The Pow Clause (cf. Article 10. Section 8: Clause 4.)

By: Greg
December 17, 2011 12:22 pm | Category: Quick Update, Skiing | 10 Comments | Permalink

Every non-skiing plan made during the winter months requires a “Pow Clause,” which, if you have never heard of such a thing before, governs the amount of snow that must fall from the sky so as to render said non-skiing plan null and void, thereby allowing all interested parties opportunity to schuss. Every non-skiing plan has a different priority level, is agreed upon by a different group of schussers, and so naturally every Pow Clause is different. Today for instance, our weather man Lionel Hutz is moving, and requires the assistance of the Eastern Bureau of FIS to move “the heavy things.” This non-skiing plan was supposed to involve us all meeting this morning to load a truck, drive it across town, and then unload the truck at a new place. There was of course a Pow Clause; today it happened to be “4 inches” (AKA Clause 4). After yesterday’s upslope event came up short when temperatures were unwilling to drop fast enough, we thought for sure the Pow Clause would be off the proverbial table. To our surprise and delight however, at 5:30am this morning we awoke to the unmistakable sound of pow brushing against the window, and reports of at least 3″ on the mountain. With it still snowing steadily, we executed the Pow Clause and decided to schuss rather than move, assuming 4″ would materialize by the time we got to the top of the mountain. Hey, it was no VTah VI, but it didn’t take any mental gymnastics to “get over it.” This was a nice surprise!

The skiing up high on the mountain started off kinda foggy:
foggy start

But as we descended, the fog broke up, and we were able to open it up a little bit. Something tells me Lionel Hutz was stoked to be making a schuss rather than a move!
schussing is greater than moving... ALWAYS

Kristin harvested some pow turns in the corner.
Kristin making some pow turns on the sides

Why have a Pow Clause? Look at this picture. I rest my case your honor.
I rest my case

Four laps later (and a few more inches), and we were ready to terminate the Pow Clause, return to reality, and move some “heavy things” for Lionel.
ready to move some heavy things.

Hope you executed a Pow Clause of your own and got sum! See you soon! Thanks for ready FIS.


“Upslope” Snow on Tap for Friday Morning

December 14, 2011 10:34 am | Category: Weather | 5 Comments | Permalink

On thursday a moderatly strong low pressure system will skirt along to our north. As it does, it will push the ADK and VT into the warm sector, bringing some snows along at the front end from WAA/isentropic lifting. Once the warm front passes early thursday AM, the precip will remain as light rain. Later in the day, as the system moves out, a cold front will pass.

As it does it will turn winds from a southerly direction (bad) to a southwest/west and eventually NW direction. (good).

Here we are going through the morning from 6z to 9z to 12z.

Now what does that mean? Well it means we’ll see a cross barrier flow into the spine of the Greens with some low level lake enhanced moisture. (also good).

So looking at the specifics here we see that early friday morning- 6z through 14z (or about 1am to 9am) the factors look to be in play for an upslope snowfall along the Green spine.

We see decent airmass saturation from the ground to about 850/700mb in the period:

We see actually VERY nice omega values (represents upward motion in the atmosphere). We like to see big numbers around 900mb:

The only conern is the moderate temps. We’re just not going to get the best uplift and mositure in the prime snow-growth region. Ideally I’d like to see the max upward motion occur in a region of 85% RH or greater with temps between -10 and -15C. We’ll be warmer than that:

Now this doesn’t mean we will not get snow, it just means it will be a wetter and denser snow. Given the need for some base, that might not be a bad thing. All in all I’m looking forward to the first “magic” snow of the season. I’m reserving my totals estimate until the higher RES-WRF model comes into line with the event tonight.

In the meantime- in honor of my broken headlamp, and running in the dark along the SBTV rec path, here is some cool  FIS night work that I suggest you read.


TR: Moon Mission To Herman

By: Sam
December 11, 2011 2:46 pm | Category: Full Trip Report, Skiing | Permalink


Brian, Tess, and I headed up to Mt. Herman after work last week to ski under the full moon.


Feast AND Famine

By: Greg
December 11, 2011 12:57 pm | Category: Quick Update, Skiing | 4 Comments | Permalink

Hungry? Yeah… we know. Us too, and unfortunately this isn’t a candy bar commerical, and actually we all will just have to wait. As you know, it’s been a tough start on the East Coast, with every blanket of white returned to sender. Anything resembling a base has been pretty much nonexistent. Last week’s Delta Force moved faster than hoped, and although Northern Vermont squeaked out a bit more than forecast, those in the Southern half of the state hoping for a repeat of Baker (and Baker’s gifts) were mostly disappointed. With a bit more than expected north of Route 2 though, a few nooks and crannies managed to start looking pretty good.
looking pretty good

An auteur had come before leaving his or her signature. We felt bad having to sully their work.
an auteur left ski tracks

But in times of famine, a feast is not to be passed over.
feasting in times of famine

feasting in times of famine

Indeed, the feast was short lived, and it was back to famine as we survived our way back to the car… well… I just managed to survive, while Kristin apparently shredded.
back to famine

Was it worth it to head out today? For some the answer is probably “no,” and I’m not one to argue with them, but for us the answer was an unequivocal: “YES.” Exercise and snow and sun in non-zero quantities are always worth it to us, but I suppose you also have to recall that we’ve done silly stuff like this (and that’s not even mentioning this). Regardless… chin up… it can (still) be a lot worse, and we might just be spoiled by comparing to the last few seasons which have featured above average early season conditions. (Can anyone say “VTah V“?)


TR: Nortwest Couloir Climb

By: Sam
December 7, 2011 11:43 pm | Category: Full Trip Report | Permalink

Allen, Lee, and I headed up to Shuksan to climb the Nortwest Couloir. Condtions were too firm to ski the line but were great for efficient climbing.
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Click on the link for more.


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