- Joined
- Oct 28, 2016
- Posts
- 81
Several years ago when I was living in the Red Lodge, MT. area, we had a 75" base before Christmas. This is pretty much unheard of at Red Lodge, generally the they get the big dumps in later in the season. The whole area was open-even Palisades- which some years does not open or just opens a weekend or two-( no snowmaking in that area), anyway, the rest of the Montana Rockies were pretty bare. Was riding up the lifts with people from all over the country who had canceled other plans to come to Red Lodge!
Not sure if what you're describing was in the internet era (most likely was), but that's what's happened to the ski industry. Travel plans get changed at a moment's notice based on what the real-time snow reports are showing. It must drive the resort marketing people crazy.
Today's report:
Two (count 'em, TWO) inches of new snow last night. We skied fresh tracks on the edges of lots of runs. It's amazing how low the "the skiing is not bad" bar can go when you haven't had snow in several days. I was part of a pretty big posse today and we were all semi-raving about how much better the skiing was today than yesterday.
It wasn't really that good, but compared to YESTERDAY?... it could almost be described as epic. Maybe epic-light? Semi-epic? Epi?
In all seriousness, the skiing actually was pretty good today. We've got a little bit of a lull in the weather today and tomorrow, but here's the 24-72 hour forecast:
Forecast for Bridger-Teton National Forest Avalanche Center
National Weather Service Riverton WY
124 PM MST Fri Dec 1 2017
.DISCUSSION...
After a brief quite period through most of Saturday with only a few
possible higher elevation flurries, a new storm system will impact
the area later Saturday night through Sunday night. Significant snow
is expected with this system. Most of the far west mountains will
see 8 to 16 inches possible. The lower elevations will see 4 to 8
inches. Gusty to strong southwest wind will blow Saturday into
Sunday before turning northwest Sunday night as the system moves
further south and east.
We are the "far west mountains". With any luck, a significant portion of that forecast will prove true. If so, we'll have fun.
Today's best turns?
The Gun Tower slot east of Elephant Tree. Lots of blown-in new snow. I think it was MORE than ankle-deep. I was wishing I had a snorkel.