It is easy to tell the difference between my point and shoot photos and photos from a pro. Check out theses three images from "Dave Camara Photography."
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
More Festival Photos
It is easy to tell the difference between my point and shoot photos and photos from a pro. Check out theses three images from "Dave Camara Photography."
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Pali and North Side closed
When I wrote yesterday's blog, I thought we would be skiing the North Side at least through today (Sunday). The forecast was for moderate temperatures and cool and cloudy weather. By the time I was skiing Pali Face in the early afternoon I was quite surprised. The temps were quite warm, there wasn't much of a breeze, and skies were mostly clear. As I spent time with our patrollers, we knew the snow transformation was happening fast. The overnight low was well above freezing. Skiers were starting to punch through the snow. Our electronic probes that measure water in the snowpack gave positive indications. The flow of the Snake River started spiking. And it is even warmer today. Water is moving through the snow. The change happened very quickly. It was time to close the North Side and the East Wall. Sorry we were not able to give you more warning. Pali Lift will be open through tomorrow (Monday).
Monday is Last Day for Pali
"All Things Must Pass" - title of George Harrison's first album after the Beatles broke up.
It has been an absolutely extraordinary season on Pallavicini Lift and terrain. Over the season I have chatted with hundreds, maybe thousands, of people that shared their magnificent Pali experiences with me. We will smile on this season as long as we live.
Deciding to close Pali is one of the most difficult decisions we make each year. I recognize this decision will be very unpopular with some people. Four factors play into the decision. 1) As we phase into summer skiing and the temperatures warm up, the quality of the steep skiing really degenerates, 2) As rapid snow melt begins our avalanche concerns increase, 3) The public demand for skiing in late spring/summer shifts from steep Pali/like terrain to more compacted or groomed terrain, and 4) as fewer people ride the lift, the business equation no longer works.
When you turn on the news and the number 1 story is spring run-off and flood warnings, it is time to think about closing Pali.
All four of these conditions happen about the same time, although not necessarily the same day. It is all coming together to make Monday the last day for the lift. As avalanche conditions change, some of the terrain may close even earlier.
I would like to thank all of you for the great season on Pali and all of A-Basin. We are going to be open 7 days a week until June 5 and we are going to be open AT LEAST June, 10, 11, 12, and June 17, 18, and 19. We will make a decision about extending until July 4th sometime in mid-June.
This has been a great season with some special summer skiing yet to come. Thanks for being part of Arapahoe Basin.
It has been an absolutely extraordinary season on Pallavicini Lift and terrain. Over the season I have chatted with hundreds, maybe thousands, of people that shared their magnificent Pali experiences with me. We will smile on this season as long as we live.
Deciding to close Pali is one of the most difficult decisions we make each year. I recognize this decision will be very unpopular with some people. Four factors play into the decision. 1) As we phase into summer skiing and the temperatures warm up, the quality of the steep skiing really degenerates, 2) As rapid snow melt begins our avalanche concerns increase, 3) The public demand for skiing in late spring/summer shifts from steep Pali/like terrain to more compacted or groomed terrain, and 4) as fewer people ride the lift, the business equation no longer works.
When you turn on the news and the number 1 story is spring run-off and flood warnings, it is time to think about closing Pali.
All four of these conditions happen about the same time, although not necessarily the same day. It is all coming together to make Monday the last day for the lift. As avalanche conditions change, some of the terrain may close even earlier.
I would like to thank all of you for the great season on Pali and all of A-Basin. We are going to be open 7 days a week until June 5 and we are going to be open AT LEAST June, 10, 11, 12, and June 17, 18, and 19. We will make a decision about extending until July 4th sometime in mid-June.
This has been a great season with some special summer skiing yet to come. Thanks for being part of Arapahoe Basin.
Friday, May 27, 2011
100 Inch Base Again
3" new overnight, 3" new yesterday and we were back at a 100" base this morning . I skied West Wall and Columbine and Dragon and a few other places this afternoon. Good slushy, spring skiing. It appears that the warm-up and sunny weather has been pushed back a few days. Looks like we might have some mixed weather over the weekend and the full blown summer heat comes Tuesday or Wednesday. When I say summer heat at A-Basin, I mean 55-60 degress. I think the days on more of our steep terrain are winding down, so come out this weekend and enjoy the great spring skiing.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Blog Problems
We are having a few technical difficulties publishing public comments on my blog this week. I hope we can get the blogger program fixed soon. Sorry about that.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Another Stormy Afternoon
The day started out kind of sunny. Eventually, the clouds moved in along with a couple of snow squalls. Mid-afternoon we saw a short, but intense burst that left an inch of snow. I see a change coming. The forecast for Thursday through Tuesday has the word "Sunny" in it. Right now the weekend looks mostly clear with highs in the 50's. If I can't ski powder, I'd rather have those beautiful, bluebird, Colorado kind of days. Join us for Festival of the Brewpubs on Sunday. Check out our website for more details.
Pond Skimming
Normally, it would be pond skimming season right now. There is not even a hint of Lake Reveal showing just yet. That Spring/Summer Splash is going to have to wait.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
13" New 105" Base
May 22. Another journal entry. The world did not end. 13" New. 7-8" during the day yesterday. 5-6" overnight. 105" Base. Snowpack at 294%. YTD snowfall 458". Snow plows are busy. Big winter keeps getting bigger. Must test product this morning.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Terrain and Lift Questions
I have received a lot of questions about when the East Wall, Upper East Wall, Montezuma Bowl, and Pali will close. Right now the answer is pretty simple, "I don't know". All of those areas remain either open or intermittently open as conditions allow. With a 100" base, the skiing and riding is awesome. We close terrain as snow conditions, avalanche conditions, and business levels warrant. Right now the snow is fabulous and people are still skiing and riding. Whenever, OR PERHAPS IF, the weather warms up we may see some changes. For now enjoy the great conditions.
100 Inch Base - May 21
7" New with 100" Base today. You know I am not really sure what to say. It just keeps coming. I guess you should come on up and ski your heart out then enjoy Hazel Miller in the afternoon.
Friday, May 20, 2011
Snowpack at 255%
Sitting with a 95" Base we have had almost a foot of snow over the last 48 hours. I just looked at Grizzly Snotel site online. It has a snowpack that is 255% of normal for May 20.
Our YTD snowfall is 438". Our records go back to 1978. The best snowfall season was 1979-80 with 550". That is also the only year over 500". This season's 438" compared to the total snowfall for all the previous years puts this year in the Number 7 position. Considering that it continues to snow, we could very well end up with a "Top 5" season.
Our YTD snowfall is 438". Our records go back to 1978. The best snowfall season was 1979-80 with 550". That is also the only year over 500". This season's 438" compared to the total snowfall for all the previous years puts this year in the Number 7 position. Considering that it continues to snow, we could very well end up with a "Top 5" season.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
April Showers Bring May........8" New 96" Base
Geez, are we going to hit a 100" base again? This morning's 8" new is a May treat. Showers are forecast for the next 24 hours. Looks like it might be one of those days with
periods of intense squalls and then sunspots. Springtime at Arapahoe Basin. The photos were taken at 7 AM this morning.
