Ski Conditions

feb · 02-27-2009, 09:35 AM

Anyone care to share your opinions on how the weekend ski conditions will be? After 2 weeks of scholl vacation crowds and today's forecasted rain, I'm wondering if it's even worth driving up to the White Mountains. I haven't been in a few weeks so I'm unclear on the conditions and hate to take the ski area snow reports to seriously.

hilltopper · 02-27-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feb

Anyone care to share your opinions on how the weekend ski conditions will be? After 2 weeks of scholl vacation crowds and today's forecasted rain, I'm wondering if it's even worth driving up to the White Mountains. I haven't been in a few weeks so I'm unclear on the conditions and hate to take the ski area snow reports to seriously.

My personal opinion looking, at day time temps today and Satruday morning/weekdnd temps is that the trails are going to be bulletproof. A good old thaw-refreeze New England classic type of weekend.

Zeke · 02-27-2009, 11:45 AM

Try Wildcat, really good conditions, low traffic, and they might actually get a bit of snow in the night hrs. Only down side is a bit of a drive. We went Thurs., and it was great. Crowed too for Wilcat. We once had to wait 30-45 seconds to get on the lift.

Not a crowed area.

Way Out There 2 · 02-27-2009, 03:03 PM

I was at Cannon yesterday, no problem with snow cover there. Anywhere in the Whites should be fine.

kjbathe · 02-27-2009, 04:09 PM

Looking at the Gilford forecast, we're supposed to get about a third of an inch of rain tonight. Highs are only supposed to be in the low-mid 30's. While hilltopper might be right about some thawing and re-freezing, there's been ample snow on top of the base and I honestly believe any freezing will groom right out - especially with such a short rain and lows only in the 20s.

Bottom line: Ski. It's late Feb, I skied some of the best snow of the year on Wednesday, and we're at that point of the season where you're going to miss out on some great snow if you're chasing perfection.

Slickcraft · 02-27-2009, 05:00 PM

We were at Cannon on Wed, best conditions all year after a lot of new snow. It was busy as Wed is NH resident day so my wife got a $30 ticket and mine was free, a weekday over 65 NH resident perk. As skiers at Cannon have many areas to spread out in, we never had to wait more that two chairs in the lift lines.

Today’s warm spell with light showers will do little to diminish the deep snow pack anywhere in the White Mountains.

SIKSUKR · 03-02-2009, 10:52 AM

I live at Cannon every weekend in winter.Got to the mt at 6:00pm friday and it was raining hard and sideways.Was not too optomistic Sat morning but it turned out pretty good.Sure we had a melt and it refroze but what a gorgeous day.Big blue and the conditions actually got better during the day.The coverage is fine but the snow was pretty hard.After a 4-8 inch snowfall today the place will be right back in good shape midweek.

colt17 · 03-04-2009, 12:01 PM

We did a night ski last night at Gunstock and the conditions were GREAT!! It was cold but at 7pm we were still skiing soft packed power with some corduroy left on the sides of the trail.

Lakewinn1 · 03-04-2009, 12:13 PM

Has anyone recently visited Waterville Valley?

Fish · 03-04-2009, 01:15 PM

Ski Waterville every weekend. Conditions were great until rain last week. Saturday was an absolute sheet of ice. Sunnyside got better as the day progressed. The groomers did a fabulous job all night Saturday and conditions on Sunday were very good. Snow from the last storm should have freshed it up, expect great conditions until the next rain!:

colt17 · 03-04-2009, 04:53 PM

looks like more rain this weekend and temps in the 40's not good for snow sports....

SIKSUKR · 03-06-2009, 08:44 AM

Skied Cannon on Thursday and it absolutely fabulous! This was a ten in my book folks. Big blue, zero wind, and perfect conditions. The warm weather this weekend will only be on Saturday as the northern part of the state is only supposed to be in the 30's on Sunday, then right back into colder temps next week. March is the best month of the year to ski. Get out there.

fatlazyless · 03-06-2009, 09:26 AM

I drove past Cannon-Mittersill on Route 93 over the weekend and was surprised to see the chairlift on long-closed Mittersill operating with skiers in the old chairs. This had to be a mirage, and I was probably just hallucinating....the old Mittersill chair....up & running.....closed since 1982 or something....no way?

BlackCatIslander · 03-06-2009, 09:38 AM

I skiied Waterville Tuesday and Loon Wednesday. Both days were chilly but sunny and the conditions were just great. I have been skiing midweek all winter and can not remember such consistently good snow conditions. With few midweek skiers, it is like having your own private mountain.

Way Out There 2 · 03-06-2009, 09:54 AM

I took yesterday off to ski at Gunstock knowing we would get this crap today. Glad i did, great snow and weather with hardly anyone on the slopes.

Lakegeezer · 03-06-2009, 10:20 AM

Cannon was in very good shape on Thursday (March 5). Minimal ice, which for Cannon is unusual.

fatlazyless · 03-07-2009, 07:59 AM

...looking on the brite side.....

For all the students at the Gilford Middle School, at least their extended February vacation has benefitted by some excellent Gunstock ski & snow conditions. From the perspective of 'hey - let's cut classes and head for the slopes.' the timing of Gilford's broken pipe, ten school day vacation was perfect timing.

...looking on the brite side of a not-so-good situation, it always helps to be an optimist and see the glass as half full....

....from the classrooms to the slopes for like ten extra days....truth is truly stranger than fiction....no one would have believed this event possible

oh well, as the saying goes, when life tosses you a lemon...make some lemonaide...and when this new school building has a serious broken pipe, water leak.....it's time to go from hitting the books...to hitting the slopes....correctimondo?

after all...snow is a form of frozen water...how very elementary!

...let's see...there's the health insurance...pensions....college training...post graduate training...school administers....school board....students....parents...and the whole school gets shut down for like two weeks for one fatigued 1" water pipe in a four-year old building....who'd-a-thunk it possible?

As someone who has some experience with the different strengths of k-l-m copper water tubing, and making soldiered connections it makes me wonder what went wrong and turned this into such a big water leak? Last thing I always do before leaving home is to make sure to pull the electric plug on the water pump.

BlackCatIslander · 03-08-2009, 06:43 PM

I am planning on skiing Monday and Tuesday and was wondering how much damage the warming temps caused.

SIKSUKR · 03-09-2009, 08:06 AM

We had quite a melt friday/Saturday.I have almost lost all my snow at the Mittersill ski house.The mountain cover remains good but conditions are now in "spring" mode.Frozen in the morning and softening during the day.this weekend was not good overall.
FLL,you are experiencing a mirage.That lift does not even have chairs on it.You might have been looking at the newer Tuckerbrook learning area that has a short lift on the eastern flank of Mittersill.

KTO · 03-16-2009, 01:34 PM

I was at Cannon on Saturday and the snow was great (especially for Cannon). It seemed mostly man-made at this point, and there was grass showing in areas, so if you're going to ski, GO NOW! You're really running out of time. I figure to get one more ski in this season...It was a great season, though!

SIKSUKR · 03-23-2009, 01:24 PM

Not sure which Cannon you were at but this past weekend still had no bare spots showing except on a few trails that had no snowmaking.Saturday morning was probably my best morning skiing this year.What a spectacular day.March is sooo great on the mountain!

fatlazyless · 04-01-2009, 07:53 AM

Today, April 1, is dollar-day at Waterville Valley. Ski the mountain for just a buck, no fool'n! www.waterville.com

JMR · 04-01-2009, 12:36 PM

Sunday River has it's Bust n' Burn Parrothead weekend with bands playing outside most of Saturday and Sunday at White Cap lodge. Pond skimming, etc.

130 trails open last weekend with good coverage!

BlackCatIslander · 04-01-2009, 04:10 PM

WV was packed today. Where were all the truant officers? There had to be a lot of empty seats in class rooms today. Although the sun wasn't out that much, the conditions were pretty good spring skiing.

Way Out There 2 · 04-02-2009, 06:06 AM

Packed is right. It always amazes me to see so many people arriving as we're leaving after several hours and first tracks. I can't imagine dealing with the mashed popatoes, crowds and lift lines. Whatever, to each his own...

jmen24 · 04-02-2009, 03:12 PM

Back in the high school days, a group of 20-25 of us would trek to WV every April 1st and back then it was never busy, but it was an entire group of kids that should have been in school. Ah the days, and those are the only days that I would still like to have, you can keep the rest.

02-27-2009, 09:35 AM	#1
feb Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Meredith (Winnisquam) & Nashua, NH Posts: 213 Thanks: 25 Thanked 20 Times in 17 Posts	Ski Conditions Anyone care to share your opinions on how the weekend ski conditions will be? After 2 weeks of scholl vacation crowds and today's forecasted rain, I'm wondering if it's even worth driving up to the White Mountains. I haven't been in a few weeks so I'm unclear on the conditions and hate to take the ski area snow reports to seriously.

02-27-2009, 04:09 PM	#5
kjbathe Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 281 Thanks: 3 Thanked 21 Times in 11 Posts	Ski Looking at the Gilford forecast, we're supposed to get about a third of an inch of rain tonight. Highs are only supposed to be in the low-mid 30's. While hilltopper might be right about some thawing and re-freezing, there's been ample snow on top of the base and I honestly believe any freezing will groom right out - especially with such a short rain and lows only in the 20s. Bottom line: Ski. It's late Feb, I skied some of the best snow of the year on Wednesday, and we're at that point of the season where you're going to miss out on some great snow if you're chasing perfection.

03-02-2009, 10:52 AM	#7
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Cannon I live at Cannon every weekend in winter.Got to the mt at 6:00pm friday and it was raining hard and sideways.Was not too optomistic Sat morning but it turned out pretty good.Sure we had a melt and it refroze but what a gorgeous day.Big blue and the conditions actually got better during the day.The coverage is fine but the snow was pretty hard.After a 4-8 inch snowfall today the place will be right back in good shape midweek. __________________ SIKSUKR

03-04-2009, 12:01 PM	#8
colt17 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hollis NH/Laconia Posts: 132 Thanks: 62 Thanked 17 Times in 12 Posts	Gunstock We did a night ski last night at Gunstock and the conditions were GREAT!! It was cold but at 7pm we were still skiing soft packed power with some corduroy left on the sides of the trail.

03-04-2009, 12:13 PM	#9
Lakewinn1 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 93 Thanks: 78 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Ski Conditions Has anyone recently visited Waterville Valley?

02-27-2009, 11:45 AM	#3
Zeke Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Giford Posts: 66 Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 10 Posts	Try Wildcat, really good conditions, low traffic, and they might actually get a bit of snow in the night hrs. Only down side is a bit of a drive. We went Thurs., and it was great. Crowed too for Wilcat. We once had to wait 30-45 seconds to get on the lift. Not a crowed area.

02-27-2009, 03:03 PM	#4
Way Out There 2 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Meredith Posts: 65 Thanks: 2 Thanked 37 Times in 8 Posts	I was at Cannon yesterday, no problem with snow cover there. Anywhere in the Whites should be fine.

02-27-2009, 05:00 PM	#6
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,296 Thanks: 1,222 Thanked 2,080 Times in 952 Posts	We were at Cannon on Wed, best conditions all year after a lot of new snow. It was busy as Wed is NH resident day so my wife got a $30 ticket and mine was free, a weekday over 65 NH resident perk. As skiers at Cannon have many areas to spread out in, we never had to wait more that two chairs in the lift lines. Today’s warm spell with light showers will do little to diminish the deep snow pack anywhere in the White Mountains.

03-04-2009, 01:15 PM	#10
Fish Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 13 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Waterville Conditions Ski Waterville every weekend. Conditions were great until rain last week. Saturday was an absolute sheet of ice. Sunnyside got better as the day progressed. The groomers did a fabulous job all night Saturday and conditions on Sunday were very good. Snow from the last storm should have freshed it up, expect great conditions until the next rain!:

03-04-2009, 04:53 PM	#11
colt17 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Hollis NH/Laconia Posts: 132 Thanks: 62 Thanked 17 Times in 12 Posts	Rain looks like more rain this weekend and temps in the 40's not good for snow sports....

03-06-2009, 08:44 AM	#12
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Skied Cannon on Thursday and it absolutely fabulous! This was a ten in my book folks. Big blue, zero wind, and perfect conditions. The warm weather this weekend will only be on Saturday as the northern part of the state is only supposed to be in the 30's on Sunday, then right back into colder temps next week. March is the best month of the year to ski. Get out there. __________________ SIKSUKR

03-06-2009, 09:26 AM	#13
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,738 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,007 Times in 735 Posts	I drove past Cannon-Mittersill on Route 93 over the weekend and was surprised to see the chairlift on long-closed Mittersill operating with skiers in the old chairs. This had to be a mirage, and I was probably just hallucinating....the old Mittersill chair....up & running.....closed since 1982 or something....no way? __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

03-06-2009, 09:38 AM	#14
BlackCatIslander Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 201 Thanks: 52 Thanked 17 Times in 11 Posts	Skiing Midweek I skiied Waterville Tuesday and Loon Wednesday. Both days were chilly but sunny and the conditions were just great. I have been skiing midweek all winter and can not remember such consistently good snow conditions. With few midweek skiers, it is like having your own private mountain.

03-06-2009, 09:54 AM	#15
Way Out There 2 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Meredith Posts: 65 Thanks: 2 Thanked 37 Times in 8 Posts	I took yesterday off to ski at Gunstock knowing we would get this crap today. Glad i did, great snow and weather with hardly anyone on the slopes.

03-06-2009, 10:20 AM	#16
Lakegeezer Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Moultonboro, NH Posts: 1,677 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 354 Thanked 639 Times in 290 Posts	Cannon Cannon was in very good shape on Thursday (March 5). Minimal ice, which for Cannon is unusual. __________________ -lg

03-07-2009, 07:59 AM	#17
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,738 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,007 Times in 735 Posts	...looking on the brite side..... For all the students at the Gilford Middle School, at least their extended February vacation has benefitted by some excellent Gunstock ski & snow conditions. From the perspective of 'hey - let's cut classes and head for the slopes.' the timing of Gilford's broken pipe, ten school day vacation was perfect timing. ...looking on the brite side of a not-so-good situation, it always helps to be an optimist and see the glass as half full.... ....from the classrooms to the slopes for like ten extra days....truth is truly stranger than fiction....no one would have believed this event possible oh well, as the saying goes, when life tosses you a lemon...make some lemonaide...and when this new school building has a serious broken pipe, water leak.....it's time to go from hitting the books...to hitting the slopes....correctimondo? after all...snow is a form of frozen water...how very elementary! ...let's see...there's the health insurance...pensions....college training...post graduate training...school administers....school board....students....parents...and the whole school gets shut down for like two weeks for one fatigued 1" water pipe in a four-year old building....who'd-a-thunk it possible? As someone who has some experience with the different strengths of k-l-m copper water tubing, and making soldiered connections it makes me wonder what went wrong and turned this into such a big water leak? Last thing I always do before leaving home is to make sure to pull the electric plug on the water pump. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

03-08-2009, 06:43 PM	#18
BlackCatIslander Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 201 Thanks: 52 Thanked 17 Times in 11 Posts	How was the skiing on Sunday? I am planning on skiing Monday and Tuesday and was wondering how much damage the warming temps caused.

03-09-2009, 08:06 AM	#19
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Cannon We had quite a melt friday/Saturday.I have almost lost all my snow at the Mittersill ski house.The mountain cover remains good but conditions are now in "spring" mode.Frozen in the morning and softening during the day.this weekend was not good overall. FLL,you are experiencing a mirage.That lift does not even have chairs on it.You might have been looking at the newer Tuckerbrook learning area that has a short lift on the eastern flank of Mittersill. __________________ SIKSUKR

03-16-2009, 01:34 PM	#20
KTO Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Meredith, NH Posts: 391 Thanks: 30 Thanked 117 Times in 26 Posts	I was at Cannon on Saturday and the snow was great (especially for Cannon). It seemed mostly man-made at this point, and there was grass showing in areas, so if you're going to ski, GO NOW! You're really running out of time. I figure to get one more ski in this season...It was a great season, though!

03-23-2009, 01:24 PM	#21
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	Not sure which Cannon you were at but this past weekend still had no bare spots showing except on a few trails that had no snowmaking.Saturday morning was probably my best morning skiing this year.What a spectacular day.March is sooo great on the mountain! __________________ SIKSUKR

04-01-2009, 07:53 AM	#22
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,738 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 300 Thanked 1,007 Times in 735 Posts	Today, April 1, is dollar-day at Waterville Valley. Ski the mountain for just a buck, no fool'n! www.waterville.com __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

04-01-2009, 12:36 PM	#23
JMR Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Hampton & Rattlesnake Island Posts: 175 Thanks: 33 Thanked 70 Times in 32 Posts	This weekend Sunday River has it's Bust n' Burn Parrothead weekend with bands playing outside most of Saturday and Sunday at White Cap lodge. Pond skimming, etc. 130 trails open last weekend with good coverage!

04-01-2009, 04:10 PM	#24
BlackCatIslander Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 201 Thanks: 52 Thanked 17 Times in 11 Posts	Too Many Listened to FLL WV was packed today. Where were all the truant officers? There had to be a lot of empty seats in class rooms today. Although the sun wasn't out that much, the conditions were pretty good spring skiing.

04-02-2009, 06:06 AM	#25
Way Out There 2 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Meredith Posts: 65 Thanks: 2 Thanked 37 Times in 8 Posts	Waterville Packed is right. It always amazes me to see so many people arriving as we're leaving after several hours and first tracks. I can't imagine dealing with the mashed popatoes, crowds and lift lines. Whatever, to each his own...

04-02-2009, 03:12 PM	#26
jmen24 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,139 Thanks: 223 Thanked 319 Times in 181 Posts	Its funny you say that Back in the high school days, a group of 20-25 of us would trek to WV every April 1st and back then it was never busy, but it was an entire group of kids that should have been in school. Ah the days, and those are the only days that I would still like to have, you can keep the rest.