EC Closing Dates 2011

Marc C's acknowledgement of the power and influence that I alone yield within the North American ski industry is refreshing. I'm confident that we can move beyond our earlier differences.
 
As I'm back in town...here is the rundown again:

Awesome amount of terrain open at most of these places from everywhere from somewhat steep lift ticket to free lift-served. Oh yeah, there is some new accumulation at many of the ski area below. Enjoy.

Closing on Easter Sunday: 5
Closing on Easter Monday: 3
Hoping for next weekend: 4
Still going Daily: 4

Hoping, but didn't reopen this weekend:
Calabogie Peaks ON (hoping, but rain in the forecast made it official)
Camp Fortune QC
Owl's Head QC

Last day today, Easter Sunday:
Le Massif QC
Massif du Sud QC
Val D'Irène QC
Le Valinouet QC (I forgot to mention it last week)
Sunday River ME (free skiing for last day today)

Last day Easter Monday:
Mont Comi QC
Mont Miller QC (last day? (based on their calendar) with 100% of runs open)
Mont Ste-Anne QC

Still operating after Monday...and unto next weekend, first weekend of May
Mont St-Sauveur QC (weekend only according to weather)
Saddleback ME (weekend only according to weather)(forgot to mention this one last week also)
Sugarbush VT (weekend only according to weather)
Wildcat NH (weekend only according to weather)

Mont Sutton QC (daily)
Jay Peak VT (daily)
Killington VT (daily)
Sugarloaf ME (daily) aiming for May 15th
 
I just sent out my first blast of e-mails for snow data last night. It looks like today at Sugarloaf is the end for lift service.
 
Tony Crocker":3vhrubk1 said:
I just sent out my first blast of e-mails for snow data last night. It looks like today at Sugarloaf is the end for lift service.
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Jay yesterday.
Sugarloaf today.

Unless someone changes their minds, only one will try to reopen next weekend.

Mont St-Sauveur is aiming for May 22.

Loaf had no issues (ie. walking require) on the runout as it did last year. One HSQ with 6 trails (call it three runs: Skinner, Hayburner, Kings' Landing with a different variation at the bottom). Other runs near the old Spillway double had some good snow on them, although some walking would be required.

Like the Sutton closing, Loaf would still have some turns higher up, but the bottom would require some work pushing snow around.
 
Tony Crocker":1s6s4x4d said:
I just sent out my first blast of e-mails for snow data last night. It looks like today at Sugarloaf is the end for lift service.
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Keep us posted on Cannon, if you don't mind. Very curious to hear what your insiders have for numbers vs what the web site says.

Jay just announced they will spin the Jet again next weekend! =D>
 
Latest post:

http://madpatski.wordpress.com/2011/05/ ... d-2010-11/

Also the latest a ski area has spinned lifts in the East since I've kept track of it here on FTO since 2006. However it is a far cry from the Good Old Days. I've made a few observations on today post comparing the previous years last to spin in May areas.

If I had money to bet, I would say this is the last weekend. Not sure about the weather, it might be wet both days at Jay. MSS seems out of the rain for Sunday.
 
In answer to River's question, there are a couple of discrepancies between March 31 numbers on the website and the season totals I get later, bu they are minor. The contact person says there not multiple measuring sites and that he would not expect inconsistencies. He also said this is Cannon's second highest season, (1968-69 was 1st and 2007-08 was 3rd) and that Cannon had some localized storms in December 2010 than few other areas got.

I do not have the 2010-11 season total yet, but March 31 website total was 231
For the previous 7 seasons:
Season Total, March 31 Website
189, 165
178, 185
248, 251
166, 132
152, 144
207, 206
173, 172
So there are the 2 modest discrepancies highlighted, but I don't see a pattern of systematic overstatement.
 
Tony Crocker":1dh49s0u said:
In answer to River's question, there are a couple of discrepancies between March 31 numbers on the website and the season totals I get later, bu they are minor. The contact person says there not multiple measuring sites and that he would not expect inconsistencies. He also said this is Cannon's second highest season, (1968-69 was 1st and 2007-08 was 3rd) and that Cannon had some localized storms in December 2010 than few other areas got.

I do not have the 2010-11 season total yet, but March 31 website total was 231
For the previous 7 seasons:
Season Total, March 31 Website
189, 165
178, 185
248, 251
166, 132
152, 144
207, 206
173, 172
So there are the 2 modest discrepancies highlighted, but I don't see a pattern of systematic overstatement.
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Interesting. Can't wait to see that 10-11 number your contact has. 07-08 was a huge year for Cannon. I only got to Cannon a half dozen or so times this year but I just didn't see 07-08 base depths. Maybe I am just not remembering correctly. Cannon did get nailed in December. Snow banks were mammoth in Franconia Notch in December... Cannon was the epicenter of several major storms and was having NoVT numbers for about a month straight, they were doing better than Jay for a while. I spent a few December days at Cannon. December was actually my best powder month and best skiing month of the entire season.

I always have held Cannon in VERY high regard for snow reporting accuracy. That is why I am so concerned about this season's totals. Again, I could very likely be wrong. Looking at the above numbers, my hunch that Cannon has historically slightly understated at time is given merit. You bolded two small over statements but there are two major understatements, one minor understatement, and two nearly dead ringers. Pretty darn good accuracy on reporting there.

If this season truly was Cannon's second snowiest season on record (which was a record previously held by 07-08), then that does not speak well for what lift serviced has done to Mittersill's trails...... :-k :? :-(
 
Another point in Cannon's favor is that the reporting site is at 1,800 feet, low on the mountain. Most ski areas reports as high as they can within a sheltered tree location. March 31 website totals are missing any April snow. So I'd expect variation there, but of course the March 31 number should never be higher, as in the bold examples.

I'm willing to cut the in-season numbers some slack. Marketing has to put something online every morning. Patrol has higher priorities, particularly on big storm days. This is an ongoing issue at Mammoth.
 
Tony Crocker":202zi2v1 said:
Another point in Cannon's favor is that the reporting site is at 1,800 feet, low on the mountain.
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FWIW, Cannon's base lodges are 2000'ish. 1800' would be below even the lowest slope of Mittersill. Regardless of exact elevation, that would again support my suspicion that Cannon has historically under reported.
 
Official Cannon total for 2010-11 is 252 inches. The 82 in December does stand out, second highest in the East to 93 at Smuggler's Notch.

I also got the Mansfield Stake data recently. I often cite that as the source of the 14+ days of rain during the eastern ski season. However about half of those occur during the shoulder months of November and April. This year was extreme in that regard, with 6 November rain days, 8 in April but only 4 from December 2 through April 4.
 
Tony Crocker":2smfvn2h said:
Official Cannon total for 2010-11 is 252 inches. The 82 in December does stand out, second highest in the East to 93 at Smuggler's Notch.
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Smuggs was my second best powder day of December and a top five for the year, behind at least if not both of my Cannon days in December. I stand corrected on Cannon's numbers. Folks skiing Mittersill are going to be in for a rude awakening on a natural snow year. To be hitting rocks in the troughs of bumps in March with a season featuring second highest snow total and no thaw for over two months is sketchy. The high impact of increased skier traffic on the terrain really showed. Mittersill also gets less snow than Cannon proper usually so that doesn't help either.
 
Likely my last blog post on the subject this season...

It's about Tremblant, Kmart, Jay, the Loaf, MSS...and even Miller. All included in my Rant and Rave.

It starts off like this...

Last to spin for sure : Rant and Rave : Eastern Closing 2010-2011

What an incredible run: MSSSS!!!!

Mont St-Sauveur. Saturday. Skiing.

OPEN SATURDAY MAY 22ND – 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
For Sunday & Monday (May 23-24) we will confirm the opening according to the weather. Skiers joigning us today will receive a free ticket for the Alpine Coaster the Viking.

First off, the theme music for this post:
Something from the 1989 in an era of late spinning lifts.
Something from Blaze and Glory.
Rant and a Rave to the honor of some locals from one particular area.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDugi23hzwY[/youtube]

Read more? Much more?
http://madpatski.wordpress.com/2011/05/ ... 2010-2011/
 
I have to ask how Mont St-Sauveur ends up as the last lift service in the East.
No elevation 416 m (1,365 ft - sea level).
Modest vertical: 213 m (700 ft from base)
Pitiful natural snowfall: 211cm (83 inches)
I'm guessing terrain is not too exciting either compared to Superstar or numerous offerings at Sugarloaf. How close in quality is it to the Jet chair at Jay, also day commutable from Montreal?

Very easy daytrip from Montreal provides the demand I suppose. They must have to spend $$$ stockpiling manmade given the meager natural snow and warm spring weather. 24C predicted temps for Saturday!
 
Tony Crocker":3skho7kq said:
Very easy daytrip from Montreal provides the demand I suppose. They must have to spend $$$ stockpiling manmade given the meager natural snow and warm spring weather. 24C predicted temps for Saturday!
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I did a quick check on Google. From the bridge of Autoroute 15 off the Island to the lot of MSS it's an easy 56km (autoroute all the way). On the south shore Champlain Bridge to Jay it's 147km.

Tony Crocker":3skho7kq said:
I'm guessing terrain is not too exciting either compared to Superstar or numerous offerings at Sugarloaf. How close in quality is it to the Jet chair at Jay, also day commutable from Montreal?
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Two weeks ago they had Nordique (black) and Hill 70 West (black on the map, but it's really an intermediate run). They is an important snowmaking, but not what you saw back on the Superstar days at Kmart. You have to remember that it's might not snow much, but it's doesn't rain much either and freeze-thaw cycles are not as frequent in the Laurentians than in the Eastern Townships.

Is stockpiling significant? I know this season ski areas blew a lot of snow in the early season to get things open, the fact that we had a late start and a cool spring weather wise definitely helped. If it would been the other way around, ski areas wouldn't have bother much about blowing so much artificial snow.

There is a huge difference in commute time depending where you live in the Montreal area. The North shore suburbs are well within 30 minutes from the hill.

Old TR with some pictures from early November 2003:
http://madpatski.wordpress.com/2003/11/ ... ov10-2003/

This November TR without pics, but more about the place.
http://madpatski.wordpress.com/2010/12/ ... r-21-2010/

As for Hill 70? It's okay, but it's not Jet. There is a long runout, before reaching the final and only real pitch. The pitch is short, but fun. Personally I would always drive past MSS back when Gray Rocks was still open in May even if the vertical was shorter.

Vertical of Hill 70 is about 200m. Jet is 350m. HSQ at Sugarloaf was 550m.

About late May skiing...Tremblant generally still has a significant amount of snow on the Upper North side (with could be serviced by the Triple). The gondola is already running for tourists, so... ah yes, they have a fixed closing date set in mid-April.
 
Tony Crocker":2894v8zc said:
I have to ask how Mont St-Sauveur ends up as the last lift service in the East.
Click to expand...

Kinda boggles a statistics-addled mind, doesn't it? :lol:
 
Marc_C":kjus3abu said:
Admin":kjus3abu said:
Tony Crocker":kjus3abu said:
I have to ask how Mont St-Sauveur ends up as the last lift service in the East.
Click to expand...

Kinda boggles a statistics-addled mind, doesn't it? :lol:
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Tony finds outliers......disturbing! 8-[
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As I mentioned somewhere (in the blog I think). MSS has been last (shared or not) since 2007 or 2008.

Could someone knock them off? Absolutely. There is an ski area 45 minutes north of there that could still be skiing if they just put the resources for it (i.e. not stockpiling either). We had this discussion in the past. Tremblant Upper North side would still have snow on it, they would just need to run the lift.
 
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