 Poster: A snowHead
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We're off - Whistler and Baker looking decent, and limited skiing at Crystal and soon Mission Ridge. No big storms in the immediate forecast but at least it's looking cold.Slightly further afield things are looking very promising at Revelstoke, Kicking Horse and Lake Louise. El Nino pushing those storms north? We'll see how things develop, I guess.
Some pics and report from Mt Baker last Friday:
https://gortonator.wordpress.com/2015/11/24/day-1-2016-at-mt-baker/
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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gortonator Welcome to winter! Headed to Bend tomorrow. Hopefully they open more of Bachelor than the beginner chairs! Skied Crystal last Saturday. They started spinning the gondola about 30 minutes early!  5 inches of creamy powder on top of a firm base. Just Green Valley running. Didn't get crowded until about 11AM, which is when I called it a day. Unfortunately lower half at Crystal still needs at least 24" to even think about opening. Don't think this storm blowing through now is going to quite do the trick. Enjoy Whistler, and stay safe.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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A foot of snow in the driveway when I pulled into Bend last night. Bachelor closed today to get things ready for a Friday opening. Should be some decent pockets of powder to be found.
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how was it? Whistler was pretty good, top-to-bottom by Saturday on Whistler although mostly groomers. Good early season fun 
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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High winds blew most of the "blower" pow away. Still found some nice pockets of untracked freshies in and near the trees. Very cold too, so the snow was nice and soft.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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forecast is looking more promising if it just stays cold enough. We'll head to Mission for weekend, where moderate snowfall and cold temos are forecast. Fingers crossed!!
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Have the season pass for Crystal, so I'll be hanging around there most weekends. As long as the freezing levels stay stable it could be a very good weekend!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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No pics today. 17" of new in Green Valley. Snowed up top off and on with a bit of a cold front blowing through around 11A. Storm skiing. Was a bit heavy to say the least. That good old Cascade Cement. They spun up Chair 6 at around 11:15AM. Only Powder Bowl. High Campbell Basin was a bit to reactive for Patrol's liking. A bit of wind slab in places. Very crowded as would be expected with first real weekend POW day. My legs were worked by Noon. Good training for the season though! 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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We're off to Mission. looking good there too. No one going to White Pass at the moment as the road is closed due to landslides, and the ski hill has no power!
Thx Todd
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You know it makes sense.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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I'm heading out on the 16th, fancy showing us around @Toadman?
Doing a road trip, taking in crystal, Stevens, alpental, mission and maybe baker.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| sparkzter wrote: |
I'm heading out on the 16th, fancy showing us around @Toadman?
Doing a road trip, taking in crystal, Stevens, alpental, mission and maybe baker.
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Not sure if I will be around that date range. But if I am I could show you a bit of Crystal.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| Toadman wrote: |
| sparkzter wrote: |
I'm heading out on the 16th, fancy showing us around @Toadman?
Doing a road trip, taking in crystal, Stevens, alpental, mission and maybe baker.
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Not sure if I will be around that date range. But if I am I could show you a bit of Crystal. |
That would be great, I'll post on here nearer the time and see if you are about!
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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The weather has remained pretty calm in the PNW over the last 10 days or so. We skied Mission Ridge over NY and last weekend. There's been a few top ups of snow everywhere but nothing major around Seattle. Luckily it's been darn cold so the snow has remained in excellent condition, especially as Mission gets such low volume usage when compared to the west side Cascade ski hills.
A small storm or two coming in midweek, so that will hopefully freshen everywhere up. There's a lot of snow on the ground 
Pics and quick report at https://gortonator.wordpress.com/2016/01/12/welcoming-2016-at-mission-ridge/
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This storm really grew from nowhere. hard to take, I'm sure
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Another El Nino blast coming to an end here in PNW. Lasted best part of a week with warm temps in mountains and lots of rain. It seems to be coming to and end and forecast for next 5 days looking a bit more like winter.
Here's some pics/report from 49 Degrees North in WA, just before the warmup. A little known gem that is about to undergo some modest development. If you ever find yourself lost around Spokane with your skis/boards in tow, it's highly recommended.
https://gortonator.wordpress.com/2016/02/18/49-degrees-north-change-is-afoot-in-the-independent-republic/
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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gortonator Wondering where you've been about the past few weeks. I'll be at Crystal on Saturday just in case you might be interested in heading that way. Although from the forecast it looks like Baker and the Mt Hood ski areas are in line to win the prize for most snow fall forecast from this up coming storm. Have made out like a bandit the past 3 weeks with powder chasing!
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You know it makes sense.
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Random sample of PNW ski area snow fall totals '15/'16 season to date
Alyeska, AK - 1533cm
Whistler Blackcomb, BC - 853cm
Big White, BC - 752cm
Crystal Mtn, WA - 993CM
Mt Hood Meadows, OR - 888CM
Schweitzer Mtn, ID - 575CM
Mount Bachelor - OR 920CM
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Poster: A snowHead
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Was up in Alaska visiting family end of February. It's been warm up in Alaska, so not a lot of snow. Although Alyeska has managed to some how squeeze out over 630" of snow this season. Only did one day of skiing, as main focus was to hang with family. Fur Rondy had just started so managed to catch some sled dog racing. Not a lot of snow downtown, so they had to truck in snow for the course. Still it was a good time.
It was snowing from mid mountain on up at Alyeska. About 8" of wet on top of about 20" of more wet glop. I demo'd a pair of K2 Petitors, which are 120mm underfoot. Glad I did, because it would have been real work to ski that wet stuff. The Hotel Alyeska has a nice little sport and demo shop right next to the ticket office, and the tram is a few steps away, which takes you up to just above mid mtn, and the 7 Glaciers Restaurant and the Bore Tide for snacks, drinks, and sandwiches, etc.
We saw this little fellow on the way back home. Dall Sheep in case anyone is wondering.
Mush!!!
Hoping to go back home next Fur Rondy if they get a right and proper winter. But it does look like things are going to start cooling down here in a few days. Could mean good things for more powder. Looks like some up and down on the snow levels though.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Most Cascade areas reporting decent snowfall amounts the past 48 hours. Anywhere from 50cm-75cm. That's on top of another 30cm-45cm that has fallen late last week. Cool temps above 4,500 feet (aka 1,371 meters) have kept the snow in excellent condition.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Great set of photos.
Cool sheep.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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That all looks awesome!
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Looks like some possible cooling trend this week. Some snow showers with SL at about 1,400 meters or so. Might add up to a few CM's a day going into Easter Weekend. I expect with the snow base at some areas like Crystal and Bachelor, they could continue limited mtn. ops until May.
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Crap - we were skiing Bachelor Saturday!! Had to leave at 2pm, and was ripping the runs off Outback in the afternoon, which were pretty darn fine.
Here's some pics from a week in Big White (7-11 March). It was very excellent ..
https://gortonator.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/badass-big-white-week-in-early-march/
We're staying up at Crystal this weekend at the Alpine Inn with some Aussie friends. If you are heading up, let me know. Jan will probably ski Friday, and all of us Sat/Sun. Fingers crossed for cool weather
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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@Toadman, and @gortonator,
Thought I'd let you know, my Cliff Club Condo at Snowbird is free Easter weekend, the Friday, Saturday, Sunday, checking out Monday morning.
It would be a pity to let it go empty. I would have $150 in admin costs that I would have to cover, and anything else that one felt inspired for, would obviously be appreciated, but not necessary.
In case either of you are in the position to take advantage of this.
If so, send me a PM...
I'll be in Norway looking for some vertical drop.
Heidi
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| gortonator wrote: |
Crap - we were skiing Bachelor Saturday!! Had to leave at 2pm, and was ripping the runs off Outback in the afternoon, which were pretty darn fine.
Here's some pics from a week in Big White (7-11 March). It was very excellent ..
https://gortonator.wordpress.com/2016/03/20/badass-big-white-week-in-early-march/
We're staying up at Crystal this weekend at the Alpine Inn with some Aussie friends. If you are heading up, let me know. Jan will probably ski Friday, and all of us Sat/Sun. Fingers crossed for cool weather |
Sorry that we missed you. I called it a day after just a half day on the slopes. My ski partner is having knee issues, and he had to quit earlier due to knee pain. But I definitely got a goggle tan from that day in the sun. I spent most of my day hiking the summit and skiing different lines off the top.
I should be up at Crystal on Saturday to participate in the demo day that local ski/sport shops put on. $20, and all you can demo from most major ski brands. Obviously last year didn't happen because of low snow cover. Hoping they do get some snow and temps stay low.
@HeidiAmsterdamThanks for the very kind offer but staying close to home for Easter this year.
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FAQ
Viz sucked to put it bluntly. There was about an inch of fresh on packed powder. It was soft but hard to see what you were skiing most of the morning. Decided to go for a hike and a tour, and the sun made a brief appearance. Just long enough for me to get some fresh tracks and avoid chunks of avy debris. Off to Bend and Bachelor mtn for some skiing for New Years. Looks to be at least a few days if not more of clearing and colder temps coming.
