November 22nd, 2011

Daily Tremblant Ski and Snowboard Conditions, Weather and News Reports. Current and Archived.
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GaboRousseau
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November 22nd, 2011

Post by GaboRousseau »

Mountain is disappearing behind the snowguns clouds.
Opening in 2 days!
21-novembre-002_sm.jpg
21-novembre-002_sm.jpg (136.87 KiB) Viewed 3586 times
Gabo Rousseau
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T360
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Re: November 22nd, 2011

Post by T360 »

Absolutely fantastic pic Gabo!
Merci, Merci, Merci!


It's not what you can see as much as it's about what you can't see!

Mountain Crews are in "Full Production" mode and that means the
sweet fog of snow guns turned up to "11"!

For the sake of the archive, plus all those interested, we're gunna add in
those great shots you posted off of P'tit Bonheur to the Lowell Thomas
Triple Chair loading zone..... There's a potentially interesting story we see
in one of those shots that we'll elaborate on

plus... we're also gunna add in some web-cam shots. We'll make a....
"Preliminary 2011/12 Season Opening Report" as a reply here.

All to follow here a little later on today!

P.S. No matter how many times we get to start a new season, the
anticipation and excitement never seem to diminish. We just can't wait to
get out on the Mountain!




.
The Tremblant360.com Team
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T360
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Re: November 22nd, 2011

Post by T360 »

2011/2012 Preliminary Winter Mountain Report/Archive.

Sample How A Run Is Built.

# 72 on the Official Trail Map, P'tit Bonheur


The start of the 2011/2012 Winter Alpine Ski/Board season
marks a new, higher level of social media presence for the benefit
of all those dedicated Tremblant Winter Fans. The main
means of delivering this information is the Tremblant.ca
Facebook page where the resort has published a wonderful
array of very high quality images of the Snow Making efforts
by Mountain Crews.

We would like to thank the Author of this topic, GaboRousseau
for not only starting the topic, but the very nicely composed
picture/sample she attached. People that come here both now and
in the future will have one of the best insights into all the hard work
that goes into getting the Mountains Winter season going and
Ms. Rousseau is the one that makes that presentation.

We are going to take a look at some of these pic's by grouping
them into locational proximity so we can see some of the possibilities
for Opening day, Thursday, Nov. 24th, 2011.

First off, the most important run to get going is P'tit Bonheur on
Versant Nord, the North Side Summit. For as long as we can remember
(and particularly since the advent of "snowmaking"), this sector of the
Mountain has been the first to open and we think that is due to three
main factors:

1) The summit is typically 4 to 5 degrees C. cooler than the base, so
when winter's just getting started, that can be a huge difference in
retaining snow.

2) The sun is lowest in the sky at this time and consequently, P'tit Bonheur
does not get direct beaming solar energy as much as the South facing
areas which also makes a difference when early season temps hover
near the freezing mark and this run gets quite a bit of shade.

3) This sector is very well serviced by the Lowell Thomas Triple Chair lift
which make for a super easy and manageable circuit for Mountain Crews
to supervise and maintain. It is also very easy to access the Gondola
from the South Base for convenient early season up and downloading.

There is a PDF Tremblant Trail Map with a numeric Pic list
at the bottom of this reply.


We start off with the Summit, where everything originates.
The First is a Tremblant.ca Facebook pic.

Pic # 1
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
11.12.Preliminary.Winter.1.jpg (172.81 KiB) Viewed 3553 times
The next two areWebcam shots, courtesy of
Tremblant.ca . Theses are taken from the Ski Patrol HQ looking
almost west down La Crete, Trail # 2 on the Official Map, toward
the upper Nansen/P'tit Bonheur entrance. All snow guns are
on "Max"!


Pic # 2
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
11.22.11.Summit.Snow.h.jpg (14.35 KiB) Viewed 3553 times
Pic. # 3
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
11.22.11.Summit.Snow.a.jpg (11.57 KiB) Viewed 3553 times
From just below the last point visible in these two above, looking
back up we can see the results of all the snow guns in this location.


Pic. # 4
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
11.12.Preliminary.Winter.a.jpg (199.32 KiB) Viewed 3553 times
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The "Big Bump Theory" ...shown in the pic's above and below.

Tremblant's Snowmaking Team uses both permanently plumbed
as well as portable snow guns set to run in stationary positions
to generate a sequence of "Big Bumps" of blown snow over the trails
they are working on to create an inventory of snow. Typically, the guns
run in these fixed positions for a period of days in order to accumulate
significant amounts of snow.

Next, the guns are shut off and the Big Bumps are left to "Air Out", sort
of a drying process that allows the crystalline structure of the snow to
be exposed to cold dry air and lose any sort of dampness. Depending
on ambient weather/temp's, this phase can be anywhere from hours to days.

Snowmaking Crews monitor this process and when the desired conditions
are achieved, Grooming Crews move in to spread it around into the flat,
seamless surface we get to Ski or Board on. If you look back up at the
pic. above, you can see the cross-section of the Big Bumps where the
Groomers have driven through the Bumps for the first time as they
start the surface finishing.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Next, we move down to just above the second turn in P'tit Bonheur
as it makes it's way in it's gentle "S" shape.


Pic. #5
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
11.12.Preliminary.Winter.b.jpg (128.18 KiB) Viewed 3553 times
Now then, we think this one below was taken on the plateau where
Beauchmin and P'tit Bonheur (2/3rd mark) run parallel.
We think you're looking up trail # 73 La Traverse which is a very
good sign for early season because they have used this section in
past early seasons for some park features, but also because to use this
means #68 Rope Tow is also needed, so it will be one of the first additions
as the days go by.


Pic. # 6
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
11.12.Preliminary.Winter.c.jpg (123.57 KiB) Viewed 3553 times

In this shot we're actually on Beauchemin, looking back up,
just below where P'tit Bonheur joins, and just above the Lowell
Thomas triple Chair Loading zone.
Looking at the left side of the pic., you can see snow gun mist/fog
on La Traverse, just above where it joins Beauchemin.


Pic. # 7
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
11.12.Preliminary.Winter.d.jpg (130.03 KiB) Viewed 3553 times
We are now down nearing the Lowell Thomas Loading zone,
still looking back. On the left is#69 Rigodon.


Pic. # 8
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
11.12.Preliminary.Winter.e.jpg (95.58 KiB) Viewed 3553 times

Looking down Beauchemin at the mid-point. The Lowell Thomas
fixed triple chair lift is just off to the right of this frame.

Pic. # 9
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
11.12.Preliminary.Winter.g.jpg (119.99 KiB) Viewed 3553 times

From the Lowell Thomas Loading Zone, looking back over Beauchemin.
The "Big Bumps" of blown snow inventory are critical to filling this run in
for adequate depth. They will be groomed flat for tomorrow mornings
opening.

Pic. # 10
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
11.12.Preliminary.Winter.h.jpg (109.1 KiB) Viewed 3553 times
Looking at the bottom of our run, right to the Lowell Thomas
Loading Zone.

Pic. # 11
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
11.12.Preliminary.Winter.i.jpg (213.62 KiB) Viewed 3553 times
Trail Map PDF Showing Pic Locations,
....pink arrows indicate direction of viewing.
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
Image courtesy of www.tremblant.ca
11.12.Preliminary.Map.a.jpg (170.6 KiB) Viewed 3552 times
There you have if Folks, untold hours of work and effort
so we can get out and enjoy our favourite sport on Opening Day!

When will you be here?


We'll save a chair for ya....



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Last edited by T360 on Wed Nov 23, 2011 2:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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GaboRousseau
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Re: November 22nd, 2011

Post by GaboRousseau »

You really are the King of the mountain!
the trails are really different when you look upward instead of riding down lol
Gabo Rousseau
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steph16mtl
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Re: November 22nd, 2011

Post by steph16mtl »

Amazing read and pictures. See you all Saturday!
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