Arizona/New Mexico The 2017/2018 Four Corners Thread

[Core2]

Snowbowl was skiing like mid-March yesterday. I found good snow and there are bumps on Volcano so no complaints. Racer kids from all around the Four Corners were tearing it up out there, it was impressive to watch. I heard Purgatory, Sipapu, Los Alamos, and Santa Fe teams were on mountain.

 

[Fishbowl]

The official snowfall at Snowbowl for this season is...........29 inches!

Thanks to the new owner’s commitment to snowmaking, we had another great weekend of groomer skiing, but I sure miss the Catwalk trees and Casino bumps.

 

[Core2]

4 years ago today. Thanks for making me miss powder even more Facebook.

 

[Core2]

Finally a good forecast from Lee.

 

[Dryheat]

So Lee is saying 50-60mph gusts on Sunday. I wanted to do both Sat+Sun, but im not sure its worth staying overnight for wind holds?

If there are 50-60mph gusts, will everything be wind hold? Or just Agassiz/GCE?

 

[Core2]

So Lee is saying 50-60mph gusts on Sunday. I wanted to do both Sat+Sun, but im not sure its worth staying overnight for wind holds?

If there are 50-60mph gusts, will everything be wind hold? Or just Agassiz/GCE?

I'm not seeing those winds in the forecast? It totally depends on direction, if it is coming in from the NW both Agassiz and GCE will be on hold. If it is coming out of the S/SW, likely no worries since ridge blocks the wind.

 

[Dryheat]

weather.gov point forecast for agassiz peak shows it as well. (I'm on mobile else I'd link it) Forecast is for the direction to be WSW moving to SW over Sunday and Monday. So that speaks well for wind holds. Thank you!

 

[kimberlin]

I made the mistake of going up yesterday. (Friday) The weather was great, snow so-so, and the insane amount of people on the mountain was ridiculous. If anyone has ever watched skicross or snowboardcross events, then imagine the top of Ridge with about ten riders all descending simultaneously with varying amounts of skill. The slopes were so dangerous. Unfortunately I have to say that the primary danger came from the college-aged snowboarder males. No regard at all for the little kids or any other people within range of their tricks. The Hart Prairie lots were using middle row parking to accommodate all these folks! Lots of injuries yesterday keeping the Ski Patrol quite busy.

 

[Fishbowl]

I made the mistake of going up yesterday. (Friday) The weather was great, snow so-so, and the insane amount of people on the mountain was ridiculous. If anyone has ever watched skicross or snowboardcross events, then imagine the top of Ridge with about ten riders all descending simultaneously with varying amounts of skill. The slopes were so dangerous. Unfortunately I have to say that the primary danger came from the college-aged snowboarder males. No regard at all for the little kids or any other people within range of their tricks. The Hart Prairie lots were using middle row parking to accommodate all these folks! Lots of injuries yesterday keeping the Ski Patrol quite busy.

It was a zoo up there today as well. On crazy days we head over to the Humphreys lift as it never seems a busy as the rest of the resort. There is a park there that attracts the snowboarders, but they don;t seem to be the ones who just straight line the runs. Volcano is a also a good run to escape the bombers, they don't like bumps. We always get to the resort early and leave when the runs get too crowded, usually by twelve. Live to ride another day.

 

[Core2]

Hesperus last Thurs night. Wolf Creek yesterday. Monarch today. Good snow everywhere and insane crowds.

 

[Fishbowl]

Skiing above the clouds today at Arizona Snowbowl.

 

[Core2]

Southern CO just became worth a drive. After this next storm everything should be decent.

 

[Core2]

If anyone heads up to Snowbowl today please post a report. I'll be up there tomorrow.

 

[Fishbowl]

If anyone heads up to Snowbowl today please post a report. I'll be up there tomorrow.

We drove up last night but I17 was shut for several hours due to wrecks and winter conditions. We went through Cottonwood, Sedona, then up Oak Creek Canyon. It added a little time, wasn’t too bad, and we made it. Will report on conditions later.

 

[Fishbowl]

We had a great day skiing today at Snowbowl, especially early. There was no powder on the groomers, so whatever fell yesterday had been groomed. There was great coverage, but it was a soft layer on top of a lower icy layer, that started peaking through as the day wore on. However, there was a lot of untouched powder on the bump runs, and especially in the trees. White Lightening was amazing early, just a steep chute full of light fluffy powder. Best run of the season. But as the traffic increased the powder soon got scraped off to reveal the rocks and roots underneath. Casino and Upper Gully suffered the same fate, good early, sketchy later. The best powder was in the trees, but with no significant base, it was definitely a risk. I dropped in off the Upper Catwalk once, and breathed a sigh of relief to get through unscathed, despite some knee deep drifts.

So tomorrow should be a good groomer and bump day, but nothing special.

The three pictures are looking up and down White Lightening, and then looking at the fresh powder in the Upper Catwalk trees.

 

[Core2]

Not looking too bad up there.

 

[Core2]

Eyes are starting to hurt, can't see myself going to work tomorrow.

 

[NPhoenix]

I came up tonight and there are a few inches on the ground in town. Looks like more coming too. The snow is pretty wet so hopefully it is a little lighter on the mountain.

 

[Core2]

That was a nice classic AZ powder day. Knee deep on Volcano this morning, best day of the season up there so far.

 

[Fishbowl]

That was a nice classic AZ powder day. Knee deep on Volcano this morning, best day of the season up there so far.

Work says “Hope you feel better soon”