14(*) Open Trails on South, North Summit-To-Base Sectors of #Tremblant.
Yesterday we included a Bilingual copy of the Environment Canada Weather Warning
regarding the large Freezing Rain system that is moving across the North Eastern
half of the Continent.(**)
This mornings outcome, in-so-far-as Tremblant’s Alpine Ski/Board Trail Network,
is not so bad as it could have been and the evidence of that is confirmation of the
Open Trail Count at 14(*).
Things could have been a lot worse, as statistical history shows the impact of
significant freezing rain events at Ski Resorts can result in greatly reduced
Open Trail counts or even closure. The continuity of the Open Trail Count is
the most reassuring demonstration we could hope for as the system now
makes its way eastward towards the Atlantic Coast.
We were up in the middle of the night and just for the fun of it, checking Webcams,
when we captured this Webcam Snap Shot below, of Mountain Crews Grooming
at the South Resort Base on the Johannsen Trail. At that point we felt very positive
about minimal effects on Open Trails. We have seen circumstances where Base level
freezing rain has been Snow at summit levels, but that did not occur in this case,
so we must be content that in the end, the Open Trail numbers remain virtually the
same as yesterday.
- Webcam Snap Shot Courtesy of Tremblant.ca
- Screen Shot 2015-12-14 at 1.50.04 AM.jpg (97.96 KiB) Viewed 3934 times
As a very positive relief, and Major Point Repeat: It could have been a lot worse.
... but as far as practical photography today... it’s impractical...
- www.tremblant360.com photo. All rights reserved.
- 12.14.15.PB.123.Summit.Sample.Views.Foggy.Damp.c.jpg (299.65 KiB) Viewed 3870 times
Besides Weather related vision “issues”, todays Conditions may exhibit a wide range
of surfaces that for the most part should be good to fine groomed carving, but with
all the wonky weather, could also contain icy bits or natural hazards where coverage
is thinner or where they may become exposed due to traffic wear. Depending on the
final rise in the daytime temp’s, softening could occur on all trail surfaces which would
make very fine Spring-like Skiing/Boarding.
Initial explorations should be undertaken with caution and reduced speed
until safe passage is verified.
Early Season Race Training continues and Versant Sud, South Side Taschereau
is restricted for training use this morning.
On a very positive note for Open Terrain Expansion and existing quality
improvement once we get back to suitable temp's, we’d like to point out the
most recent Snowmaking Icons on the Official Report from yesterday as one
of the best indicators of maintenance and future Terrain development.
That list includes:
Versant Sud, South Side:
Beauvallon Haut(upper).
McCulloch
Mi Chemin(from Nansen to TGV Quad Base)
Nansen Haut(upper)
Versant Nord, North Side:
Any Moe
Beauchemin Bas(lower)
Beauchemin Haut(upper)
Duncan Bas(lower)
Duncan Haut(upper)
La Traverse
Rigodon
Rope Tow
Anecdotally, and from nothing other than previous Icon listings and actual
on-hill observations, we’ve seen Snowmaking on both Gagnon and Vanier
indicating at least some intent to begin expansion within the Expo Quad
serviced Terrain.
Weather Notes:
Light Rain and/or Showers forecast during Open hours today, indicating the
transient passage of precipitation bands over the area. Winds are moderate
Easterly, so rising up over the Mountain above Beauchemin/Duncan and
crossing the Summit towards McCulloch/TGV.
The part we like the least is that temps and rain are forecasted to rise
through the eve. and into tomorrow morning. After that, temp’s should
fall back to Zero C tomorrow Apres Ski, at which point the sky is supposed
to clear up too.
(**) The Environment Canada Freezing Rain Warnings were Reissued this morning
so we are including this repeat from yesterday for the record.
- Environment Canada Weather Warning Screenshots Courtesy of The Weather Network.
- Screen Shot 2015-12-13 at 10.06.21 AM.jpg (173.92 KiB) Viewed 3870 times
Our understanding is that the actual Freezing Rain threat on the Mountain is
probably past, however, for Regional Tremblant Commuters this warning may
be still directly applicable, and therefore we are including it as a Public Service
Announcement for those who may be traveling the roads that lead to Tremblant
today, to encourage BOTH the allocation of additional transit times and allowance of
additional space/distance following other traffic for safe braking/stopping margins.
Just to Shift attention to Positive Near Future Expectations,
and from the Snowmaking Icon List above:
We Love Andy Moe.
File Shots from December 6th, 2015
- www.tremblant360.com photo. All rights reserved.
- 12.6.15.Summit.Sector.Signs.Of.Nord.North.Sud.South.b.jpg (613.66 KiB) Viewed 3838 times
Andy Moe is one of those narrow, tree lined, very old Mountain Trails that
we imagine started out over 100 years ago as a pedestrian Mountain Top
access trail, probably to a Summit Forest Ranger Tower used to scan and
report Forest Fires, back in the day when the Lumber Industry was the
economic driver of the region.
Now it’s a diagonal link between the upper P’tit Bonheur access and the top
pitch of Beauchemin. It is one of the most scenic parts of Tremblant and
because it is narrow and has tall trees lining its sides, and because it is in the
lee or shelter of the blustery exposed part of the Summit only 20 metres away,
it typically has a quiet, peaceful ambience even when the winds can be heard
howling... off in the distance.
- www.tremblant360.com photo. All rights reserved.
- 12.6.15.Nord.North.Andy.Moe.Views.d.jpg (844.75 KiB) Viewed 3838 times
If you look closely at the pic above, you’ll see the Lowell Thomas Triple Chair
running up to the Summit as you look across the white gap over the trail that
is upper Beauchemin. If you look closely at Andy Moe’s Trail Surface, you’ll
see a Snow Gun sitting there, plumbed and ready to go.
On a day like today when the photography is not so good in the field,
it’s a great excuse to look at and forward to some new Open Terrain that
is on the Snowmaking list and hopefully coming up soon.
14(*) Open Trails on the Archival Copy of Official Open Trails, Grooming,
Snowmaking and Lift Status for December 14th, 2015, Courtesy of Tremblant.ca
- Archival Copy of Official Open Trails, Grooming, Snowmaking and Lift Status, Courtesy of Tremblant.ca
- Screen Shot 2015-12-14 at 7.54.57 AM.jpg (297 KiB) Viewed 3922 times
Page assembly in progress but to summarize, we’re very grateful that
continuity of the Open Trail Count has been maintained. It’s not only
the best sign of minimal weather impact now, but also that the critically
important foundations for ongoing expansion of the Open Terrain remain
in place for the drop in temps forecasted for tomorrow and the Snowmaking
that should begin as soon as temp’s drop to the point that makes it possible.
Links and not-so-fine print:
http://www.tremblant.ca
What’s The Use? Research Benefits of this Archive: http://tinyurl.com/gp5vjps
http://www.tremblant.ca/mountain/winter ... port-e.htm
(*)
Understanding Trail Counts - http://alturl.com/n54py http://www.tremblant.ca/mountain/trailmap-e.htm
http://www.tremblant.ca/galleries/webcams/index-e.htm
http://translate.google.com/translate_t ... =fr&tl=en#
http://www.theweathernetwork.com/weather/CAQC0360
Forum Index: http://alturl.com/r4cco
Bring Back The Memories... 
Research Future Visits... If you would like to look up dates you visited Tremblant, or you
want to research days/weeks/months to visit, you can sample what
they look like historically, month by month, year by year.
GoTo: Archive, Search Reports by Date: Index: http://tinyurl.com/yktelmu
When reviewing dates from any of the past, numbered, archived pages,
you can use the "Previous Topic" or "Next Topic" buttons, located
screen far right, in upper date/message bar to scroll through sequential
dates, or use your browsers "back" button to stay on the selected index
page for non-sequential date reviews in either forward or reverse order.
There are approximately 6, 25 day Index pages per season.
(
If you "Bookmark" the link above, it will always take you to theFirst index page with the latest posts. That gives you an immediate,
current to 25 day past, review scroll of Winter Alpine Conditions by
consecutive date.)
.