Snowbird ski patrol maintains long term data since the ski area opened from a snowboard plot behind the tram building at 8,100 feet. So I am used to seeing snowfall numbers lower than reported online during the season. There is a SNOTEL at mid-Gad but SNOTELs only measure water content.
This season is perhaps the most extreme example of disparity between base and mid-mountain snowfall at Snowbird. Nov. 1 - May 31 snowfall at the tram base was 560 inches. Patrol said that the difference between base and upper locations was unusually large this year due to a lot of warmer storms where the snow was very wet at the base. Water content of 66.45 inches (excluding 2 inches rain on MLK day) was 11.9%, which is closer to Mammoth's average of 12.9% than Snowbird's 8.5%. February was the only month under 10% water content.
I asked a few other questions that have been discussed on FTO. Patrol did not have an explanation for why the mountain was so busy (other than lots of powder days) but patrol likes the crowds because skier traffic stabilizes the snow better. Overall snowpack was more stable than usual this season, so terrain was in general opened more quickly on powder days because of that.
Patrol did confirm admin's impression that summer sightseeing business is very strong, so strong that Peruvian as well as the tram operate for sightseers on summer weekends. In normal years Memorial Day weekend is when the sightseeing traffic starts, though skiing is still going 80-90% of seasons. That is the reason for May vs. June tram maintenance. This year's tram maintenance was more involved because they replaced all the glass. Patrol did not have an explanation for permanent shutdown of Gadzoom before the end of April. Since tram maintenance is in May each season, I think there is a strong case for Gadzoom being available to support the busiest days.
For the past 6 years Alta has posted online daily snowfall info which I have used. Everyone says that data is from a Collins plot at mid-mountain. I suspect older historical data is from the base area and plan to call Alta to clarify. I don't expect a huge difference but I always try to avoid mixed data. Snowbird patrol agrees that snowfall declines substantially on the lowest 500 vertical of its terrain.
This season is perhaps the most extreme example of disparity between base and mid-mountain snowfall at Snowbird. Nov. 1 - May 31 snowfall at the tram base was 560 inches. Patrol said that the difference between base and upper locations was unusually large this year due to a lot of warmer storms where the snow was very wet at the base. Water content of 66.45 inches (excluding 2 inches rain on MLK day) was 11.9%, which is closer to Mammoth's average of 12.9% than Snowbird's 8.5%. February was the only month under 10% water content.
I asked a few other questions that have been discussed on FTO. Patrol did not have an explanation for why the mountain was so busy (other than lots of powder days) but patrol likes the crowds because skier traffic stabilizes the snow better. Overall snowpack was more stable than usual this season, so terrain was in general opened more quickly on powder days because of that.
Patrol did confirm admin's impression that summer sightseeing business is very strong, so strong that Peruvian as well as the tram operate for sightseers on summer weekends. In normal years Memorial Day weekend is when the sightseeing traffic starts, though skiing is still going 80-90% of seasons. That is the reason for May vs. June tram maintenance. This year's tram maintenance was more involved because they replaced all the glass. Patrol did not have an explanation for permanent shutdown of Gadzoom before the end of April. Since tram maintenance is in May each season, I think there is a strong case for Gadzoom being available to support the busiest days.
For the past 6 years Alta has posted online daily snowfall info which I have used. Everyone says that data is from a Collins plot at mid-mountain. I suspect older historical data is from the base area and plan to call Alta to clarify. I don't expect a huge difference but I always try to avoid mixed data. Snowbird patrol agrees that snowfall declines substantially on the lowest 500 vertical of its terrain.
