Friday, February 26, 2016

Hunter Feb 26

Hello Hunter fans,
I did not ski today (issues with my boiler) , actually not since Monday, but wanted to up-date you on the weather etc.
We had torrential rain (about 3”) with lightening and thunder Wed/Thurs with temps up to 54. The temps dropped dramatically late yesterday from 50 to 34 with evening snow flurries before it all froze last night.
Today is very bright, sunny, very windy with temps now 24 at the base and 15 at the summit with winds from 18 to 54 mph – wind chills below zero.
There are guns on mid-station, Hellgate and maybe Minya but not on the Belt or anywhere else that I can SEE (that doesn’t mean that they are not blowing on the west side).
The daily snow reports from Hunter all this week have been quite fictional to put it mildly. Apurna is closed for the season.
The groomers had to do some snow farming to cover multiple bare and brown spots left by the rain. There were rivers running down the mountain.
Saturday should be sunny, windy and cool but Sunday the temps will approach 50 again with some rain expected Monday & Wednesday next week.
Unfortunately with March only a few days away, and given the season we have had, it is almost time to dust off the golf clubs.
Make the best of it,
Jon
 
This Afternoon
A slight chance of snow showers before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 23. Blustery, with a northwest wind 18 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 12. Wind chill values as low as zero. Northwest wind 7 to 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Saturday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 34. Southwest wind 6 to 10 mph.
Saturday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 29. West wind around 11 mph.
Sunday
Partly sunny, with a high near 49. Southwest wind 9 to 11 mph.
Sunday Night
A chance of showers after 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 38. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
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Monday, February 22, 2016

Hunter Feb 22

Hi all you Hunter fans,
It was a bluebird day with a cloudless sky, strong sun, no wind and no crowds. The surface froze overnight as temps dipped below 30 (22 at the summit this am) and early runs were teeth rattling on hard, fast frozen corduroy. However by about 10:30 the sun had worked its magic on all east facing trails and the snow quickly softened. It is 41 now at the base, 31 at the summit and most surfaces I would guess are mushy. The west opened late due to frozen conditions and I never made it over there but all front side trails were groomed and enjoyable. The mountain was really empty even given the fact that there was a Localmotion race today. Tomorrow should be another nice day but it goes downhill from Wed thru Fri with mostly rain again – we cannot catch a break this year!   FYI – Saturday’s crowd topped 6,000 with about 4,000 on Sunday – yes, it was a zoo but great deck parties.
Ma Ma’s Pizza plans to move and open in it’s new location (ex Numero Uno) in April.
Happy Trails,
Jon
 
NWS Forecast for Hunter
 
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 19. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Tuesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 35. Southeast wind 3 to 8 mph.
Tuesday Night
A chance of snow, mainly after 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. Southeast wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Wednesday
Snow and sleet before 10am, then rain and sleet between 10am and 11am, then rain after 11am. High near 39. East wind around 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Wednesday Night
Rain. Low around 38. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Thursday
Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 48. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Thursday Night
A chance of rain before 10pm, then a chance of rain and snow between 10pm and midnight, then a chance of snow after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 26. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 29.
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Thursday, February 18, 2016

Hunter Feb 18

Hello Hunter fans,
Another great recovery as only Hunter can do. Tuesday weather yielded over 2.5 inches of rain that froze overnight into Wed. Between great grooming and snow making the skiing today was very good.
It was cold overnight 14 and only 26 now but it stayed cold on top with 2 to 17 now. We had brilliant sun today, a bit of wind on the front side and an inch of natural snow overnight. All front side trails had variable conditions with crusted powder, soft powder and Hunter hard-pack underneath it all. Guns had blown fresh snow mostly on the top front of the mountain where most of the inconsistencies were but the west was very consistent flat and easy. Apurna was closed but both Claire’s & Wayout were very sweet as the west ruled the day. There were minor crowds for a holiday week. “F” was running but no “D”. Tomorrow may start out sunny but forecast to cloud up later in the day and stay that way through the weekend with a chance for mixed rain & snow.  Expect a large crowd again this weekend.
In restaurant news, Ma Ma’s Pizza will be moving into the old Numero Uno Pizza store in the near future. Hammo’s in Hensonville remains open as they seek new owners / buyers as the current owner recovers from a stroke.
Happy trails,
Jon
 
 
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 10. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming calm after midnight.
Friday
Increasing clouds, with a high near 33. Light south wind increasing to 9 to 14 mph in the morning.
Friday Night
A chance of snow showers before 1am, then a chance of snow showers and sleet between 1am and 4am, then a chance of sleet after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27. South wind 13 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Saturday
A chance of rain showers and sleet before 10am, then a chance of rain showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 45. Southwest wind 11 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
Saturday Night
A slight chance of rain showers before 1am, then a slight chance of rain and snow showers between 1am and 4am, then a slight chance of snow showers after 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42.
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Friday, February 12, 2016

Hunter Feb 12

Hello Hunter fans,
Today capped off the best weekday week of the season. Cold, crisp, sunny (at least until 11 am) and no wind. It was 2 at the summit (now 12), 10 at the base (now 24) with some fresh machine made snow – more like a thick layer of dust – on a well groomed hard packed surface. The entire mountain was groomed including all west side trails. There is a high cloud cover since 11 am but it’s still bright enough for good visibility. There was a bit of a crowd for a Friday and “F” lift was also running but no “D”. The Flyer was stop and go mainly due to people who had trouble getting on or off but no major down time. Claire’s was under the guns all morning and it was dry soft powder. Be careful where Wayout, Claire’s and Apurna merge as that run out to the lift is solid ice from a leaky snow gun.  There were a few other guns on around the mountain as well. The arctic blast comes in tomorrow through Monday. Seriously people, if you go out cover all exposed skin as wind chills could easily top 30 below zero!
I am pleased to advise that the main bar now serves Guinness for those who like it. The Copper Tree will be open throughout the holiday so make sure you try Slurps noodle bar – I think it is the best food served at the lodge.
Once again, don’t forget Sunday is Valentine’s Day – the dog house will be frigid!
Be safe, layer up and stay warm,
Jon
 
Tonight
A chance of snow showers, mainly before 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 3. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph becoming west after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Saturday
Scattered snow showers, mainly between 1pm and 4pm. Mostly sunny and cold, with a temperature falling to around -4 by 5pm. Wind chill values as low as -28. Blustery, with a northwest wind 18 to 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around -16. Wind chill values as low as -40. Blustery, with a northwest wind 17 to 20 mph.
Sunday
Sunny and cold, with a high near 6. Northwest wind 10 to 14 mph.
Sunday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around -1.
Washington's Birthday
Partly sunny, with a high near 20.
Monday Night
Snow likely before 4am, then snow and sleet likely. Cloudy, with a low around 19. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
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Hunter Feb 11

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Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Hunter Feb 10

Hello Hunter fans,
Two days in a row for freshies although today’s cover was only an inch. Once again great grooming with a thin coating of natural dry powder on all trails front and back sides.
The issue today was visibility which was very inconsistent – some sun but mostly low clouds. Half a run could be great and then the lights would go out.
It was warmer last night - down to about 25 and 32 now at the base but 22 at the summit with a 10 mph wind. Flurries come and go. No crowds – ski right onto the Flyer.
It looks like snow making will commence again soon as hoses & guns are being strategically positioned.
The Flyer did break down yesterday afternoon around 2:30 for quite a while but no issues today so far. No “F” or “D” as usual for a non-holiday midweek day.
There is a chance for snow showers at almost any time today through Friday. This weekend we will have an arctic blast like no other this season – bitter cold and high winds could bring wind chills Saturday into Sunday as low as minus 30 or more.
Don’t forget your valentine this Sunday or you may end up in a very cold dog house – brrrrr!
Bundle up and be safe – frost bite is no fun,
Jon
 
 
 
This Afternoon
A chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 30. West wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Tonight
A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 14. West wind around 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Thursday
A chance of snow showers, mainly before 5pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 17. Wind chill values as low as -1. Blustery, with a west wind 13 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 6. Wind chill values as low as -7. Blustery, with a northwest wind 10 to 20 mph.
Friday
A chance of snow showers, mainly after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 21. Southwest wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Friday Night
A chance of snow showers, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 4. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Saturday
Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 5.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around -12.
Sunday
Sunny and cold, with a high near 7.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 0.
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Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Hunter Feb 9

Hello Hunter fans,
Wow – winter is really here. Freshies for most of the first hour from 2” – 3” of icing on the cake. For once mother nature provided the snow.
The grooming was done before the snow fell last night and it was dry fluffy powder for a change on a very consistent hard packed surface.
The temps dipped to 17 last night and it was cold and overcast most of the morning but 34 and sunny now. There was and is NO WIND! The definition of the tracked snow made for good visibility even though it was quite overcast.
Since the snow was dry it did not clump together after it was cut up so it was not bumpy. It was a fantastic morning with no crowds at all – had to be one of the top 3 or 4 days so far this season. There were no lift issues.
Almost every trail including Claire’s was groomed. Apurna was open but with a thin coverage sign so not worth the risk since all else on the west side was really sweet.
There is a chance for more snow during the week before the arctic air arrives for President’s weekend. Expect some record crowds for the holiday week since Hunter has some of the best skiing in the east.
Some of you may be interested in this link about skiing for seniors:  http://www.seniorsskiing.com/
Ski safe & party hardy,
Jon
 
NWS forecast for Hunter:
 
Tonight
A chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 22. Light and variable wind becoming southwest around 6 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Wednesday
A chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 31. West wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Wednesday Night
A chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 16. West wind 9 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday
A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 21. Northwest wind 10 to 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Thursday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 6.
Friday
Partly sunny, with a high near 19.
Friday Night
A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 4. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Saturday
Partly sunny and cold, with a high near 8.
Saturday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around -9.
Sunday
Mostly sunny and cold, with a high near 9.
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