Friday, January 29, 2010

Hunter skiing Jan 29

How do you spell coooooold! Temp at the summit -6 plus strong wind equates to -30 wind chills and at the base +5 with very strong winds equates to a wind chill of -17. The good news: lots of sun and the mountain made a nice recovery so kudos to the snow makers and groomers as surface conditions on the front side were excellent. Creamy dry powder on all main line trails: best run Cliff or Hgate to Racer's which went from worst to best overnight. Eside was a bit slick but Minya was in good shape. Skier's left side of Ike was fenced off for the freestyle mogul course being built. The wind was worse at the base than the summit but forget about the west - wow - the wind stopped you dead in your tracks on the wind polished upper section of the belt before the elbow turn. That was the only way to reach Wayout which by the way should have been closed as it was a windblown hard-packed glacier with some nasty rollers. WhiteCloud, Claire's and Apurna were all closed. The ride up Z was very cold. Claire's was a wind polished glaze of ice with guns on but blowing into the trees. It is only +9 now with strong winds and the forecast for the high tomorrow is only +13 with wind. It was another ski on ski off the quad day which was running slow due to the winds. The quad had no major breakdowns that I was aware of this week. Sat pm bar band in the lodge: Lexi Gray (who by the way looks and sounds like Janis Joplin).
Dress for warmth and not for style including facial coverage. Check out my blog site if you missed the flood photos this week.
Ski ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon


Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Partly cloudy and windy. Cold. Wind chills may approach -10F. High 11F. Winds WNW at 25 to 35 mph.
Tonight: Some clouds. Wind chills may approach -15F. Low -1F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph.
Tomorrow: Partly cloudy. Cold. High 13F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow night: A few clouds from time to time. Low 2F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper teens and lows in the low teens.
Monday: A few snow showers. Highs in the low 20s and lows in the low teens.
Tuesday: Mostly Cloudy. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the low 20s.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Hunter skiing Jan 28

Hi All,
Today was a bit rough. Overcast with flurries all morning combined with guns blowing damp snow all over the mtn. Temps held in the upper 20's to 32 now with a light wind. Visibility was a real problem and you had to wipe off your goggles as you skied especially where the guns were blowing wet snow. The surface conditions were basically thick damp powder on top of hard-pack and ice. All of Rt 80 was closed for snow making, Claire's was very slick & Apurna was closed. Hgate was just okay, Minya / Lower Cross so so & Eside slick. Cliff was good but the only way out was via Dropoff (which was decent) since snow making closed Bleeker to the rest of the mtn. Ike was open but under the guns and Gunhill was fine. Racer's wasn't worth the risk.
What they are blowing now will be "base" as it freezes up tonight so we will need a great grooming job followed by some dry snow making for the weekend.
The police had their last race today on Madison which freed up Kennedy -- the "Hosers" and their groupies will be here next Tue-Thurs.
The local radio weather forecast is for a very strong and fast moving snow squall late this afternoon which could bring as much as 3" in an hour with very strong winds near 50 mph and whiteout conditions as the temps plummet to single digits. It will remain bitter cold thru Sunday with daytime highs maybe reaching 20.
Dress for the North Pole!! Weekend movie: Pirate Radio.
Ski Ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon


Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Snow along with gusty winds at times. High 26F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches.
Tonight: Intermittent snow showers and windy this evening. Remaining windy with breaks in the overcast later. Wind chills may approach -10F. Low 6F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Tomorrow: Windy with a few clouds from time to time. Cold. Wind chills may approach -10F. High 13F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph.
Tomorrow night: A few clouds from time to time. Wind chills may approach -10F. Low 2F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid teens and lows in the low single digits.
Sunday: A few snow showers. Highs in the low 20s and lows in the low teens.
Monday: Snow showers at times. Highs in the low 20s and lows in the low teens.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Hunter flooding from Jan 25




Attached some pics from Monday.
Jon

Hunter skiing Jan 27



Hi All,
Today was dominated by low dark clouds and no sun equating to very flat light. It was also a damp cold day at about 26 - 30ยบ. The surface conditons were consistently hard and flat where they did not make snow and that is where you wanted to be today. The good trails were Cliff, Ike, Gunhill, Eside Drive/ Milky, Claire's & Rt 80. Huega was the only trail with on-going snow making from top to bottom. Apurna was closed. The mtn was groomed last night before snow making so the new snow which was damp rather than dry was very funky, inconsistent, clumpy and bumpy and no one enjoyed it. Those funky trails included Hgate, Minya, Lower Cross & midstation area. K27 was closed too not only because it was partially destroyed by the rain but also a because of a broken underground water pipe that was spraying it. Racer's was groomed but it was bullet proof with some major bare spots, fissures & sink holes. Kennedy was 75% fenced off for the police races which started up on Bleeker. There were very few skiers again today so one could literally ski right onto the quad. We will be going into the deep freeze again starting tomorrow night and thru the weekend so hopefully they can blow some much needed dry snow.
The attached pics were taken during the rain on Monday from the bridge over the Schoharie by the firehouse looking both east & west.
Ski ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon
Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 31F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 21F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow: Windy with occasional snow showers. High 31F. Winds SW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 50%.
Tomorrow night: Becoming partly cloudy later with any flurries or snow showers ending by midnight. Windy. Wind chills approaching -10F. Low 7F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Friday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the low teens and lows in the low single digits.
Saturday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid teens and lows in the mid single digits.
Sunday: Snow showers at times. Highs in the low 20s and lows in the mid teens.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Hunter skiing Jan 26

Hi All,
Yes, there is some snow left on the mtn. Yesterday there was officially 5.4" of rain recorded in Tannersville and temps at 52. The creeks rose higher and faster than in recent memory (see attached pics). There were about 25 fools who paid to ski yesterday on "B" lift only!! The localmotion race was of course cancelled. Water flooded the mtn's boiler room, High Peaks locker room lounge and rear locker rooms under Colonel's Hall.
Now for skiing today: Grooming early this am was extensive and successful considering the damage that was done to the slopes. The surface was chunky granular on top of a thin hard base. Lollypops were everywhere due to numerous bare spots, fissures and sink holes caused by the water running under the snow. Racer's took a very hard hit (ungroomed) with major bare spots but was open only for the crazy ones. The entire east side only opened around 11 am with bare spots and stones. The temp was 24 at the top and about 34 at the base and we had some very strong blinding snow squalls early, some sun mid morning and then more clouds and flurries making for flat light. The temp is dropping and the wind picking up so the surface started to firm up. It was very heavy crud as you may imagine after such a rain event. I did not go west but the only access was via Belt to Wayout and the wind out of the west was strong. The mtn was very empty.
Blowing will commence tonight as many guns / hoses were being hooked up during the day. We had the Jan thaw and now recovery will commence every night this week as needed. It will be very cold again by the end of the week.
The police are here Wed & Thursday this week for their annual races and the firemen (hosers) are here next week Tues - Thurs for their races.
The movie this weekend: Pirate Radio.
The quad will be shut down on either this Sun night or the following Sun night for two full days for repairs to the motor (being sent to Albany) after which the singles line will again be set up and all chairs can be fully loaded.
Ski ya,
Jon

Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Occasional snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 50%.
Tonight: Snow showers will become more widely scattered overnight. Low 22F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Snowfall around one inch.
Tomorrow: Becoming partly cloudy later with any flurries or snow showers ending by noontime. High 32F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Tomorrow night: A few clouds from time to time. Low around 20F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low teens.
Friday: More clouds than sun. Highs in the mid teens and lows in the mid single digits.
Saturday: Mostly Cloudy. Highs in the mid teens and lows in the upper single digits.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Hunter skiing Jan 22

Hi All,
We got the great sunny weather again today tho it did dip into single digits last night and was quite cold this am. Some (not much) new snow was made on select front side trails but none on the west side. The grooming, I am sorry to say, was sub par last night as some of the newly blown snow was left a mess. Racer's had some new snow again but still not groomed since last weekend and was very bumpy with slick spots in between. Alot of skiers that started down it from the top bailed out onto Ike which was quite nice. Hgate, Cliff, B'way & Eside were ok but Minya was a bit scratchy. Claire's was very slick, hard, flat & fast but Rt 80 was good. The sun warmed things up to about 36 but high thin clouds have now moved in. There was no wind. There was a surprising crowd today for a Friday and the quad line was about 5 - 7 mins and was being light loaded again for reasons we already know. As usual, F was running but not D. The weather looks good for Sat but not for Sun per below forecasts.
Movie: Fantastic Mr. Fox ( A kids movie I am told)
Ski ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon

Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Sun and clouds mixed. Temps nearly steady around 30. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight: A few passing clouds, otherwise generally clear. Low 14F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow: Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 31F. Winds light and variable.
Tomorrow night: Partly cloudy in the evening with more clouds for later at night. Low 18F. Winds light and variable.
Sunday: Mix of light rain and freezing rain. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the low 30s.
Monday: Chance of showers. Highs in the low 40s and lows in the mid 20s.
Tuesday: Snow showers at times. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the upper teens.
Weather Advisories: None.
This Afternoon: Sunshine mixed with high thin clouds.
Pleasant.
Wind: Northerly 5-10 mph
Sunset: 4:55 pm
High: 36
Tonight: Mostly clear.
Chilly.
Wind: Light northerly
Sunrise: 7:18
Low: Low to mid teens
Tomorrow: Bright sunshine.
Pleasant.
(A little chilly).
Wind: NNE 5mph
Sunset: 4:57
High: 32
Tomorrow Night: Partly cloudy.
Chilly.
Wind: Near calm
Temps: 15-20
Sunday: Partial morning sunshine.
Clouding up.
A mixture of rain, freezing rain, sleet, and potentially a bit of snow to break out during the afternoon or evening.
Wind: SE 5-10 mph
High: 35
Monday: Morning rain, heavy at times.. ending by midday. .
Some sunny breaks possible in the afternoon.
Windy, especially in the higher elevation.
Wind: South 15-30 mph
High: Low 40's

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Hunter skiing Jan 21

Hi All,
What a bonus day - I would give it a rare 9.5. I don't know if it is coincidence or not with my yesterday's report but they blew much needed nice dry snow last night on the main line and e-side trails in addition to great grooming. The sun, brilliant blue sky, no wind and temps from early high teens to 30 made for a picture perfect day with all the trees frosted and glistening. PM deck temps were well into the 60's. It was another ski on / ski off the quad day i.e. no crowds. All front side trails were very nice except Racer's which was not groomed and the little amount of new snow they blew on it didn't hold well on the ice underneath. Claire's and Wayout were groomed to perfection - top to bottom - and are being set up for snow making tonight. Apurna was a no go - ice bumps and rocks. Friday and Sat look to be just as nice for the first string of 2 to 3 sunny days in a row in a very long time. Sunday is not looking good (see below Albany forecast) with clouds & cold wet weather coming in the pm and into Monday.
Ski ya,
Jon


ALBANY - WRGB
Weather Advisories: None.
This Evening: Clear skies.
Pleasant.
Wind: Light and variable
Sunset: 4:54 pm
Temps: Upper 20s to around 30 by 8pm
Tonight: Clear skies.
Colder.
Wind: Light NNE
Sunrise: 7:19 am
Low: 18
Tomorrow: Sunshine mixed with patchy high thin clouds.
Pleasant.
Wind: Northerly 5-10 mph
Sunset: 4:55 pm
High: 36
Tomorrow Night: Mostly clear.
Chilly.
Wind: Light northerly
Low: Low to mid teens
Saturday: Bright sunshine.
Pleasant.
(A little chilly).
Wind: NNE 5mph
High: 32
Sunday: Partial morning sunshine.
Clouding up.
A mixture of rain, freezing rain, sleet, and potentially a bit of snow to break out during the late afternoon or evening.
High: 35

First Warning Forecast ALBANY - WNYT
High pressure will dominate our weather into the weekend bringing plenty of sunshine and pleasant temperatures, with highs in the middle 30's today and tomorrow and lower 30's on Saturday.

On Sunday, a storm will head our way from the Ohio Valley. Right now it looks warm enough to produce mainly rain across our area from late Sunday into Monday morning. There is a chance that precipitation could begin as light snow or a mix but a change to rain is likely before long. Highs on Sunday will be in the upper 30's and into the lower 40's on Monday.

Readings will get colder on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week behind the storm.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Hunter skiing Jan 20

Hi All,
Couldn't buy a ray of sunshine today - other than that, surface conditons were excellent but you couldn't see it. There was a dusting overnight and a few light flurries today but no accumulation. Very flat light with thick low cloud cover and damp with temp in the teens up top and about 30 at the base. Everything on the front was well groomed except Racer's and the west also groomed except Claire's / Apurna. Rt 80 was nice until you hit Claire's as the runout to the lift was slick and bumpy (what's up with that Skip?). All east side trails were flat and powdered but again, hard to see. Cliff was nice into Ike but the top of Bleeker above Ike was showing brown snow - needs snow making. Hgate well groomed but very flat on the runout to mid-station which was also very hard to see down to Kennedy. F was running empty and there was no line on the quad - ski on, ski off! The forecast for tomorrow shows sun - 'bout time! They really need to make some snow as there is so much groomers can do with shavings off the hard pack.
Weekend movie: "Fantastic Mr. Fox" (never heard of it)
Food review: Hearing good things about the food at "Vertical Drop", the newly renovated restaurant at Cortina in Haines Falls.
http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Ski ya,
Jon

Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Snow flurries or snow showers. Temps nearly steady around 30. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy. Low 16F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow: Abundant sunshine. High 32F. Winds light and variable.
Tomorrow night: Partly cloudy skies. Low 16F. Winds light and variable.
Friday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid teens.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.
Sunday: Mostly Cloudy. Highs in the mid 30s with temperatures nearly steady overnite.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Hunter skiing Jan 19

Hi All,
They groomed out the whole mtn last night after the 5" of wet clumpy & bumpy snow we were greeted with on Monday morn. The problem today was drifting fog, with mixed snow, mist and rain through at least noon time. Visibility was very poor which was unfortunate because the surface conditions were consistently smooth and soft. The top of the mtn is still in the fog and the temp has climbed from 32 to about 39. Every run was different as you never knew where you would run into a fog bank as it drifted around on all levels of the mtn. The chairs were wet as were you and your goggles after a run. I would guess that this pm will be much better to ski should the fog lift as the temp climbs. The mtn was like a ghost town today tho F was running too (no D today).
Ski ya,
Jon
Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 60%.
Tonight: Considerable cloudiness. Low 21F. Winds light and variable.
Tomorrow: Partly cloudy skies. High 28F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow night: A few clouds from time to time. Low around 15F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the upper teens.
Friday: More clouds than sun. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the mid teens.
Saturday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the upper teens.

Friday, January 15, 2010

HUnter skiing Jan 15

Hi All,
Well, we couldn't string two "10's" together. Except for a few very brief periods of muted sun early it was very dark today with low thick clouds, no wind but warm at 37. Last night was the first in over a month that the temp did not drop below freezing as we had an inversion up here. Surface conditions were soft and a bit clumpy in spots but generally very good skiing on well groomed slopes. There was a quad line all morning but not too long. The quad was running a bit slow and loaded light with no singles line there were alot of 2's and 3's loading plus the empty chair every 10 or so. F was running too. Saturday should be better but there is a wet storm developing for Sunday eve into Mon for the Catskills according to the Albany forecast below.
Ski ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon
Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Cloudy with periods of drizzle. High 38F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.
Tonight: A few clouds. Low around 20F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow: Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 33F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow night: Partly cloudy skies in the evening, then becoming cloudy overnight. Low 19F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Sunday: Mostly Cloudy. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the upper 20s.
Monday: More clouds than sun. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.
Tuesday: Cloudy. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.
ALBANY:
Weather Advisories: None.
This Afternoon: Mostly cloudy. Chance of some drizzle or mountain flurries..
Becoming breezy.
Mild.
Wind: Westerly 10-20 mph
Sunset: 4:47 pm
High: Near 40
Tonight: Patchy cloudiness.
Dry.
Wind: Westerly 5-10 mph
Sunrise: 7:22
Low: 21
Tomorrow: A mixture of clouds and sunshine.
Mild and dry.
Wind: WSW 10-15 mph
Sunset: 4:48
High: Near 40
Tomorrow Night: Partly cloudy.
Wind: SW 5-10 mph
Temps: Near 20
Sunday: Partial sunshine during the morning.
Clouding up.
Dry during the day.
Light mixed precipitation possibly developing in the Catskills and mid Hudson valley during the evening.
Wind: SE 10-15 mph
High: 36
Monday: Mixed precipitation early, mainly across the Catskills and mid/lower Hudson valley. .
Partial clearing in the afternoon.
Wind: SE to West 10-15 mph
High: Mid 30's

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Hunter skiing Jan 14

Hi All,
Finally a "10". The cold snap has been broken with primo weather: No wind, no clouds, lots of warm sun, brilliant blue sky and temps that went from low 20's early to 38 now. Grooming again was excellent and all trails were powdered courderoy. The sun was able to soften up the east side trails as well. Claire's was nice (didn't bother with Apurna) as was Rt 80. The entire front side was great with Cliff / Racer's / Ike once again with a slight edge. The sun brought out some more people and there was a modest quad line but no lines on F or Z. Every 10th chair on the quad was left empty as they are still cautious about operating with a full load. Tomorrow promises to be just as good if not better. Another big party in the lodge on Sat with an ice bar built just off the sun deck on the slopes.
Weekend movie: The Blind Side
Forecasters are tracking a storm from the southwest for late Sun into Mon which could bring mixed precipitation.
Ski ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon


Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Sun and clouds mixed. High 29F. Winds light and variable.
Tonight: Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 21F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy skies with a few afternoon snow flurries. High 33F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow night: Considerable cloudiness. Low 21F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.
Sunday: Cloudy. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.
Monday: Clouds giving way to sun . Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.

Weather Advisories: None. This Afternoon: Clouds giving way to sunny breaks .
Dry.
Pleasant.
Wind: SSW 5-10 mph
Sunset: 4:46 pm
High: 30-35
Tonight: Variably cloudy.
Dry.
Wind: South 5-10 mph
Sunrise: 7:23
Low: 24
Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy skies.
Breaks of sunshine.
Wind: Westerly 10-15 mph
Sunset: 4:47
High: Upper 30s to around 40
Tomorrow Night: Partly Cloudy.
Wind: South 5 mph
Temps: 20-25
Saturday: A mixture of clouds and sunshine.
Dry.
Pleasant.
Wind: SW 5-10 mph
High: 35
Sunday: Partly to mostly cloudy.
Chance of snow or mixed precipitation south of the Capital District late in the afternoon.
Wind: SE 10 mph
Temps: Mid 30's

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Hunter skiing Jan 13

Another great day of skiing - this extended cold weather has made for some of the best consistent daily skiing in years.
Today was a reverse of yesterday in terms of weather: great early sun then clouds from 10 am till noon before the sun returned for a game of hide n seek. Temps were in the single digits last night but now about 30 (heat wave!). Thurs & Fri look to be even nicer. Still no snow making in sight and we could use some.
All trails were very good today as the grooming continues to be extraordinary. The only trail I wouldn't repeat today was Apurna which was hard, slick and, for the first time, a bit rocky. Claire's was sweet as was Rt. 80. Cliff / Racer's / Ike also very very nice. A few more people today with the Wednesday Jersey bus groups but not enough for any lines. No lift problems - a new record!!
Just to mention a few local events this weekend: Pig Roast Sat night at The Perfect Lift (Milan's), the band "23 A" playing Sun night at MacGregor's plus the following blurbs from Hunter including more fireworks:


If you missed last weekend's party, stay tuned for the sequel this weekend -- MLK fireworks on Saturday, complete with a DJ & live band (live music also at the Main Bar on Sunday!)


Friday, January 22nd is another Customer Appreciation Day - you can pick up your $25 lift ticket voucher at any of the retail locations of the following retail locations (first come, first served!) -- Potter Bros, Ski Barn, Pelican, Paragon, Burton SoHo, Blades, Panda, Emilio's, Homage, Pedigree, SnoHau, D&Q, Buckman's and Brave New World.

Ski ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon
Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Snow flurries or snow showers. High 22F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight: A few flurries possible early. Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Low 16F. Winds light and variable.
Tomorrow: A few clouds early, otherwise mostly sunny. High 31F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow night: Mostly clear skies. Low 21F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: Snow showers at times. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the low 20s.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.
Sunday: Cloudy. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Hunter skiing Jan 12

Hi All,
Mother nature dusted us early this am with 1" of wind driven snow while temps were still in the teens making for a very nice surface on a flat hardpacked base. The problem was however visibility as the light was very flat with a low dark cloud cover and a damp chilling cold. As is often the case up here the sun began to peek thru about 11:45 and is now dominant with temp at 25 making for really sweet conditions. The crowd again was minimal with no lines at either quad or F. No one trail was better than another today - all good! Still no snow making in progress and none planned for this week that I know of even tho we could use it in some spots. This will be another 3 day weekend for MLK day and no, Obama has not been invited to ski here!
The Zip Line guys have already started laying out some cables and routes and their ticket / info office adjacent to the outdoor BBQ stand is almost complete.
Ski ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon
Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Variably cloudy with light snow flurries possible. High 23F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.
Tonight: Partly cloudy early followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 9F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph.
Tomorrow: Cloudy skies with a few afternoon snow flurries. High near 25F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow night: A few flurries possible early. A few clouds. Low 17F. Winds light and variable.
Thursday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the low 20s.
Friday: Clouds giving way to sun . Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.
Saturday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the upper teens.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Hunter skiing Jan 11

Hi All,
Finally back on the slopes just in time to enjoy a perfectly groomed front side where all trails were courderoy powder with no wind , temp mid 20's (up from 10 early thia am) and a diffused sun through high thin clouds making for decent visibility. Best part: skiing right onto the quad which was moving well today. F was also running well. Every trail on the front was excellent and Cliff / Racer's or Ike had a slight edge over the rest. Wayout via White Cloud was groomed and was very sweet. Claire's was flat and edgeable but not groomed last night and Apurna was slick on the top part, flat and fast - really not worth it with all the good snow on the front. Localmotion Race # 2 was held today with the post race party at MacGregor's. No snow making in progress. Forecast for continued cold and some light snow tonight with a slight warming trend for later in the week. The mountain is in great shape and the skiing is really primo now. John Brennan won the trip for 2 to Vail in Sat nights drawing during a great 50th anniv party thrown by the mtn - biggest crowd I have seen at the mtn in many years!
Next weekend's movie: "The Blind Side". http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Ski ya,
Jon

Detailed Local Forecast

  • Today: Overcast. High 22F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
  • Tonight: Occasional snow showers. Low 17F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
  • Tomorrow: Scattered snow flurries and snow showers before noon. Becoming partly cloudy later. High 22F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
  • Tomorrow night: Partly cloudy. Low around 10F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.
  • Wednesday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 20s and lows in the upper teens.
  • Thursday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.
  • Friday: More clouds than sun. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Hunter Jan 7th

Once again a no ski day for me due to a severe head cold. There was no snowmaking except on Hunter One in the past 2 days. Conditions were hard and fast on well packed snow. The lifts had no problems today and the weather was bright but not sunny with temps only reaching a high of 28. Crowds have been very light - no lines. Looks like nuisance snow for Fri into Sat and since the ground and roads remain very cold it will cause slippery conditions. Following deep freeze forecast out of Albany. Big 50th anniversary party and ground breaking (jack-hammer needed) for the Zip LIne on Sat followed by evening fireworks as previously reported.
Jon
Weather Advisories: NUISANCE SNOW EVENT TO EFFECT THE REGION ON FRIDAY.
.
Low pressure will track south of the region on Friday opening the door to a new surge of arctic air which will move into the region Friday night and Saturday. As the cold comes in, a period of light snow or snow showers will occur impacting the entire region through much of the day Friday. General snow accumulations of 1"-2" are expected with 2"-4" of a light fluffy snow in the higher elevations of the Catskills, Taconics, Berkshires, and Litchfield hills.
.
There is some potential for a Mohawk-Hudson convergence event to develop in and around the Capital Region Friday afternoon. If this occurs, light snow would likely be prolonged in just the Capital Region and immediate surrounding into the evening..
This Evening: Variably cloudy.
Windy.
Dry.
Wind: WNW 15-20 mph, gusting to 25 mph
Sunset: 4:38 pm
Temps: Mid 20s by 8pm
Tonight: Cloudy skies.
Light snow breaking out towards or slightly after daybreak.
Wind: NW dropping to 5-10 mph
Sunrise: 7:25 am
Low: Low 20s
Tomorrow: Cloudy and cold.
Occasional light snow or snow showers.
Accumulations through the day between 1"-2" on average.
Wind: NW to Northerly 5-15 mph
Sunset: 4:39 pm
High: 24
Tomorrow Night: Patchy light snow or snow showers gradually ending through midnight.
Variably cloudy.
Turning much colder.
Wind: NNW 10-20 mph, gusty
Low: Near 5
Saturday: A mixture of clouds and sunshine.
Windy.
Very cold.
Lake effect flurries.
High: 15-20
Sunday: A mixture of clouds and sunshine.
Breezy.
Very cold.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Hunter Jan 6

Hi All,
Didn't ski yesterday due to a cold or today due to the funeral for Ethel - extraordinary turnout & tribute to a "Woman of Substance". It was cold, a high of 22 today with wind and little sun. The mtn was in very good shape. Apurna was groomed again last night and Claire's will get the top to bottom grooming tonight. The lifts were running normally. Hunter is seriously considering replacing the quad with a detachable high speed six-pack which would involve an investment of between $6 & 7 million. Your written comments to their web/blog site could help support such a decision.
The following was from their official newsletter concerning this coming weekend:
It is ON at Hunter this weekend... our 50th Anniversary finale party kicks off on Saturday, after the groundbreaking for our new zipline project. The zipline groundbreaking starts at 2:30pm , followed by the Hall of Fame induction, followed by ESPN giveaways (including in the ESPN suite for multiple events!), bar promos, a DJ, live entertainment and Main Bar shenanigans. This includes fireworks!!
This weekend will again be bitterly cold with snow showers & flurries. Hunter remains a frozen tundra - nothing has melted.
Ski ya,
Jon

Detailed Local Forecast

  • Tonight: On and off snow flurries are possible along with variably cloudy skies. Low 16F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.
  • Tomorrow: Partly cloudy skies. High 23F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
  • Tomorrow night: Cloudy. Snow showers developing after midnight. Low 17F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%. 1 to 2 inches of snow expected.
  • Friday: Snow showers will become more widely scattered in the afternoon. High 19F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%.
  • Saturday: Snow showers possible. Highs in the upper teens and lows in the mid single digits.
  • Sunday: Snow showers at times. Highs in the low teens and lows in the low single digits.

Monday, January 4, 2010

Hunter skiing 1/4 & sad news

Hi All,
Regret to advise you that Ethel Slutzky, matriarch of Hunter Mtn, passed away last night in Albany Med from what is believed to be a heart attack as a result of complications from a stomach virus & pneumonia. She would have been 93 on March 11.
We had 6 - 8" of very dry wind blown powder yesterday with temps in single digits and howling blizzard winds. The sun is out today with temps in low 20's and the wind has died down considerably. I did not ski due to a bad cold but I can tell you the entire mtn is in great shape. The first Localmotion race is today and close to 100 are signed up with the post race party at White Star in Tannersville. Hunter mgmt is in talks later this week with the Pres. of Poma North America about a new lift to replace the quad. Let's hope they can pull the trigger. Rumors that the current lift will get an overhaul this week are not true.
The weather will remain cold most of the week with another possible bitter cold blast and snow storm out of the west for next weekend.
Ski ya,
Jon

Detailed Local Forecast

  • Today: Generally cloudy. High 21F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph.
  • Tonight: Flurries and a few snow showers throughout the night. Low 11F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
  • Tomorrow: Flurries and a few snow showers throughout the day. High 21F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
  • Tomorrow night: Variable clouds with snow showers. Low 16F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Some snow accumulation possible.
  • Wednesday: Snow showers at times. Highs in the mid 20s and lows in the mid teens.
  • Thursday: A few snow showers. Highs in the low 20s and lows in the mid teens.
  • Friday: A few snow showers. Highs in the upper teens and lows in the upper single digits.