Alta Delays Opening
- Thread starter Admin
- Start date
Final proof that not that much of the October snow is still around. Utah is definitely below average at the moment. Of course that means that it might not be epic in LCC until mid-December vs. a more normal early December. :-({|=
salida
New member
I don't like cross posting, but I didn't write yesterdays up.
Tony, tell me my tour yesterday wasn't epic. http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/show ... p?t=175263
binding fail kept me out of the pictures
Tony, tell me my tour yesterday wasn't epic. http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/show ... p?t=175263
binding fail kept me out of the pictures
TRam":4j290vu1 said:
I'll answer for Salida. Nope, it's the other side of the ridge across the street from AltaBird -- Cardiff Fork. The Hidden Peak tram terminal is visible in the upper left background of this pic as they're returning:
Salida, is this Suicide Gully?:
There may be enough snow for low density backcountry, but obviously not enough to stand up to lift served traffic.
I feel I've got to defend Mr. Crocker on this one. It's great to see your preseason ski reports and, living in coastal California like Tony, I appreciate living vicariously through you guys. But, if the purpose of this forum is to educate/share experiences on lift-served skiing it's completely fair and pertinent to note that Utah's current state of skiing is marginal for resort skiing due to a lack of snow and that people are much better off heading to Whistler/PNW in the next few weeks as compared to the Wasatch. This is the liftlines forum, right?
rsmith":1h44mcuu said:
I agree with that statement 100%. The issue I have is with these statements:
Tony Crocker":1h44mcuu said:
Tony Crocker":1h44mcuu said:
both of which are wildly inaccurate, patently false and determined from 700 miles away. Also patently false is:
Tony Crocker":1h44mcuu said:
To the contrary, things aren't looking any different right now than they have for the majority of my seasons at this date since moving here.
The above forecast could turn things around in a hurry. But the bottom line is that if Alta's current snowpack were average or better, they would be opening on Friday. How often does Alta delay its opening? Less than 20% I think. I think that translates to below average.
Another point is that if "utter and total nukage" is on the way starting this weekend, there will be a delay once the storm is over of several days for snow stabilization and control work before lifts/terrain get open. No big deal to the Utah locals but possibly too late for Thanksgiving visitors.
Whistler is only 10% open now for the above reason. But it will be set for the season once they can do control work. 74 inch base, 131 inches season snow, storms are continuing the rest of this week.
"Below average" is not an insult for LCC; from Christmas onwards, below average in LCC would be considered excellent at most ski areas. By my measure of snow conditions a 25th precentile season in LCC http://webpages.charter.net/tcrocker818/utahhist.htm is about the same as an average season at Mammoth or Whistler, a 90th percentile season in Park City or a typical Colorado area, or the record high 2000-01 season in Vermont.
Another point is that if "utter and total nukage" is on the way starting this weekend, there will be a delay once the storm is over of several days for snow stabilization and control work before lifts/terrain get open. No big deal to the Utah locals but possibly too late for Thanksgiving visitors.
Whistler is only 10% open now for the above reason. But it will be set for the season once they can do control work. 74 inch base, 131 inches season snow, storms are continuing the rest of this week.
True, but that's 4 seasons with 2 delayed or marginal openings, not statistically significant vs. Alta's long term record.
"Below average" is not an insult for LCC; from Christmas onwards, below average in LCC would be considered excellent at most ski areas. By my measure of snow conditions a 25th precentile season in LCC http://webpages.charter.net/tcrocker818/utahhist.htm is about the same as an average season at Mammoth or Whistler, a 90th percentile season in Park City or a typical Colorado area, or the record high 2000-01 season in Vermont.
Bobby Danger
New member
it all reads like horse hockey. no one seems to remember that insane things can happen here alot of talk on stats. this place can go from one end of the scale to just as far off the other side in one hundred hours. example thanksgiving five years or so agoo. basically from very little skiable i was at brighton sunday of thanksgiving weekend to a twelve foot base in one hundred hours. we actualy got one hundred twenty eight inches in that time period but for marketing reasons it ended up one hundred in one hundred. alta wasn't open that year either but that didn't stop anyone and it won't now. it'll only make it nicer for those who find it in themselves to be outdoors. pre lift days skiing in nov. only get better the later into the month anyone can attest to that after that storm last weekend. the pic that salida posted was nice iwas in the upper cirque sat. myself . completly alone. that storm did little cottonwood better than big skied with admin on sun. at brighton not quite as much base but not far behind alta. the terrain at brighton & solitude likens itself to not needing six feet of base to open with reasonable skiing.
Skiace
Member
How's he changing the frame of reference? The statement was "Utah is definitely below average at the moment.," and he's referencing.... the historical average.Admin":2ayprbsh said:
"Total hogwash" is a strong statement. Tony's claims are all reasonable conclusions to draw from the fact that Alta is delaying their opening. To call bullshit, you need some strong evidence that Alta's delay has nothing to do with the snowpack. Does Alta just hate money? Do they want to keep the resort closed so they can skin up and get the goods themselves? Has Alta changed it's policy on how much snow they want before opening? What's the explanation for delaying opening if there's plenty of snow?