Winter Park question

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I'm planning a ski trip to Winter Park March 31-April 3. Is the skiing still good this late in the season? What are the chances that we'll get snowed on while we're out there? Thanks for your help.
 
March is usually a very snowy month, but it can also be bad. So it's a crapshoot at best. I would watch the conditions on their website. If WP gets over 300 inches or close to it, the conditions are probably pretty good. There is such a thing as late March/early April dumps there, so it's not out of the question. For your best chance at snow, you should probably come out the last week of Jan or the first of Feb.
 
I strongly disagree with the above post. March is Winter Park's highest average snowfall month at 67 inches, and the April average is 44 inches. Steep areas like Vasquez Cirque are tough to get open, and are probably more likely to be open in April than January. The half of WP's terrain that faces north preserves snow very well in spring, especially at that altitude.
 
Tony Crocker":28ka6ifx said:
I strongly disagree with the above post. March is Winter Park's highest average snowfall month at 67 inches, and the April average is 44 inches. Steep areas like Vasquez Cirque are tough to get open, and are probably more likely to be open in April than January. The half of WP's terrain that faces north preserves snow very well in spring, especially at that altitude.

The last two years in a row, Vasquez Cirque was closed for the entire month of April. In fact if I remember correctly it was closed in March. I do know I was pissed last year that they closed it so early. Ski patrol told me because the season was getting slow and it was too much work. I happened to ride the last day at Aspen Highlands two seasons ago. It had dumped that day. I figured no way would they open Highlands Bowl. Guess again, ski patrol worked their arse off and got it open for everyone to enjoy last day. I was impressed (good riding too).

Also the Cirque was open with the first two weeks of January the last two years. I agree normally, March is a big month, but as of late it has not been. The better months have been late January early Feb. Three years ago, March was great, but that was because we got a freak blizzard that put 70+" on the slopes. The season before that was lackluster at best during March/April.

Now saying all of that. I heard that ski patrol was doing avy work back in the cirque and basically the whole thing slid to the dirt. So maybe if they do get it open, it will stay open later, since it looks to be a late opening for the cirque this season.

I guess to sum it up, is that in March and April if it snows, it generally snows big, late January/Feb you get a lot of small shots of fluff that add up. It's usually good for multiple days in a row.
 
To clarify my remarks:

Vasquez Cirque was not the best example for me to quote as it seems to be rarely open. I'm not sure I've ever seen it listed open on WP's website, suggesting that it's a day-to-day thing depending on snow stability. And I would second the kudos to Aspen Highlands patrol regarding Highlands Bowl. It was not open when I was there at the end of March's 3-week heat wave last season. Yet I heard they opened it the following week when they got some new snow even though it was the last week of the season.

What I do know after monitoring Colorado's early season terrain openings for several years is that terrain seems to be slower opening at Winter Park than Vail, despite almost identical snowfall stats and the sunny exposures of much of the Back Bowls. For example, right now season snowfall is 89 inches at Vail and 92 at Winter Park, yet Vail is 82% open and WInter Park only 57%.

There is an understandable perception by those who live east of the Rockies (I'm making an assumption about the original poster's ID MobileBama) that March/April conditions have deteriorated vs. January/February because the weather is so much warmer where they live. On favorably-exposed Colorado slopes, the transition to spring conditions is only slightly faster in March/April than in earlier months, and probably offset by the higher snowfall. And in general, the base will be deeper and expert terrain is more likely to be open.
 
I don't disagree with you that the coverage won't be there. The base will be at about as good as it gets or just a little bit below max at that time for sure. It's just that there is a good enough base now, and it is sure nice to hit WP when they are at the beginning of the New Year snow cycle that seems to hit about the same time every season. That is usually when I get the most consistent powder. Hopefully from Jan-April WP will get constant snowfall the whole time, and our discussion will be mute. :D
 
How can one say that "there is a good enough base now" when the mountain is only 57% open at Christmas?

With regard to predicting snowfall in advance at a particular short-term time frame, it can't be done. Winter Park snow history does show great consistency and drought resistance. So a gradual accumulation of snowpack can be expected. The maximum snowpack (based on Westwide Network data from 1979-1995) is attained in late March.
 
Tony Crocker":2cozme8z said:
How can one say that "there is a good enough base now" when the mountain is only 57% open at Christmas?

With regard to predicting snowfall in advance at a particular short-term time frame, it can't be done. Winter Park snow history does show great consistency and drought resistance. So a gradual accumulation of snowpack can be expected. The maximum snowpack (based on Westwide Network data from 1979-1995) is attained in late March.

The mountain is 57% open cause the ski patrol there is lame about opening new terrain. Makes for great poaching though. The reason I say there is a good enough base, is because I have spent the last few weeks riding in the backcountry around Berthoud Pass. Some of the stuff has been within spitting distance of WP. Knee deep powder the past two days and no core shots, tells me that the snow is there. We are one decent storm away from excellent coverage. You can believe me or not, but this is my backyard.
 
I defer to you, mapadu and others regarding backcountry conditions. Base depths need to be more in a resort due to the pressure from higher skier traffic. And unfortunately Colorado's dry, low water content snow builds that base at an agonizing pace. The percents open we see all over Colorado now are close to average for this time of year. From 1988-2002 someone documented this info: http://people.montana.com/~jbraun/coloearly.htm
 
Right now is what I am talking about. Winterpark just got 10", looks like they are going to get 3-6 inches everyday for the next several days. We're in that cycle, and the fluff will be good, probably for days on end. I am probably going there myself next week, maybe even this Friday. Tophers, the Mushroom Patch, & the 40 gate are supposed to be great. I've got reliable reports on the conditions, and I'll be sure to hit those spots and let you know.
 
I skied at Mary Jane for several years now and know the mountain pretty good. However, where's the Mushroom Patch and how do you access it?

BTW- I had some great turns 1/8 in the trees below Parsenn and on the backside of Parsenn. Love the powder!
 
greetings all, just curious what runs would be the best on the cirque for a strong intermediate to minor expert skier. Also, what is the skiing like there.... How steep is it, how narrow are the chutes, etc? Thanks a lot!
 
mikeinaustin":1rimxwjj said:
greetings all, just curious what runs would be the best on the cirque for a strong intermediate to minor expert skier. Also, what is the skiing like there.... How steep is it, how narrow are the chutes, etc? Thanks a lot!

Probably dropping into the North Headwall is the best bet for a first journey out there. It's pretty steep, but fairly wide open. The further back you go the more narrow the chutes can get. There are a few lines that are not more than a snowboard width wide.
The biggest problem with the cirque is the trail to get outta there. It's basically single track with ups and downs with lots of twists and turns. It's a real pain on a snowboard and has some bad congestion areas. Overall, I'm not sure if a strong intermediate will have a real good time back there. Most people who I have seen back there that I would consider in that class have really struggled. Be prepared for a lot of work if you go back there. It's about a 30 minute hike in if you can't catch a snowmobile ride from patrol and as I mentioned a pain in the arse and tiring run out.
 
killclimbz,
thanks mate, appreciate the reply. I think I'll give it a go anyway. Its the only mountain I haven't skiied at the resort and I'm eager to mark it as 'skiied' on my trail map. I'm sure that out of the five days I'm there, I'll work up the testicular fortitude to ski the cirque.
Cheers!
 
mikeinaustin":3sdznz1e said:
killclimbz,
thanks mate, appreciate the reply. I think I'll give it a go anyway. Its the only mountain I haven't skiied at the resort and I'm eager to mark it as 'skiied' on my trail map. I'm sure that out of the five days I'm there, I'll work up the testicular fortitude to ski the cirque.
Cheers!

No problem. If you like it back there be sure to hit the alphabet chutes. The furthest one back is the sweetest. Then at the bottom traverse skiers left and follow the ropes. This should bring you through some glades. Keep following the ropes (and there should be a single track through there) until you bend around and come to wide open run with lots of snow covered boulders. This is waterfall. You can snake around the boulders or if the conditions are right, ride right through them. This is one of the Cirques best pillow case runs.
 
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