Colorado Weather Discussion Thread

**linvillegorge** · 12-30-2011, 01:11 AM

Originally Posted by dino

That article has the "Drama Drama DRAMA" headline and then goes on to say the S. Platte basin is 84% of average. How dire is that? Fact is average years in CO have weeks where the resort skiing sucks. Slightly below average isn't as good, but seems kinda right in the range of "normal" and "should be expected" if you live in CO. I love deep pow, too, but I've skied nice powder snow 4 of the 6 days I've skied this year and Colorado resorts actually kick-ass at making snow. Amazing how much terrain is open for a 18 inch base, or whatever. [/End self-talk to be excited about spending next week in Copper w/ the fam]

How many resorts are in the South Platte Basin?

http://co.water.usgs.gov/nawqa/splt/

Yeah... Echo Mountain and that's it. About the only decent backcountry in that area is a little bit of RMNP and maybe the eastern side of Cameron Pass. For the most part, the S. Platte basin isn't ski country.

**montanaskier** · 12-30-2011, 07:32 AM

made it to 45 yesterday and about the same today. A skiff of snow maybe tomorrow morning then high pressure and temps in the 40s and maybe 50 next week. Next weekends "storm" looks right now like it will dive south and not have much impact but that's a ways off yet.

**dino** · 12-30-2011, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by linvillegorge

How many resorts are in the South Platte Basin?

http://co.water.usgs.gov/nawqa/splt/

Yeah... Echo Mountain and that's it. About the only decent backcountry in that area is a little bit of RMNP and maybe the eastern side of Cameron Pass. For the most part, the S. Platte basin isn't ski country.

Ok, fair point. But statewide averages are at 73%. Southern Colorado is at 95%. The worst basins are at 63%. With the wettest part (on average) of the season still to come how is this some sort of crisis that all this whining implies? This is basically NORMAL. To bitch and complain like we're somehow entitled to above average winters every year seems a little childish. Can't control the weather, might as well enjoy whatever we get...

Oh, and yeah, there is just a little skiing up there at the top of the Poudre.

**pappag** · 12-30-2011, 09:42 AM

Seriously shut the fuck up about how bad it sucks. It was rainy and 55* at Boreal in Tahoe yesterday... at the summit.... at 6 PM. Talk about adding insult to injury: temps were in single digits at night all this past week only to change JUST as precipitation rolled through making it too warm to form any snow. Oh yeah, it was foggy as fuck too which melted away so much snow that most trails were back to dirt until mountain ops moved snow around, likely pushing back other terrain openings for weeks.

We have it better in CO than about 90% of the country.

**Name Redacted** · 12-30-2011, 09:47 AM

Fuck you guys, the snow sucks and we are gonna talk about it.

**bean** · 12-30-2011, 10:11 AM

I'd rather have no snow than this base of facets, for two reasons: mountain biking until it snows again, and so avalanche conditions aren't as bad as possibly imaginable once it finally does snow again. Our best hope is for a pinapplocalypse expressmageddon, 2"+/hr for a week straight. Sadly I don't see that happening, though I wouldn't have imagined three months without any real snow either.

**BDKeg** · 12-30-2011, 10:13 AM

can we re-name this thread the official butthurt thread of colorado...seriously people, just sack the fuck up and get out there and ski.

**montanaskier** · 12-30-2011, 10:18 AM

Originally Posted by PappaG

Seriously shut the fuck up about how bad it sucks. It was rainy and 55* at Boreal in Tahoe yesterday... at the summit.... at 6 PM. Talk about adding insult to injury: temps were in single digits at night all this past week only to change JUST as precipitation rolled through making it too warm to form any snow. Oh yeah, it was foggy as fuck too which melted away so much snow that most trails were back to dirt until mountain ops moved snow around, likely pushing back other terrain openings for weeks.

We have it better in CO than about 90% of the country.

Tahoe conditions mean jack fucking shit to me or anyone else in this thread. This is a thread about CO.....but yeah, it stinks in alot of places this year. ROLL TIDE BABY!

**pappag** · 12-30-2011, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by montanaskier

Tahoe conditions mean jack fucking shit to me or anyone else in this thread. This is a thread about CO.....but yeah, it stinks in alot of places this year. ROLL TIDE BABY!

Stop your fucking whining and enjoy what you got.... that's the fucking point. JESUS. If I didn't know you well, and mostly like you when Alabama isn't on the TV, I'd punch you square in the face for being weather's biggest bitch.

My post has EVERYTHING to do with this thread to provide perspective on your precious 1st world problem.

**bean** · 12-30-2011, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by BDKeg

can we re-name this thread the official butthurt thread of colorado...seriously people, just sack the fuck up and get out there and ski.

Easy to say if you're only a minute or two from the hill. A lot harder to motivate to go ski a couple groomers when you have to drive a long way to get there. Mountain bikes are coming back out this weekend, they've felt neglected anyway.

**BDKeg** · 12-30-2011, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by Bean

Mountain bikes are coming back out this weekend, they've felt neglected anyway.

I was thinking the same thing, a short trip to fruita or grand junction might be in order if it isn't quick sand right now.

**montanaskier** · 12-30-2011, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by PappaG

Stop your fucking whining and enjoy what you got.... that's the fucking point. JESUS. If I didn't know you well, and mostly like you when Alabama isn't on the TV, I'd punch you square in the face for being weather's biggest bitch.

My post has EVERYTHING to do with this thread to provide perspective on your precious 1st world problem.

SMH........it is what it is and I've ripped groomers or toured every Sunday which is the one day I have off. I've gotten after it as much as possible and will continue to do that until all that is left is gone and it's summer. I really.....really....really....don't give a shit if it snows or doesn't snow. I'd like for it to for a variety of reasons including just making everyone feel better. At the end of the day, in a list of things I give a shit about, snow is below things like my son, my wife, my mortgage, my business, my dogs, etc....

However, this is a WEATHER THREAD....where people have for years talked about, discussed, cried, celebrated, etc.....THE FUCKING WEATHER. We all understand that others have it much worse and that now skiing pow is a 1st world problem. It's the internet BRO.....not everything you read is real life.

**cmsummit** · 12-30-2011, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by dino

This is basically NORMAL.

I've lived here too long to get butthurt over lack of snow, but to classify an event that on average only occurs 13% of the time (4th lowest start in past 30 yrs) as "normal", might be a little off. My idea of "normal" is somewhere closer to what's average.

I do think we've been due for a well below average snowfall season. Guess we'll see if this season is it.
Regardless, I'll make the most of it and have fun.

**bean** · 12-30-2011, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by cmsummit

I do think we've been due for a well below average snowfall season. Guess we'll see if this season is it.
Regardless, I'll make the most of it and have fun.

I think part of it might have been the repeat of a La Nina year and high expectations. Yeah, El Nino sucks for CO, but last year was La Nina and was rockin', and expectations were that this year would at least be average.

It'll snow, eventually. Looking at the SNOTEL for Berthoud Pass and seeing it decline a couple inches in the past day is pretty darn depressing though, and I think we all need to take a deep breath, think some happy thoughts, and hope for the best.

**concretejungle** · 12-30-2011, 11:21 AM

Next person that says "first world problems" is getting kicked square in the nuts. Most of us are well aware of the privileged lives that we live but I don't waltz into every thread and post about how children in Africa are starving. It provides perspective but it's fucking stupid.

**cmsummit** · 12-30-2011, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by Bean

I think part of it might have been the repeat of a La Nina year and high expectations. Yeah, El Nino sucks for CO, but last year was La Nina and was rockin', and expectations were that this year would at least be average.

Expectations are/were definitely running high. Funny thing is, is that statistically speaking, La Nina has shown to be indifferent to every ski area in CO except Steamboat. Every decade or so, Breck gets a sub 180" season. Last one was in '01/'02, there was another in the early 90s and '80/'81 was sub-100". Given the current La Nina and greater chances of a northerly storm track, I don't think we'll see those type of numbers this year, but I still feel that it's looming on the not-so-distant horizon. Fwiw, none of the previous really low snowfall seasons dating back to '80, occurred during a La Nina event.

C'MON ULLR YOU BITCH!!!

**DropCliffsNotBombs** · 12-30-2011, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by concretejungle

Next person that says "first world problems" is getting kicked square in the nuts. Most of us are well aware of the privileged lives that we live but I don't waltz into every thread and post about how children in Africa are starving. It provides perspective but it's fucking stupid.

Well put. Also, it is true that many of us on this forum live DIRECTLY off of snowfall amounts and weather patterns (unlike say your average corporate/cubical occupying douchebag that takes ski "vacations").
Without snow, we industry folks WILL starve!

**DropCliffsNotBombs** · 12-30-2011, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by dino

Colorado resorts actually kick-ass at making snow.

Umm no... You are WRONG! Compared to non-Rocky Mtn. resorts, Colorado ski resorts have a PATHETIC snowmaking infrastructure. It would be described as "cute" or "cosmetic" compared to ANY eastern resort!

**goldenboy** · 12-30-2011, 11:55 AM

Originally Posted by concretejungle

Next person that says "first world problems" is getting kicked square in the nuts. Most of us are well aware of the privileged lives that we live but I don't waltz into every thread and post about how children in Africa are starving. It provides perspective but it's fucking stupid.

Exactly. If you don't want to hear about people bitching about a lack of snow, this probably isn't the thread to look at.

BDKeg, I don't think you need to drive to Fruita to ride- Caves loop is riding well from what I hear, not to mention Hartman's. Hell, I've even heard that people are riding Upper Loop.

**JaytaeMoney** · 12-30-2011, 12:00 PM

Originally Posted by Bean

I think part of it might have been the repeat of a La Nina year and high expectations.

THIS. When every ski-weather related website/article/discussion/social media status update in September and October consists of people talking about how awesome last year's La Nina was (MSP named their movie after it FFS), and how this year is another La Nina, and omg we are gonna get buried in blower pow all winter long of course everyone is going to buy in to the hype; despite, as cmsummit mentioned, statistical evidence saying that almost all CO resorts are not affected by La Nina one way or the other.

I'll admit that I drank the kool-aid myself but I sure as hell won't be making that mistake again. Numbers don't lie.

**Piggity** · 12-30-2011, 12:03 PM

I arrive tomorrow so there should at least be 16 snow flakes that land on the ground after I arrive. Sorry guys, I'm usually a good luck charm and bring the snow but the forces are too strong this year. At this point my AT gear is staying home and I'll probably just ride the WROD, unless someone knows of some neck deep blower that I'm not aware of

**WTF is dat** · 12-30-2011, 12:17 PM

^ dont know where you will be skiing, but many resorts are skiing quite well for WROD conditions.

Contest/horseshoe bowl at breck have hike to terrain open. northwoods at vail is skiing nice. and keystone has the bear trap/wolf den open in north bowl. not much, but better than tahoe was when I visited last week.

**WTF is dat** · 12-30-2011, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by DropCliffsNotBombs

Umm no... You are WRONG! Compared to non-Rocky Mtn. resorts, Colorado ski resorts have a PATHETIC snowmaking infrastructure. It would be described as "cute" or "cosmetic" compared to ANY eastern resort!

besides maybe Eldora, which last time I checked has 100% snowmaking coverage. because they need it....

**Piggity** · 12-30-2011, 12:33 PM

It will be fun regardless! Winter Park area so I had high hopes for some laps on berthoud

**bean** · 12-30-2011, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Piggity

It will be fun regardless! Winter Park area so I had high hopes for some laps on berthoud

Haven't been up there in a while but it sounds like there are a few decent shots (or at least there were a few days ago). The warm + wind has now trashed 3" in the past 24h.