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Midwest 2023-2024 Midwest Ski Resort/Conditions/Meetups
- Thread starter Dwight
- Start date
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Well, I'm excited to see snow starting and in theory, early start is far better. I hope to use my Indy Pass this season as much as possible.
Heck, I'm pumped as my kid should be starting as an instructor (or maybe just a flunky) at Tyrol Basin
Heck, I'm pumped as my kid should be starting as an instructor (or maybe just a flunky) at Tyrol Basin
Thread Starter
TS
Troll opens Thursday
Little Swiz is trying for the weekend.
Little Swiz is trying for the weekend.
- Joined
- Oct 29, 2016
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- 547
Interesting discussion on snowfall which is a topic I have looked into many times. In short, the "on the snow" data is horribly inaccurate. All OTS does is record the data from ski area websites so it's actually the same source data. The interface between OTS and the various resort websites must be buggy and is very hit or miss.
So what's a better way to get the data? Ideally an impartial 3rd party source that directly measures snow data. These are rare. Out west, Snowtel sites are great. In Michigan, visitkeweenaw.com qualifies (it is a good 3rd party although it may be somewhat bias/inflated) NOAA has some data too. What all of these sources show is that snowfall in the Keweenaw leads the region.
I took the time to pull end of seasons stats from boho's website and aggregated visitkeweenaw data (below) I think it clearly shows the absurdity of OTS data accuracy and I have seen similar inaccuracies for OTS at other areas.
| Kew. | mt boho | OTS | |
2023 | 263 | 245 | 100 |
2022 | 325.5 | 321 | 100 |
2021 | 188 | no record | 20 |
2020 | 280 | 256 | 77 |
2019 | 309 | 300 | 148 |
2018 | 305 | 263 | 69 |
| avg | 278.4167 | 277 | 85.66667 |
I couldn't locate NOAA data per year but their data supports the snowfall averages that I believe to be accurate (see below). Clearly lake effect snowfall has a major impact in the Midwest with areas far from the lakes only averaging 20-70 inches of snow. The UP has several areas around 200" whereas the LP has areas around 150" MN areas near the lake are upwind from lake effect most of the time but still get a boost to about 80 inches.
A few additional data points from NOAA:
- Hurley, WI and Duluth average 174" and 86" respectively. Duluth is near Lutsen. Hurley is near Whitecap, Snow River and Big Powderorn. https://www.weather.gov/dlh/duluthwinterclimate
- Gaylord, MI averages 149" (near Boyne, Nubs, Shanty) https://www.weather.gov/apx/snow
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- Joined
- Oct 4, 2017
- Posts
- 1,177
Can't find any info on what runs will be open. Likely just their smallest rope park..
Thread Starter
TS
• Nissebakken w/ Chair 3 + Tomtebakken terrain Park w/ Rope Tow (no beginner terrain available)
• Snack Bar Open | Thu, Fri, Sat & Sun
• Skolhaugen Lounge open | Sat & Sun
• Ski Shop open with preseason hours
• No rentals or lessons available yet
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2017
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I'm thinking about going this weekend. It's supposed to be 46 here though and I can't imagine that run is going to be very good shape.. I usually wait until they have two 'real' runs open to head out there...
Yea, my boys, especially the younger one, have been bugging me all week to head out to Wild. Thought we might do today or tomorrow, but it's looking a little warm on the forecast and I haven't even scraped summer wax off any of the skis yet.
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- Oct 4, 2017
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The pictures I saw of Troll looked pretty awful as far as conditions went, and I'm sure it got worse as the weekend went long with how warm it was. It was 55 at my house yesterday. That's not good for a thin base layer.
Troll did sell out all their tickets for Saturday, which is pretty amazing. Not sure how many they offered though.
Wild looked pretty bad by Sunday as well. One of my buddies texted me on Saturday that he was heading out with one of his kids seeing if we wanted to play, but I was still working on getting lake stuff tucked away for the winter. Judging by his pictures, we didn't miss much, but I'm sure my boys would have happily lapped the park for a couple hours. The warm weather's probably my fault, I bought new boots on Friday.....
I was at Trollhaugen yesterday. It was fun but by the afternoon it was getting thin. Brown dirt patches were beginning to show through.
- Joined
- Oct 4, 2017
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Hopefully they made some money as I doubt they reopen until temps change. I'm seeing 1 night below freezing in the next 2 weeks. I doubt they'll reopen until Dec 1st at best with this weather we're having...
Thread Starter
TS
Friends are water skiing tomorrow. Hard to make snow when it is 60 degrees.
Thread Starter
TS
What you waiting for?
ha, we moved and none of my custom cut lights work well with the new roof lines and I'm waiting on a 28' ladder to get the peaks LOL. I'm ill equipped at the moment. I'll get it right this weekend, snow making weather will be here soon, I promiseWhat you waiting for?
El Nino = no bueno for midwest skiing......worse for other areas.
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- Oct 29, 2016
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I know these are well established charts from NOAA, but I think they are horribly misleading. For example the temperature chart has the Midwest in orange which looks bad but actually means NOAA is still predicting its more likely to be average or cold this winter. On top of that, the long term predictions are horribly inaccurate.
So I suggest ignoring these charts entirely
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