Hunter March 22

Hi All,

Just a quick final note - as you know Saturday is the last day (earliest closing ever) and only the Flyer will be open - no "B", "D" or "F" due lack of snow getting on / off. The west side and Hunter One will remain closed for the season. The NJ Ski Council Race has been cancelled due no "B" lift. The terrain that will be open is for advanced skiers only and is typical spring soft snow and moguls. The Belt is open top to bottom but I cannot say if HBK is open without some walking. Temp here now 76 and sunny.

Movies: http://www.catskillmtn.org/retail/movie-theater/index.html

The Mtn is hosting a deck party on Saturday but rain is forecast after noon time.

Have a great spring & summer and thanks for all your comments and suggestions.

Time for yard work!

Jon

Here is the NWS forecast thru the weekend.

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 45. North wind between 5 and 9 mph.

Friday: Partly sunny, with a high near 65. North wind between 6 and 10 mph.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. North wind at 7 mph becoming east.

Saturday: A chance of showers after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. Southeast wind between 5 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 42. East wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Sunday: A chance of rain. Cloudy, with a high near 50. Chance of precipitation is 40%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Hunter March 21

Hi All - welcome the first full day of spring!

Currently 76 and very sunny. Night time temps have only reached the upper 40's. Not much left to ski without walking from one patch to the next.

7 day forecast: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Hunter&state=NY&site=ALY&lat=42.2112&lon=-74.2157

Following info released by Hunter:

1. The last day of the 11/12 season is Saturday March 24^th. We will NOT be open Sunday.

2. The Hell Track scheduled for Sunday March 25^th has been cancelled.

3. The NJ Ski Council Race scheduled for Saturday is ON. It will take place on Madison Ave. Cru will attempt to start the race before 10am. Stay tuned for more info from Cru.

4. Pond Skimming, scheduled for Saturday, has been cancelled and replaced with a fun Tube Slide Ride that will end in a pool of water. It will take place in front of the base lodge.

5. There will be a DJ on the deck Saturday afternoon.

'nuff said,

Jon

Hunter March 18 update

Hi all,

Apparently my scepticism and economic common sense got the better of me. Hunter apparently will be open during the week due to commitments to spring season pass holders. ( I still have my doubts) What trails will be open is another matter. If ski patrol cannot safely get a toboggan or skimobile to any area it will be closed. It is 74 now and will stay warm overnight for the entire week. The pond skimming too is way up in the air - I do not expect it to happen. The mtn has brown and bare spots like the plague and the snow is melting and running off in mini rivers. Sorry to be so negative but that's how I see it. If you really like the slush then go for it!

Jon

Hunter March 18 - Last day??

Hi All,

With my leg healed, I just returned from a glorious week of skiing in Utah with many Hunterites - Back to reality as they say. Check out the barcharlie facebook page for pics: http://www.facebook.com/barcharlie

Hunter held its St. Pat's bash on the deck yesterday complete with a band and bikini clad models in the 3 hot tubs set up just off the deck. There was a large noisy crowd drinking and dancing but not many on the slushy brown slopes. The temp was in the low 60's - well into the 70's in the sun. After speaking with several of the powers that be, I am reading between the lines - my opinion - that today will be Hunter's last day. (Windham closes today) The mountain will not be open during the week and with predicted record high temps all week there will not be enough snow to open next weekend. Pond skimming will not happen this year and it could be the earliest closing ever. NWS 7 day forecast: http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Hunter&state=NY&site=ALY&lat=42.2112&lon=-74.2157

Stay tuned for the official announcement.

Jon http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/

Hunter March 6

Hi All

Two great days in a row on an empty mtn. Last night's temps dropped to 12 but rebounded quickly with brilliant sun & blue sky to 40 now (50 on the deck). Skiing I am told was easy on ego snow but no grooming on Minya, Eside or UpperK. Claire's was closed early due to a glaze but opened once things softened up. The main line and Racer's were excellent. The hoses have been removed from the guns so do not expect any more snow making. No closing date has been mentioned as it all depends on weather and crowds. The ground is still white up here but melting fast. Based on past years, when warm weather came early the weekday skiing was curtailed toward the end of March in order to save it for weekends. Pond skimming has been scheduled for March 31. We will get very warm weather and slushy conditions this week. NWS forecast:

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Hunter&state=NY&site=ALY&lat=42.2112&lon=-74.2157

The mtn has set up 3 hot tubs and a fire pit (gas) in front of the deck as a promo from a hot tub company so expect to see some select bathers in them on Sat -Sun.

No movies posted yet. The Copper Tree Bar is closed for the season. The restaurant in the Hunter Village Square Bldg (Amy's Take-away) has closed - gone out of business. Cosmic Charlies has become the hot new spot on the block.

Ski on...........

Jon http://hunterskiscene.blogspot.com/

Hunter March 2

Hi All,

The storm left between 7 - 8" of heavy snow. It was mostly cloudy today with temps at 40 now and a light breeze. The trails that were not groomed were cut up early and were very variable. Visibility was a problem with fog covering the top of the mtn. The groomed trails stayed firm for a while before getting very soft.The best run I was told by several people was Wayout which was groomed but stayed firm because the west side was colder. There was a good crowd for a Friday, F lift was opened mid morning but the line at the Flyer was minimal.

3 Movies: Descendants, Carnage & The Iron Lady.

Be prepared for a messy & variable weather weekend.

Jon

Here is the NWS outlook:

This Afternoon: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 41. South wind around 10 mph.

Tonight: Rain likely before midnight, then rain and sleet between midnight and 1am, then rain after 1am. Low around 35. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 13 mph increasing to between 18 and 21 mph. Winds could gust as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday: Rain likely, mainly before 10am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 49. Southwest wind between 7 and 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Saturday Night: A slight chance of snow showers after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 22. West wind between 14 and 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Sunday: A chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 33. West wind between 11 and 17 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.