Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Hunter Jan 31

Hi all,
Wish you all could have been here today - March skiing on Jan 31 - WOW!! Everything came together today for another "10". First of all a big thanks to Skip and his groomers for giving the entire mountain a manicure. Everything from Racer's to Claire's was perfect. The temps were 42 early and now 54 with brilliant sun, light wind and a cloudless sky. It was a colorful crowd with all the FDNY guys decked out in their gear. The lines were minimal (none on the west) as they held their races on Madison. The surface conditions were powder but it did get a bit sticky and clumpy by noon time. There was no ice as everything just softened up early. Claire's and Racer's were as good as it gets - creamy ego snow made it easy. The sun on the deck heated things up to around 70 and the beer was flowing!
There is a 50% chance of rain tomorrow and the 7 day outlook as follows: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Hunter&state=NY&site=ALY&lat=42.2112&lon=-74.2157 Hard to believe it will be February.
Ski ya around,

Monday, January 30, 2012

Hunter Jan 30

Hello Hunter fans,
It was fresh powder this am from massive snow making - sweet on all main trails (great job Bruce). Temps stayed in the high 20's all day with some patchy sun early but mostly cloudy with a slight breeze and flat light. The FDNY started trickling in today for their annual races this week. The same lousy freeze / thaw weather pattern we have had all season continues. NWS 7 day forecast: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Hunter&state=NY&site=ALY&lat=42.2112&lon=-74.2157
Looks like the hosers may get hosed on Wednesday - good thing they have their fire fighting gear!
Ski ya,
Jon

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Hunter Jan 26

Hello all,
Today we experienced some of the best grooming of the season - great job Skip! All main trails except Claire's, Upper Cross & K27 were groomed to perfection and provided for some real sweet ego skiing. The run-out from K27 was groomed. Cliff / Racer's and HBK were great as was Minya, Eside, Wayout & UpperK27. The sun was out strong for only the first half hour then high clouds moved in but not heavy enough to really impair visibility. The police were racing on Madison today so there were no fenced off areas like yesterday. The mountain was empty and the main lifts were running just fine (no F or D). The temp only got down to 28 overnight and has been around 34 most of the day so far but it is damp. No new snow was made nor will it be made tonight as a front moves in later today with a mix of sleet, freezing rain and rain. This will also dominate the weather tomorrow unfortunately.
Weekend movies are still not posted as of this writing but here is the site: http://www.catskillmtn.org/retail/movie-theater/index.html
Apres ski on Saturday at the main bar 4 pm: DJ Frankieoke and Lex Grey & The Urban Pioneers
The FDNY hosers will be here starting next Tuesday.
I do not expect to ski tomorrow due to the weather so there will be no report - have a great weekend.
Ski ya around,
Jon

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Hunter Jan 25

Hi All,
What a dreary day. I did not go out but others said (as I predicted yesterday) it was loose granular on top of frozen granular, noisy skiing, very flat light and a damp 28 with a wind and some fog at the top. The sun never came out. The police races started today and half of mid-station down thru parts of Bleeker, Ike, Gunhill & Kennedy was fenced off to the public. It should be a nicer day to ski tomorrow. I am hoping they blow some snow tonight.
No weekend movie postings yet but another 70's era rock concert is scheduled for the Orpheum Theater in Tannersville this Friday night with details and ticket prices as follows: http://www.catskillmtn.org/events/orpheum-performing-arts-center/2012-01-27-donna-jean-godchaux-band-541.html The last one was sold out, quite enjoyable and the newly renovated theater is state-of-the-art for seating and sound. Seating is not reserved but every seat has an excellent view.
Be skiing ya,
Jon

Hunter - Fund for Mattice Family

Ok everyone, here are the details for the fund to assist the two children of fallen snowmaker Brian Mattice.
Please open up your hearts and your wallets:
Checks can be made to payable to:

Franklin-Templeton
FBO Mattice


Mailed to:
North Country Financial Group
2 Northway Ln
Latham, NY 12110

Note: FBO means "For Benefit Of" and Franklin-Templeton is one of the largest mutual fund companies in the world.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Hunter Jan 24

Hi All,
The morning turned out to be one of the nicer days to ski this season. The sky was a cobalt blue with bright sun, no wind and temps all day at 40. The surface conditions were excellent, soft and a bit heavy in the sun. Most trails were very sweet. Racer's was a bit slick as was the west side which didn't get the sun till very late morning. Clouds started rolling in around 12 and by 1 the light went very flat and temps started dropping.
The Police Races start tomorrow thru Thurs and the Firemen are here next Tues - Wed.
It will be noticeably colder tomorrow with a wind factor so I expect frozen corduroy in the morning.
I have asked mgmt for details of the fund being set up to aid the Mattice family in the wake of last weeks tragedy and I would hope that you all will be able to contribute a minimum of $5 -10. With 100 of you on my list it would generate a nice base contribution.
Ski ya soon,
Jon

Monday, January 23, 2012

Hunter Jan 23

Hello Hunter fans,
Today: Yech!! All that great powder that was made over the weekend and now 44, with high wind driven rain and fog - what a shame! No trail report as it wasn't fit to go out there for me. Tomorrow we should see sun and experience spring skiing. At least the coverage is very good and should withstand today's thaw.
I am not sure if the Localmotion race is being held today as scheduled (don't really care). If yes, then the party is at MacGregor's. No other noteworthy news to report.
Ski ya in the slush,
Jon

Friday, January 20, 2012

Hunter Jan 20

Hi All,
WOW! Nobody can make snow like Hunter - kudos to Bruce and his crew. Unbelievable powder on all main trails, all west side trails and the opening of K-27. What a great powder day. It was cold (10 on top 20 at the base) with a stiff wind but sunny. There wasn't a bad trail on the mtn today. Guns were blasting all day and White Cloud & 42nd St. were under the guns for the first time as well. Winter has finally arrived with a storm expected tonight into tomorrow with anywhere from 4 to 8". NWS forecast: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Hunter&state=NY&site=ALY&lat=42.2112&lon=-74.2157
Kids freestyle mogul competition Sat & Sun on Park Ave between B lift and the terrain park.
The Flyer had some electrical issues today and was shut down around 11 am for 1/2 hr but all okay now. There was a good crowd for a Friday but no significant lines.
Jon

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Hunter Jan 19

Hi Hunter fans,
Let me preface this by saying that there was a noticeable & justified sadness at the mtn today in light of yesterday's tragic loss of a snowmaker. He was the sole custodian of a 14 year old girl who works part time for the hotel and a 19 year old son. Let me suggest that when you see a snow maker, thank him for the job he is doing and let him know you are sorry for the loss - all employees are family and we all grieve with them.
The snowmakers blew alot of great powder in recovery mode after the freeze yesterday and it was a fitting tribute to them. Great classic cold powder skiing today on all main trails with a crystal blue sky, brilliant sun and temps from a low of 7 to 22 now. There was a strong wind out of the east across the mid-station area that blew the snow around in swirls but the surface was very powdery and not a windblown glaze. Cliff/ Racer's was firm but nice. Ike was powdery too. Minya was all swales and whales of powder as was LowerCross. The west side was frozen corduroy but flat and quite edgeable tho noisy. Eside had guns on and was full of powder but with limited visibility. All in all it was a very nice day to ski. I hope tomorrow brings the same.
This weekend Hunter hosts the freestyle mogul competition for kids.
Ski ya soon,

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Hunter Jan 18

Hi All,
After all that nice dry powder Hunter made over the 3 day weekend, Mother Nature threw us another curve ball as the freeze / thaw pattern continues. It rained most of yesterday with temps in the mid 40's and froze overnight with temps at 25, very high winds, mostly cloudy with a few flurries. One would have to be quite desperate to go out on the slopes today. There are more trails closed for the day due to ice than are reported on the web site such as Eside Drive & Upper Cross to name a few. I can only imagine that those trails that are groomed have marbles over frozen granular. The parking lot resembles a wind blown tundra. The weather for the rest of the week is not encouraging.
Weekend movies have not yet been posted.
The old P J Larkins in Tannersville re-opens this Saturday as the LOTI PUB.
Work is progressing well on the new restaurant & bar "Cosmic Charlies" in the old Low & Low Reality office next to Numero Uno Pizza.
Jon

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Hunter Jan 12

Hi All,
Didn't ski today and probably not tomorrow either due to the inclement weather. We got 4" of slush overnight and it is currently 36 with lots of fog (can't see top 1/3 of the mtn ) and intermittent light rain with occasional wind gusts. It will all freeze come tomorrow. See below forecast out of Albany.
Just can't catch an extended break this year with mother nature. Oh well - another party (MLK) weekend.
Bundle up for the weekend - brutal wind chills!
Jon

FIRST WARNING FORECAST

Leftover moisture will produce a few more rain showers and areas of fog and drizzle tonight with overnight lows in the lower to mid 30's.

Tomorrow will be a transition day. In the morning it will be mild with a few rain showers and temperatures climbing to around 40. An arctic front will punch through early in the day and temperatures will begin to drop through the 30's. Along with the front there will be snow showers and even a quick burst of snow possible.

On Saturday the arctic air will continue to flow in. We will see a return to sunshine but highs will only be in the lower to mid 20's.

Sunday and Monday will be sunny but cold with highs in the teens Sunday and mid 20's on Monday.

Temperatures will moderate toward midweek next week with the chance of snow or mixed precipitation on Tuesday.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Hunter skiing Jan 11

Hi All,
In the perspective of what the weather has done to the ski season this year today was a "10".
Perfect grooming, perfect weather and excellent surface conditions on all trails.
There was even a bit of a line today on the Flyer. Temps went from 23 to 41 with a brilliant blue sky - never saw a cloud, and no wind. A great deck day too! Really, one could not ask for a nicer day. That unfortunately will all end tomorrow as some nasty weather rolls in tonight with a mixed bag of tricks. Hopefully we will get more white than wet but it will anyway all freeze for Friday when snow making will resume in recovery mode. A winter weather advisory hazardous weather outlook has been posted by the NWS: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Hunter&state=NY&site=ALY&lat=42.2112&lon=-74.2157
Having fun in the sun,
Hi All,
In the perspective of what the weather has done to the ski season this year today was a "10".
Perfect grooming, perfect weather and excellent surface conditions on all trails.
There was even a bit of a line today on the Flyer. Temps went from 23 to 41 with a brilliant blue sky - never saw a cloud, and no wind. A great deck day too! Really, one could not ask for a nicer day. That unfortunately will all end tomorrow as some nasty weather rolls in tonight with a mixed bag of tricks. Hopefully we will get more white than wet but it will anyway all freeze for Friday when snow making will resume in recovery mode. A winter weather advisory hazardous weather outlook has been posted by the NWS: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Hunter&state=NY&site=ALY&lat=42.2112&lon=-74.2157
Having fun in the sun,

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Hunter skiing Jan 10

Hi All,
What a dark dreary day. Flat light dominated the skiing but fortunately the grooming was great and everything was consistently flat. Surface conditions also were very consistent - powder mixed with granular on top of a hard frozen granular. Racer's was opened (ungroomed) with a few huge powdery mounds on the first lip and very thin coverage near the bottom. No snow was made last night. The temps ranged from upper 20's to 36 now but as mentioned above, very cloudy. There was a wind at the top out of the west with a few passing flurries. The weather looks ugly for the end of the week: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Hunter&state=NY&site=ALY&lat=42.2112&lon=-74.2157
Ski ya,
Jon

Monday, January 9, 2012

Hunter skiing Jan 9

Hello Hunter fans,
The season is becoming one of thaw & freeze cycles. Sat was the thaw and Sun the freeze again. The temps dropped down to 15 last night and the snow guns were blazing in recovery mode resulting in some pretty sweet skiing today. The sun came out around 9:30 and stayed out all day as temps climbed from 25 at opening to a high of 38 with no wind. There were mounds of dry powder on most main trails and those that were not groomed were better than those that were. Racer's still does not have enough coverage at the base to open - Bruce, what's up with that? The main line was creamy powder as was Ike. Cliff was hard and fast as was the top of Belt & Wayout. Claire's looked like a flat sheet of frozen granular. Eside was very funky with mounds of wet frozen snow (wet guns) mixed with mounds of powder - not fun! Minya and Lowercross were very nice as was Gunhill. Localmotion race # 1 is today with the post race party at Slopes (now Creekside). There were no crowds at all - ski right onto the chair. As usual for weekdays, no F or D lift. The trend for the week is warmer with rain on Thurs (another thaw) and very cold (the freeze) for the MLK weekend.
Jon

Detailed Local Forecast

  • Today: Sunny. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.
  • Tonight: Cloudy skies this evening. A few snow showers developing late. Low 23F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 30%.
  • Tomorrow: Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 37F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph.
  • Tomorrow night: Clear skies. Low 21F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.
  • Wednesday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the upper 20s.
  • Thursday: Rain. Highs in the upper 30s and lows in the mid 20s.
  • Friday: Plenty of sun. Highs in the upper 20s and lows in the low teens.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Hunter skiing Jan 5

Hi All -
Miss the reports? It hasn't been worth skiing for me until now due to large crowds and poor survival type conditions. Enjoyable winter skiing started today! The mtn made oodles of nice snow and the grooming was extensive. Kudos to Skip and Bruce - well done guys! Skiing today was very consistent and powdery with few marbles or ice. It is college week so lots of kids but no line was longer than a minute. The Flyer and Zephyr were running fine (4 minutes to the top on the west side now - sweet!) D and F were closed. Claire's opened with huge powder covered mounds of snow and was more like an obstacle course. Wayout was perfect but could only be reached via the Belt (no White Cloud yet). Cliff /Ike was ungroomed and full of moguls but had decent snow. The HBK main line was great easy ego type skiing. Eside & Minya both groomed and flat but a bit harder surface. Milkey was open but ungroomed and looked ugly. Lower Cross was fine (no snow yet on Upper Cross or Lower K). Upper K was closed too. Gunhill was not groomed. Huega / Dropoff was very nice but dark. Racer's had some snow making but not enough to open it. They were making snow on the cut thru behind the top of B lift so that option should be open tomorrow. The weather started out dark, low 20's with light lake effect flurries but the sun was out by 9:30. It has clouded up again now with temps currently at 31. Snow making should resume later this pm and Friday is shaping up to be another very nice day tho a bit warmer. The weekend looks to be too warm to make alot of snow.
Madison was closed for NASTAR racing and the first Localmotion race is on Monday.
Ski ya soon,
Detailed Local Forecast
  • Today: Sun and clouds mixed. High 29F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph.
  • Tonight: Clear to partly cloudy. Low 18F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
  • Tomorrow: Partly cloudy skies. High 39F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.
  • Tomorrow night: Partly cloudy in the evening with more clouds for later at night. Low 26F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
  • Saturday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 40s and lows in the mid 20s.
  • Sunday: Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 30s and lows in the low 20s.
  • Monday: Clouds giving way to sun . Highs in the mid 30s and lows in the low 20s.