April Snow

[awf170]

My family was thinking about going to the park city area for april vacation next year(april 14-21) and i wondering what i should expect for snow condition, I know the last 2 years i has been incrediable and they have had powder, but how is it ussually. Also whats open, is mineral basin still open, what about alta(i think it is closing sunday the 16th?). Also how are the crowds? Even though i would be stayin in Park city i would just ski snowbird and alta anyway. I just kinda curious about what to expect.

 

[Admin]

My family was thinking about going to the park city area for april vacation next year(april 14-21) and i wondering what i should expect for snow condition, I know the last 2 years i has been incrediable and they have had powder, but how is it ussually.

If I were to travel across the country to PC I'd do it before mid- to late April. The lower elevation and lower snowfall makes true spring conditions there at that time extremely likely. Are you sure that they're planning to still be open at that point? IIRC the PC areas closed April 10 (Deer Valley) and April 17 (PCMR and The Canyons) this year.

Also whats open, is mineral basin still open,

Barring a catastrophic season, yes.

what about alta(i think it is closing sunday the 16th?).

I suspect off the top of my head that Alta's closing date would be as you say.

Also how are the crowds?

Minimal to nonexistant at that point.

 

[awf170]

ohhh i just meant to stay in PC not ski those places, thats what i did this year for feb vacation, skied snowbird and alta. I think my family might wait though with the time share and hope for iron blossum to have an openin for april vacation.

The idea of no crowds sounds like the best part, i really hate havin to wait for 30 minutes for the tram, or pretty much any lift at alta..... the idea of doin laps on the tram sounds pretty awsome

 

[Tony Crocker]

You really don't want to stay in Park City that late from a skiing perspective. Even if the other skiers are intermediates, they will be better off in the Cottonwood Canyons in mid-April.

If they want to be in Park City because of the restaurants and apres-ski, you're not going to win that argument. If that's not the reason, you should be able to make the case. Refer them to these message boards.

I would think you could get something at Snowbird, though if it's perceived as a spring break week it might not be cheap. Easter is April 16 next year. I would guess that Alta/Brighton/Solitude will stay open until April 23 because of that. Admin can correct me if he knows otherwise. The early closings this year (in Colorado also) were due to Easter being March 27.

If Snowbird is the only Cottonwood area open past April 16 and you have intermediates in your family, I would suggest you consider Mammoth or Mt. Bachelor for your spring break.

 

[awf170]

ya tony where probably not going to do it anymore, because i just remembered that iron blossum seems to always have time share openings. I would go to mammoth but no timeshares there, and mt. bachelor area im not to sure.... doesnt look like too hard of a mountain, looks kinda lame, correct me if im wrong, though.

And hopefully alta stays open because my mom loves alta and snowbird im not to sure about, she skied everyother day so she just went to alta, brought her down a black at alta woow that was a mistake. I think she could ski a few things there though, dont know if she can take the scary cut across at the top of the tram though

 

[Tony Crocker]

I'm getting the impression that your family owns a timeshare somewhere and you want to swap your week for one at a ski area next year for the week after Easter.

Iron Blosam is where I stay with friends during their early March timeshare week. That should work fine. With Easter that late, I expect Alta/Brighton/Solitude to be open one more week. It's probably worth a call to verify so your mom won't be terrified for a week at only Snowbird.

Mammoth is building a new "interval ownership" resort near the new village gondola. But it is probably upscale with the ownership intervals being more than one week, and I have no idea if it will affiliate with any swap progams.

Sunriver (20 miles from Bachelor) might have timeshares. Bachelor does not have the steeps of Snowbird or Mammoth but it does have a lot of backcountry corn, and your late April week is in the prime time for it.

 

[awf170]

that is awsome... we have interval, so hopefully we can get mammoth one of these years.... just checked it is not on there listings yet... but hopefully well be able to get it in 2007

 

[Jonny D]

I'm not sure what group you have your timeshare with, but i do know that there is a place called the Heidelberg Inn which my girlfriends family can use their timeshares at. It's in June Lakes, about 20 miles from mammoth. I was looking to stay there when i went, but for only two people it wasn't going to be worth it.

Might be worth checking out.

 

[awf170]

I'm not sure what group you have your timeshare with, but i do know that there is a place called the Heidelberg Inn which my girlfriends family can use their timeshares at. It's in June Lakes, about 20 miles from mammoth. I was looking to stay there when i went, but for only two people it wasn't going to be worth it.

Might be worth checking out.

thanks, ill look into it... going to mammoth what airport is the best to fly into from boston.... i would think las vegas would be because it is such a cheap non stop flight, but how far is the drive?

 

[Tony Crocker]

Mammoth is 5 hours from Vegas, 3+ from Reno.

June Mt. will be closed or limited in late April, it's half an hour from Mammoth and the town is pretty dead except in summer. I don't think staying there makes sense.

I have inquired some about the Utah closing dates next year and hope to have some info next week.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Info for next year's closing dates from Ski Utah:
Brian Head Resort Nov 11/April 16
Brighton Early-Nov/Late-April
The Canyons Nov 18/April 8
Deer Valley Dec 3/April 16
Park City Mountain Resort Nov 19/April 16
Powder Mountain Mid-Nov/Mid-April
Snowbasin Nov 24/April 16
Sundance Dec 9/April 1

I called Alta and Brighton directly and neither is likely to make a decision until next season starts.

If your group is strong skiers Snowbird will have plenty to keep you busy the whole week, and you will get a shot at Alta/Brighton/Solitude until April 16.

If you have intermediate skiers they will be happier at Mammoth or Mt. Bachelor. Whistler might be worth considering also.

 

[awf170]

Just curious what is the odds of getting rain up at snowbird and alta in april vacation, is there really any change of rain up there until about may?

 

[Admin]

Just curious what is the odds of getting rain up at snowbird and alta in april vacation?

Slim.

 

[awf170]

Just curious what is the odds of getting rain up at snowbird and alta in april vacation?

Slim.

probably about the same odds of it actually snowin durin april vacation in the east :wink: :roll:

 

[Tony Crocker]

I've seen this recurring question about rain incidence in spring from eastern skiers considering western trips. I analyzed this issue for my original Powder article in 1995.

The table at http://members.aol.com/crockeraf/snoqlnet.htm dramatically illustrates the incidence of rain between East and West. The Mt. Mansfield (Stowe, Vermont) figures are based upon daily records from 1982 to 2005 at 3,950 feet, near the top of the ski area. Southern California figures are based upon snow reports from 1978 to 2005 at an average elevation of 7,500 feet. In the East precipitation is as high in fall and spring as in the winter and is much more likely to be rain. In the West fall and spring are drier than winter but at ski areas with adequate altitude the precipitation will still be snow.

The only western areas in my database that show evidence of increased rain incidence in fall/spring are PNW locations below 6,000 ft. The Whistler alpine (5,000+ ft.) does not have greater rain incidence in spring than winter, though the village certainly does. For other prime late season areas like Mammoth, Bachelor, Cottonwood Canyons or anywhere in Colorado rain is a total non-issue.

 

[Geoff]

My family was thinking about going to the park city area for april vacation next year(april 14-21) and i wondering what i should expect for snow condition, I know the last 2 years i has been incrediable and they have had powder, but how is it ussually. Also whats open, is mineral basin still open, what about alta(i think it is closing sunday the 16th?). Also how are the crowds? Even though i would be stayin in Park city i would just ski snowbird and alta anyway. I just kinda curious about what to expect.

In my opinion, the skiing is often better in New England in April than it is in Utah. I'd much rather ski big grain corn snow than a rotting natural snow surface.

 

[awf170]

My family was thinking about going to the park city area for april vacation next year(april 14-21) and i wondering what i should expect for snow condition, I know the last 2 years i has been incrediable and they have had powder, but how is it ussually. Also whats open, is mineral basin still open, what about alta(i think it is closing sunday the 16th?). Also how are the crowds? Even though i would be stayin in Park city i would just ski snowbird and alta anyway. I just kinda curious about what to expect.

In my opinion, the skiing is often better in New England in April than it is in Utah. I'd much rather ski big grain corn snow than a rotting natural snow surface.

only place i could think of that pretty much doesnt blow in april vacation is tuckermans/mt washington, and that is where were probably goin to go for the week if we dont go out west

 

[Patrick]

only place i could think of that pretty much doesnt blow in april vacation is tuckermans/mt washington, and that is where were probably goin to go for the week if we dont go out west

April is not that bad in the East.

Most ski areas closed because of lack of skiers, not snow. Conditions are generally better in April than during December.

Here are a few places were the coverage is generally excellent in April for a reasonable price:

Sugarloaf (ME), Ste.Anne (QC), Tremblant (QC), Sugarbush (VT)...etc

 

[awf170]

only place i could think of that pretty much doesnt blow in april vacation is tuckermans/mt washington, and that is where were probably goin to go for the week if we dont go out west

April is not that bad in the East.

Most ski areas closed because of lack of skiers, not snow. Conditions are generally better in April than during December.

Where are a few places were the coverage is generally excellent in April for a reasonable price:

Sugarloaf (ME), Ste.Anne (QC), Tremblant (QC), Sugarbush (VT)...etc

ya i didnt mean it was that horrible, and ya at high elavation north facing places it is better than dec. but still compared to snowbird or alta it is no where close.
And wildcat was pretty awsome this year on april 22

 

[Admin]

In my opinion, the skiing is often better in New England in April than it is in Utah. I'd much rather ski big grain corn snow than a rotting natural snow surface.

Yup, Geoff's right. There's no way I'd travel to Utah in April to ski a rotting natural snow surface. In fact, let me show you just how horrible it gets! I'll use some April 2005 photos to illustrate the pathetic rotting natural snow surface.

FTO user Deadhead set the tone with photos of Alta's Ballroom on March 31:

OK, it was a day before April, but the rotting natural snow surface was already starting to take over. Look at all of that rotten stuff on the right side of the photo! No wonder I opted to not waste a vacation day from work for that slop!

Things were much worse already by April 2, when I ventured up to Snowbasin and was hopelessly disappointed by the remaining snowcover. I sure hope that the guy who skied this line on Mt. Ogden 4/2/2005 had rock skis!:

By April 3, our rotting natural snow base was almost gone. Here I am standing next to a 9-foot trail sign atop the Supreme chair at Alta, when there was only 200 inches of rotting natural snow left on the Alta snow report:

By April 9, all hope of a powder day at Solitude was gone for good for the 2004-05 winter:

I guess that I'll have to wait until next winter for a powder day at Solitude!

Alta wasn't sure that they could make it to their scheduled closing weekend, April 16-17, as what little remained of the natural snow surface was rotting so quickly it might not have been negotiable even on rock skis:

Utahans were so depressed, in fact, that many didn't even bother to ski that weekend, preferring to drown their sorrows instead:

And most Utahan's don't even drink, because as everyone knows you can't get a drink in Utah.

All that triple-digit heat really took its toll on the natural snow surface by April 23:

And the heat wave continued unabated, as shown by the April 28 weather forecast:

Today. Breezy. Snow showers in the morning. Then snow showers and a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Colder. Accumulation 2-4 inches. Highs at 8000 feet in the mid 30s. West winds 15-25 mph.

Tonight. Snow showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening. Then snow showers likely after midnight. Colder. Accumulation 4-6 inches. Lows at 8000 feet near 20.

Friday. Partly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow showers. Highs at 8000 feet in the mid 30s.

Friday night. Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow showers. Lows at 8000 feet in the mid 20s.

Saturday. Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow showers. Highs at 8000 feet around 40.

Saturday night. Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow showers. Lows at 8000 feet in the upper 20s.

Sunday. Cloudy with a chance of snow showers. Highs at 8000 feet in the mid 40s. Chance of snow 50 percent.

Sunday night. A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy. Lows at 8000 feet in the lower 30s. Chance of snow 50 percent.

Monday. Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow showers. Highs at 8000 feet in the mid 40s.

Monday night. Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of snow showers. Lows at 8000 feet in the upper 20s.

Tuesday. Mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow showers. Highs at 8000 feet in the mid 40s.

Tuesday night. Partly cloudy with a 30 percent chance of snow showers. Lows at 8000 feet in the mid 20s.

By May 1, it became apparent that highway crews wouldn't even need to plow the road through Alta to the Albion Campground this year:

By May 12, this pour soul just hung his head and sobbed uncontrollably because the rotting natural snow was by that point completely gone:

Yup, April really sucks around here trying to ski the rotting natural snow surface. You're better off golfing instead.