Winter Weather 2018 - 2019

I could live with this

PeeTex wrote

I could live with this

Yes. And this.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/teeth-chattering-winter-with-plenty-of-snow-farmers-almanac-predicts/ar-BBMBbv9?ocid=ientp

First time of the season maybe! Test those guns!

60 to 70% chance for El Niño? Could be good down here again.

https://snowbrains.com/noaa-65-70-chance-of-el-nino-this-winter/

raisingarizona wrote

60 to 70% chance for El Niño? Could be good down here again.

https://snowbrains.com/noaa-65-70-chance-of-el-nino-this-winter/

And up here, it's looking more like this will be a fond memory from our last La Niña.


I will be dirt-bagging it for a few weeks with a good friend in February.  What's the parking lot policy at the Snowbowl?  

We have a time frame but won't have a definitive plan put together until late January.  Neither of us have ever gone too far South.  The current sketch takes us in the general direction of Wolf Creek, and Silverton.

If the pattern looks favorable in Feb, perhaps we can meet up in Flagstaff for a few days?  I sent him your Blizzard of NAZ edit.  The video made him giddy.  He was only vaguely aware of your unique terrain stash down in the corner of the DSW.  

Both of us a pretty conservative from a risk perspective.  We both have AAIRE 1 certs.  He often leads when we're outside the boundaries.  I tend trust the judgement of people with parental responsibilities much more than my own.  He's been my favorite touring partner over the past three seasons.  One of the few people I know out here, besides my old lady, that I trust with my life.  A bit older than me (mid 50's), yet all types of snow, he still floats with the power and grace of a late-teen ballerina.  Good snow is his cocaine.  I've never seen him tired on a Powday.

If the weather permits, I think we'd have a blast.

Early models call for -NAO this winter;
https://twitter.com/MJVentrice/status/1045368652281913344

https://weather.com/news/climate/news/2018-10-24-the-blob-returns-pacific-ocean
"Generally associated with...cold, stormy winters in the east."

You bet nepa, lets see what happens. Models are all over seem to be all over the place right now. If the blob is indeed back we might be hosed down here. If it hits and you guys want to come through I’ll do my best to have a day or two open and give you a tour. School has been a struggle for me this semester and I’m not in great shape because of it but I’ll still be able to pull off touring, a little slower though.

And I’m actually very conservative and safe. I’ve had people say otherwise but they generally don’t have the experience to make the calls or decisions that someone with much more experience can. If there’s any doubt I’m happy to turn around and head back for lodge beers.

I hope Utah does well, I had a skunk of a week trip last spring when I went to LCC. Hard pack & ice every day - late day with some thawing but not much corn. I am planning 2 trips next year, hoping for better conditions. Hopefully we will see some good touring in NY and Vermont as well.

I just hope the west and especially the four corners area gets enough snow to keep us from another extreme drought fire season. Another winter like last is gonna be bad, very, very bad.

Alaska reports a 12 foot dump - yep, 12 feet of snow.

PeeTex wrote

Alaska reports a 12 foot dump - yep, 12 feet of snow.

Alaska is a big state. This may help with your travel plans:

Aha! Let’s all meet up in Valdez and pool our dough for a chopper

Radar says it's dumping at Snow Ridge. Sounds cheaper than a heli.

IF we get enough drones and figure out how to fly them in sync, maybe we could figure that out. What, no battery powered helis yet? It's 2018, people!

Brownski wrote

Aha! Let’s all meet up in Valdez and pool our dough for a chopper

Better to meet in Anchorage- the report was from silverton mountain guides and the snow was in Seward.

I saw the article on Powder

tBatt wrote

. What, no battery powered helis yet? It's 2018, people!

Not sure how the battery power will hold up in the cold of Alaska but how about the poor man's heli?
https://electrek.co/2018/03/03/tesla-inspired-taiga-electric-snowmobile/amp/

Brownski wrote

Aha! Let’s all meet up in Valdez and pool our dough for a chopper

I don't know, the Aleutian Islands are in the pink zone, I hear they are nice this time of year.

Sick Bird Rider wrote

Brownski wrote

Aha! Let’s all meet up in Valdez and pool our dough for a chopper

I don't know, the Aleutian Islands are in the pink zone, I hear they are nice this time of year.

Ok, yeah, but I’ve been to Valdez and I can confirm that there’s a pool table and a toilet there, as well as more bars then a town that size has any right to. I honestly don’t think I’m tough enough for the Aleutians