Monday 30 January 2023

And Still More Snow

 Our total snowfall yesterday was 10 cm. As I mentioned yesterday, I have a problem with the grooming equipment, so I will be unable to groom this new snow. However, with this fresh powder over the previously packed base, the skiing should be good.

Sunday 29 January 2023

More Snow

 We have received about 5 cm of new snow overnight, and the snowfall is forecast to continue until this afternoon. So, we will have beautiful powder snow to ski in today.

Unfortunately, I am having some mechanical issues with my grooming equipment, so this snow will not get groomed. I expect it will take about a week to get things resolved. Until then, there will be no grooming.

Fortunately, with all this fresh powder, and the continuous below-zero temperatures that are forecast for the next week, ski conditions should remain good, even without grooming.

Saturday 28 January 2023

A Little New Snow

 We received about 2 cm of new snow overnight, just enough to fill in the tracks that I set yesterday. There was also been some snow falling out of trees onto the trail, and a bit of drifting. I will try to groom the entire network this morning.

All trails are open, and skiing is good.

11:30 a.m. update:  I've touched up the grooming on the entire network. Lots of skiers out there enjoying themselves. Skiing is very good everywhere, except a few spots on open fields toward the north end. We've been getting some drifting there, and that's impossible to stay ahead of. There's plenty of snow; it's just a bit hard seeing the groomed trail, and you will be in ankle deep powder momentarily.

Friday 27 January 2023

Good skiing!

 We received about 1 cm of new snow overnight, on top of the 20+ that we got Wednesday. All trails were groomed yesterday, and skiing is very good.

I will do some touch-up grooming this morning.

9:30 update: Track-set trails in the central area have been tidied up. The photos show the results. A little sunshine doesn't hurt either.

Trail #12 - Southfield

Trail #10 Field and Forest


Thursday 26 January 2023

Yes!

 For once, a snowstorm that lived up to its advance billing! We received about 20 cm of new snow yesterday and overnight. 

Trails are open, but it's hard work out there right now, because of the depth of powder snow. I will start grooming right after breakfast.

Noon update: All trails have been groomed with the roller and snow comb. Track setting was done in the central area. Skiing is very good.

Trail #5 after track-setting this morning


Wednesday 25 January 2023

Expecting Snow

 We had persistent flurries yesterday, which left about 2 cm of new snow on the ground. I skied  this morning, for the first time in over a week; it was not good skiing, but it was tolerable on smooth trails with grass underneath. It would still not be feasible on the rougher trails, where rocks, roots and tree stumps lurk just below the snow surface. So, for today, trails remain closed.

Forecasters are predicting a significant snowfall today, beginning about noon and continuing overnight. If they are correct, then we should have at least 10 cm of new snow by tomorrow morning.

Tuesday 24 January 2023

Heading in the Right Direction

 We received about 1 cm of new snow overnight. It's still not enough for skiing, but we are heading in the right direction. A larger snowfall is predicted for tomorrow. If we could get 10 cm, then we would be back in business!

For today, trails remain closed.

Monday 23 January 2023

The Ground is White!

 The ground may be white, but that doesn't mean we can go skiing. Yesterday's snowfall matched the weatherman's prediction - between 2 and 3 cm. Unfortunately that's not enough to provide for safe and enjoyable skiing.

Trails remain closed.

I'm looking forward to a snowfall on Wednesday, which the Weather Network now says will be 10 to 15 cm.

Sunday 22 January 2023

A little snow

 It has begun snowing here at Hockleycrest during the past hour. I do not expect this snowfall to create skiable conditions, but it may provide a base that we can build on.

Trails remain closed, but at least it looks like we are making progress now.

Saturday 21 January 2023

Still Closed

 No new snow to report, so trails remain closed. We're hoping for a snowfall of 2 to 4 cm tomorrow. It probably won't be enough, but it might get us started in the right direction. A bigger snowfall is forecast for next Wednesday. Let's hope it actually happens.

Friday 20 January 2023

No Snow

 Yesterday, we received zero snow. Freezing drizzle instead. No skiing.

Thursday 19 January 2023

Waiting

 Well, the weatherman has offered us a mixed bag of precipitation today, but so far nothing has happened. Looks like there might be more freezing rain than snow. As always, we have to wait and see.

Right now, trails are closed, as there is virtually no snow on them.

Wednesday 18 January 2023

Hoping for snow

 Most of our snow has melted. Yesterday's high was +3, and it's going to remain above 0 for most of today as well. They are predicting snow for tomorrow, but only about 5 cm, which would not be enough to get us back on skis again.

Monday 16 January 2023

Getting Worse, not better

 It's been nice to see the sun over the past 2 days, but it hasn't helped to get us back to skiable conditions. We've been losing snow, due to the warmth of the sunshine. Our already thin snow cover has become even thinner, and bare spots are developing.

We have a couple of warm days ahead on Tuesday and Wednesday, which will do more damage. There is a potential snowfall on Thursday; we 'll have to wait and see the results of that.

Trails remain closed.

Sunday 15 January 2023

Still Closed

 Ski trails continue to be closed. We actually lost a little bit of snow yesterday. Even though the air temperature never went above -5, the sun was so strong yesterday afternoon that it was melting snow in some areas.

Saturday 14 January 2023

Ski Trails Closed - Insufficient Snow

 We received a tiny bit of new snow overnight, but it is still not enough. In general, there is about 5 cm, but many places are much thinner than that.

Sorry, no skiing today.

Friday 13 January 2023

Disappointed Again

 Well, the storm which, on Tuesday, was predicted to bring over 20cm of snow has actually given us less than 5 cm. Although it is still snowing, the weather radar shows that the snowfall is almost finished.

This is NOT sufficient to make skiing safe and enjoyable. The ski trails remain closed.

Wednesday 11 January 2023

Is Snow Coming?

 It depends on which forecast you look at, but there might be some snow coming. Environment Canada suggests a small snowfall on Thursday evening, but The Weather Network thinks it will be about 15 cm Thursday, followed by 2 to 4 cm Friday. Both agree that the weekend will be cool and clear.

I've been around long enough to know that you can't trust weather forecasts. But if the snow comes, I will be ready.

Sunday 8 January 2023

Still Closed

 In my post of December 30, I said I would not post any new reports until we have snow. Well, it's been over a week, and I thought I would provide a brief update.

After 10 days of mild weather, there is virtually no snow left on the trails. The weather has turned a little bit cooler, and we've had a few light flurries, but not nearly enough snow for skiing. The weather forecast says we may get some measurable snow toward the end of the coming week; but that will apparently be followed by more warm temperatures, so things don't look very promising.