Eldora, CO 12/04/11

[EMSC]

A brief first day on the hill. A touch chilly with temps in the 10-15F range when the sun was out - which was a bit sporadic. Eldora has gotten something like a foot and a half in the past 3 days with more expected tonight. so surfaces were generally packed powder though virtually no natural snow trails are open yet. Just 4 or 5 trails on the front side and Indian Peaks lift. It's really close as Patrol 'sampled' a number of areas of the mountain today. Snowmaking is going on for Corona with the trail over (around the horn) nearly complete but apparently no work on the trail back from there (wayback) yet. Also making snow on Dream & Scream, 4'oclock, as well as something over in the beginner area tails.

Tried to get the 23 mo old acquainted with this crazy thing dad likes to do in the winter when it's freezing outside. Progress was made. He wore his mittens AND his goggles both! as in at the same time! yahoo..... Can't convince him to go near ski boots yet though. Ah, the fun begins. Mom was super patient with him in and out of the lodge while I took a few runs at a time. Done just before noon.

I was demo'ing the new Rossi Experience 98 which carves much better than one would expect of a mid-fat with some rocker. I'll probably try out a few other boards before buying though. Volkl Mantra and Nordica Hellbent (?) are on the suggested list... All should be fairly similar from what I've heard.

 

[TRam]

Nice report! I was wondering how it was looking up there. MY bud in Winter Park is losing his mind with the lack of snow on that side of the divide.

 

[Tony Crocker]

The season to date snow totals being published online in CO (in the 80% of normal range) don't look that bad, but the meager percents of terrain open (typically 10-15%) do. I'll bet some of these places are including irrelevant October snow totals. I normally try to weed those out, but of course I was otherwise occupied this November. :mrgreen:

Loveland has a daily snow log. They had 46 inches in October and 36 in November. Any of you who have skied Loveland know that October snow has long since departed for Kansas and points farther east.

 

[TRam]

Seems as if southern Colorado has good snow. How about vail/bc/aspen. From what I have heard summit cty. Winter park and the boat are dry and real boney.

 

[Tony Crocker]

Except for the Wolf Creek microclimate, southern Colorado has average snow. Telluride has had 52 inches, 96% of normal and is 10% open. The Gothic snow lab between Aspen and Crested Butte (snowier than either) has had 42.5 inches since Nov. 1, 59% of normal. I would avoid anything in Colorado as a destination skier until well past the holidays. These places will likely catch up gradually; it's rare for them to get a 5-foot dump to turn everything around quickly as in California or Utah.