crystal dec 29 th

It's just great to be able to ski on the same Mtn. with you guys, now can we get James (Eskinmo) to give us
a report?

Rain was the report I got - very wet. As for the 16", if you were first it was fun; seconds, etc - not so much.

One of our mates did ski 14 GV from 1:30-3:30 and said it was good. We'll be out for the matinee tomorrow

The resort's mountain report "forecast" was telling like it was, but in a marketing sort of way. When I read "30 inches could be on the ground at higher elevations by Saturday", that makes me wonder what is happening at lower elevations. When the resort links to the NOAA forecast which clearly states "rain" for Friday, and when the resort links to the NWAC forecast which clearly states the "snow level = 6000 ft" and to expect 1.5 - 2.0 inches of precipitation, that no longer makes me wonder -- but instead tells me to do laundry, reorganize and clean my shop, take the Mrs out to lunch and install some LED lighting.

Of course you are 100% correct. There was plentiful information available that any skier even slightly knowledgeable about PNW winter weather should have been able to anticipate issues. That said, I always wish resorts would be more forthcoming with their reports, be it my usual hills in NY or resorts out there. If I recall correctly Crystal's conditions report on Friday touted 16" of new snow in the previous 24 hours. Was it their responsibility to inform people of the fact that the new snow included a significant rain crust a few inches below the surface? I know, no resorts really share those negatives, but I think they should.

Stevens did the same thing but I also figured it out as I knew that it was going to rain in the evening. They bragged about the 24 hour total as well, but then at the end it said 1" new...