Colorado Weather Discussion Thread

[Leshphilling77]

dusting to 2" today, Sunday and Tuesday. doesn't look promising for anything significant through the end of December according to Mr Gratz. could be worse out there obviously as there's some fun skiing to be had (skiing is more fun than not skiing) but feels like a bummer when we are so close but just not quite there.

[The SnowShow]

Pattern change in two weeks…

[funkendrenchman]

[emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]][emoji637][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji640]][emoji637][emoji637][emoji639]]Pattern change in two weeks…

I’m not even sure about [emoji638] weeks. That early January shift looks highly questionable.

[skaredshtles]

I’m not even sure about [emoji638] weeks. That early January shift looks highly questionable.

...

[The SnowShow]

I’m not even sure about [emoji638] weeks. That early January shift looks highly questionable.

Why? Please don’t joke. Is it now a “pattern shift in a month”?

[shera]

It's really nice and chalky out there!

[ASmileyFace]

Chalk is nice, but wow is the longer term forecast is bleak for the San Juans. We might end up with less than 10" in December in the silverton area even with these storms panning out the rest of the month. Purg has 0" this December lol. I know the central and northern mountains have had a few refreshes but even 2-5" would make a difference right now.

[The SnowShow]

I’m meeting friends from out of town to ski Keystone next weekend. I haven’t been there in years and bought a single day Epic pass since I have Ikon. Do they let you use the single day pass for the whole day and then night skiing as well?

[Name Redacted]

I’m meeting friends from out of town to ski Keystone next weekend. I haven’t been there in years and bought a single day Epic pass since I have Ikon. Do they let you use the single day pass for the whole day and then night skiing as well?

I think so. They used to anyway. Check the night skiing schedule too. It is way more limited than it used to be. I remember it going like 7 days a week till like 9 or 10pm. Cant believe I survived some of that shit.

[MakersTeleMark]

Chalk is nice, but wow is the longer term forecast is bleak for the San Juans. We might end up with less than 10" in December in the silverton area even with these storms panning out the rest of the month. Purg has 0" this December lol. I know the central and northern mountains have had a few refreshes but even 2-5" would make a difference right now.

Those slash pow turns actually affect karma.

[MakersTeleMark]

I’m meeting friends from out of town to ski Keystone next weekend. I haven’t been there in years and bought a single day Epic pass since I have Ikon. Do they let you use the single day pass for the whole day and then night skiing as well?

I thought they killed it completely, but apparently not. You will be GTG with your day pass.
https://www.keystoneresort.com/the-m...nd-riding.aspx

[The SnowShow]

^^^ thank you MTM and NR. Hopefully we’ll have a good sunset. Not looking forward to the crowds.

[Name Redacted]

^^^ thank you MTM and NR. Hopefully we’ll have a good sunset. Not looking forward to the crowds.

It won't be crowded at night. There used always be a lineup for the groomers when they drop the rope at the top of spring dipper and you get a fresh groomer to the bottom. It was a thing. But like 20 years since I've done it. They might be doing fireworks every night too. That's a thing, and kinda cool.

[MakersTeleMark]

I'm in the like 20 years Skistoned night skiing crew. I can't believe I even survived that BITD, but I was probably part of the problem TBH.

[whipski]

[goldenboy]

Seriously. It is so incredibly bad right now.

[skiracer88_00]

Seriously. It is so incredibly bad right now.

I dunno, Pali was so freaking good yesterday. low sun angle means a dusting and a bit of wind is all we need this time of year for some great skiing.

[Leshphilling77]

had that smooth windbuff monday, real fun tho a little more snow down lower wouldn't hurt. Copper was alright yesterday too. alpine is open now but those bumps did not set up great, much better bumps off sierra and timberline.

will be interested to see what the weekend and holiday crowds are like at the basin with paid parking reservations coming up. Thinking beavers will open soon to entice more people to go there. word is they could be but without more snow things will deteriorate quickly.

[shera]

Copper was really nice today. No complaints.

[ASmileyFace]

Ya'll need to come see how rough it looks in CB and the Juans. lol

[The Nuclear Option]

10” super fluffy at Berthoud today

[FiveLarge]

10” super fluffy at Berthoud today

Which areas did you ski? Coverage/stability?

[Shredhead]

Aspen Mountain is still in really good shape.
Snowmass's high terrain got torched by the high winds. Groomers are still good around Alpine Springs, but some serious wind board on the Burn.

[Foggy_Goggles]

Which areas did you ski? Coverage/stability?

Coverage is good as in anything that I would/have skied is fun skiing.

Stability is on you. Not to go Safety Bob but given that we have transitioned into the Persistent Slab problem, one skiers feed back about what they observed yesterday is of limited value.

https://avalanche.state.co.us/

Yesterday afternoon's Forecast Discussion is pretty in depth but tells a good story.

Slopes that were safe to travel on or under a week ago may now harbor this new Persistent Slab avalanche problem. You might trigger a slide that only breaks in freshly drifted snow, but given the reactivity of the December 9 layer and its proximity to the surface, most avalanches will fail at this interface. Furthermore, given how weak and shallow the snowpack is overall, slides can easily step down, or gouge, into weak snow near the ground, growing the overall size of the slide. Weaknesses close to the surface can sometimes stabilize, or deteriorate, quickly - only time will tell in this case. For the immediate future, take a conservative approach to your terrain choices; the snowpack is adjusting to a new load and you can trigger avalanches from below and from a distance. Look to wind-sheltered or lower-angle slopes as safer options.

If we want to talk about it, as Brigham Young said, "this is the place"

No finger pointing or call out intended. It has been a multi decade challenge to make sure people are aware that 'round here, our feedback loop sucks. The spacial variablity and unknown trigger points our our avalanche problems means that "it felt safe" means you probably don't know what you are talking about and are your own worst enemy.

[The Nuclear Option]

Main ski are runs east and west and Floral short. No avy terrain. Saw no instablility but rotten to the ground. Lots of deadfall in the woods not fully covered. IMO stay off of any avy steep terrain for now.

Which areas did you ski? Coverage/stability?