Is it better to not know?

[Harvey]

I feel like this is part of it (and I think I do it too).

I think people feel like they know a place if they just read all the information about it & keep up with the news & weather.

But I feel like that’s how people get the idea that “can’t even walk outside because of crime in cities” or “Killington sucks”.

And I always seem to have a good time at the mountains.

So I still think “you don’t know unless you go” is a better motto than “weather map says it’s a gully washer, season’s over”

You got to know to go is of course true. But to me, to some extent it falls in the same category as snowtires. No brainer for locals, more of a decision if you live 300 miles from the snow.

Last year I was completely on my own (family didn't ski) with my only restriction being... I had to stick to weekdays. Less days than average, but far better days on average. This site was originally built to help a flatlander (me) make the call. I also really enjoy trying to find snow, so I will keep doing it.

With my life, I'll never be the first to know most ski related news (not talking about weather). Somebody like Skiology Matt has made knowing everything his full time job. I can't compete with that and don't want to either.

MC this feels like a shift for you? Or am I imagining that.

 

[witch hobble]

 

[Ripitz]

Somebody like Skiology Matt has made knowing everything his full time job. I can't compete with that and don't want to either.

MC this feels like a shift for you? Or am I imagining that.

Sometimes spiders get caught in their own webs.

 

[Brownski]

You have to go to know for sure. The best adventures are the ones that happen organically

 

[x10003q]

I am still not in a position to ski as much as I would like to ski. Talking about it with like minded enthusiasts helps to fill that void. Part of the need to know has to do with discussions about one of my favorite things - skiing. The perspectives that the people add about skiing add to my enjoyment.

 

[Campgottagopee]

You have to go to know for sure

This ^^^^^ because I like to make my own mind up regarding xxxxxxx

 

[jamesdeluxe]

“weather map says it’s a gully washer, season’s over”

Sounds like someone I know!

To play the contrarian: I remember several times over the past 20 years -- especially in the Alps but also while going over Teton Pass and Monarch Pass out west -- when I didn't bother to check the weather forecast and ended up driving through white-knuckle conditions in rental cars without snow tires or chains.

The good thing was that I always made it through and scored major powder days. The potential bad outcome: in the west, the worst-case scenario is an accident or getting stuck in snow; however, in the Alps, it's pretty easy to go over the side of a road without guardrails to your death 1,000+ vertical feet below.

 

[MC2]

.
Most recent bonus was a few years ago when we planned months in advance to meet up with my daughter and her friends in the Mad River Valley...

I had a particular 2 days at MRG In mind when I wrote this post. Snow was not in the forecast at all, and we got 3” the first night and 4” the next night…. Skiing 7” of fresh on the second day with nobody on the hill (because they didn’t know) was pretty freaking sweet.

 

[MC2]

Sounds like someone I know!

To play the contrarian: I remember several times over the past 20 years -- especially in the Alps but also while going over Teton Pass and Monarch Pass out west -- when I didn't bother to check the weather forecast and ended up driving through white-knuckle conditions in rental cars without snow tires or chains.
.

if you want me to add a safety caveat, sure, but also, as others mention, the people who live in the area know what they are dealing with and act accordingly.

Both tourists & locals hike in sneakers, but only tourists get caught on top of the mountain after dark wearing sneakers in the snow, dig?

 

[Campgottagopee]

I had a particular 2 days at MRG In mind when I wrote this post. Snow was not in the forecast at all, and we got 3” the first night and 4” the next night…. Skiing 7” of fresh on the second day with nobody on the hill (because they didn’t know) was pretty freaking sweet.

Reading your reply made me think of one of the best ski day's I ever had. It was in late 80's, no internet, cell phone, all that crap. We were supposed to go to a ski school party at Sterling Pond but it started to pour rain. On a whim I called my Grandfather in Baker Mills who told me it was nuking snow there. My buddy and I took off. We had over a foot of fresh come the AM and hardly anyone around.