Colorado Weather Discussion Thread

[funkendrenchman]

Skier compaction and boot packing didn't seem to matter.

[The SnowShow]

That's fucking crazy.

[MuchosPixels]

Skier compaction and boot packing didn't seem to matter.

Large wet slide. Wet slides dont care about mitigation work. It takes a LOT of warmth to cause a slide like that. Record warmth for an extended period of time. Rare to see it this early in the year.

[tongclub61]

When are you packing up for NYC?

[dabaier]

Today was good.

[caconcklin]

For a colorado native currently going to school out of state, it's astonishing to see the differences each winter/spring have when I make the trip back home. This trip especially makes me sad to see how little snow we have/how warm the conditions are... Definitely a big difference from the past years at this same time.

[GPP33]

Not every year can be above average boys and girls. State wide we are at 82%. Eastern slopes fared better than western slopes, the guys down in the south west pulled the short straw with 71% this year while the two main drainages east of the divide are at 95% and 98%. It's far from the worst in recent years, quit whining.

Now some of our typically biggest snow days are ahead of us. If this recent weather trend continues we'll have something the bitch and moan about.

[JaytaeMoney]

It'll dump another 70 inches as soon as the lifts close, don't worry

[Benny Profane]

It'll dump another 70 inches as soon as the lifts close, don't worry

No, as soon as I leave in a week or so.

[adrenalated]

Thanks for the info. I checked the CAIC but didn't see much. We've had neither rain nor much snow this week in the Northern Front Range so things are probably different. I guess the questions is whether in bounds/ out of bounds matters much with wet slides. Somebody more knowledgeable than me could comment on if skier compaction and blasting can any effect on wet slide. After the in bounds death at A Basin due to a wet slide, I'm sure ski areas manage this more cautiously.

I'm not more knowledgeable than you, but I'll take a stab at it for the sake of discussion (because I'm also curious).

Wet slabs happen when meltwater hits a weak layer in the snowpack, right? The point of doing things inbounds like bootpacking, skier packing, etc. is to rough up the surface of the interfaces between the weak snow and strong snow (especially depth hoar in CO) so that there is not as smooth and planer a surface for slides to occur on. But, the depth hoar doesn't go away, so when meltwater hits it, wet slabs can still happen.

My guess would be that a wet slab inbounds would be less likely than a wet slab on the same slope in the BC?

I could be totally wrong on all of that.

[hatchgreenchile]

On the Snotel SWE site, only area above average in the lower 48 right now is southern Sangres near Taos.
Such a whacky year.

[The SnowShow]

Maybe a decent storm tonight thru Wed?

[blazes_boylan]

State wide we are at 82%. Eastern slopes fared better than western slopes, the guys down in the south west pulled the short straw with 71% this year while the two main drainages east of the divide are at 95% and 98%. It's far from the worst in recent years, quit whining.

Agree it could be worse, was worse in 2011-12, and we could still have some big snow days ahead. But do snowfall numbers tell the full story this winter given the very warm temps for most of the winter?

[Benny Profane]

Fuck, you could be in Tahoe.

Or Vermont. They're about to get that season fucking rain event.

[Name Redacted]

Hit a few days of "Brown Pow" out in Fruita this week. That's the place to be right now. 69ºF and sunny. Now bring on some white stuff.

[fastfred]

Dumping in breck rite now, should be done in ten more minutes but the resort will call 9 in the morning

ps I heard there is a going away party for beeny at the dillon valley east club house on saturday should be a tall t rager

[Benny Profane]

Glad to have never met you. Have fun in the mud.

[JaytaeMoney]

Got January 2015's monthly snowfall overnight. I'll take it.

[The SnowShow]

Nice bluebird powder day on The Ridge. Faceshots were had and no crust!

[Benny Profane]

Was the cat running?

[adrenalated]

Was the cat running?

Hmmm, let me check on that for you.

"normal hours of operation; Wednesday through Sunday, 10am - 2:30pm, conditions permitting."

http://www.skiloveland.com/ridgecat/default.aspx

[Benny Profane]

Yes. Well, as you know, I am familiar with the internet, but, thanks for the link.

Now, were the fucking conditions permitting?

[adrenalated]

The better question is, was it Wednesday through Sunday?

[Benny Profane]

Oh.


Well, fuck, was it hikable?

[Adrider83]

Yeah. My buddy skied the Rock Chutes. Said it was awesome.