I am saddened to let everyone know that Dan Macilwain, former Ranger and Ambassador, passed away on April 2nd while fishing on his boat in Florida. Carol is on her way back from Florida to Greenville but is not taking any calls at this time as she is still in shock. Cards may be sent to:

Carol Macilwain

19 S Court Drive

Greenville, New York 12083

Sandie and Howie Vipler

Hi All,

As most of you know last Sat pond skimming was postponed early Sat morning due bad weather (as predicted) and held on Sun afternoon to a small but enthusiastic crowd. It was a sunny but cool, breezy day. The pond liner held up for the first time in 3 years to the delight of most who took 1 or 2 very cold dunks in the granular ice covered water. It looks like the mtn will open for Fri & Sat with a planned closing party and Easter egg hunt for Sat even tho the weather looks very "iffy". Skiing will be for advanced skiers only and those who like the risk of the heavy granular mush based on a visual look at the slopes - certainly rock skis would be advisable and bring a camera for bear pictures. FYI both Windham and Belleayre already closed for the season.

I will attach below the official Hunter news:

Hello from Hunter Mountain! The end of the season is nearer than ever, but we've got two days of skiing & riding left! Friday is Family Day here at Hunter...buy a full price ($35) adult ticket and get a young adult or junior lift ticket for free! On Saturday, all lift tickets cost only $19.59!!

We're having a massive Easter egg hunt all over the mountain on Saturday ... every egg has a great prize! Win discounts in the Expedition Center; lodging at the Kaatskill Mountain Club & Liftside Village or Mountain Club Spa; Group & Private Lessons; 09/10 lift ticket vouchers & 09/10 Big Lift Cards... there will even be two golden eggs...one with a mid-week season pass and one spotted golden egg holding a 09/10 season pass!

Hunt for the golden egg starts as soon as the lifts open on Saturday - so be ready. End the day with DJ FrankieOkie & The Solid Smoke Band playing the best of Motown...get your dancing shoes on for our last day of the season!

While you're around, visit the Sports & Expeditions Center and the Board Room for some amazing end of season deals -- up to 70% off! You won't find better deals anywhere....for a limited time only!

Happy trails,

Jon

Detailed Local Forecast

• Tonight: Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 29F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.
• Tomorrow: Mostly sunny in the morning. Increasing clouds with showers later in the day. High 48F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
• Tomorrow night: Cloudy with showers. Low 34F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.
• Saturday: Cloudy with rain and snow showers in the morning. Remaining cloudy in the afternoon. High near 45F. Winds N at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of precip 60%.
• Sunday: Rain and snow showers in the morning. Highs in the mid 40s and lows in the mid 20s.
• Monday: Plenty of sun. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Hi All,

Here's the link to the video from this past Tuesday Mar 31. It is 7 min long with bear scenes in the middle and end. Note what the bears think of the trails merge signs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgWvX3kGDcA

Today all rain, fog and wind with temps in the low 50's. Tomorrow not looking better with even colder temps.

Jon

Detailed Local Forecast

• Tonight: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm this evening, then some lingering showers still possible overnight. Low 38F. Winds SW at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
• Tomorrow: Windy...cloudy with rain and snow. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of precip 60%. Higher wind gusts possible.
• Tomorrow night: Periods of rain and snow showers in the evening becoming mostly cloudy and windy late. Low 28F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of precip 40%.
• Sunday: Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 49F. Winds WNW at 15 to 25 mph.
• Monday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 40s and lows in the low 30s.
• Tuesday: Chance of showers. Highs in the low 40s and lows in the low 30s.

What a difference a day makes. Today was a total washout with rain, wind, fog and temps in the low 50's. I can't even see the mountain through it all. Tomorrow not looking much better with more precipitation and colder temps.
Jon

Detailed Local Forecast

Today: Rain likely with a few thunderstorms. High 51F. Winds E at 15 to 25 mph. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.

• Tonight: Showers and thundershowers this evening giving way to periods of light rain late. Low 39F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.
• Tomorrow: Windy. Rain showers in the morning becoming mixed with snow in the afternoon. Temps nearly steady in the mid to upper 30s. Winds W at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of precip 60%.
• Tomorrow night: Rain and snow showers and windy in the evening. Remaining windy and becoming partly cloudy late. Low 29F. Winds WNW at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of precip 50%.
• Sunday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 50s and lows in the low 30s.
• Monday: Chance of showers. Highs in the mid 40s and lows in the low 30s.
• Tuesday: Few showers. Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the mid 20s.

Hi All,

What a beautiful day to be out skiing and sunning. Temp now 65 with brilliant warm sun up from 42 this am. All trails were soft and slow but alot more brown and bare spots, in fact for many areas, rock skis are advisable due to all the dirt in the snow. There are some very narrow passages into and out of some trails that will probably disappear with the rain tomorrow unless snow farmed - Eside, Claire's, Wayout, Belt, Huega, Bleeker & Madison. There is a deep base on all main trails but getting to them is the problem. The bears, a mother and 2 cubs, were out again today on Eside, Minya and Crossover and I took the attached photos from fairly close range. They kept the patrol busy. Other than about a hundred PSIA instructors being tested for level 2 there were maybe 50-60 others out skiing. The pond is being constructed today for possible use on Sat but it will be cold and windy. As advised in my message last night, the mtn will be closed Mon thru Thurs next week but in a meeting yesterday the staff was told the mtn would open for Good Fri and Sat, April 10 & 11. I personally think that bad weather next week and too few skiers for these 2 days will put this closing date in question as it really doesn't make economic sense for the mtn.

Vince is recovering nicely from prostate surgery and the post op reports are all neagative for cancer - great news! Ali V. may need spinal surgery to fix some pinched nerves that are affecting her neck and left arm - good luck & best wishes Ali.

Today may have been my last day to ski and with 63 days for me, not counting weekends, it has been one of the best ski seasons in at least 10 years. I enjoyed sharing my experiences and thoughts with you all. I will keep you posted on major events and any changes to closing plans. Log on to my blogsite for other tidbits: http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/

Now going fishing.

Happy Trails,

Jon

Detailed Local Forecast

• Today: A mix of clouds and sun. High 57F. WNW winds shifting to S at 10 to 15 mph.
• Tonight: Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 41F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
• Tomorrow: Showers early, becoming a steady rain later in the day. High 47F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
• Tomorrow night: Showers and thundershowers during the evening giving way to periods of light rain overnight. Low 37F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.
• Saturday: Chance of showers. Highs in the low 40s and lows in the upper 20s.
• Sunday: Mix of sun and clouds. Highs in the upper 40s and lows in the mid 30s.
• Monday: Chance of showers. Highs in the upper 40s and lows in the low 30s.

Updated at: 04/02/2009 9:46 AM
By: The Weather Team
First Warning Forecast

Milder air will flow in today with a return to some sunshine. Highs will be in the lower to mid 60's.

Another storm will make a run at us on Friday. This will bring us another chance of rain during the day and possibly even a thunderstorm. Highs will be in the lower 60's.

Right now the weekend looks ok. It will be breezy and cool on Saturday with a few showers with more sun on Sunday. Highs will be in the lower 50's on Saturday and upper 50's on Sunday.

Hi All,

As I suspected Hunter will officially be closed Mon - Thurs next week and don't be surprised if this Sunday is the last day. With ref to the pond skimming party: Based on weather reports the party will most definitely be inside the base lodge but the actual pond skimming may, I repeat may, be cancelled so please be guided accordingly. It is 45º and raining now at 9:25 pm. WNYT forecast below.

Ski ya,

Jon

Updated at: 04/01/2009 4:20 PM
By: The Weather Team
First Warning Forecast

The showers that moved in Wed. Afternoon will move out overnight with patchy fog forming.

Milder air will flow in tomorrow with a return to some sunshine. Highs will be in the lower to mid 60's.

Another storm will make a run at us on Friday. This will bring us another chance of rain during the day and possibly even a thunderstorm. Highs will be in the lower 60's.

Right now the weekend looks ok. It will be breezy and cool on Saturday with a few showers with more sun on Sunday. Highs will be in the lower 50's on Saturday and upper 50's on Sunday.

Hi All,

Welcome the Sloan's to the list! Crazy overnight weather dumped 6" of snow on the top half of the mtn last night making for some sweet fresh powder & corn snow skiing this am . Believe that and I'll give you another April fools report!

Now for the real deal - fog covered the mtn this am but soon cleared to a very overcast and windy day causing the quad to run slow again. I did not ski today so no first hand account but I did speak to a few of the NJ Ski bums (one bus today) who seemed to be the only skiers on the mtn. It was very crunchy early and one could only ski the few trails that were groomed but soon turned to mush as temps crept back up into the low 40's (from low 30's) where it remains. It is a cold damp windy day in advance of a front which will bring us rain within an hour or two - it is very dark outside now. Heavy rain due again on Friday and cool cloudy weather predictions for Sat threatens to cancel the pond skimming party according to top mgmt. No pond construction has been started yet. It will not be rescheduled for Sun which makes no sense but hey - that's Hunter. My gut feeling is that the mtn will not be open next week, not so much for the lack of snow but too few people. I did not find any videos or photos of the bears from yesterday on line yet so have no links for you. If you ever have trouble receiving my daily reports or accidentally delete them I always post them on my blog site where they remain for a looooong time. http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/

Ski ya,

Jon

p.s. now raining @ 3:25 pm

Detailed Local Forecast

• Today: Cloudy with showers. High 41F. Winds SE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
• Tonight: Occasional rain tapering to a few showers late. Low 34F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.
• Tomorrow: Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High 56F. Winds light and variable.
• Tomorrow night: Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Low 38F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.
• Friday: Rain. Highs in the upper 40s and lows in the mid 30s.
• Saturday: A few showers possible, windy. Highs in the low 40s and lows in the low 30s.
• Sunday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 40s and lows in the mid 30s.

WNYT's weather report was not up-dated from 8 am so I didn't copy it. You can try later by going to http://wnyt.com/ and click on "weather" which also includes live Dopler radar.