Whiteface Conditions (2016 - 2017)

I have Stratton telling me that they are starting snowmaking Thursday night. Since Whiteface is further north, maybe they'll be starting too.

gorgonzola wrote

^no that little dude is pumped, snoloco es espanol for stokestomper

Yes he is pumped. Don't you think Sno would be as well. But then he would bitch because he can't get there

Starting next Friday, it looks like all nights until 11/19 are good for snowmaking on the accuweather long range.  Is that enough for an opening?

It depends. You can't predict the weather- or the decision making process of a mountain manager.

If it looks like those temps are marginal, but still better than the ones in the following week, that could mean an opening.  If the temps that week look marginal, but the ones the week leading up to Thanksgiving look optimal, then they probably wouldn't blow any snow and wait for the better temps.  That would mean less money spent on snowmaking that melted during the day, but I'd be getting the shaft because the trails will be brown on the 19th 20th.

It wouldn't be the end of the world of WF didn't open the 19th 20th, because I plan on skiing Gore during Thanksgiving Weekend on my way back up to Potsdam, so I would still get to ski Thanksgiving weekend.  However, after experiencing Gore's opening weekend last year (which was about the most pitiful excuse of a WROD that I ever saw, with rocks and mud everywhere), I'd be skeptical of going back there if WF (with more favorable temps) couldn't open till then.  If Belleayre opens on Black Friday, I could also see my dad and I possibly going there.  If that happens, then it's likely that WF and Gore both opened the week before, and would be past WROD status.

Guns deployed up excelsior...  it was cold and snowing above mid today.

ScottyJack wrote

Guns deployed up excelsior...  it was cold and snowing above mid today.

They started blowing snow!?

petit homme -  it's gonna be 60 tomorrow!!  

Saturday in the Park you wouldn't think its the 4th of July...   

This year is already shaping up to be like last year.  Not good at all.  They might not open till December at this rate.

snoloco wrote

This year is already shaping up to be like last year.  Not good at all.  They might not open till December at this rate.

You need to acquire patience, grasshopper. A good thanksgiving followed by a brown christmas doesn't make a great season, that is for sure. And despite your 100% pods open by xmas, even xmas is still very early.

I can dig it, yes I can.

Listen children, all is not lost, all is not lost, oh no, no.

Patience grasshopper....I never count on quality turns at WF until January.  Not that they might not happen sooner, but for now you have to.....

Cool the engines!  I'm no fool, I'm gonna keep it cool and take it day by day.

traditionally Dec is filled w/ quality turns on our beloved!  obvi not last season.  I had a string of like 10 years in a row getting pow poach turns on upper cloudspin until last season.....  

JTG4eva! wrote

I can dig it, yes I can.

Listen children, all is not lost, all is not lost, oh no, no.

Patience grasshopper....I never count on quality turns at WF until January.  Not that they might not happen sooner, but for now you have to.....

Cool the engines!  I'm no fool, I'm gonna keep it cool and take it day by day.

What are those songs?
Chicago - Another Saturday in the Park
Boston - Cool the Engines
Don't know about the middle one.

First two lines in my post are both from Saturday In The Park....

They finally fixed the webcam at midstation and it looks like they got a good start on Valley, considering one night of subpar temps.

temps look like they will fall next week and there will be some skiing over turkey weekend....

Warm weather and r*in washed almost all the snow they made last week back into the river.

Looks like 60 hours of straight snowmaking early next week, and nights after that.  Should be good for Thursday/Friday.

Plus some substantial snow from Ma Nature

northerncajun asked about Whiteface in the Killington thread, so I'm answering it here.

Whiteface usually opens with Excelsior-Valley-Fox off the gondola.  That's about a 2500 vertical run and about 2.5 miles.

They may also open the Facelift to give lower level skiers a way to avoid Excelsior (which is a pretty hard blue).

After Excelsior-Valley-Fox, they typically open Essex-Lower Northway, Broadway-Brookside (without park features), or Victoria.  One of those may open by next Saturday if they get the main route done quick.

I definitely recommend going to Whiteface over Killington next weekend.  Avoid the World Cup madness on top of the usual crowds.  Whiteface is never crowded on opening weekend.

I would do the exact opposite and go to K.  They have more terrain open and the vibe is going to be super fun.