Ouch!

The R word showed up on Monday with a vengeance across New England. Coupled with fog the two have wreaked havoc upon ski conditions all over New England. What happened? Did Old Man Winter have a few to many egg nogs over Christmas and fall asleep at the wheel? Apparently Mother Nature did not like what she found under the tree and has decided to punish all the winter enthusiasts across the region with an orgy of hot water.

For a detailed explaination CLICK HERE

The fog is actually the worst for the snow, it eats away at it. If it where just rain, and we were not in a busy holiday week the ski areas would be a lot better off, but the slopes are getting pounded with a lot of skier/rider traffic. This traffic compacts the wet base. Idealistically after rain letting the snow surface drain is the best way to go. When the base gets packed down and then the temps get below freezing again = Bulletproof.
This is a fact of life for New England skiing. It always happens at some point in the season, the question was when. Unfortunately, it happened much too soon. For the Holiday week that is…
Conditions were Awesome this past Friday. The Guru was skiing at Stratton and it mine as well been mid February at the summit. The mountain was locked in, one snow storm and everything would be completely of the hook. It was like this everywhere in New England.
Top of URSA Expess, photo S.G.

I feel for all the folks who read the reports and singed up for the Vacation. You deserve better. But you have to live with the cards dealt. You will have a bitter taste in your mouth unless you make the best of the situation at hand.
As a skier who is planning on heading North for the New Year the weather is particularly unsettling. Been in this spot before though and not giving up quite yet. There is hope but we need help form the Gods of the skies.
Hope: Is there snow on the way?
More soon on the weather…
S.G.