View Full Version : Snow cover reports?
The Scribe
03-30-2007, 08:41
Anyone know of a source that reports snow cover? I know it would be an inexact science, but for example if there is little or no snow below say 2500 feet in a given area, is there a place to go find this out? Itching to get out there. I am most interested in Maine and New Hampshire but a national source might be of benefit to everyone. Does NOAA offer this? Thanks!
Not the answer you wanted maybe, but two factoids that might give clues:
Historically, peak season for skiing Tuckermans Ravine is Memorial Day weekend (end of May.)
Historically, the last day of skiing at Sunday River (Bethel, ME) is May 1. They missed that date last year - there was no snow left. They might just make it this year. Hard to tell.
This is the NOAA's snow cover web page:
http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/data/snow/
To get some on the ground snow report read some first hand trail reports at this site:
http://www.viewsfromthetop.com/index-vftt.html
Tuckermans Ravine and Sunday River aren't good "barometers" because they receive unusually large amounts of snow compared to most areas in NH & ME. Tucks because it catches wind blown snow from prevailing winds and Sunday River because they make their own snow.
The Scribe
03-30-2007, 09:37
Thanks Terrapin
I try to hike into the floor in late may and see the crazies ski what's left.
I have a week off in mid April and want to get out there. Got an AT day hike book for Christmas and have some good ideas. Like from Rt 17 into Sabbathday Lake Shelter. It's about 2000-2500 feet.
Just wondering if NOAA or NASA or someone, through forecasting, satelites, and what-have-you, can tell where the snow line is. Doesn't have to be completely bare ground, just good enough for "summer" gear hiking.
Kerosene
03-30-2007, 09:46
I've been searching for something like this also. There are a lot of sites out there that keep track of total snowfall for a season, but nothing I've found that reports on current snow depth or even coverage.
The Scribe
03-30-2007, 10:38
This is the NOAA's snow cover web page:
http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/data/snow/
To get some on the ground snow report read some first hand trail reports at this site:
http://www.viewsfromthetop.com/index-vftt.html
Tuckermans Ravine and Sunday River aren't good "barometers" because they receive unusually large amounts of snow compared to most areas in NH & ME. Tucks because it catches wind blown snow from prevailing winds and Sunday River because they make their own snow.
Thank you kind sir.
Will check it out.
I am into views from the top a lot. My usage goes up a lot starting now each year. Always checking out the trail conditions.
Thanks again!!!
This link: http://www.outdoors.org/recreation/tripplanner/go/backcountry-weather.cfm
will give you an idea what conditions might be like in NH (similar to ME) at various elevations. Updated on regular basis.
The Scribe
03-30-2007, 11:45
This link: http://www.outdoors.org/recreation/tripplanner/go/backcountry-weather.cfm
will give you an idea what conditions might be like in NH (similar to ME) at various elevations. Updated on regular basis.
Excellent Woodsy. Thank you!!!
Joshrm78
03-30-2007, 11:49
NOAA is the best........... I was taking a boat from NY to Florida and weather conditions went to S*&T fast I talked to a guy for 30 minutes on the phone he really saved our bacon... We were nere Ocean City MD and were going to try and get into the intercoastal but thankfully he suggested getting into port fast. needless to say 20 minutes after docking waves swelled from 3-4 to 7-8 feet. I love NOAA
vegematic
03-30-2007, 12:51
Another NOAA snowcover site, but NE specific:
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/nerfc/graphics/snowmaps/html/snow_depth.html
I just posted this on another thread asking about Maine but I'll mention it again here: I find that site to be accurate for low elevations but not for higher elevations. If you are hiking in the valleys around here you can get away with summer boots if you don't mind wet feet. If you're going uphill there's a good chance you'll want snowshoes or crampons.
As others have said, ViewsFromTheTop is a great source of trail conditions.
-vegematic
The Scribe
03-30-2007, 14:00
Another NOAA snowcover site, but NE specific:
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/nerfc/graphics/snowmaps/html/snow_depth.html
I just posted this on another thread asking about Maine but I'll mention it again here: I find that site to be accurate for low elevations but not for higher elevations. If you are hiking in the valleys around here you can get away with summer boots if you don't mind wet feet. If you're going uphill there's a good chance you'll want snowshoes or crampons.
As others have said, ViewsFromTheTop is a great source of trail conditions.
-vegematic
EXCELLENT!!
THANKS!
TJ aka Teej
03-30-2007, 16:36
http://www.mountwashington.org/weather/cam/
www.katahdincam.com
:sun
p.s. VFTT is an excellent northeast outdoors resource
I maintain a section on Saddleback and this is the one time of year it is un-hikeable. Up until a week or so ago the snow pack was solid and actually fairly packed down by winter hikers. The first few hikers after a storm have snow shoes and in a few days I hike with just boots but carry snowshoes for places where the hiking is difficult. However in very late March and much of April the streams open up and are covered by rotting snow that sometimes is 2 or three feet deep. Even with snow shoes you may have the snow pack collapse under your feet and end up in two feet of ice water. My wife and I usually move our hiking to the coast of Maine, Bar Harbor or Camden in early April where there is some ice and snow on the otherwise muddy trail but it is hikeable. By May the AT in the mountains will be wet and muddy but not impossible, Above the timberline it is still winter but you have to cover allot of rotting granular snow to get to the alpine zone.
Plenty of ice in Acadia still. Lots has gone. Carriage paths are closed for thaw, but they still have a suprising amount of ice from ski and foot traffic.
Park roads are closed still, but pretty much clear and dry. They put some equipment in there when it was so warm overnight. Still running the grader in spots, and up the mountain road.
The ice that spooks me here is the oozing water that freezes overnight or in the shade. Clear. Water on it. Met it before...
Saw your woodcock today! mmwBeep! Yeehaw!
[quote=mudhead
Saw your woodcock today! mmwBeep! Yeehaw![/quote]
I was wondering how to put that sound into words!
Expecting mr + mrs woodcock here anyday now, yeehaw!
Saw 1st lone Robin of season,( it's spring! April fools.)