Sunday, February 28, 2010

Hunter Feb 27-28 special edition

It's chaos here with unprecedented snow & skiing! Long lift lines like the old "A" lift on all lifts and lots of intermittent power failures which also affect the lifts. Parking is a nightmare. This upcoming ski week will be amazing - be a part of history and bring your cameras! See news article below!
Ski ya,
Jon


Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Occasional snow showers. Temps nearly steady around 30. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
Tonight: Variable clouds with snow showers. Low around 25F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
Tomorrow: Windy. Some morning flurries. Then snow showers in the afternoon. High 31F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 40%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
Tomorrow night: Variable clouds with snow showers. Low near 25F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 60%.
Tuesday: Chance of a few snow showers. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.
Wednesday: Snow showers. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.
Thursday: Cloudy. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the upper teens.

23A reopen, Greene Co. still tough going
CATSKILL -- Route 23A in Catskill is reopen to all traffic. The Greene County Sheriff's Department had shut it down due to extremely heavy traffic headed to ski resorts plus the nearly seven feet of snow that had fallen since Tuesday. Greene County itself is still under a state of emergency.

Authorities closed the road near the intersection of 32A early in the afternoon on Saturday but lifted that by 5:00PM Saturday. In a release, they say "Motorists should continue to exercise caution while traveling the roads. All business including the ski areas are operating as normal."

Saturday, the high volume of traffic created gridlock around the Hunter Mountain Ski Area and, because of the snow, many parking spaces were covered, according to a spokesperson with Hunter Mountain.

Additionally, Hunter had power surges and some skiers went to Windham Mountain as well. The GM at Ski Windham said they had up to 70 inches since the storms started Tuesday.

Saturday, they reached close to record numbers of skiers and the mountain exceeded its budget by 20%, the GM said. They honored day tickets until 6:00PM.

"Ski conditions were off the charts," he said. "The crews had a challenge keeping up with the snow in the parking lot - everything was fine on the trails."

The resort has about 300 homeowners in its association who live on the mountain. They had to keep all their roads, driveways, and lots clear.

A spokesperson at Hunter said they have had seven feet of snow since Tuesday and they had more than 5,000 people at the mountain on Saturday.

A State of Emergency has been declared for all of Greene County effective 10:00AM Saturday morning. It has been declared due to snow removal and traffic control conditions. All state and county roads are open but travelers should be alert for snow removal, public utility and public safety crews. Town roads in Hunter, Windham, Jewett, Ashland, Lexington and Prattsville may have limited travel, according to the Sheriff's Department.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Hunter powder Feb 26

Hunterado is here to stay! Over 50" and counting i.e. it is still snowing - I think Hunter is the new Buffalo. This is the largest snow storm anyone has ever seen up here. The local plowers and town road crews are overwhelmed and the mayor's have asked for state help like the national guard as the roads cannot be maintained. It is too late for plows to do the job - only front end loaders are able to clear driveways and side roads.
Only B and quad were running this am but Z opened mid-day and the lines were 45 minutes long for ungroomed deep and fairly dry powder. It was chopped up within half an hour. Camera bugs were out and tracks were made over every bit of terrain including under the lifts. The parking lot was a mad house as there were not enough spaces cleared for all the cars. We are to receive another 6" overnight and into Saturday.
Ski ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon

Detailed Local Forecast
Tonight: Cloudy with snow. Low 24F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. 3 to 5 inches of snow expected.
Tomorrow: Snow during the morning will transition to snow showers during the afternoon. High 29F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 1 to 2 inches of snow expected.
Tomorrow night: Variably cloudy with snow showers. Low 23F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 60%.
Sunday: Occasional snow showers. High near 30F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%.
Monday: Snow showers possible. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.
Tuesday: A few snow showers. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Hunter skiing Feb 25 and major snow/wind storm

Hi All,
Sorry this is so late but had no cable /internet all day. As you all know by now we are in the middle of the largest double snow storm in at least 14-15 years (1996 ?). There is close to 40" on the ground and still snowing heavily. Local plowing and services are overwhelmed and power outages are all over the place. There is no where to put the snow. The mtn road and all local roads are a disaster. Skiing today was very nice but visibility poor with blinding snow. It is about 32-33 degrees so it is wet snow again. For the first time in recent memory all trails were open including Westway (44) and Taylor's. Most main trails were groomed very early this am so by the time lifts opened at 9 there was already 2-3" on top so very sweet freshies. All schools and many businesses have been closed and will remain so. High winds are expected tomorrow which could really do some damage as trees and power lines are already sagging under the weight of the snow. Check out the latest at this website: http://www.cbs6albany.com/sections/weather/7day/
Rushing to get this out before losing I-net again. It is raining from Catskill & Palenville on south right now.
Ski ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon

Detailed Local Forecast
Tonight: Snow will be heavy at times along with gusty winds. Low 28F. Winds N at 20 to 30 mph. 6 to 10 inches of additional snow expected. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy with snow flurries and snow showers, especially in the afternoon. High 29F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 70%. 1 to 2 inches of snow expected.
Tomorrow night: Snow likely. Low 26F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 2 to 4 inches of snow expected.
Saturday: Light snow during the morning will give way to snow showers during the afternoon. High around 30F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 70%.
Sunday: Snow showers possible. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.
Monday: A few snow showers. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Hunter skiing Feb 24

What can I say?
24 - 26" on the ground and still snowing tho it is now very wet snow with base temps around 38. There were many power failures in the area including the base lodge, Hotel, Colonel's Chair Condos and Tannersville not to mention cable TV and internet outages. Most have now been restored but subject to intermittent stoppages. Only lifts B & F were running until around 10:15 when the quad finally got dug out and cleaned off. Skiing was very difficult due to the wetness of the snow - like Sierra cement (ass kicking) - and only those areas that had been groomed early were easier to navigate: Eastside Drive and H-B-K only. Z was getting ready to open around noon time but let me tell you that even the best skiers at Hunter with fat skis and snowboarders had trouble in this stuff. The chopped up areas became bumpy very fast as the wet snow compacted. Visibility was poor and it was foggy and a bit misty in areas. I had more fun yesterday when the snow was a lot drier. More snow is forecast per below and there is no where to put it. All roads are slowly getting cleared as is the main parking lot and all schools were closed as were many businesses. There were quite a few people here but most did not last long on the slopes. It is raining from Palenville on south so only we here on the mtn top have the heavy snow. Skiing should be great tomorrow once it all gets groomed out. Westway # 44 should be open this pm for the first time this year (and last year).
For the latest forecasts and warnings for the area go to this link: http://www.cbs6albany.com/sections/weather/7day/
Ski ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon

Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Scattered flurries and snow showers. Temps nearly steady around 30. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Tonight: Cloudy with snow developing after midnight. Low 26F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Snow accumulating 1 to 2 inches.
Tomorrow: Snow during the morning will become heavy at times during the afternoon. High 33F. Winds NNE at 15 to 25 mph. Snow accumulating 6 to 10 inches.
Tomorrow night: Heavy snow in the evening will diminish to a few snow showers overnight. Some rain may mix in. Low 27F. Winds NE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 90%. Some snow accumulation possible.
Friday: Snow showers. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.
Saturday: Snow showers. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.
Sunday: A few snow showers. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Hunter skiing & POWDER ALERT Feb 23

It's HUNTERADO!! Yes folks, it is like skiing in Colorado here at Hunter today and for the rest of the week. We are getting blasted with wind driven snow out of the east at the rate of 2 - 3" per hour and there are no people here to ski it off - freshies every run. The visibility can be very tough at times as there is also some fog drifting around the top of the mtn. The temp is mid 20's at the top and about 30 at the base. The roads are all white and no plows yet. No F or D again but who needs them! All trails are perfect including Claire's & Racer's top to bottom and I skied them all except Apurna which I don't trust. Since it was so warm yesterday the base softened so there is no ice under a layer of creamy powder. I must say it was alot of fun today. If any of you have extra days to take off, do it this week - tomorrow will be a POWDER day! We are in the 10-15" band per the forecast warning out of Albany - click on the link that says "click here for latest snow accumulation forecast"
Ski ya,
Jon

http://www.cbs6albany.com/sections/weather/7day/
Meteorologist: Steve LaPointe
Last Updated: Tuesday, February 23, 2010 12:55PM CLICK HERE for the latest Snow Accumulation Forecast Weather Advisories: WINTER STORM WARNING now in effect through 7pm Wednesday for eastern New York and western New England. Heavy to major snow accumulations are likely across the region tonight through Wednesday with the inbound storm. Snow will be very wet and heavy which potentially will lead to some tree and power line damage beginning late tonight and continuing through Wednesday. Scattered power outages will be possible with this storm.
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Low pressure currently developing south of New England will continue to channel moisture into eastern New York and western New England this afternoon. Marginal temperatures through the mid afternoon hours will preclude much in the way of snow accumulation through the day. However, towards, evening, as precipitation rates increase in combination with some lower level cooling, snow will begin to accumulate more rapidly. Heavy snowfall rates are likely tonight into Wednesday leading to low visibility and hazardous travel conditions..
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Storm accumulations in excess of 15" are likely in the higher elevations of the Catskills, Adirondacks, and Green Mountains in Vermont. Storm accumulations of 12" are likely throughout much of the remainder of eastern New York and western New England..
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Snow will become lighter and more intermittent Wednesday afternoon, tapering to flurries or drizzle by the evening.
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Thursday into Friday Event Another storm is likely to form out of the blocked weather pattern Thursday or Thursday night. As this potential system is further out in time, and linked to how all the weather before it plays out, it remains quite uncertain as to how it will evolve and therefore impact the local area with additional snowfall. However, another round of significant snow is possible for the region during this period. Stay Tuned!.




Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Cloudy with snow. Temps nearly steady around 30. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 80%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.
Tonight: Periods of snow. Low 28F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Snow accumulating 6 to 10 inches.
Tomorrow: Snow during the morning will transition to snow showers during the afternoon. Temps nearly steady around 30. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulating 3 to 5 inches.
Tomorrow night: Cloudy with snow showers developing after midnight. Low near 25F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Some snow accumulation possible.
Thursday: Snow and windy. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.
Friday: Snow. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the mid 20s.
Saturday: Chance of a few snow showers. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Hunter skiing Feb 22 and powder alert for Wed-Thurs

Happy B'day George Washington!
Well the huge weekend crowds are gone and we were blessed today with great skiing thanks to sun, no wind, great grooming (except Claire's) and warm temps. We had groomed corduroy ego snow again on all front side slopes and a very light crowd even with the Localmotion racers who were on the Highlands trail over at Hunter One (party at Slopes tonight). It got down to 19 overnight but now 45 as high clouds start to move in as a storm approaches. Best trail by a slim margin Cliff / Racer's which was exceptional followed by H-B-K and the entire east side which really softened under the sun. Rt 80 was also nice but the run-out at the bottom of Claire's was a bit bumpy. There was no F or D today but the quad was running well. A new lift (six-pack) to replace the quad by next ski season is looking more positive so stay tuned.......
The weather will turn nasty tonight but snow is forecast for the am and substantial accumulation for Tues night into Wed with continued snow showers through Friday. Following advisory issued out of Albany:
The weekend movie: "The Lovely Bones"
Ski Ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon


Weather Advisories: AN ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN THIS WEEK .
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A series of storm systems will periods of snow and some rain this week..
Tonight a weakening storms system will approach the region from the Great Lakes as another storm approaches from the south. During the day tomorrow generally light precipitation will affect the region. Temperatures in the valleys should be warm enough to cause some of the snow to mix with light rain while the elevations above 1000 feet will see mainly snow. Accumulations are expected to be light. An in or less in the valleys with 2-3" possible in the higher elevations..
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On Wednesday the storm to our will get better organized and a steadier, heavier snow is more likely. Once again in the Hudson Vally south of Albany will see the possibility of some rain mixing in while higher elevations in will see some heavy, wet snow. Upslope areas in the eastern Catskills and Berkshires and Southern Vermont have the potential for the heaviest amounts. The temperature profile will be critical in determining the amount of snow because of this the snowfall will be highly variable across the region..
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By Thursday night and Friday a storm that this afternoon is near the four corners in the southwest U.S. will give us a chance of more snow and perhaps strong winds. Stay tuned....
Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Generally cloudy. High around 35F. Winds light and variable.
Tonight: Variable clouds with snow showers. Some sleet may mix in. Low 27F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 70%. 1 to 3 inches of snow expected.
Tomorrow: Occasional snow showers. High around 30F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 70%. 3 to 5 inches of snow expected.
Tomorrow night: Snow likely. Low 27F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Significant snow accumulation possible.
Wednesday: Snow early. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the upper 20s.
Thursday: Chance of a few snow showers. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the mid 20s.
Friday: Periods of snow. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Hunter skiing Feb 18

Sorry guys - I was off the mtn top today so have no first hand trail report except that it was cloudy, windy & mid 20's to 31. Doesn't look like I will be around tomorrow either.
Ski ya,
Jon

Detailed Local Forecast
Tonight: Evening flurries with a better chance of snow showers overnight. Low 21F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 40%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
Tomorrow: Variable clouds and windy with light snow flurries possible. High 31F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph.
Tomorrow night: Snow flurries or snow showers. Low 21F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.
Saturday: Snow flurries early. Then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High 32F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.
Sunday: Cloudy with flurries. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.
Monday: Cloudy with flurries. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid teens.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Hunter skiing Feb 17

Wow - 10" of light powder. It was fun while it lasted but was quickly trashed by the early powder hounds. All slopes were semi-groomed except Apurna, Claire's, Racer's, K27 & 42nd St. Temps hung in the 20's most of the day and only now about 32 with light flurries. The sun wasn't out but visibility was good most of the time and there were some periods of very flat light. Crowds were surprisingly light with little or no quad line. All lifts were operating normally. Skiing did become bumpy by late morning as the clumps of powder got packed down. It will stay cold at night and good grooming should make for a great Thursday & Friday.
Ski ya,
Jon

Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Variably cloudy with snow showers. High 27F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 60%.
Tonight: Snow showers early with a chance of lingering snow showers later. Low 22F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 60%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
Tomorrow: Scattered snow showers and flurries becoming less frequent late in the day. High 31F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Tomorrow night: Partly cloudy skies. Low 19F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.
Friday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the upper teens.
Saturday: Snow showers at times. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid teens.
Sunday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the mid teens.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Hunter special weather & powder alert for Feb 16 -17

Powder day Wednesday!!
The national weather service now saying that Hunter is in a pocket to receive 10" by later this evening and based on what is happening here I can confirm that - it is non-stop dry fluffy powder!
Ski ya powder hounds,
Jon

Hunter skiing Feb 16

Hi All,
Snow snow snow = fun fun fun! It has been non stop since early this am with 6" down and still snowing heavily as the forecasters blew this one! The temps were 17 summit and 25 base with dry snow, some fog up top and no wind. The skiing was incredible early with freshies as the crowd was very light to begin with but later was building and forming moderate lines at the quad. Visibility was limited and although the snow got cut up by the skiers & boarders it was light enough not to create much resistance while blasting through it and tracks were quickly covered over by new snow. I didn't think any one run was better than another. Tomorrow should be awesome! The roads here have yet to be plowed and are totally white.
Movie: Wed - Sun "Up In The Air"
Attached here is a link to an ice climber that fell and was killed Sunday in Hunter along Rt 23A
http://www.thedailymail.net/articles/2010/02/16/news/doc4b7a2f0f573c6269974594.txt
Ski ya,
Jon


Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Snow likely. High near 25F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph. 2 to 4 inches of additional snow expected.
Tonight: Light snow this evening will give way to snow showers late. Low 17F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 70%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
Tomorrow: Flurries and a few snow showers throughout the day. High 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Tomorrow night: A few snow showers around in the evening, otherwise mostly cloudy. Low around 20F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Thursday: A few snow showers. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the upper teens.
Friday: Cloudy with occasional flurries. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the upper teens.
Saturday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the mid teens.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Hunter skiing Feb 15

Hi All,
What a great day of skiing! Early clouds gave way to nice sun as temps hit 36 (a heat wave!). The mtn was groomed to perfection including Racer's & Claire's and it was ego snow again - powder over softening base. It was not crowded until around 11 am and by 11:30 it was time for me to leave (spoiled skier that I am). All slopes were consistent but Racer's & Claire's were my trails of choice today. All lifts including "Y" on the west side were open and loading. We are going to get some new snow tonight - about 2-4" plus flurries tomorrow which could bring another 2-4" to keep things fresh but it will be colder and windy.
If you should miss a report or want to see previous reports just GOOGLE " hunterskiscene" or go directly to the blog site below.
Ski ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon



Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Partly cloudy. High 28F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph.
Tonight: Snow showers early, with a steadier snow developing late. Low around 20F. Winds light and variable. 2 to 4 inches of snow expected.
Tomorrow: Snow during the morning will taper off to light snow during the afternoon. High 26F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 90%. 2 to 4 inches of snow expected.
Tomorrow night: Snow showers. Low 17F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 60%.
Wednesday: Snow showers at times. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the upper teens.
Thursday: A few snow showers. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.
Friday: Cloudy with occasional flurries. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the upper teens.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Hello skiers,
Another great day of skiing! If tomorrow is as good as today then this could be the best or equal to the best full ski week of the season. The snowfall total yesterday was 4 - 6" depending on where you were. The wind blew it around last night which made the grooming perfect on all trails except Racer's & Claire's which were left "as is". The corderoy powder was real ego cruising snow under bright sunny skies but there was a bit of nasty wind out of the west. Temps ranged from 19 to 27. Claire's & Racer's were good early but once they got scraped off it was fairly slick underneath but not to despair, the rest of the mtn stayed sweet all morning. Apurna was open but I didn't care to try it. The main line H-B-K held up the best under another fairly light crowd. The east side trails held pockets of wind blown powder and were fun to ski also. Rt 80 was good but windy with excellent grooming as well. There was no snow making (except from mother nature) and no need for it now as the mtn is in excellent shape. Lifts were operating normally.
The temp should remain cold and preserve all that nice new snow.
This weekend's movie Fri - Tues is: "Invictus" then Wed - Sun of next week: "Up In The Air".
Reminder that Saturday is Orville's 93rd, the big Mardi Gras party by the main bar followed by a rail jam, torchlight parade & fireworks.
Ski ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon
Sorry, I will not be around tomorrow pm to issue a report.
Detailed Local Forecast
Tonight: Snow flurries early. Then partly cloudy overnight. Low near 10F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.
Tomorrow: Mostly sunny skies. High 23F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.
Tomorrow night: Mostly clear skies. Low 9F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday: Windy with a few snow showers developing later in the day. High around 25F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Sunday: Windy with afternoon snow showers. Highs in the mid 20s and lows in the mid teens.
Monday: Snow showers at times. Highs in the mid 20s and lows in the mid teens.

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Hunter skiing Feb 10

Hi All,
So far only about 4 - 5" on the ground. It is falling lightly without wind and temp about 30. Not at all what we expected unless the worst is yet to come. Skiing was great for most of the first hour with freshies all over but then it started to get chopped up and clumpy but still light dry powder. The surface underneath remained flat and hard but not icy. Both the front side and west side were equal today and everything was good except Apurna which remained closed. Crowds were very light considering all schools were closed. Tomorrow looks to be colder and windy.
This Saturday will be Orville's 93rd b'day.
Ski ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon


Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Periods of snow and windy. High 24F. Winds NNE at 20 to 30 mph. 2 to 4 inches of snow expected.
Tonight: Snow this evening will give way to lingering snow showers late. Low 17F. Winds NNW at 15 to 25 mph. Snow accumulating 1 to 3 inches.
Tomorrow: Scattered flurries and snow showers. High 26F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Tomorrow night: Snow flurries in the evening hours will give way to mostly cloudy skies overnight. Low 11F. Winds NW at 15 to 25 mph.
Friday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 20s and lows in the upper single digits.
Saturday: Snow showers at times. Highs in the low 20s and lows in the low teens.
Sunday: Snow showers at times. Highs in the mid 20s and lows in the low teens.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Hunter skiing Feb 9 & powder alert

Hi All,
Skiing was great today!! The wind was gone, the sun was out at least until about 1pm, and the temps warmed from high teens to now 35. The mtn was very empty and the grooming again superb combined with the fact that the wind had blown fresh powder all over the mtn last night. The entire front side was excellent including Racer's which was not groomed. The best run however was to be found on Claire's which was groomed top to bottom and stayed fresh all morning. Rt 80 was also quite nice.
The big story of course is the weather for tomorrow and I will quote you below the latest from the national weather center out of Albany which seems to suggest a more northerly track which could bring us a good foot of snow.
Regarding the quad: I was told by a very reliable source that a decision may be made as soon as Feb 15 (for installation by August1st) for a six-pack from POMA to replace the quad and a reconfiguration of the quad for use on the west side. They have been seeking financing for this project. Stay tuned..........
I forgot to mention that last Friday the head of the ski patrol, "Red" took a bad spill at the bottom of lower crossover and tore up both a knee and a hip. Xrays for breaks were negative but he is waiting for MRI tests to determine the extent of the ligament and tendon damage.
Ski ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon



Weather Advisories: MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOW STORM MORE LIKELY AS OF THIS UPDATE FOR A LARGER PORTION OF THE REGION.
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WINTER STORM WARNINGS now issued for Greene, Columbia, Ulster, Dutchess, Otsego, Delaware, Berkshire and Litchfield counties from 5am Wednesday to 1am Thursday where snow accumulations ranging from 6"-12" are increasingly likely.
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Early afternoon trends are now suggesting Wednesday's coastal storm will develop and track somewhat further north along the New Jersey coast. That coupled with rapid development will create a band of heavy snow to the north and west of the low center. With a more northward position along the coast, the potential for that heavy band of snow to developed into the Catskills, Mid Hudson valley, Berkshire and Litchfield counties has increased. North into the Capital Region, Mohawk valley, and southern Vermont a borderline line to moderate snowfall, with a light snowfall in the Adirondacks..
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Terrain will likely play a key role in snow accumulations with significant upslope enhancement likely in the eastern Catskills, Litchfield hills and Berkshire County. East facing slopes in these regions potentially will see in excess of 12" of snow from the storm..

Thursday: A few snow showers possible, windy. Highs in the mid 20s and lows in the upper single digits.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 20s and lows in the upper single digits.
Saturday: Snow showers at times. Highs in the low 20s and lows in the low teens.

Monday, February 8, 2010

Hunter skiing Feb 8

Hi All,
The weekend crowds are gone but the cold and wind stayed. It was really cold today and the wind was howling steady but there was excellent visibility with a clear sunny sky. The early temp at the summit was 8 with mid teens at the base but now 28 and still very windy. The mtn was very empty and the skiing excellent as once again the grooming was exceptional (thanks Skip!). Best runs: Cliff or Hgate to Racer's which was groomed to perfection but the entire east side and midstation area were also sweet. The wind was coming out of the west which was 10º colder than the front. The wind would stop you dead in your tracks on upper belt, Huega or Whitecloud and also on Wayout which was not shielded as usual. One run down Rt 80 was enough for me and I headed back to the sunny side to warm up. Claire's was a windblown ungroomed disaster waiting to happen and Apurna was closed. The chefs were racing today on Madison in their white chefs garb.
There is a storm brewing for Wed and it could be a blizzard so we'll keep a close eye on that one. We really need snow and hope that something comes out of this storm as no snow is being made or planned. Mgmt again spoke with POMA last week and are considering several options for lift replacements for both the quad and west side so stay tuned............. This coming weekend will feature a big Mardi Gras party on Saturday with all the usual bells & whistles (torchlight & fireworks etc.).
The movie from Feb 12 - Feb16: "Invictus" followed by "Up In The Air Feb" 17-21 for the holiday week.
Ski ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon

Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Becoming windy. Off and on snow flurries are possible along with variably cloudy skies. High 22F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph.
Tonight: Clear to partly cloudy. Low 11F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.
Tomorrow: Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 27F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow night: Cloudy with snow developing after midnight. Low 18F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 80%. Some snow accumulation possible.
Wednesday: Periods of snow. 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 low teens.
Friday: Plenty of sun. Highs in the low 20s and lows in the upper single digits.

Friday, February 5, 2010

Hunter skiing Feb 5

Hi All,
It was nice to see many of you up here today playing hooky from work to take advantage of the good skiing. Strange weather day but very nice skiing.
Today started off very cloudy with poor visibility. Temps were 14 up top and 21 at the base with some wind but now about 30 and no wind. The clouds gave way to muted sun so visibility became much better after about 10 am. It was very damp but no precip. Grooming once again was near perfect on all front side trails and the snow was a bit softer than yesterday. The quad was running fine as was F. Best run of the day: Hgate to Racer's but everything was easy skiing. Everything on the front was better than anything on the west side. Wayout was groomed but hard, Claire's was not groomed and hard, Apurna was groomed. I skied Apurna late morning but once was enough as I thought it was dark, a bit slick and inconsistent with grass and rocks along skier's left side of the headwall. Other's who skied it earlier thought it was very nice so I guess it got scraped off quickly. There was a lighter than normal Friday crowd with no real lift lines. There was no snow making but plenty of powder along the edges of most trails. Sat pm there will be a rock band out of Albany at the main bar for happy hr.
The snow storm coming up the east coast will not reach much above the Rt. 80 line in NJ so unfortunately nothing for us but clouds, wind and cold.
Weekend movie: " It's Complicated".
Ski ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon
Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Mainly cloudy. A few peeks of sunshine possible. High 27F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight: Cloudy skies this evening. A few snow showers developing late. Low 12F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Tomorrow: Cloudy. High 19F. Winds NNE at 10 to 20 mph.
Tomorrow night: Clear to partly cloudy. Low 6F. Winds NNW at 10 to 20 mph.
Sunday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 20s and lows in the upper single digits.
Monday: Partly cloudy and windy. Highs in the low 20s and lows in the low teens.
Tuesday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the upper teens.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Hunter skiing Feb 4

Hi Boys & Girls,
We experienced one of the top 5 midweek ski days of the season today. Yes it was cold (6 at the summit early and 20 at the base) with a bit of wind but what a cobalt blue cloudless sky with plenty of sun. The weather combined with a fabulous grooming job top to bottom that left corderoy powder on every skiable trail made for a great day. The mtn was empty so to ski-on / ski-off a smooth and fast running quad was a treat. I was like a kid in a candy store: which trail to try first so I had to ski them all. The main line H-B-K was a slight favorite but Claire's, Racer's and Rt 80 were close behind. Cliff, Ike, Minya & Eside were also excellent as was Upper K27 where the wind deposited pockets of powder. Apurna was closed for lack of snow. There was more wind up top, on the west and Huega but the surface conditions and sun made it worth it. The high today was about 25 /26 º. It will be very cold over the weekend with some snow showers but the bulk of the storm will be way south of us so we are not expecting much accumulation if any. There has been no snow making. F was running but without customers.
Weekend movie: "It's Complicated"
Ski ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon


Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Sunny. High 23F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.
Tonight: A few passing clouds. Low 12F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow: Mostly cloudy skies. High 28F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow night: Scattered flurries and snow showers. Low 12F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Saturday: Snow showers in the morning. Highs in the upper teens and lows in the mid single digits.
Sunday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 20s and lows in the upper single digits.
Monday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 20s and lows in the low teens.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Hunter skiing Feb 3

Hi All,
Did not ski again today but can tell you it was overcast 28º with flurries and about 1/2" new snow overnight on well groomed trails. Those that dealt with B or D to F said the skiing was very nice but flat light. Tomorrow looks real good with bright sunshine forecast but the weekend will be very cold with scattered snow showers.
The quad motor came back and was installed within the hour and they plan to test run it tonight before loading it tomorrow. Keep you fingers crossed!
Lots of hosers here but less than previous years.
I need to correct a mistake from yesterday: The Mardi Gras party is FEB 13 not Jan 13 -- oops!
Weekend movie: "It's Complicated"
Ski ya,
Jon
Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Variably cloudy with snow showers. High 27F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
Tonight: Flurries and a few snow showers throughout the night. Low around 15F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Tomorrow: Abundant sunshine. High 22F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.
Tomorrow night: A few clouds overnight. Low around 10F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
Friday: More clouds than sun. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the mid teens.
Saturday: Snow showers at times. Highs in the upper teens and lows in the mid single digits.
Sunday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper teens and lows in the mid single digits.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Hi All,
The groundhog may have seen his shadow but I sure didn't see mine here in cloudy Hunter. I did not ski today so have no first hand trails report. The quad wasn't running as you all know, it was a flat light day and just not worth waiting in line to take 2 slow lifts up to the top. It is flurrying now and if we get any decent accumulation (which not expected) I may ski tomorrow but not likely. Temps today low 20's and damp.
Sat Jan 13 Torchlight Parade & Fireworks for Mardi Gras.
Ski Ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon
Detailed Local Forecast
Tonight: Snow flurries early. Cloudy with a few snow showers possible late at night. Low 18F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 40%.
Tomorrow: Occasional snow showers. High 29F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 40%.
Tomorrow night: Scattered flurries and snow showers. Low 16F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
Thursday: Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 23F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph.
Friday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the low 20s and lows in the low teens.
Saturday: More clouds than sun. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the mid teens.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Hunter skiing Feb 1

Hi All,
The week and month started out with some very sweet skiing thanks to lots of sun, no wind, temps in the mid 20's (tho low teens last night) and very good grooming (except Racer's & Claire's which were ice bumps). All front side trails were equally good today and there was no need or desire to go west. The mountain was relatively empty although there were at least a hundred signed up for the Localmotion race (party at O'Neils). There was no snow making in progress.
There will be a couple of thousand firemen arriving over the next few days for their annual races and to greet them, the mtn in its infinite wisdom, decided to pull the quad motor out tonight and send it to Troy for a rebuild. It is not expected back until pm Wed assuming all goes well therefore the firemen and everyone else will have to use B or D to F in order to reach the summit. Needless to say, the hosers are not a happy bunch.
The forecast calls for continued cold throughout the week with clouds Tuesday and snow showers into Wed but no significant accumulation expected.
Ski ya, http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/
Jon

Detailed Local Forecast
Today: Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 23F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
Tonight: A few clouds. Low 12F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
Tomorrow: Overcast. High 27F. Winds light and variable.
Tomorrow night: Variable clouds with snow showers. Low 19F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 50%.
Wednesday: Snow showers possible. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the upper teens.
Thursday: More sun than clouds. Highs in the low 20s and lows in the low teens.
Friday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 20s and lows in the low teens.