Hello Skiers:
Forecast this weekend: There will be showers of rain and snow this weekend with more clouds and cooler weather from an upper level low traversing the NW. SL: 6,000 Saturday to 4,500 Sunday
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Hope you had a good ski season. The promised La Nina forecast of cool and snowy verified with near to above normal snowfall for the Pacific NW. Mt. Baker had over 840 a big snow year, even for Baker. Parts of Oregon had a slow start, but recovered nicely. Northern Idaho to Montana were excellent with well above normal snowfall. Thanks La Nina! Good job. Sorry, there won't be something extra in the paycheck this month, only a few kind words.
The season started early, as I got a powder day at Crystal on November 17 about a week before Thanksgiving. The snow stalled a bit in December. But a well-timed snowstorm before Christmas provided good holiday skiing. By January there was occasional new snowfall, then the season really took off by mid February continuing into to April, with many excellent powder days.
Next season:
Right now it looks like a neutral winter next year, but could change. Neutral is not bad or passive. Neutral means there is no obvious forcing directing the atmosphere. That means no nudge to give forecasters an idea of the preferred storm track for a given winter. The forecast for a neutral winter would mean a near normal snowpack, with greater possibility of a few extreme storms of wind/rain/snow/cold or flooding. The forecast for next season is not reliable until early next fall. Ill have updates in the fall.
Spring skiing below: (please check for changes in the information, below)
Silver Mountain, Idaho Open this weekend (April 28- 29) Last weekend and with an above normal snowpack.
Blackcomb will remain open until May 21.
White Pass weekends only until April 29
Alpental weekends only until Sunday- May 6th Dont miss Cinco de Mayo !!!
Stevens, Baker, Crystal closed
Mt Hood, Oregon summer skiing call for details
Mt Bachelor: May 27th -- see review below
......
Have a great summer and thanks for tuning in!
Your Grand Poobah of Powder
Larry Schick
Meteorologist
.
Review: Spring skiing - Mt Bachelor, Oregon
I skied Mt Bachelor, Oregon last weekend and the spring skiing was marvelous. I have been there many times in the last four decades, but I had not skied the fantastic south-facing backside in the spring sunshine, for a few years.
I skied my namesake run, Larrys , in beautiful sunshine with perfectly softened snow, about noon last Sunday (April 22). Larrys is right next to Curley and Moes seriously, a nod to my buddies the Three Stooges: yuck, yuck,yuck - wise guys! It was fantastic a perfect pitch and wonderful open gully skiing with fun terrain features. In spring, wait for the backside and upper slopes to soften from 11:00 am to noon. I skied the backside too early (10:00 am) a few days before and it was really firm - too early to have the sun soften. Ask the ski patrol about conditions, before you ski it.
The backside at Bachelor is a series of expert runs (2,000-2,500 vertical) with a huge backcountry feel, but totally inbounds with a catch trail at the bottom, that will get you back to the main ski area lifts. The traverse back is long, but a well graded downhill, with a wide snowcat trail. Snowboarders: its totally doable with no hiking - its downhill all the way back. Also, snowboarders note: the backside has many really fun, natural terrain features resembling long, variable half pipes.
By the way, a salute to the groomers on the rest of the mountain grooming was of high quality and extensive. There will be some lifts closing as spring unfolds, but it wont significantly affect the best skiing.
Mt Bachelor is a wonderful mountain any time of the year, but in my opinion has the best spring skiing anywhere in the country. They have all the ingredients: a deep, high elevation snowpack with great snow preservation and quality. Plus, expect lots of sunshine and a variety of extensive terrain. In addition, the season is long, not closing until May 27, this year. They can even have a real powder day in May. Two years ago, on Mothers day weekend, I got a full powder day, followed by a totally sunny bluebird day. Remember, with powder days late in the season: hit it in the first hour or two in the morning, for best results.
Getting there: Drive (6.5 hrs from Seattle) or fly (50 minutes from Seattle) into close-by Redmond, Oregon. Youll enjoy staying and exploring nearby Bend, with incredible biking and more breweries per capita than anywhere in the U.S. that is making me thirsty.
Bachelor is a NW gem - especially in the spring sunshine of Central Oregon. You can essentially ski the entire circumference of that massive volcano. And take a stab skiing the backside at Bachelor, when the snow softens in the late morning and then youll understand the magic of spring skiing at Mt Bachelor.
larry
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All powder alerts: Thanks to the Powder Poobah sponsors
Please support them
Diu Bru Beer Hiking or skiing at the Summit? thirsty? - try Dru Bru
Silver Mountain, Idaho -- Five and a half hours east of Seattle on I-90, powder snow and an indoor water park. Closing date April 29 - Ski them this weekend.
Crystal Hotels -- Check them out for summer! Hike Crystal, ride gondola, explore Mt Rainier NP
Alpine Physical Therapy - helps to get you back on the slopes. Plus, they are all skiers - they get it.
Outdoor Research - A NW classic, keeps you on the slopes in comfort and style. Check their summer gear
Sturtevants - Ski and snowboard gear - plus tennis, golf and water sports!
Get to Sturtevants this Friday, April 27th for FREE Wax Friday and 35% OFF Super and Basic Tunes.
Woolly - Merino wool for skiing and so much more. I use Woolly while cycling all the time, perfect for the cool early spring weather in the NW.
..................................
Special thanks also to Crystal, The Summit, Bachelor and Whistler!
Forecast this weekend: There will be showers of rain and snow this weekend with more clouds and cooler weather from an upper level low traversing the NW. SL: 6,000 Saturday to 4,500 Sunday
..................
Hope you had a good ski season. The promised La Nina forecast of cool and snowy verified with near to above normal snowfall for the Pacific NW. Mt. Baker had over 840 a big snow year, even for Baker. Parts of Oregon had a slow start, but recovered nicely. Northern Idaho to Montana were excellent with well above normal snowfall. Thanks La Nina! Good job. Sorry, there won't be something extra in the paycheck this month, only a few kind words.
The season started early, as I got a powder day at Crystal on November 17 about a week before Thanksgiving. The snow stalled a bit in December. But a well-timed snowstorm before Christmas provided good holiday skiing. By January there was occasional new snowfall, then the season really took off by mid February continuing into to April, with many excellent powder days.
Next season:
Right now it looks like a neutral winter next year, but could change. Neutral is not bad or passive. Neutral means there is no obvious forcing directing the atmosphere. That means no nudge to give forecasters an idea of the preferred storm track for a given winter. The forecast for a neutral winter would mean a near normal snowpack, with greater possibility of a few extreme storms of wind/rain/snow/cold or flooding. The forecast for next season is not reliable until early next fall. Ill have updates in the fall.
Spring skiing below: (please check for changes in the information, below)
Silver Mountain, Idaho Open this weekend (April 28- 29) Last weekend and with an above normal snowpack.
Blackcomb will remain open until May 21.
White Pass weekends only until April 29
Alpental weekends only until Sunday- May 6th Dont miss Cinco de Mayo !!!
Stevens, Baker, Crystal closed
Mt Hood, Oregon summer skiing call for details
Mt Bachelor: May 27th -- see review below
......
Have a great summer and thanks for tuning in!
Your Grand Poobah of Powder
Larry Schick
Meteorologist
.
Review: Spring skiing - Mt Bachelor, Oregon
I skied Mt Bachelor, Oregon last weekend and the spring skiing was marvelous. I have been there many times in the last four decades, but I had not skied the fantastic south-facing backside in the spring sunshine, for a few years.
I skied my namesake run, Larrys , in beautiful sunshine with perfectly softened snow, about noon last Sunday (April 22). Larrys is right next to Curley and Moes seriously, a nod to my buddies the Three Stooges: yuck, yuck,yuck - wise guys! It was fantastic a perfect pitch and wonderful open gully skiing with fun terrain features. In spring, wait for the backside and upper slopes to soften from 11:00 am to noon. I skied the backside too early (10:00 am) a few days before and it was really firm - too early to have the sun soften. Ask the ski patrol about conditions, before you ski it.
The backside at Bachelor is a series of expert runs (2,000-2,500 vertical) with a huge backcountry feel, but totally inbounds with a catch trail at the bottom, that will get you back to the main ski area lifts. The traverse back is long, but a well graded downhill, with a wide snowcat trail. Snowboarders: its totally doable with no hiking - its downhill all the way back. Also, snowboarders note: the backside has many really fun, natural terrain features resembling long, variable half pipes.
By the way, a salute to the groomers on the rest of the mountain grooming was of high quality and extensive. There will be some lifts closing as spring unfolds, but it wont significantly affect the best skiing.
Mt Bachelor is a wonderful mountain any time of the year, but in my opinion has the best spring skiing anywhere in the country. They have all the ingredients: a deep, high elevation snowpack with great snow preservation and quality. Plus, expect lots of sunshine and a variety of extensive terrain. In addition, the season is long, not closing until May 27, this year. They can even have a real powder day in May. Two years ago, on Mothers day weekend, I got a full powder day, followed by a totally sunny bluebird day. Remember, with powder days late in the season: hit it in the first hour or two in the morning, for best results.
Getting there: Drive (6.5 hrs from Seattle) or fly (50 minutes from Seattle) into close-by Redmond, Oregon. Youll enjoy staying and exploring nearby Bend, with incredible biking and more breweries per capita than anywhere in the U.S. that is making me thirsty.
Bachelor is a NW gem - especially in the spring sunshine of Central Oregon. You can essentially ski the entire circumference of that massive volcano. And take a stab skiing the backside at Bachelor, when the snow softens in the late morning and then youll understand the magic of spring skiing at Mt Bachelor.
larry
..................................................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................................................
All powder alerts: Thanks to the Powder Poobah sponsors
Please support them
Diu Bru Beer Hiking or skiing at the Summit? thirsty? - try Dru Bru
Silver Mountain, Idaho -- Five and a half hours east of Seattle on I-90, powder snow and an indoor water park. Closing date April 29 - Ski them this weekend.
Crystal Hotels -- Check them out for summer! Hike Crystal, ride gondola, explore Mt Rainier NP
Alpine Physical Therapy - helps to get you back on the slopes. Plus, they are all skiers - they get it.
Outdoor Research - A NW classic, keeps you on the slopes in comfort and style. Check their summer gear
Sturtevants - Ski and snowboard gear - plus tennis, golf and water sports!
Get to Sturtevants this Friday, April 27th for FREE Wax Friday and 35% OFF Super and Basic Tunes.
Woolly - Merino wool for skiing and so much more. I use Woolly while cycling all the time, perfect for the cool early spring weather in the NW.
..................................
Special thanks also to Crystal, The Summit, Bachelor and Whistler!
