The great winter that wasn't?

After the record-threatening start and low snow levels, how are y'all feeling about this season so far?<br><br>Maybe its creeping nostalgia, but I'm beginning to think that I had just about as many good powder days last season as this.<br><br>Do you think the weather can do a bit of a turn-around and give us a little January in April this year? The best late-season powder day I've ever seen was May 11th 1998 -- a 2.5 foot dump at Mt. Baldy (in LA!) ...<br><br>

might be time for a mid-season pray for snow party....

Personally I think this is a great season! I had more powder days in December than all of last season. My Crystal ski pass was paid off well before Chrisrtmas! Since my pass purchase had been justified I have spent as much time out of the area as in. Futhermore, even the weekends have been more than cooperative on the powder meter. As the days get longer more people are mowing, weeding and participating in fair weather activities in the city. Generally the hills are going to get quieter. Although if you are reading this thread-You will not be weeding and mowing. You will be planning where your next sliding adventure will take place. <br>I guess I can't predict how the Spring snow will be, but history around here usually has Power days in March, April and even May if you keep an eye on the weather. For powder we must be ready slide on a whim and be prepared for sunbaked snow when the clouds part during our trips. I have noticed more snow melt at my house (2000 ft) than usual at this time of year, but the waves of Spring storms have yet to arrive in the higher hills. <br>If I could predict the Spring powder days I would work the tables in Vegas during the Summer and have a routine job and slide all Winter. <br>Have fun out there!

Way more powder this winter than last: deeper and more stable. Higher snow levels though (I drove to 2400 feet before hitting intermittent snow on the north-facing Coal Pass Road last weekend), so scant snowpack below about 3500 feet, pretty normal above 5000 feet. Over 500 inches to date at the Mt. Baker Ski Area is about normal, too. <br><br>That's my take on things. It's still early.<br><br>Enjoy,<br><br>Mark

I'm REALLY looking forward to June and July.

Well, I've been tracking snowfall and snowdepths throughout the entire Cascade Range this winter, see my Cascade Snowfall and Snowdepth page for a detailed twice-a-month summary. Basically, this season looks like the best one overall throughout the Cascades since the record year of 1998-99, but the northern end of the range has been struggling the past 2 months with below-normal snowfall. Current snowdepths from northern CA to southern WA are well above-normal, but in northern WA and southwest BC they are normal to below-normal. For example, as of today Swift Creek SNOTEL at 3800 ft on Mt St Helens has a greater snowdepth than Mt Baker Ski Area -- shocking!<br><br>By the way, there never was a "record-threatening start" this year, that was just media hype and BS. This season's start (after mid-November) was quite good, but it was not a great start like 1996 or especially 1994. And I'm mystified by Mark's comment about higher snow levels this year. The snow levels have consistently been MUCH lower this year than last, and snowdepths right now at low-elevation sites (e.g. Snoqualmie Pass) are double or even triple last year's depths for this date. You must be thinking of 2002, which had lots of good powder at low snow levels. And I agree with Paul, the spring and summer should be outrageous this year, especially from Rainier all the way south to Shasta and Lassen. As for "January in April", the storm track which has pounded northern CA with 9-10 feet of snow the past 2 weeks will eventually be shifting northward as the spring progresses. The northern end of the range still has 2 full months to rack up some big late-season snowfalls and finish the season with above-normal snowdepths, too.<br><br>Amar Andalkar<br> www.skimountaineer.com <br><br>