SkiCamelback

Over the past few days I have gotten a bunch of PM

Morning Update II: The Oak Grove Pipe is closed. The walls and transitions are hard. The Rhodo park is open (for the rails and boxes), the hit's and landings are in the same condition as the pipe... I'll post more as I get the info..

Morning Update: The Sullivan Detach is closed due to High Winds. The Bailey (Fixed Grip) lift is operating and taking skiers and riders to the summit. Current temperature is 9 degrees and with wind chill -- much colder. Remember to watchout for frostbite. CB hasn't made since mid February (and I think one night on Rocket later in the month).

Tuesday March 6 - First off -- it's coold. There is a high winds advisorory, so be careful of frost bite. Today the Sullivan Detach, Raceway Triple, and Meadows Lift will be running. The Stevenson is not running due to high wind. 29 slopes are open, but Nile Mile, Cliffhanger, Pharaoh and Little Ceasars are closed (29 open, 4 closed). Conditions are machine groomed with a Frozen and Loose Granular surface. Forecast is calling for a High of 15 on Wednesday and a High of 30 on Thursday --- winter is hanging in there for a few more days!! Sharpen your edges if you head out today. Temps will start going up later this this week and the outlook for Fri-Sun looks more mild -- Just in time for Beach Party Weekend. If you get out, please add to the post....

Winter is definitely sticking around! The low

Today - CB has all 33 slopes open and 5 Lifts (including both Detach's). Both parks and pipes are open. The Rhodo park set has changed and when I get the set up, I'll post more. Snow conditions are looking like a little mix of everythig -- I'll call it Machine Groomed & Variable. Snow base depth is edge to edge with good coverage. Forcast for today is a little sun, turning cloudy and highs in the mid 30's. Long rage is saying below average temps (hi's in the low 30's) through mid-March. Tonight is the continuation of the Adult Race League. If you get out, please add to the thread and report...

For anyone that is still into this thread -- below are a few terms that I cut & pasted. These are not my words or descriptions, but most ski areas and condition-reporting services use the following terms and definitions when reporting snow conditions. The listing can be found on our trail map if you would want your own copy. Unfortunalty, there is no official "wet Slushie." Primary surface: That trail surface type which describes conditions on at least 70% of the terrain open to skiers. Secondary surface: The next most prevalent type of snow on the slopes. Description of terms used in describing ski trail surface conditions Powder: Fresh, loose, fluffy, flaky snow crystals, machine made or natural, that have not been compacted. New Snow: Snow that has been machine made or has fallen within the past 24 hours. Wet Snow: Moist and sticky as it falls, it clings and becomes heavy when it

As a side note -- I greatly appreciate Timeless, Glenn and everyone else that posts their own conditions report. Hearing it straight from the skier/rider is the best report there is! (Grilledsteez does a great job with Blue -- conditions and social happenings reporting)

Ben raises a few interesting points about conditions reporting

OK -- Here is how I think the day will start out -- Everying is open, with machine groomed packed poe with a little granular snow. The Park Guys think that by afternoon the snow might be more "wet slushy." There's a new term for the National Ski Area Associations official conditions terminology -- wet slushy!! Officially, the snow should be called "Variable." Both Detach's are open. Park's and Pipes are open. Temps are to get up to the mid 30's -- keeping things mild and a little wet. Park set up is the same -- but the crew is looking to change it up in the next few days. I'll post more when I get the info.. Calendar updates -- Pond Skimming returns March 17th If you get out today, please add your own report to the thread..

I may stand corrected. The explaination I was told was due to poor visability. I infered that to mean because of both snow and fog. I made the fog statement only based my memory of the mountain that evening (seeing the cloud/fog cover). It was my error to include fog (as a basis of closure). The reason was for lack of visability (due to snow fall). It certainly wasn't due to keeping payrole down. I'll will continue the learn more from the park guys that made the call and post the technical/policy/rational/criteria used. Did anyone ski anywhere? Please someone finish this thread with a conditions report!! Timeless, Glenn, Beuler, Beuler, anyone.... Grilledsteez -- how was Blue today?? I never made it out.

OK-- I just got some new info... The Park crew closed the Big Pipe early last evening due to limited visability in the pipe. It was a combination of the snow & fog that contributed to the decision. That's the news that I got. Anyone ski/ride anywhere today??

Pappa- Against my better judgement, and casting aside my fear of where this question is going.... The Big Pipe was closed yesterday for the Mid-Atlantic Snowboard Series Half Pipe competition and its competitors. It opened to the public (I believe) around 2:30 - 3:00 pm. I hope that the pipe closure was not a surprise to any guests -- the event had been on our calendar of events and the closure was listed (printed) on the daily report. The little pipe and both parks were open. I would like to thank the Mid-Atlantic crew for putting on a great event and to the competitors that came out. There are few photos in the daily pic's of skicamelback.com. I still haven't made it out onto the snow yet, but Ski911 told me that the skiing was good. It's a combination of packed POE, a little wet snow, some granular, all with a few piles starting. Mabey a better clasification would be "variable" at this time.. Thanks to all for your interest in the mornng report. I think the lesson in ski area marketing is --- If you have (or want) to ski everyday, don't work in the marketing department.... Again -- if you get out, please add to the thread your own conditions report.

The mountain opening is not delayed. Detach lifts have a few operational considerations that fixed grip lifts do not have. First -- Freezing rain impacts a detach's operations by having a coating of ice build up on the "traction plate" (I think that's what they call it?). The Traction plate is a flat surface on the grip of the lift that makes contact with the wheels while in the termininal. It's the wheels pushing the traction plate (hence the chair) through the terminal. If there is a coating of ice on the tractin plate, the wheels do not move the chair through the terminal effectivly. To avoid all sorts of problems, many detach lifts have a "shed" that allows the chairs to be under a roof to avoid being in the weather. The purpose of taking the chairs off the cable is not for the seats, but to cover the grips. It certainly helps the seats to be under cover. The Sullivan's Express is taking skiers and rider to the summit at of right now..

First off -- it's 7 am and I haven't skied yet. The following is just to start the morning off with a little info and what I would expect to see out on the slopes. If you are on it today -- please add your thoughts... CB recieved 3 - 4 inches of new snow last night. Much of it has been groomed in and has left a wet packed powder and slightly granular surface. There has been a little mixed precipitation and the forcast is calling for freezing rain. Because of this, both Detach chairs will have a delayed opening. All the chairs are off the cables and in the sheds. Once the threat of freezing rain passes, chairs will be loaded onto the Detach's and lift operations on the two will start. This should all be resolved by mid-morning. For the opening bell -- the Bailey Lift, Meadows Triple and Coolmore are open. All west side slopes are accessable, and the east side will be accessable as soon as the Stevenson Express opens. In all -- with the new snow and mild temperatures, skiing and riding should be really good!! I'll post more info as I get it..

Thanks Timeless for the first hand account!! Conditions were a little mixed this morning between packed pow, frozen cord and loose granular. I just got in from making a few runs (11:45 am) -- The sun is out softening the snow. It's a little of everything right now - loose granular, packed pow and patches of "fast" snow. By early afternoon -- it's going to be soft where there has been traffic. The parks and pipes -- a little hard right now, but with traffic and sun, should soften up for the evening. Crowds are light -- :45 sec wait on most lifts. In all -- it's a great day to be outside in the sun and snow!!

Wednesday February 21 It's mid-week and the holiday crowd has thinned out. Today all slopes will be open including both parks and pipes. The conditions are starting machine-groomed with a combination of packed and wet packed powder, and probably turning a little granular as the temps go up. Forcast is calling for sun and 40's by mid day --- All for the makings of a great day to ski and ride. Thanks to all that gave "inside information" on yesterdays report. I learned a few new tips myself! If you get out today -- please add to the thread your own conditions report. If you can't get out-- post why your not here? Work, school, leaving for Snowbird, Utah on Thursday.... ??? Catch you on the slopes!!

Tuesday Feb. 20 Here we go -- the busiest part of the President's week is now behind us and the slopes should be considerable less crowded for the remainder of the week (until the weekend). 100 % open with a machine groomed packed powder surface conditions, with very good coverage edge-to-edge. Bumps are on The Rocket and Lower Cleo. Both parks and pipe are open including the extended rails and features into Lower Moores Ramble. The current forcast has the Poconos on the line betweeen either a little rain or snow for later today and tonight? I bet it's going to be a few inches of new snow! I got out for the first time in a few days on Sunday and snaped a few Park photos -- if you haven't checked out the photos of the day go to - http://gallery.skicamelback.com/gallery/ .. The first (4) are part of a sequence -- I could watch this guy all day -- he was amazing!! Gaped the flat, landed on the down and kept on going!!! Over the weekend I got to talk with a bunch of first time guests. Many asked if I had any "inside tips" for making their stay more enjoyable? My biggest was -- eat lunch at Cameltop -- no crowds and great view. I'd be interested in hearing others???? Thanks again to Buckman's, The Loft, Oakley and all the competitors that made it for this past weekends rail jam!! Catch you on the slopes!!

What a bum deal!! Instead of fresh pow, we got sleet and mix weather Early last night and until late evening, CB recieved about 4-5 inches of new snow (I think Glenn got the best of it). Early this morning, everything changed to sleet. A far cry from the hoped 8 to 12 inches. The forecast is calling for the sleet to change to snow and is expected to leave an additional 3-6 inches of snow by late tonight. At this time, we are operating the west side of the mountain only (18 slopes). As conditions permit and the groomers continue in the east side, additional terrain might open. The Rhodo Park and Oak Grove Pipe will closed today. Everything will be groomed, and the conditions will be mixed variable -- A little packed pow, sleet-like snow, and new natural. As things change, Ill post more... Please drive safe to all destinations this morning.

Tuesday February 13, 2007 Today we have 30 of 33 slopes open. Closed for snowmaking are Oak Grove (the Big Pipe), Rhodo Glen (the Advanced Park) and Pocono Raceway. Conditions continue to be packed powder with very good coverage. Unfortunately, I never made it past my desk on Monday -- I never got out. If anyone gets out today, please post a first hand account. With the huge amounts of snowfall expected, please be advised that there might be avalanche conditions at CB and trails may be temporarily closed (that

For today, CB has all 33 slopes open and 5 lifts. Conditions are machine groomed, packed pow with very good coverage. Bumps continue on Lower Cleo and both parks and pipes are open. The Oakley Quarter pipe is still set up in Sunbowl. I hope to get out later this morning and I'll post a first hand account. The temp's are expected to be near 30 degrees and being Monday, there should be little crowd, skiing and riding today will be very good. It's 2 days and counting to the snowstorm of the winter! Will it hit the Poconos? Or will it track further south?

Timeless -- That was a great snow report!! Thanks for posting it up.

2nd Update-- Both Tut and Birches are open, just cross over John Bailey to the lower portion of Sullivan's Trail to the bottom. The sun is out and there is still uncut corduroy-- it's a great moring to get out and ski the sugar coated conditions...

Update --- Meadows is also closed for snowmaking. Snowmaking on Meadows, Nile Mile, and Marjie's. CB is taking advantage of the single digit temps to make as much snow as possible!!

The heat wave starts today --- it might get into the Upper Teens and Low 20