Anticipation for the start of Ski/Board season among the most dedicated
of Tremblant fans goes through escalating levels that rise rapidly when
major milestones of preparation occur...
Monday November 3rd, 2014 was just such a day. Not only did the
day start off under a brilliantly sunny sky, but the big surprise was the
reflected, bright, white light of sunshine on Snow!
((*)We are careful to say “1st. Observed Snowmaking” because there may
have been previous testing that we did not see... don’t think so, but it
is possible...)
Screen left, below. Snow visible on Beauvallon behind Flying Mile Summit.
- www.tremblant360.com Photo. All rights reserved.
- 11.3.14.Versant.Sud.South.View.Snowmaking.a.jpg (384.93 KiB) Viewed 4431 times
Any day this early in November that includes Snow in the view is a great day
and worthy of a closer look... but when it’s the first day we’ve seen Snow
on the trails of Tremblant, our hearts skip a beat.
- www.tremblant360.com Photo. All rights reserved.
- 11.3.14.First.Observed.Snowmaking.Beauvalon.Haut.Upper.c.jpg (411.32 KiB) Viewed 4431 times
This sighting necessitated an immediate shift in priority, so the hiking
itinerary originally planned was cast aside to head directly to Beauvallon
so we could say we walked on Snow today!
- www.tremblant360.com Photo. All rights reserved.
- 11.3.14.First.Observed.Snowmaking.Beauvallon.Haut.Upper.d.jpg (329.73 KiB) Viewed 4430 times
As a physical Locational Reference, this snowmaking is just above the entrance
to the Versant Sud, South Side Lower Alpine Trail, Park Zone.
- www.tremblant360.com Photo. All rights reserved.
- 11.3.14.First.Observed.Snowmaking.Beauvallon.Haut.Upper.g.jpg (250.97 KiB) Viewed 4430 times
Realistically speaking, there’s no way to tell for sure if snow created at this
date, just under 3 weeks from the scheduled Season Opening, can last.
There are some reasons to think that it could... possibly(?). The largest is
that the ground has been frozen solid at the surface level on a 24 hour basis
for the past 2 or 3 days down to just below TGV base level on South and down
to the second from the bottom plateau of Beauchemin on the North. Even if it
does not last, saturating Mountain Trail surfaces with water at this point first
facilitates heat loss, then later on, cold penetration, so it’s all good as far as
we are concerned.
Ultimately, this may only be a “System Test” by Mountain Crews, but regardless,
to us it represents a key turning point in Mountain preparations for Winter.
It’s also a reminder that when the conditions are right, Mountain Crews
can cover tremendous square footage in literally hours. So, at this stage,
we’re hoping the weather stays within seasonal averages and we’re looking
forward to Seasons Opening, November 21st.
.