects in the chutes right now. "Inconsistent" might be another. Skiing similar BC lately I would agree. Groomers are of course still good in the mornings. With this latest lack of snow we are sitting about average for snow depth for this time of year, however we are only at 73% of normal water content due to the cold temps most of our snow has fallen at. That all computes to rocks in the chutes and thin cover in some places. The rain did tamp things down a bit. Total snowfall as of today is 130" during 19 days of storminess this season, with a max base of 41" and an average base depth of 28" according to Opensnow. When we think about the topography of our mountain an average depth of 28" means there is plenty sticking up out of the snow or just below the surface. Please ski carefully. We are due for a few inches this week and an apparent pattern change for next week for colder and more precipitation but it is all still in the crystal ball at this point. Check out our friends over at: www.tahoeweatherblog.com for more info on the incoming weather changes. The pic is obviously from another winter long long ago in a Galaxy surprising close... Heavenly Valley. Sometimes you get it, sometimes you don't.

Sven




Comments

  1. Christine LewisJanuary 7, 2020 at 5:51 PM

    I really enjoy reading your posts! Wondering if you have any insight as to why the Chutes Steep 16 Challenge is scheduled for this Sunday...seems like a reaaaal bad idea. Think they might move it?

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Season Winds Down with a Bang & a Whimper...

Image
Lots of BBQ's, beer wagons and costumed patrons led to a great last day of the season at Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe. Many closing days have been less than extraordinary with frozen crust, snow or high winds. Today was the exeption. Although there was some wind at the top it didn't amount to much and the snow softened quickly with temps in the 50's. The Chutes almost didn't open. Understaffed, the lift department just didn't have enough liftees... in stepped Mikyla (pictured below) a ski patrol rookie who volunteered to run The Chuter Unload... thanks to Patrol for making The Chutes happen the last day. They were absolutely sublime with all gates East of El Cap open. One could also downhill traverse over to El Cap which was the best I've seen it sans pow in many years. Pic is of Naia Selby ripping down it like it was a groomer. I can say with confidence The Chutes were absolutely stunning today and so forgiving that even I felt pretty good dancing with gravity. Groomer
Read more

The Rose Legion of Honor (Part 1)

Image
There are those that do their job and then there are those who rise above their position description and become an exceptional employee and host to the area. Come along and meet some of the exceptional staff who have proven themselves once more as those that go above and beyond and make Mt. Rose Ski Area a special place. Some of these folks are up front who you see all the time while others are in the background working to make things better behind the scenes every day and night. Lets start with Ted... he has been grooming for years and his experience and stoke to provide perfect cord for the public makes him our number one choice from the grooming department Next up is Darja from the Food and Beverage Department. Darja is one of the most positive and wonderful people one could ever meet in the lodge. If you haven't met her yet, this last weekend is the time. Make it your mission. She can probably be found cashiering. She is seen here with our very own 98 year old Raymond Josep
Read more

The Chutes... 45 days on

Image
On Saturday a kid in the Skytavern Junior Ski Program took the Oblivion Express into a tree on the Cut Throat run in the The Chutes at the Mt. Rose Ski Area. He ended up in the ICU but is expected to fully recover.  The results could have been much worse.  Most of us are tired of seeing patrol rescues, ambulances and Careflight rides resulting from skiing or boarding and then losing control in The Chutes the last five weeks. This post addresses where we currently are in The Chutes in an effort to minimize future accidents and point out that you are putting more than yourself at risk when you ski beyond our ability.  Occasionally I get asked "Why are The Chutes still closed?" or, less occasionally, "Why are The Chutes still open?". My stock answer is something about snow safety, patroller safety, the time it takes to open complex terrain or the neglected skill of skiing within one's ability etc. And I only hear the question a 10,000th of the times patrol hears it
Read more