Jay Suds":347bxkkr said:
Interestingly enough, the Stowe total snowfall for the yr has been reset on their web site. I'm not sure why this is; last week they were reporting 34 inches.
skiadikt":347bxkkr said:
fwiw, kmart is reporting a season total of 19". stowe has to get some credibility points for re-setting the counter.
They've always only counted snowfall after opening day (in this case, the first opening day). I agree with it and when I was told last year that they've always done this, I then realized why their total was a couple feet less than Jay's...last year's October storm wasn't counted either.
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EDIT here: Steve from Jay if you read this, I've been under the impression that it has happened previous seasons as you have given the monthly snowfall totals from Oct-May usually. I think from a meteorological standpoint, you count every inch. All I know is it is widely accepted that northern VT gets the most snow and from growing up skiing the Adirondacks and my visits to NH, the northern Greens are tops (ie. today...7" new at the Mansfield stake). I bet Jay's in a similar boat.
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In the east, the seasonal total is more for fun, general comparisons of various mountains. More importantly when going skiing are the last 7 days, last 72 or 48 hours, and last 24hrs. We all know that but last year was the perfect example as the last 7 day total starts to grow all the sudden it gets erased for a few days as it thawed. You either had to hit it on the big day following the bullet-proof day that followed the heavy rain day (which I was lucky enough to do), or you had to ski on the last day before a thaw when the new snow totals had grown as high as they were going to go.
Some of you might know this and some of you might not, but my passion for Mount Mansfield and a chance encounter on a lift brought me into the Stowe offices for snow report and weather tasks. They went out of their way to free up marketing money so I could work with them over the summer. Now, I'm not paid and only try to help out when time allows because I like the guys there and they've treated me extremely well. Your views might differ.
I made a few changes to this season's snow report to try and bring some credibility to the report. Changes include the look/organization, 72hr snowfall, natural snow trails average base depths recorded from spots around the resort at various elevations which will give more info than the generic base depths which are 99% snowmaking trails in the east, the Mansfield stake was put in late last season, and since snow report forecasts are usually suspect, that's gone and replaced with the link to the NWS Mt. Mansfield forecast. Since everyone here is a passionate skier or rider, feel free to call bullsh*t on something as my goal is to make people think less of it as a joke but a tool they can use; basically the more info, and a mix of in-house and non-affiliated party info (NWS), the better for skiers and riders. Also, the forecasts I give online are identical to what I pass on to friends over at Mt. Mansfield Company as another consult before/during weather events. Its always good to have an additional oppinion. If I predict Stowe will get 6-12", that's what I tell everyone. I have no formal training in meteorology but they noticed my forecasts were usually spot on which I appreciated.
With all that said, I bombed this last storm and my snowfall forecast was dead wrong. Temperatures didn't "plummet" right after the cold front but had risen enough ahead of the front that the decrease in temps brought them back to where they were. However, the rain, some ice, and very high winds were correct; that part got me the reply that they would cease operations for the time being based on the weather forecast which I've never seen done; a ski area closing based on a forecast. The decision was made but it was also possible that they could open if it snowed more than forecasted...which wasn't stated publically but showed some guest consideration went into it by choosing/stating they were definitely closed (when within office there was a back-up plan to open) instead of waiting till 6am the next morning to make the call.
Back to the topic of East Coast snowfall differences, last season was my best season yet. Skied powder 75% of the days, and had two ridiculous days (24-48") with a handful of sweet days (12-24"). Powder lasted until the next thaw, but after each thaw the northern Greens recovered within a day or two due to orographic snows while south of I-89 struggled. March 16th was the top example as MRG was closed due to lack of snow. Closed. Meanwhile, Jay Peak, Bolton, Stowe, and Smuggs were enjoying some awesome conditions. The Mansfield Stake was over the six foot mark. Check out the Stowe video gallery and March 16th...when we shot that we hadn't found the deep, deep stuff that looked like this:
The Best Powder clip I have of myself on camera
It was just one of those days I'll never forget, good friends, deep powder, and it was just absolutely dumping in that way that gives you euphoria from just watching it.
Sorry, I get carried away but need something to get through these depressing days. Feel free to shoot away at me about anything Stowe but figued I'd let everyone know here as many already know. I don't think of it as Stowe per se but as Mount Mansfield which I believe could be the best ski mountain in the east considering snowfall, terrain, sustained vertical, tree skiing everywhere, backcountry/sidecountry, and its aesthetically pleasing (Jay's tram arriving on the top of the face looks extremely cool, too).
Looking forward to picking up my pass tomorrow, may try to grab a run or two on stateside so look for a report. With a projected high of 42 degrees in troy, I gotta guess the guns will get turned off around noon time to allow for snow gun free climbing (hopefully).
