Kevin's Okemo Guest Page

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Kevin's Okemo Guest Page Jackson Gore-based, PSIA certified ski instructor Kevin Fitzpatrick's place for friends & Okemo guests/owners to go check in on what's going on at Okemo.

Here's a place for my friends & Okemo guests to go check in what's going on in my world at Okemo. Pictures, updates on conditions, a place to share good memories... even a link to my calendar! Hope you enjoy the content.

12/17/20 - I’d say we got a little snow on the hill overnight...
17/12/2020

12/17/20 - I’d say we got a little snow on the hill overnight...

1/30/20-Guns ablazin’ in JG!!! All the runs which haven’t opened yet are getting blasted. Upper Quantum, Big Bang, Eclip...
30/01/2020

1/30/20-Guns ablazin’ in JG!!! All the runs which haven’t opened yet are getting blasted. Upper Quantum, Big Bang, Eclipse, White Lightning & Rolling Thunder. Epic weekend ahead...

11/25/19-First lift ride of the season!And away we go...
25/11/2019

11/25/19-First lift ride of the season!

And away we go...

06/04/2019

4/6/19 – More snow… Are you kidding?

I put the dogs out a little after dark yesterday, and when they came it, there were snowflakes on their backs! A little later, we had white all around the house. In what has been a great season, this little late gift literally tops it off with a flourish.

However, the weekend forecast is distinctly spring-like. Both days will see base temps into the 50s and the summit into the 40s. Luckily, we expect a fair amount of cloudiness, so the surface should be soft but not ankle deep mashed potatoes. I anticipate the crowds will be restrained, alas, so if you’re here, enjoy a fine weekend of spring skiing. I’ve pinned my Spring Skiing Strategy to the top of the page. You can find it here too: https://www.facebook.com/Kevin.At.Okemo/posts/2342535635791252

The final midweek looks to start off soggy Monday, but the rest of the week should be dry with the spring weather pattern of freeze overnight, above freezing during the day. The final weekend may have some precip, but it’s way too early to make that call.

I would normally urge you to keep checking with me through the upcoming week, but today is my last day of “regular” reportage. Regular Ski + Ride School includes tomorrow, and my schedule is turning to offseason theatre work, so I won’t be able to provide inside info on how it’s going. If you would like to get one last lesson with me next week, be sure to contact me first so I can plan to be there. Thanks to all for reading this season!

More on today, base temps are already above freezing, and we expect to move through 40º by midmorning and through 50º by ski day’s end. The summit is the same as the base now, but temps will rise more gradually, only getting into the low 40s after lunch. Winds at the base are calm as the lifts open but should be 5-10 mph for most of the day. Summit winds should be 20+ mph all day. Clouds to start but we should see the sun peeking through increasingly during the day.

Today’s dressing menu:

Torso layers: 4 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 6)
Lower layers: 2 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 2)
Head cover: Neck gaiter in pocket
Hands: Gloves
Feet: No special precautions
Goggles: Low light lenses
Skis: Rossi Experience 88 HD (88 mm underfoot)

See you on the slopes!

(Weather data drawn from TWC at weather-dot-com and NOAA-dot-gov)

05/04/2019

4/5/19 – Savor the last moments…

We are looking at a good penultimate weekend of the season. Today should be quite nice, as subfreezing temps for most of yesterday means we were grooming a frozen surface, not a slushy one that froze later. So I expect today’s surface to be splendid, especially up top where it will just get past freezing only by day’s end. There is rain in the forecast, but it shouldn’t move in until after the lifts close and may actually bring a little snow at the summit. Southface is reopening today, so the trail count is an astounding 104! Yesterday’s surface was excellent, especially on the sunny side of the trail.

The weekend forecast is still dry, mild, and mostly cloudy. While bright sunshine would be acceptable, it’s actually much better if we have some shade to protect the surface as base temps hit the 50s. Looking further ahead, we may see a few April showers next week, but the final weekend looks dry right now, and I think we will have plenty of cover to get us to our last day on April 14.

If you were looking for a late-season lesson, this Sunday is our last day for group lessons and advance reservation privates. Starting Monday, it’s an “as available” system: if we have an instructor here and available, we can book it day-of. If you want to ski with me, please be sure to contact me so I can plan to be on premises. I’m not currently intending to be here every day. I’m actually hoping to head to Stowe on Tuesday!

More on today, base temps are in the mid-20s but should get past freezing mid-morning and past 40º early afternoon. The wind, which has been frisky the last couple of days, will back off this morning at the base before perking up slightly after lunch. The summit is starting with temps in the mid-20s as well, but there we only expect it to get a couple of degrees past freezing after lunch. The wind should be about the same as at the base, so it should feel wintery, but only just. I’m dressing at default -1 on the torso. Sunny skies this morning will see more clouds moving in ahead of any overnight precip.

Today’s dressing menu:

Torso layers: 5 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 6)
Lower layers: 2 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 2)
Head cover: Neck gaiter
Hands: Gloves
Feet: No special precautions
Goggles: Low light lenses
Skis: Rossi Experience 88 HD (88 mm underfoot)

See you on the slopes!

(Weather data drawn from TWC at weather-dot-com and NOAA-dot-gov)

04/04/2019

4/4/19 – Not so Spring-y after all…

A cold, blustery day is on tap, so maybe my suggestion that we would only see a spring weather pattern for the rest of the season was premature. The top of the mountain is distinctly wintery, with temps only reaching the mid-20s and wind chill values down in the single digits. The base will get through freezing around lunch, but wind chill will only get to the low-20s. Brrrr! At least it will be sunny all day.

We’ll be back more toward spring Friday. Base temps should get into the 40s, though the summit might only get to freezing. There is some precip in the forecast, but it shouldn’t impact the ski day, instead falling just as the lifts close. It may actually bring a little snow to the summit! Saturday and Sunday are looking mild and dry, with cloud cover, which is a good thing for preserving the snow surface.

Speaking of the snow surface, it really is remarkably good for the first week of April. In fact, it would be good for any part of the season! The only reason the trail count is down to 96 is Southface and the Morningstar Triple areas are closed. The cover is still great, and the temps have remained restrained, so we’ve had very few instances of mashed potatoes. I expect that to continue this weekend, so c’mon up to get in your last excellent runs. Also, the Slush Cup and Splash for Cash are happening at the Gore on Saturday, which is always highly entertaining... and soggy (for the participants)!

Details for today, base temps are starting in the high-20s and will crawl toward freezing around lunch and on to the mid-30s by day's end. But the wind remains the story: 15-20 mph with higher gusts possible. That makes the “feels like” in the teens to start, low-20s later. The summit will run about 5º-10º colder, meaning topping out in the mid-20s. Winds at 30+ mph means wind chill values starting below 0º and only getting into the high-single digits. Hopefully, the Sunburst Six is not impacted, because days like today, I stick to bubble lifts! Regardless, I’ll be back to winter attire, for sure!

Today’s dressing menu:

Torso layers: 6 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 6)
Lower layers: 2 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 2)
Head cover: Balaclava, neck gaiter in pocket
Hands: Gloves
Feet: No special precautions
Goggles: Dark lenses
Skis: Rossi Hero Elite ST Ti (68 mm underfoot)

See you on the slopes!

(Weather data drawn from TWC at weather-dot-com and NOAA-dot-gov)

02/04/2019

4/2/19 – Spring has sprung…

After a distinctly wintery Monday, we are commencing the spring weather pattern for the balance of the season. That means we freeze overnight and thaw during the day. Today should be a terrific morning because the groomers were working on a frozen surface overnight, but by late morning sunshine and moderating temps means the bottom of the hill will start to get mushy. The top should stay firmer, but it too will see above freezing temps by lunch. I’d definitely plan to stay up top after lunch, perhaps sticking to South Face.

I’ve posted and pinned to the top of the page my spring skiing advice. Go check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/Kevin.At.Okemo/posts/2342535635791252

Tomorrow will have similar temps, but the wind should pick up late morning and blow hard the rest of the day. Thursday we expect one last colder day, then we see highs in the 40s and 50s at the base for the rest of the week into the weekend. There is some wetness in the weekend forecast, but by no means assured. The worst of the forecast is for Friday night, after the ski day. Stay tuned for updates on the vicissitudes of the forecast going into the weekend.

More on today, base temps are starting in the low-20s but will rise quickly as the sun rises, getting to freezing by late morning and into the mid-40s by day’s end. The breeze is starting around 5 mph and should pick up moderately this afternoon. The summit is starting off about the same, but should only top out in the mid-30s. We expect the wind to remain steady in the 15-20 mph range up there, which takes about 10º off for the “feels like” values. We should have sunshine all day.

I’m not dressing for a normal winter’s day, but in deference to the cooler temps and wind up top, I’ll back off only a bit. Today’s dressing menu:

Torso layers: 5 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 6)
Lower layers: 2 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 2)
Head cover: Neck gaiter, balaclava in pocket
Hands: Gloves
Feet: No special precautions
Goggles: Dark lenses
Skis: Rossi Experience 88 HD (88 mm underfoot)

See you on the slopes!

(Weather data drawn from TWC at weather-dot-com and NOAA-dot-gov)

01/04/2019

4/1/19 – Winter’s back… and I’m not April fooling!...

Let me start by saying we dodged the rain bullet yet again yesterday. Sure, it rained for a little while around 10:15, but we never had a downpour or a steady rain, and it was pretty much done by 11:00. So that 90% chance of rain wasn’t a reason to stay inside after all… Just sayin’…

For today, Ol’ Man Winter is saying, “I’m not dead yet.” Subfreezing temps are back, as is a brisk wind. We also are reporting a couple of fresh inches overnight… no joke! For the rest of the week we expect the typical spring weather pattern of freeze overnight and thaw during the day. I’ve posted and pinned to the top of the page my spring skiing advice. Go check it out.

A closer look at today, base temps are starting in the low-20s and will just touch freezing by day’s end, but a 15-20 mph breeze will mean a “feels like” in the teens all day. The summit is starting in the low-teens and only reaching the mid-20s. With a wind around 30 mph, that brings wind chill values below 0º to start and only getting into the positive single digits. Brrrr! Clouds and sun to start with increasing sunniness as we progress.

Today’s dressing menu:

Torso layers: 6 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 6)
Lower layers: 2 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 2)
Head cover: Balaclava, neck gaiter in pocket
Hands: Gloves
Feet: No special precautions
Goggles: Dark lenses
Skis: Rossi Hero Elite ST Ti (68 mm underfoot)

See you on the slopes!

(Weather data drawn from TWC at weather-dot-com and NOAA-dot-gov)

01/04/2019

KEVIN’S SPRING SKIING STRATEGY

We are moving into a spring weather pattern – below freezing overnight, above & well above during day – so it’s time to share my basic spring skiing game plan. The overall idea is to avoid ice in the morning & find the ideal surface through a changing day. Here’s the strategy:

• Start lower on mountain where it’s warmer & ski on the sunny side of the trail where it softens sooner.

• As the day progresses, venture higher on the mountain as temps soften the surface up there. Stay on sunny side of trail.

• When everything everywhere has gone mushy, go for the shadows, where it hasn’t been beaten as hard by the sun.

• Wax your skis. Yellow wax for well above freezing, red wax from high-20’s to about 40. I just use hard wax & rub it in a couple of times a day. Paste wax is certainly an option. You’ll be amazed at how much it helps.

• If you are skiing from a shadowy area to a sunny area, make a turn as you enter it. If you are just going straight into it, you will feel like you just skied into glue & will pitch forward. Being sure you are balanced with strength on the balls of the feet, with weight on both feet. This approach is a critical skill in modern skiing and is especially critical in spring conditions.

• Be patient with your turns. Let the tails follow where the tips just went. If you try to bring the tails around quickly, you are not letting the ski help you through the turn and are expending too much energy trying to push around heavy mush.

The warmer and sunny weather in the spring is a delight, but working too hard is no fun. Use these tips to maximize your enjoyment during this splendid time of year!

See you on the slopes!

31/03/2019

3/31/19 – Hopefully, it moves through quickly…

The forecast has improved, but we still expect to get wet for a short time. The morning is now looking to stay dry, with rain moving through around lunchtime. A glance at the radar also shows it’s a line of showers, not a big green blob, so I’m hopeful that 1) it moves through quickly, and 2) it breaks up a bit as it hits the mountains.

What’s more predictable is we have much milder temps and increased winds. It’s also possible we get a little fresh snow as it moves out later. Subfreezing temps should hit overnight, and Monday should be one last wintery day before the spring weather pattern takes hold in earnest.

We will see what this all means for the surface. We still have remarkable good cover for the last day of March. Alas, we have begun to hit the days of mashed potatoes, so get your skiing in early and be sure to run in some wax. Check in during the week to see how it's holding up.

More on today, we are starting with temps near the highs of the day. Both the base and summit are in the low 40s. Base temps should top out near 50º around noon, then slide to around 40º; while summit temps will slowly ease all day, approaching freezing by the end of the ski day. Winds at the base are forecast at 5-10 mph. However, the summit is blowing harder to start, near 50 mph, and will only ease to 25-35 mph later. This early strength may impact summit lifts, but definitely not all day. We expect to see a few peeks of sun this morning, but clouds will predominate midmorning on.

I’ll err on the side of overdressing due to the wind and decreasing temps through the day. I won’t break out my foul weather gear, but I’ll be ready to pull up my hood so any precip rolls down my back. I’ll also have my SkiGee in my pocket so I can wipe my goggles during any passing showers.

Today’s dressing menu:

Torso layers: 5 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 6)
Lower layers: 2, inner layer very thin (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 2)
Head cover: Neck gaiter in pocket
Hands: Gloves
Feet: No special precautions
Goggles: Clear lenses
Skis: Rossi Experience 88 HD (88 mm underfoot)

See you on the slopes!

(Weather data drawn from TWC at weather-dot-com and NOAA-dot-gov)

30/03/2019

3/30/19 – A dry day after all…

The indecisive forecast has swung back away from wet, and we expect a cloudy but dry day. (I hate to say it, but I told you not to rely on the earlier forecasts!) The clouds will actually be a good thing too, because the temps will steadily rise, and if it were sunny, we’d be in the soup by lunchtime.

I can report that the surface this week has remained excellent. And, folks, NEARLY THE ENTIRE MOUNTAIN IS STILL OPEN! (Only Supernova and Outrage are closed.) Sure, we had some mashed potatoes yesterday afternoon at the bottom of the hill, but it stayed pretty firm up top all day. You’ll want to have some red, yellow, or universal wax ready, but, hey, that’s normal for spring skiing. I’m hoping to get into the glades today since they’ve been on hold nearly all week due to persistent cold.

Tomorrow is now looking questionable with rain looking likely in the morning but moving through after lunch. Up top it may finish with some snow as colder weather moves in for the start of the workweek. However, I’ll issue my standard caveat: the Green Mountains are famous for breaking up rain systems, so maybe we get lucky again tomorrow. Stay tuned for tomorrow morning’s report.

Details for today, we have temps starting in the mid-30s at the base. We expect to hit 40º after lunch and 50º by the end of the ski day. The winds down low will perk up to around 10 mph, which will keep the “feels like” in the low-30s most of the day. The summit should be just a little cooler, but with wind speeds getting to 20+, perhaps 30+ in the afternoon, the morning might feel more winter-like. I’ll plan to dress more towards winter than spring, though I may drop a layer at lunch. Clouds all day.

Today’s dressing menu:

Torso layers: 5 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 6)
Lower layers: 2, inner layer very thin (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 2)
Head cover: Neck gaiter
Hands: Gloves
Feet: No special precautions
Goggles: Clear lenses
Skis: Rossi Experience 88 HD (88 mm underfoot)

See you on the slopes!

(Weather data drawn from TWC at weather-dot-com and NOAA-dot-gov)

29/03/2019

3/29/19 – Into every life, a little rain must fall… Emphasize little!...

The fickle spring forecast is in full force. However, as ever, a casual look at the weekend forecast might lead you to conclude it’ll be a complete washout… and you’d be mistaken! Yes, there will be periods of liquid sunshine, but there will also be extensive breaks in the precip. I actually don’t mind this kind of scenario; it’s the steady, heavy rain that I don’t care for.

So we expect some passing showers today before the lifts open, then perhaps again for a brief period after lunch. Saturday is looking similar with the highest chance of rain just as the lifts open, then dry for the rest of the ski day. And that 90% chance of rain on Sunday they are showing now? Again, it should be an early morning event, moving out fairly quickly. Better still, even though the temps will be mild, the cloud cover will be helpful to protect the surface. So most people will probably be staying home and missing out on some good skiing. Don’t be that guy! There’s only 3 weekends left!

On that final note, the word I’m getting is April 14 is a hard closing date for us. My suggestion that we may reopen for Easter is highly unlikely. Regarding our sister resorts, Sunapee is shutting down April 7, and if you want to ski on Easter, take a trip to Stowe and use your Epic Pass for your final runs; their closing date is April 21.

Zooming in on today, we have some light rain moving through before the lifts open. Base temps are already above freezing and should get into the mid-40s. We expect light winds down low. The summit is running just a few degrees colder, but the winds may blow up to 20 mph. Cloudy skies all day.

I’ll be dressing on the lighter side and will have my SkiGee ready to wipe away any dampness on the goggles. I won’t go full on foul weather gear… hopefully, that’s the right call.

Today’s dressing menu:

Torso layers: 4 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 6)
Lower layers: 2, inner layer very thin (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 2)
Head cover: Neck gaiter in pocket
Hands: Gloves
Feet: No special precautions
Goggles: Clear lenses
Skis: Rossi Experience 88 HD (88 mm underfoot)

See you on the slopes!

(Weather data drawn from TWC at weather-dot-com and NOAA-dot-gov)

28/03/2019

3/28/19 – Another gorgeous spring day; the weekend looking ugly…

It’s a wonderful day to be outside today: mild, mostly sunny, and just a little wind today. Clouds start to move in tomorrow, but it should stay dry for the ski day. The weekend is looking soggy now. We’ve actually had extraordinarily good luck on rainouts this season, but our luck looks to run out, as March goes out on a more leonine note.

The silver lining is that the system may include some snow as it finishes up Sunday. All that said, many, many is the time the forecast showed 100% chance of rain and the day turned out OK. So perhaps out luck holds. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s update.

A closer look at today, we have another temperature inversion to start the day, with the base running a bit colder than the summit due to cold air sinking into the valleys and hollows overnight. Base temps will warm quickly, starting around 20º and getting to freezing by noon. The afternoon it should press on to 40º. Very little wind down low, but not so at the summit, as winds should stay at 20+ mph all day. Summit temps will pretty much track with the base. The breeze should help keep the surface drier up top, but some mushiness is inevitable today, especially low on the hill. Ski on the sunny side of the trail this morning, but stay on the top and find the shady side this afternoon!

Today’s dressing menu:

Torso layers: 5 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 6)
Lower layers: 2 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 2)
Head cover: Neck gaiter to start
Hands: Gloves
Feet: No special precautions
Goggles: Dark lenses
Skis: Rossi Experience 88 HD (88 mm underfoot)

See you on the slopes!

(Weather data drawn from TWC at weather-dot-com and NOAA-dot-gov)

27/03/2019

3/27/19 – I saw robins yesterday…

A sure sign of spring’s arrivals greeted me when I got home yesterday: several robins picking at the ground for food. Today will echo that sign, as we have a beautiful day of spring skiing in store: mild temps and just a breath of wind, temps around freezing at the summit and milder down below, lots of sunshine. The surface should be pleasantly firm for the morning, but the base will get sloppy as the afternoon progresses, so be sure to have some red or yellow wax on hand. The summit should stay firm enough right to the end of the day. Enjoy!

Thursday and Friday will see milder temps and it won’t freeze at the base overnight. Luckily, we should see more cloudiness, which should help protect the surface. The weekend forecast has changed yet again, and the timing of some sogginess is now indicating it may arrive on Saturday. I expect the forecast will change again as we get closer, so stay tuned for the latest through the end of the week.

Today’s detail, base temps are starting around 20º and should steadily rise to freezing by noon, around 40º by day’s end. A light and variable breeze. The summit is starting in the low-20s and will top out around freezing. With only a slight wind, it will be very comfortable, but cold enough to help keep the surface firmer than the base. Blue, sunny skies all day!

Today’s dressing menu:

Torso layers: 5 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 6)
Lower layers: 2 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 2)
Head cover: Neck gaiter to start
Hands: Gloves
Feet: No special precautions
Goggles: Dark lenses
Skis: Rossi Experience 88 HD (88 mm underfoot)

See you on the slopes!

(Weather data drawn from TWC at weather-dot-com and NOAA-dot-gov)

26/03/2019

3/26/19 – Déjà vu all over again…

If you liked yesterday, stand by for another gorgeous one today. It’s darn near identical: sunny skies, temps around freezing at the base and mid-20s at the summit, a bit of a breeze. The surface was great yesterday, with only a little mush at the base late in the day. I expect today will even better because the groomers would have been working on a frozen surface overnight. Yeehaa!

Tomorrow will see a warm up into the 40s with a few more clouds. Thursday through Saturday will see milder temps but fortunately with more clouds, which will help keep the surface from getting too mashed potato-like. Sunday’s forecast is looking soggier than yesterday’s, but it’s still too early to make any real judgments. Keep checking in as we get closer.

Today in more detail, base temps are starting around 20º and will get to around freezing only by the end of the ski day. A breeze around 5 mph will build to 10+ mph late, so the “feels like” will run about 10º colder. The summit will start in the high-teens and reach the mid-20s. The breeze up top will steadily ease to around 10 mph around noon and for the rest of the day. Still, that means wind chill only tops out this afternoon around 0º, so, like yesterday, it’s still a day to dress for winter. (In fact, most of this paragraph was only slightly altered from yesterday’s!)

Today’s dressing menu:

Torso layers: 6 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 6)
Lower layers: 2 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 2)
Head cover: Neck gaiter, balaclava in pocket
Hands: Gloves
Feet: No special precautions
Goggles: Dark lenses
Skis: Rossi Pursuit 18 (76 mm underfoot)

See you on the slopes!

(Weather data drawn from TWC at weather-dot-com and NOAA-dot-gov)

25/03/2019

3/25/19 – Gorgeous, just gorgeous…

The week is starting out about as good as it gets in late March. Carbon copy days today and tomorrow will feature full sunshine and base temps topping out around freezing. It will be a bit breezy, but nothing too extreme. In short, a great winter’s day. The snow surface should remain excellent, as overnight grooming is working on a frozen surface. If you’re here, you’ ve timed it just right!

The rest of the week will turn more spring like. Temps will be rising into the 50s towards week’s end, but fortunately there should be some cloud cover to help protect the surface. There is a chance of rain over the weekend, but I would absolutely not panic just yet based on a 50% chance of rain a week in advance! Stay tuned for updates through the last two weeks of the season.

Today’s details, base temps are starting the mid-20s and will get to around freezing only by the end of the ski day. A breeze around 10 mph will make it feel about 10º colder. The summit will start just short of 20º, topping out in the high-20s. With a breeze at 10-20 mph, wind chill tops out this afternoon in the mid-teens, so it’s still a day to dress for winter.

Today’s dressing menu:

Torso layers: 6 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 6)
Lower layers: 2 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 2)
Head cover: Neck gaiter, balaclava in pocket
Hands: Gloves
Feet: No special precautions
Goggles: Dark lenses
Skis: Rossi Pursuit 18 (76 mm underfoot)

See you on the slopes!

(Weather data drawn from TWC at weather-dot-com and NOAA-dot-gov)

24/03/2019

3/24/19 – Here comes the sun… It’s all right…

Radiational cooling overnight and some lingering winds are giving us a chilly start, but abundant sunshine this morning will push temps steadily higher. The surface should be splendid today, as the snows of Vaughn were groomed out to some sweet corduroy. The only thorns on the rose is the sunshine and rising temps will soften up the surface, especially down low, so be sure to run in some red, yellow, or universal wax, recoating after lunch. Enjoy a great day on the slopes!

Monday and Tuesday should see a return to cooler temps, but starting Wednesday, we expect to see the spring skiing season commence in earnest. Stay tuned for updates on how conditions hold up to the end of season.

On that last note, the word is we are planning to go to April 14th, though it would not surprise me if we reopened Easter Weekend if the snow can support it. Also, the plan is to remain open on both sides of the resort to the final day, not shutting down Jackson Gore earlier. So get what you can… only two weeks left!

Today in more detail, temps down low are starting in the mid-20s, should hit 32º in the 10:00 hour, and move through 40º after lunch. The breeze will still blow around 10 mph, but that only makes the “feel like” temp about 5º or so colder. However, up top temps are starting in the same mid-20s range, but will only top out in the mid-30s. The breeze is starting at 30+ mph -- that shouldn’t impact the Sunburst Six -- and it should ease into the 20-25 mph range around lunchtime. Still, that means wind chill values will be in the low double digits to start and only get into the low-20s, so if you plan to ski up top, don’t shed too many layers.

Today’s dressing menu:

Torso layers: 5 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 6)
Lower layers: 2 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 2)
Head cover: Neck gaiter, balaclava in pocket
Hands: Gloves
Feet: No special precautions
Goggles: Dark lenses
Skis: Rossi Experience 88 HD (88 mm underfoot)

See you on the slopes!

(Weather data drawn from TWC at weather-dot-com and NOAA-dot-gov)

23/03/2019

3/23/19 – Vaughn, we hardly knew ye’…

They finally put a name on this system, pretty much in time for it to get out of the region, but Vaughn will not go without throwing a tantrum. I might pitch a fit too since Vaughn isn’t leaving before making a big blow! There has been very little accumulation at my house, but as I wrote yesterday, as you go up in altitude, the totals ramp up. The resort is reporting up to 12” in the last 24 hours. Nice!

Then there’s the wind, with speeds in the 20s at the base, 40s at the summit today. That’s going to make for wind chill values in the low double digits and around 0º, respectively. Welcome to spring? However, I’m hopeful that since we AREN’T expecting 50+ mph at the summit that the bubbles will be able to spin -- but don't be surprised if there's a delay -- and as long as you layer up and cover up, you should be able to enjoy a terrific snow surface.

Looking ahead to tomorrow, more sun, less wind, and milder temps should make it a great spring skiing day. Quite a contrast, but, hey, that’s spring!

So for today, base temps should hover in the mid 20s before adding about 5º moving into the afternoon. A breeze around 20 mph with some gusting makes for wind chill around 10º through the morning, moderating toward 20º by the end of the day. The summit temps are starting in the high teens and should make it to the low-20s this afternoon, but winds at 40+mph this morning, only easing a bit later, will make it feel like below 0º this morning, low single digits later. Clouds with some passing snow this morning, but we should see some sun poking through after lunch. I’ll be dressing for winter and be covering up.

The rest of today’s dressing menu:

Torso layers: 6 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 6)
Lower layers: 2 (default for me on a “regular” winter day is 2)
Head cover: Balaclava, mask in pocket
Hands: Mittens
Feet: Boot gloves, toe warmers
Goggles: Low light lenses
Skis: Rossi Experience 88 HD (88 mm underfoot)

See you on the slopes!

(Weather data drawn from TWC at weather-dot-com and NOAA-dot-gov)

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Videos

Jerry of the Day! (The videographer, not the student.)

Day One of 2015/16 Season! Let's take a run on Upper World Cup.

3/22/12 – Swan Song Video Run of 2011/12
3/22/12 – Swan Song Video Run of 2011/12

At 9:30 this morning – in a golf shirt, no helmet or hat, anticipating an 80˚ day – I filed this report & took my final run of the season on Quantum Leap, which was closed before the end of the day. Sketchy as it may have been this morning, it was it was infinitely worse by the afternoon & legitimately needed to be shut down. I was going to record one last report from the same place on the Okemo summit as my series to start the season, but when I got there just after 2:00 today, that entire area south of the Northstar was already roped off, in all likelihood closed for the season. In all candor, I have not skied at Okemo on a trail in this condition in my professional career, perhaps even my entire 46 years skiing here. We would normally have long since been closed the resort before an open trail would be in this shape. Part of me enjoyed it, but part of me was very sad. I hope you enjoy this swan song run & thank you without any sadness! I hope you liked viewing this media through the season.

BEST GUEST VIDEOS OF SEASON - CLIP 1
BEST GUEST VIDEOS OF SEASON - CLIP 1

2026 OLYMPIC DOWNHILL CHAMPION I don’t post the videos I get of guests, mainly because I use their names & often will be offering comments & coaching points that I don’t think are proper for this forum. However, I will be culling through some of them to share a few of the best, sweetest ones as we wind down on this season. Here’s the first one. I’m not really sure if I’ll be able to top it, actually! This 3-year old & I have been having a ball this season. We always go around the “race course” set up on the upper magic carpet, and he always wants me to do my “race talk.” Here is why! Enjoy!

3/1/12 – Lower Forrest Bump
3/1/12 – Lower Forrest Bump

Followed some co-workers through some new secret tree trails (for me), one of which allowed us to cut across Rimrock & pickup the last part of Forrest Bump, which is most definitely my favorite part of it. I took this with my iPhone4, so the quality is better, but it’s way more “jiggly.” For the record, we dumped out on to Cat Nap, the trail name I couldn't come up with!

3/1/12 – Glades with Co-Workers
3/1/12 – Glades with Co-Workers

“Kids’ Glades” off Switchback & Lower Mountain Rd. Like Jim Cantore, I go where you shouldn’t to give you an up close view of danger! Kids, don’t try this at home!

3/1/12 – Powder Fun
3/1/12 – Powder Fun

Coming back to the Gore from Solitude via Moonshadow & Southern Crossing. I didn’t mean to jump the rope. I momentarily lost my balance & fell under it… That’s my story & I’m sticking to it!

3/1/12 – First dump of March!
3/1/12 – First dump of March!

This video clip needs no introduction. Enjoy!

1/30/12 - Fresh Pow/First Trax on Quantum Leap!!!
1/30/12 - Fresh Pow/First Trax on Quantum Leap!!!

A glorious Monday morning. Wish you were here!

1/12/12 – Pre-MLK Weekend Report
1/12/12 – Pre-MLK Weekend Report

1/12/12 – This report is coming to you from SNOWY OKEMO MOUNTAIN! We couldn’t be happier to hear those words than we are right now, right in front of the big MLK Weekend. I am reporting from between Sapphire & Upper Tomahawk. It’s been snowing pretty much all day, and, boy, we are awfully relieved, just in the nick of time for the big weekend. I do want to caution people about the weather this weekend. MLK is often a very cold & snowy time, and this weekend will be no exception. Please layer up – I’ll probably have 8 layers on this weekend – and cover up. If we have some wind, please, make sure your skin is covered. That’s the bad news… The good news is we’re going to have awesome skiing this weekend. We’re really excited about all this fresh snowfall. We have over 70 trails open. We’ll be grooming it all out. This fresh snow should allow us to open up some more terrain. Certainly the terrain that has already been opened will have a great surface this weekend. Being that is finally a little powdery out here, I thought maybe I’d take a run with you. I’m going to cut over to Heaven’s Gate, let you experience some of this fresh pow. We’re all excited about it. And we’re looking forward to having you come out here & enjoying the MLK Weekend. Woo-hoo! Thanks for taking a run with me!

New Year's Eve at Jackson Gore
New Year's Eve at Jackson Gore

New Year's Eve at Jackson Gore - The last 20 seconds or so of the fireworks finale.

12/22/11 - First Day of Winter from Jackson Gore
12/22/11 - First Day of Winter from Jackson Gore

12/22/11 – This report comes to you from Jackson Gore on Upper Limelight… Yeehaaa! First day of winter, but it’s been a little mild the last 24 hours. We had some rain overnight, and I can’t kid anybody, it did do a little damage to the trails, but the cover has stayed remarkably good. There are a couple of bare spots, but nothing serious. And the best news of all is Mother Nature is finally going to come through for us. Some time later tonight and into tomorrow and through the day on Friday we should have some snow. They are predicting 2”-4”, but the best thing is it gets cold again. The snow guns have been shut down for about a day and a half. They will reopen – I’m hoping some time around 8 pm or so tonight – and they’ll go to work to repair some of the damage and get things going for the Christmas-New Year’s period. We’re really quite optimistic that things are going to come together. We’re about a third open. We had 33 trails open today. The Glades Peak Chair was closed today so that did decrease the trail count a little bit, but we do have about 40 trails able to be opened. New terrain will continue to open as we move into the Christmas Weekend and thereafter. Today was the first day I have been able to ski on Limelight. We opened on Tuesday with surprisingly good conditions, and this is the third day we’re open in the Gore. To give you a sense of how the cover is right now, at the end of the ski day but before the storm tonight, I decided to let you take a run with me on Upper & Lower Limelight. Enjoy!

12/20/11-FIRST TRAX ON SUNSET STRIP!!!
12/20/11-FIRST TRAX ON SUNSET STRIP!!!

12/20 - We also claimed first trax of season of Sunset Strip! Aren't you jealous??? (Published with permission)

12/20/11-FIRST TRAX IN GORE!!!
12/20/11-FIRST TRAX IN GORE!!!

12/20 - Skiing with some favorite guests/JG owners early today & we claimed FIRST TRAX OF SEASON off Coleman Brook Chair! (Published with permission)

12/19/11 - Final Report from Clocktower Base
12/19/11 - Final Report from Clocktower Base

12/19 - Lots of progress in snowmaking. 20 trails today, 10 more by tomorrow. Next report from Jackson Gore!

12/16/11 - Outlook for Weekend
12/16/11 - Outlook for Weekend

12/16 - A quick morning report from the summit.

12/13/11 - Upper & Lower World Cup
12/13/11 - Upper & Lower World Cup

12/13 – Filing a report from the same spot as the last two videos, almost exactly one week since the first video. The mountain continues to expand. We opened up Sapphire this morning. We’re now up to 14 trails, top to bottom skiing. The Green Ridge is open. The skiing is really quite good. We do have in the forecast some precipitation possibly for Thursday; hopefully it will stay frozen on the mountain. It’s an absolutely beautiful afternoon. Temps are in the mid-to-high-30s, which is for great for coming out and enjoying the day, but it’s a little unfortunate because snowmaking operations have had to be called off here for the middle of the day. We have been making and will continue to make snow overnight, but it would be nice if we could make snow 24/7. That’s just not in the cards right now. I wanted to continue the “declension” that I started last week. We made a run together on Upper World Cup and cutting off to the Glades Peak Chair. I did it again a few days later and you could see a pretty big difference from one day to the next. We are now open top-to-bottom, so I thought we’d take a run together on the entirety of World Cup to let you see how things have changed in just the past week. Thanks for taking another run with me.

12/9/11 - Exciting news heading into the weekend!
12/9/11 - Exciting news heading into the weekend!

12/9 – Reporting almost exactly three days later than the last video I shared, from about the same spot on the Okemo Summit: Boy, what a difference a few days have made, especially since Wednesday night when the “big” storm came through. While that was a little bit underwhelming as far as snow totals go, the most important thing it did was bring in cold, below-freezing temperatures on the back end, which has allowed the “Guns ‘N’ Hoses” crew to really crank it out since 10 o’clock on Wednesday night, still running continuously today. The best news is that tomorrow, Saturday, we’re going to have the SKI Magazine Super Demo weekend, we’re going to have as many as 12 trails open tomorrow, and – most exciting – is we’re going to have top-to-bottom skiing finally. That means downloading the Northstar Express at the end of the ski day is going to be a thing of the past for this season, and we’ll feel like we have the “real” ski season cranking for us. I thought you might enjoy comparing another run with me to the one we took three days ago so you can see for yourself how vastly things have changed in these last three days. It’s a lot prettier; it looks a lot more like “regular” winter; and there’s a lot more folks out. On a spectacular Friday afternoon, many people have decided to take a little time off – some maybe playing a little hooky from school – and come out and make some turns because of the excitement of the new snow and the mountain opening things up a little bit more. Thanks for taking another run with me. We’re really excited about what’s going on here.

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