snow - The Gorge is my Gym

Good morning!

I want each and every one of you to get down on your knees and start praying to your favorite gods, or get up and dance to your god, if that’s your thing, because I need a little help with the snow levels over the next few days.

Snow levels look fine today for a few inches of snow. Tomorrow, though, they look questionable. If snow falls on the mountain tomorrow, it’s going to be heavy, but at least it will be snow. 50/50 is my call at this point. I think by tomorrow night, it will be all snow, all the time, meaning Thursday night skiing might be the best call this week.

A little more snow falls on Friday, and with colder temps, that should be good snow. I think it will be a decent day at T-line and Meadows on Friday. Saturday does not look good at this point, with rising snow levels and a good chance of rain. I need all of you to do your sacrifices and dances and prayers for Saturday. Please.

If nothing else, do you dance for Skibowl, because they are going to get hammered with rain during this system. Poor Skibowl. They have such fun terrain and so little snow. We might have to make a pilgrimage just for the nachos, if this lack of snow at low elevations continues.

In the mountain biking world, you have Syncline, Hospital Hill and Columbia Hills available and rideable right now. Get them today, because the rain over the next few days will ruin the riding for a bit. Mitchell from Dirty Fingers told me last night that he has more riding to tell about, but I didn’t get the details. Today…

Don’t forget that Ranger Jimmy T presents an avalanche awareness clinic at Dog River tomorrow night. 7pm. Free class. Beer is not free, but can be purchased there.

In the wind world, speed sailors get there chance at the coast on Thursday and Friday, with high winds blasting through during the daylight hours. Gorge winds will blow Thursday night, but that doesn’t help the crazy winter windsurfers and kiters much at all.

I almost forgot… Meadows is doing speed dating on Blue on Valentine’s Day. I think it’s a cute idea, so if you’re single and need a ski buddy of the opposite sex (I think they should have a same-sex line too, but I’m not in charge), head up there!

That’s about it in the recreation world for today. Pray for snow!

Temira

Good morning!

Here comes the snow… I’m watching the radar image from my desk (well, actually, it’s Brad’s desk, but close enough) here at Meadows. There’s a rainbow of green, blue, red, orange and yellow headed towards the mountain, and that’s a great thing if you like powder skiing (and really, who doesn’t?). Models suggest 1-1.5” of water value by tomorrow morning, meaning we’ll see a solid 12” of new snow between midday today and early tomorrow morning. I’m not promising you light and fluffy powder, but it’s not going to be concrete either. With snow levels around 3500-4000 feet, we’re looking at yummy snow.

If you can’t ride today, clear tomorrow, and if you can’t ride tomorrow, clear this evening. We’ve had a lot of powder days this year where the subsurface was ice, but not this time. Generally, it’s packed powder right now, meaning you won’t be dropping through to a nasty crust. It’s going to be so good….

Monday, during the day, another 2-5” will fall, and Tuesday looks like 1-3” more. Wednesday looks sunny.

Kiters and windsurfers have today for easterlies in the 22-25 range, at least before the rain hits. Next chance for easterlies looks like Wednesday, in the sun, at Stevenson.

Everyone have a great day today, and get a good night’s sleep tonight. Wax up, and pick me up if you see me hitching in the morning!

Temira