Colorado Weather Discussion Thread

**cmsummit** · 11-17-2010, 01:32 PM

Deepest conditions I've ever skied Horseshoe Bowl in (and that's over 15 years). Bottomless. Coverage was very good, but you still had to be a little careful, particularly over in the Lulu's area. It's impressive how much snow is up there already. I was amazed that nothing slid. A few smaller sluffs, but that was it. Of course the lift line at the T-Bar was off the hook too.

Breck could easily have 75% - 80% of the mountain open.

**FiveLarge** · 11-17-2010, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by cmsummit

Deepest conditions I've ever skied Horseshoe Bowl in (and that's over 15 years). Bottomless. Coverage was very good, but you still had to be a little careful, particularly over in the Lulu's area. It's impressive how much snow is up there already. I was amazed that nothing slid. A few smaller sluffs, but that was it. Of course the lift line at the T-Bar was off the hook too.

Breck could easily have 75% - 80% of the mountain open.

How was the North Bowl area off the t-bar?

**cmsummit** · 11-17-2010, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by spthomson

How was the North Bowl area off the t-bar?

Not sure, I never made it out there.

**PowTron** · 11-17-2010, 03:52 PM

Loveland has amazing coverage right now as well, even in the trees.

The totals seemed accurate, but hard to gauge with all of the wind moving things around.

As for next week, that hint at ThanksShralping is getting me excited.

**WTF is dat** · 11-17-2010, 06:11 PM

I'm up in summit county tomorrow since CB isnt open yet. Best bet, breck or A-Basin? Any new terrain openings expected?

**montanaskier** · 11-17-2010, 06:30 PM

gonna be warm tomorrow and REALLy warm on Friday....almost 50 at 8k. But the long range forecast starting Sunday looks RIDICULOUS!!!!!

**PowTron** · 11-17-2010, 08:13 PM

Originally Posted by WTF is dat

I'm up in summit county tomorrow since CB isnt open yet. Best bet, breck or A-Basin? Any new terrain openings expected?

The LUV...

**Crampedon** · 11-17-2010, 08:41 PM

Word is Game creek and Northwoods added to the list for friday.

Enjoy! Viva La Nina!

______________________

Pono! Do what is right!

**The SnowShow** · 11-17-2010, 09:40 PM

For those with a CO pass, where are the best leftovers? I'd imagine Breck is now completely tracked out...anyone know how the Basin was looking this PM? Completely tracked out as well?

**Name Redacted** · 11-17-2010, 10:33 PM

Basin was tracked out halfway through the day but they keep opening up new stuff. Who knows what they will open next. Looked like they were getting Pali (chair) ready to open. Word on the street is that Keystone is opening the outback on Friday if you are into that kinda thing.

gunit130 · 11-18-2010, 07:54 AM

Sounds like the next storm system is moving in a little earlier than first reported. I'm seeing Saturday afternoon something rolling in...

Could Sunday be another good day?

**gratzo** · 11-18-2010, 10:56 AM

Just updated:
http://www.coloradopowderforecast.com/quick-forecast/

Sat night is the start of things. Flow is mainly from the SW and WSW from Sat night through Monday night. This generally favors San Juans and central mtns (Elks, Ruby Range), and also Beaver Creek can do OK. There could be some heavier bands of snow here or there that up the totals along the I-70 & north area, but on the balance I don't see big totals up north until later Monday through Wednesday when the flow swings around from the W and NW.

As the storm gets closer, let's watch the forecasts for Vail/Summit to see if they go too high for the first part of the storm. While SW flow doesn't favor these areas, sometimes the models still put down a lot of snow and this is reflected in NWS forecasts...they are too optimistic. We'll see!

Sunday could be a good day ... but just a tease compared to the middle of the week which will benefit from multiple days of snow.

Steamboat, Copper, and Loveland (and others likely...haven't run the #'s) have 70-85" on the year so far, which is about 25% of the season. Nice.

Long range looks dry after Thanksgiving for a few days, but no high-amplitude ridges in the west after that, so hopefully we'll have more storms coming in.

**bean** · 11-18-2010, 11:04 AM

What's the outlook like for the SE mountains for this coming storm, southern end of the Sangres to be specific? Snotels look pretty dreary for the area, not that I'm terribly surprised.

**Hound Dog Charley** · 11-18-2010, 11:09 AM

Went up yesterday to finally scout out and ski some of this snow we've been getting. Because we spent our day getting as many turns in as possible I didn't really get around to digging any pits or doing any measurements, but based on the coverage compared to what it was on a quick little drive I took a week ago, all the reports are accurate, we got slammed! I think the 4-5 ft. is probably pretty close to what this storm really brought us.

The snow the last couple days of the storm was a bit heavier than is typical around here so I wasn't up to my waist in pow or anything, but it was still sweet, and we weren't even able to access the higher elevations with the steeper terrain and lighter snow.

I didn't take many pics, and no action shots unfortunately, but I did snap this real quick. Viva La Nina!

**Spyplane** · 11-18-2010, 11:57 AM

I'm typically a daytripper, but I figured how many thanksgiving's do we have that are this good... just booked a couple of days up in summit co. for mid next week. Fingers crossed now for a good thanksgiving! Now I'm just wondering if any restaurants in breck are open on thanksgiving day, thoughts? Here in the fort, nothing is open, but I figured a tourist town might have more love.

Thanks to all the weather buffs holding it down for us weather morons!

**montanaskier** · 11-18-2010, 12:09 PM

you should have plenty of Turkey day options...I know all the restaurants here in EC have some sort of Turkey Day dealio. Look in the Summit Daily

**Spyplane** · 11-18-2010, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by montanaskier

you should have plenty of Turkey day options...I know all the restaurants here in EC have some sort of Turkey Day dealio. Look in the Summit Daily

Thanks for the info.

**The SnowShow** · 11-18-2010, 03:51 PM

Chomped on some surprisingly good leftovers at the Basin this AM, off the west wall. Patrol was bombing Pali and the rumor is it's opening Sat am. After noon the wind above treeline really picked up and started moving snow around, mainly into Falcon..careful in the bc...

**gratzo** · 11-19-2010, 01:16 AM

Just skinned up Vail. Snow is holding up well, even at lower elevations (north facing). Opening day should be good. My guess is that Aspen, CB, and San Juans do best Sun/Mon and I-70 areas do well Tues/Wed, with Wed being a GREAT day.

**Rontele** · 11-19-2010, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by gratzo

Wed being a GREAT day.

Fancy that I already cleared my schedule that day to go skiing

**gratzo** · 11-19-2010, 08:38 AM

This is going to get silly:
http://www.coloradopowderforecast.com/quick-forecast/

Timeline and opening days:
http://www.coloradopowderforecast.co...orm-is-coming/

I hate to be this optimistic about big snow totals (because all that can happen is disappointment), but tons of moisture is heading toward colorado with a persistent SW or WSW flow...looks good! Go git sum!

**montanaskier** · 11-19-2010, 08:49 AM

SW flow STINKS for some but this week should be really good. I hope it holds off on Saturday night until it cools off, a rain event to start would SUCK. Happy Thanksgiving ULLR.

**Shredhead** · 11-19-2010, 10:19 AM

That forecast makes me happy in the pants. FYI: Aspen's official opener is Thursday, but Wednesday is ski club day and anyone can ski for a donation that is much lower than the regular day ticket price.

**funkendrenchman** · 11-19-2010, 10:23 AM

Originally Posted by Shredhead

That forecast makes me happy in the pants. FYI: Aspen's official opener is Thursday, but Wednesday is ski club day and anyone can ski for a donation that is much lower than the regular day ticket price.

$40 this year... gonna be sooooooo worth it.