Seasons Opening Day Officially Postponed To:
Thursday, November 26th, 2015
via Blog Post @ Tremblant.ca
Happy American Thanksgiving!!!
On Saturday, Nov. 14th, we wrote:
"Of course... Mother Nature could fool everyone in the week left to go before
the Lifts begin”.... and.... "We could be totally wrong on any or all of this though.
We are not privy to any exclusive information from Mother Nature for confirmation
of her upcoming plans this week”
It’s a good thing we put those caveat’s into our Opening Day support topic because:
- Screenshot Courtesy of Tremblant.ca
- 11.16.15.Postpone.Tremblant.Season.Open.To.11.26.15.jpg (471.7 KiB) Viewed 5337 times
(Editors Note: Re: Revised Opening. We decided to leave in all the orig. post data
here for future Tremblant Historians and Opening Day Conditions Researchers.
Opening Day is the accumulative results of many days/weeks of prior work and as
such, everything leading up to any Opening day is a historical record of the kind of
“Wild Card” Mother Nature phenomenon Humans deal with across the years. The
work of Mountain Crews up ’til now is not wasted either, despite the 6 day delay.
Ground saturation by any means cools the Mountain by drawing heat out through
thermal conduction. See point #4 below.)
Posted Saturday, November 14th, 2015.
The Phone Calls... The eMails... The Social Media/PM's...
People we meet on the street...
The Questions never end...
What’z Opening Day going to be like??? Do you think there’s going to be
enough Snow? Will there be any Snow??? How good will conditions be???
etc., etc., etc.
Firstly:
Regardless of the final, actual, Open Date/Trail specifics, we are always sincerely
grateful for whatever Tremblant Mountain Crews can open considering the huge
logistical and weather challenges they face in the process. Over the years,
their initial quality has consistently shown optimal refinement for the conditions
Mother Nature presents leading up to any Opening Day, and we are positive
this season will be no different.
Secondly, Moving Forward to this season:
For reasons we’ll explain below, we are optimistic Opening Day will be
on schedule for Friday, November 20th, 2015 as planned by Tremblant.ca
Of course... Mother Nature could fool everyone in the week left to go before
the Lifts begin, but based on the current weather forecast data for the week
coming up, our observations of the Mountains conditions and the Tremblant
Mountain Operations Group’s state of preparedness, we think the odds are
very good for basic coverage of Summit North and South Sectors. Those areas
could include P’tit Bonheur and Upper Beauchemin, maybe Lowell Thomas(???),
Upper Beauvallon/Alpine and maybe Nansen(???), for examples...
...with some possibility of Lower Beauvallon to the South Resort Base, if, if, if
everything goes really well and the weather trends to lower overall temps...
as the forecasting models are currently showing revised LOWER temps
for periods of the next week.
We could be totally wrong on any or all of this though. We are not privy
to any exclusive information from Mother Nature for confirmation of her
upcoming plans this week, nor are we privy to Mountain Op’s exact strategy
either. All we have are the Weather Network’s forecast models and the
observations afforded by the trusty Tremblant.ca Web Cams, combined
with a few decades of personal experience.
For a “Good Luck” start, we’re going to begin by examining the weather
stat’s from Friday the 13th of November, one week prior to opening, as
Mountain Crews turn on and turn up Snowmaking production to the first
serious levels, i.e., "Snowmaking Day 1”.
Day “1” already has a big, big advantage... the usual 4C lower
Summit temp is actually 6C lower during the day, so heading into
the overnight, Mountain Elevations are going to be seeing well
below zero C. (Please Note: Graphic Annotations Below)
Screenshots Courtesy of The Weather Network and Tremblant.ca
(Scroll ------>>> for complete images where necessary.)
- Screenshots Courtesy of The Weather Network and Tremblant.ca
- Screen Shot 2015-11-14 at 10.34.43 AM.jpg (144.58 KiB) Viewed 5362 times
- Screenshots Courtesy of The Weather Network.
- Screen Shot 2015-11-15 at 7.07.44 AM.jpg (64.63 KiB) Viewed 5358 times
Weather Network Stat’s clearly show Mountain temps suitable, and
Snowmaking well under way...
- Web Cam SnapShot Courtesy of Tremblant.ca
- Screen Shot 2015-11-14 at 3.09.36 AM.jpg (136 KiB) Viewed 5358 times
- Web Cam SnapShot Courtesy of Tremblant.ca
- Screen Shot 2015-11-14 at 3.06.57 AM.jpg (56.2 KiB) Viewed 5358 times
throughout the day(and overnight as well), with the 4 to 6 degree C Cooler
Mountain Elevations temps keeping conditions right for Snowmaking
around the clock.
Please Note: We do not have Visual Summit Web Cam Temp readings after
the Summit went Sub-Zero because the Web Cam Lens Cover got covered
with Snow in that direction and that viewing angle was obscured.
- Screenshots Courtesy of The Weather Network.
- Screen Shot 2015-11-15 at 7.34.06 AM.jpg (104.29 KiB) Viewed 5358 times
Saturday Daytime:
- Web Cam SnapShots Courtesy of Tremblant.ca
- Screen Shot 2015-11-15 at 8.48.22 AM.jpg (93.33 KiB) Viewed 5355 times
- Web Cam SnapShot Courtesy of Tremblant.ca
- Screen Shot 2015-11-15 at 8.28.42 AM.jpg (95.71 KiB) Viewed 5355 times
Saturday Daytime:
South, Resort Base, Looking up Johannsen:
- Web Cam SnapShots Courtesy of Tremblant.ca
- Screen Shot 2015-11-15 at 9.09.07 AM.jpg (138.75 KiB) Viewed 5355 times
on the South Resort Base level!
Sunday Morning:
- Web Cam SnapShot Courtesy of Tremblant.ca
- Screen Shot 2015-11-15 at 9.38.54 AM.jpg (97.52 KiB) Viewed 5355 times
sensitive to the mostly single digit “Plus” value daytime temps that are in the
forecast for the next few days. Only time will tell if Mountain Crews can “Bank”
enough Snowmaking during the forecasted nighttime “Minus”, sub-zero temps to
establish a usable base for opening day, but the fact that they have made
this early start to the project is very good news for all Tremblant “Opening Day”
fans.
Summary Points:
1) We think the Summit Sectors, Versant Nord, the North Side in particular,
are going to be the most certain for Opening Day due to the far cooler,
and predominantly sub-zero temps at higher elevations. If that was the case,
the Lowell Thomas Triple Chair and possibly the TGV might be the operational
lifts for Open Terrain with the Gondola as Up and Download Summit service.
2) If the Versant Sud, South Side Summit to Base Descent Path is
(weather/time/resources-permitting) available together with the Gondola, it will
be a most welcome feature that we have been privileged to have possible over
the past several seasons Opening days.
3) Tremblant Mountain Op’s have access to far more detailed weather projections
than we do and consequently we take the evidence of their efforts on all Snowmaking,
especially the work on the South Resort Base Level Snowmaking, as a very serious sign
of their confidence in the forecast conditions.
4) It should be noted that with the 24Hour Children’s Charity Fundraiser only
3 some-odd weeks away, establishing the Summit to Base South Side path
is vitally important, so even if it is not quite ready for Opening Day, saturating
the ground helps draw heat out and allows for a really solid base when
things do freeze up for the season.
5) We were spoiled last season due to the very, very favourable below average
temps that basically had sub-zeros from around November 2nd, allowing
Crews to start Snowmaking far earlier and the first ever(in the 76 year History
of the Resort), Summit to Base South and North descents on Opening Day.
6) The far warmer temps of this fall are probably not going to permit a repeat
of last year, however advancements in Snowmaking technology are certainly
making it easier to blow snow much closer to the freezing mark. We are sure
Mountain Crews will be doing everything they can to cover as much as
possible when Mother Nature’s Sub-Zero “Permissions” are granted.
7) None Of The Public Debate We Have Seen Or Heard... acknowledges,
discusses, or realizes the important significance of the much cooler temps at
Summit/Nord/North Elevations, which is a critical advantage Tremblant
Snowmaking Crews have the benefit of this week. Many people just look at
the South Base Level Weather forecasts, see a one day thermal spike, and think
the whole Mountain will be exposed. That is almost NEVER the case, and furthermore.a:
at the current temps for that base level forecast “Light" precipitation, it could actually
fall as Snow on Summit/North Sectors, furthermore.b: we think that Elevation
Differential may be the biggest favourable asset for any scheduled opening.
8) Repeat from above: "Regardless of the final, actual, Open Date/Trail specifics,
we are always sincerely grateful for whatever Tremblant Mountain Crews can open
considering the huge logistical and weather challenges they face in the process.
Over the years, their initial quality has consistently shown optimal refinement for
the conditions Mother Nature presents leading up to any Opening Day, and we are
positive this season will be no different."
Opening Day is a Treasured Tradition for all true Tremblant Ski/Board fans.
After 7 months off, the excitement, enthusiasm and anticipation are motivators
of the highest, most compelling orders.
We encourage one and all to get out for one of the sweetest days of each new season!
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Sunday Apres Mid-night Update:
- Web Cam SnapShots Courtesy of The Weather Network and Tremblant.ca
- Screen Shot 2015-11-16 at 9.38.28 PM.jpg (123.07 KiB) Viewed 5339 times
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Monday Noon @ 12:51 p.m. Update...
Still Froze...
If the Summit goes over 0 Deg. C, i.e. above freezing, you’ll know
pretty quickly by the snow or frost on small uninsulated surfaces
such as the Ski Patrol Deck/Stair Rails. Warmth that surrounds
those surfaces will melt solid ice/snow in minutes. Ambient air temps
may even be still below zero, but when the sun is out any darker
surfaces may absorb enough solar energy to melt anyway. The fact
that all the frosty surfaces are still intact at 1:00 p.m. on a sunny day
is another plus for minimal daytime Summit Level Snow loss.
- Web Cam SnapShot Courtesy of Tremblant.ca
- Screen Shot 2015-11-16 at 12.51.08 PM.jpg (324.49 KiB) Viewed 5343 times
Topic under evolving construction with additional follow-ups and Weather data,
but you should be getting your Skis/Boards edges tuned and bases waxed
while you’re waiting for more of this post. We’ll be adding additional
Graphic/Pic./Text content here as the week develops. We just wanted to get
a “Positive” start/support going for anyone sitting on the fence about coming out.
Make your plans to go now.
.