HikeArizona.COM

The endless chatter of weather.

Sunrise has announced they are opening Friday Dec 9th...to the top of Sunrise Mountain.

Jim_H wrote:If Snowbowl had a 64" base, that would be about the peak of their season. They don't get any better than that

:roll:

chumley wrote:

Jim_H wrote:If Snowbowl had a 64" base, that would be about the peak of their season. They don't get any better than that

:roll:

Snowbowl having a 64" base would be huge and you know it. They struggle to maintain a 30" base most years. They aren't demanding to make snow because they're known for their incredible snow pack. :roll: , yeah, oh please indeed.

Jim_H wrote:They don't get any better than that

Considering they received over 90" in just 5 days 2 winters ago, I think this statement qualifies as a slight exaggeration. No, snowfall does not equal base. But it's tough to get 300+ inches in a season and not get over a 64" base ever. I've personally skied up there two different years with over 100" base. So yes, :roll:

And I thought weather was one of those "safe topics" that elderly people always talk about in order to avoid confrontation and offensiveness

It's snowing in Scottsdale! Woot!

Snowbowl reports their season totals and new snow totals from 10,800', but reports their base a full 1,300' lower at 9500', even though the actual resort base is a little less than 9300'. Even after the big storm to which you refer, they did not have 64 inches or 5 feet 4 inches of settle snow base at 9500'. Also, that was, as you yourself state, an exceptional winter, so in normal winters they won't even come close. As I said, they struggle to maintain 30" most winters, so yeah, no exaggeration and they don't get any better than that, and they certainly wouldn't be reporting early season conditions as Wolf does. You may have skied on 100", but it was not their base. No way, no how. Your claim is no exaggeration, it's just a lie.

This photo:
http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=119920

taken just a few days after the storm you mention, clearly shows that they do not have a 64 inch base. The fluffy snow is not groomed as the runs are and is barely at 5 feet. So, as the settled amount in the trees is not near 64" and the base can not be greater when it is packed by machines, 64" in a large year is not something they managed to get.

Sunrise is opening up on Friday, according to the White Mountain Independent.

Edit: Ooops, sorry, someone already posted this info. Ok, I'm posting it again.

I flew over the high country on the way to Portland Saturday night and from what I could see through the cloud deck at 26,000 feet it looks like you all got dumped on up that way. I was hoping to snap some pics of the canyon but it was socked in

Which high country? The Whites, or the Peaks?

Well I departed Scottsdale airport my route took me to Flagstaff VOR and then the Grand Canyon VOR and on to a fix just north of Reno NV before turning toward Portland OR. From that Altitude I had a great view of most of the area where I could see through the overcast. I was at 26,000 by the time I was 50 miles from Flag and I started seeing snow on the rim and it was there most of the trip till southern Utah then for a while till I was further north I only saw it on the higher peaks in Utah.

Ooooh. I wanna be a pilot! I'll have to add that to my bucket list. I did take one flying lesson, when I was 25. I had a $10 coupon I found in a flying magazine at the dentist's office in San Diego. Went to Brown's Field with my coupon. Got to take off, fly around, stall the plane on purpose, but the instructor didn't let me land it. Lasted about 30 minutes. What a rush!

Flying is awesome it started as a hobby for me in 93 when I was still a Paramedic and became a career after I got tired of being a medic in 2002. I tell anyone if you are interested to go for it.

The NWS is forecasting -5 for Flagstaff tomorrow night, +6 for me. They report an official low of zero (0) yesterday morning, but their sensor they officially report with stopped working, or reporting for several hours, and I used their back-up station to see what it said. It is almost right next to their official station, but is not considered official. It reported at least -4, but what ever, 0 is cold enough. I don't think anything in the area would really mind all that much if it didn't dip below zero much this winter, not after -19 last winter. I could do without the single digits out here. My monstrosity cost a lot more to heat than my old apartment. Heating with propane doesn't help much.

Jim_H wrote:The NWS is forecasting -5 for Flagstaff tomorrow night, +6 for me. They report an official low of zero (0) yesterday morning, but their sensor they officially report with stopped working, or reporting for several hours, and I used their back-up station to see what it said. It is almost right next to their official station, but is not considered official. It reported at least -4, but what ever, 0 is cold enough. I don't think anything in the area would really mind all that much if it didn't dip below zero much this winter, not after -19 last winter. I could do without the single digits out here. My monstrosity cost a lot more to heat than my old apartment. Heating with propane doesn't help much.

I'm going to Costa Rica, neener neener neener!

Today's weather in Puntarenas: http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/78760.html

I'm glad to miss those negative numbers.

@azbackpackr
I think I'd rather deal with -5, than Tropical Cyclone Alenga that is forecast out there

azbackpackr wrote:
Today's weather in Puntarenas: http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/78760.html

The temperature is nice, but that dew point is sky high and nasty. It was 70 when I checked it. Very moist. I'd rather have 105 with a dew point of 12, like June in Tucson.

Jim_H wrote:The temperature is nice, but ... I'd rather have...

So just exactly where would you be happy?

chumley wrote:

Jim_H wrote:The temperature is nice, but ... I'd rather have...

So just exactly where would you be happy?

Cranky tonight?