Timeliness of Ski Reports

[J.Spin]

Maybe you should reread Admin's terms and conditions about posting TRs in a timely manner (I think JSpin was grandfathered in a previous agreement).

I actually wasn't aware that there was a time limit on posting trip reports, although I tend to think of my reports as serving more of an archival role in terms of conditions and locations, rather than immediate updates on what the skiing is like. With that said, due to the time it can take to get out some of my trip reports, I often make brief updates (for me, that can still be a paragraph or two) right after my outings and send them in to SkiVT-L very quickly. These updates are heavily oriented toward weather and ski conditions. I also send most of my Easternuswx.com weather updates from our house in Waterbury to SkiVT-L as well now because so many SkiVT-L members have told me that they find them quite useful. Waterbury is a somewhat central location in Northern Vermont ski country, so even though our house is not at a high elevation, we can often get weather (snowfall, snow density, temperatures etc.) that is just a tempered version of what is going on in the surrounding mountains. I don’t typically send those types of reports in here for a couple of reasons:

1) According to the rules I’ve read in the FAQ (although I’ve somehow missed the stuff about the time limits), I thought every entry in the Lift Corral was supposed to be very regimented in form, with ski area location and date, as indicated below (see also the link):

We ask that you submit your reports with the following subject line format for the ease of use of our readers:

Place Skied, State or Province - MM/DD/YYYY

http://www.firsttracksonline.com/boards/faq.php#16

I’ve always stuck to this policy ever since Marc asked me to cross-post my material here many moons ago, but it seems that there is a lot of deviation from this based on the number of improperly formatted entries I see in the forums. I personally haven’t really wanted to mess with the desired Lift Corral report format by somehow posting quick updates, then having to follow them up later with another entry for my full-length report. Also, there isn’t even a designated section for weather updates.

2) Although technically the exact point of the forum in terms of what I read in the above link, I don’t get the impression that Liftlines users are as interested in very rapid ski conditions and weather updates (granted mine are with a Northern Vermont focus) the way the SkiVT-L community is. Aside from a few members, it seems like the majority of Liftlines users are planning trips well in advance, and up to the minute conditions wouldn’t be as useful. But, I guess the community can discuss that.

I’d be happy to cross-post very timely conditions updates when I have them, although a reformatting of the forums might be appropriate (perhaps it is due anyway). Short term conditions updates (or all the rest of the stuff) might require their own section, since it seems that everything is just getting lumped into the Lift Corral at this point, aside from the occasional topic that actually makes it to the general discussion forum.

I’ve posted my more timely material here a few times as riders on other people’s posts, again not as their own topics because of the format restrictions I mentioned above, but below I’ve got some examples of the type of updates I send in. I usually post the bulk of my material when it snows, since that’s when I make more substantial weather observations and get out skiing most often, but the material below is from the past couple of days because it’s been snowing around here:

Morning weather update from Waterbury, VT (28MAR2008)

Bolton Valley update & VT ski area storm totals (28MAR2008)

Evening weather update from Waterbury & VT ski area storm totals (28MAR2008)

Morning weather update from Waterbury & VT ski area storm totals (29MAR2008)

Bolton Valley/Northeast Kingdom conditions update (29MAR2008)

J.Spin

 

[Patrick]

I actually wasn't aware that there was a time limit on posting trip reports, although I tend to think of my reports as serving more of an archival role in terms of conditions and locations, rather than immediate updates on what the skiing is like.

I do the same thing. I haven't even finished my TR from last Summer. Most of the time I write my TR, the conditions might have changed. When I ski often and with my family status, I don't get the time to post on a timely matter. I also do it for archival reasons, however I tend to post more on conditions and/or areas that are rarely posted.

But there is one thing I don't understand Jay? What does this have to do with Glen? :wink:

Keep up the good work Jay, I enjoy reading your reports. 8)

 

[Tony Crocker]

I’ve always stuck to this policy ever since Marc asked me to cross-post my material here many moons ago, but it seems that there is a lot of deviation from this based on the number of improperly formatted entries I see in the forums. I personally haven’t really wanted to mess with the desired Lift Corral report format by somehow posting quick updates, then having to follow them up later with another entry for my full-length report.

I would personally prefer to see a timely report, even if it is short and unaccompanied by pictures. And I have no problem with the follow-up coming much later if necessary. This is why I make some effort to do reports on my trips, even though the pictures don't get online until I get home.

My guess is that the easterners would value having the SkiVT-L short posts pasted here, since we know JSpin's info will be detailed and accurate.

And Patrick's situation looks like an analogy to mine. The pictures are a bigger hangup for him, but most of us would have wanted to read about his powder days in Chillan last September instead of ??????

 

[Admin]

There are no rules on timeliness. Jay, handle it whichever way you please.

 

[J.Spin]

But there is one thing I don't understand Jay? What does this have to do with Glen? :wink:

I thought I kept the original quote that prompted the response in my message, but maybe I forgot or it was removed in the thread split. I've added it back in (see original post in this thread) so people will at least realize how this topic started.

J.Spin

 

[Harvey]

I just read the rules. I have been following some of them without realizing it. With thread titles for TRs... I started copying Steve, who obviously is paying attention.

In terms of what I've been actually writing, I've been treating it like a creative writing project. Trying to make it interesting to someone other than just me.

 

[Admin]

In terms of what I've been actually writing, I've been treating it like a creative writing project. Trying to make it interesting to someone other than just me.

That goes without saying. I suppose that the FAQ entry referenced, written many many years ago, should be updated (i.e., the Western forums are now active, so the comment about spreading beyond the NE should clearly be eliminated, and I'm going to do that now). About the only "rule" would be to follow the subject format for the No-Bull reports only. Other than that, when starting a topic just put it in the appropriate section. Simple.

Speaking of simple, that's the way I've tried to keep things here. It's by and large a civil bunch compared to other online ski forums, and apart from occasionally making a comment to maintain décorum this thing pretty much runs itself. And that's something I thank all of you for.

 

[riverc0il]

I’ve always stuck to this policy ever since Marc asked me to cross-post my material here many moons ago, but it seems that there is a lot of deviation from this based on the number of improperly formatted entries I see in the forums. I personally haven’t really wanted to mess with the desired Lift Corral report format by somehow posting quick updates, then having to follow them up later with another entry for my full-length report.

I would personally prefer to see a timely report, even if it is short and unaccompanied by pictures. And I have no problem with the follow-up coming much later if necessary. This is why I make some effort to do reports on my trips, even though the pictures don't get online until I get home.

My guess is that the easterners would value having the SkiVT-L short posts pasted here, since we know JSpin's info will be detailed and accurate.

And Patrick's situation looks like an analogy to mine. The pictures are a bigger hangup for him, but most of us would have wanted to read about his powder days in Chillan last September instead of ??????

I agree with Tony's post 100%. Regarding the picture hang up, FTO readers probably have noticed I will often write out a report and then follow up with pictures later, sometimes a few days and often after the weekend though I have gotten quicker due to better integration between various applications both local and web based.

The only time I don't post a report within 24 hours is when I am holding out because conditions are too good to let the world know. Hey, sorry, I don't do it that often and am usually forthcoming. But sometimes I 'forget' to post a report Saturday before heading back out Sunday and post both Sunday evening. Essentially, Sunday evening reports are useless for the weekend crowd. Snow conditions change dramatically during the week so timely reports definitely help in decision making regarding where to ski. I often prowl a variety of forums looking for up to date trip reports Friday night before making decisions, though usually I have a hunch where will be best and just need a verification and also to ensure I am not over looking something.

 

[riverc0il]

I just read the rules. I have been following some of them without realizing it. With thread titles for TRs... I started copying Steve, who obviously is paying attention.

Hardly :lol: I used to use dots instead of slashes when I first started posting as I enjoy reading dates that way. Not sure why I switched to slashes but it was not a thorough reading of the forum regs, that is for sure (who actually has time to read those? ). Area, State, Date format was how I formatted trip reports on my own web page before switching to its current format, so it was just a logical formatting decision that was quite natural. Glad to see that I am compliant without even knowing it!