 Poster: A snowHead
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Just an out of interest general question..... what are snow conditions generally like when a resort opens? Will they want a good coating or will they just be happy to open with the just a few runs open nearer the top?
I wonder because I have been watching the Banff area where I am heading in 3 months.... Sunshine looks like it has a reasonable powdering, but Lake Louise is due open friday fortnight and has barely a dusting at mid station....
Adam
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Skiing in late November and early December I've seen resorts open with everything from a few centimetres on a summer pasture with a t-bar working to full mountain cover across several valleys.
When Loveland in Colorado opened last weekend I believe they just ran one chairlift, but their coverage actually looked pretty good. The high-altitude resorts with plenty of snowmaking and a long tradition of opening hotels etc. on a given date will obviously gear themselves up to offer a good choice of runs.
In the Alps there's very little business to be done until Christmas/New Year, however good the snow turns out to be. It's really expensive for resorts to open too early and find that no one turns up to buy tickets. Smaller ski areas like Loveland - especially those that don't involve a big resort infrastructure - can be quite flexible about opening when the snow happens to fall.
In the US, Thanksgiving seems to be quite influential in drawing crowds earlier than Alpine resorts can manage, which is partly why the US ski season gets off to an earlier start.
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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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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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yard sale junkie, don't worry (he says confidently) you have loads of time. Les Gets (France) opened 3rd Dec last year with one, man-made run.
The US resorts (esp east coast I think) make huge marketing capital out of being able to open for Thanksgiving.
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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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well I'm a bit concerned too, mainly because I want to snowboard on the holiday weekend here (Nov 11). Last year this was possible.
However the one consolation is that things can change fast. Check this out and see what I mean : Go to this link and look at how fast things changed in Cervinia in October and November last year. You can use the calendar on the left of each page to see the conditions for that date.
One big storm and we are sorted. BTW It's got a few degrees colder here in the last 2 days. Hopefully this trend continues !!
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brian
brian
Guest
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It actually looks a little better this year!
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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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Thats quite a conforting selection of pics Diarmuid,
/sigh of relief
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Renry, It was last year tho' 
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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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| Renry wrote: |
Thats quite a conforting selection of pics Diarmuid,
/sigh of relief |
plus like this piccy from the above link
Beautifull
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Adam,
I was in Lake Louise on 29th Nov last year. There was complete snow cover across the resort although the lower areas didn't have alot of depth. However they only had about half the area open. At the beginning of the week it was just the front face, by the end they had opened the back bowls, but the Larch wasn't open while I was there.
Sunshine on the other hand. Wow. All open, powder everywhere, just amazing 
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You know it makes sense.
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Ahh the time of year has arrived - we should be worried about Bird Flu but we all have PST (Pre Skiing Tension). Got back from the canaries last night and within two hours was looking at skiing websites and brochures. Dr Kramer, - advice please.
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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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Adam,
It is snowing in sunshine right now and the cannons are on at Lake Louise. 15.30 BST
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Poster: A snowHead
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To answer the original question from Buns, the situation currently reigning at Loveland and A-Basin (one run of manmade snow, lots of people), is known locally in Colorado as the "White Ribbon of Death". Strangely, that phrase doesn't crop up in resort marketing literature...
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Diarmuid, enjoyed that
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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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I noticed the cannons on at LL...... have to say I thought it would have been too warm for that..... both the making and the lying!
Adam
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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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Diarmuid, I hate to say this but we've repeatedly proved that snowforecast are not exactly the most accurate when it comes to snow fall
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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D G Orf oh I know. I've been looking at it for 2 years now. However I usuallly find the 3 day to be relatively accurate as to the chance of snow. I don't take much notice of the number of cms.
However , the precipitation map on weatheronline is usually a good indication of any snow on the way.
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Well someone was right as there is a covering at Plan Maison this morning. Where else has it snowed?
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FAQ
First time that's happened. 