SKIDOME Exclusive
TRAIL CONDITIONS RATING
GUIDE
®©2001-2010
Mid Atlantic Area Including:
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia.
The
rating has three main criteria
Rate your own.
SNOW
QUALITY(SQ) Subjective,
PERCENT TRAILS OPEN(T), BASE DEPTH(B)
Objective - Comes from the resort
Rate each three, the higher the number the better
SNOW QUALITY- Takes into account the snow crystal
size from small to large corn snow. Grooming is also added to this
criteria. Subjective / objective. See NSAA rating below.
A(4) - Perfect small crystal size, all runs groomed,
really nice. PP PS
B(3) - Good crystal, good grooming
PS
C(2) - Corn Snow big clumped crystals, grooming but
many irregular moguls, or chunks left from grooming too fast.
Early base snow. Too much ice. loose granular. Frozen granular
D(1)- Crud, heavy crystals, grooming none or very little.
Early base or solid ice.
PERCENT TRAILS OPEN-Divide the total number
of trials by total number open.
A(4) - 90% or greater open
B(3) - 70 to 90 % open
C(2) - 50 to 70 % open
D(1) - less than 50%
BASE DEPTH-How many inches of base.
A(4) - 24 inches or greater
B(3) - >15 <
24 inches
C(2) - 8 to 15 inches
D(1) - less than 8 inches. .rock and stick skiing or
EGO SNOW
Even a 'C' Rating can be fun. It is usually a
'C' rating in the early and late season. less trails open and less
base. Still fun.
NSAA -
Rating
Average
Base –
“Average Base” is the depth of compacted snow
covering of the slope area. As a general rule any base report
of 8” or more is adequate for good coverage. (C rating)
Surface
Conditions –
Surface conditions are usually
reported as they are at the time the report is updated. However,
surface conditions may change throughout the day due to use
(traffic) and
changing weather. Most areas groom their slopes every night.
Day grooming has been curtailed due to safety.
Machine Groomed MG– refers to the
loosely packed corduroy that the power tiller provides after
grooming.
Powder P– Fluffy dry snow that has
not been compacted. It is most unusual to get one or two days of
powder from Mother Nature in a season. When weather is very cold,
snow guns also can produce powder conditions.
Packed Powder PP- Natural or
man-made snow, packed by skier or grooming traffic. Snow is no
longer fluffy, but it is not so compacted that it is hard.
Loose Granular LG- Powder or packed
powder that has thawed then refrozen and then machine groomed.
Frozen Granular FG– Hard surface of
old snow formed by granular freezing together after rain and warm
weather.
Wet Granular – WG Loose granular
snow that has been subjected to warm temperatures and/or rain.
Hard Pack - HP Firmly packed snow
that has never melted and re-crystallized. It is compressed through
grooming and wind exposure. Can still plant a pole.
Wet Snow – WS Powder that has become
moist due to thaw or rain, or snow that was moist as it fell.
Wet Packed Snow – WPS Snow that has
been previously packed and became wet usually because of rain.
Icy – Hard glazed surface created
either by freezing rain or by rapid freezing of snow saturated with
water from rain or melting.
Spring Conditions – SG Wet granular
conditions during day changing at sundown to frozen granular
conditions.
NOTE – After an extended cold
spell with snowmaking adding to the base, skiing can be very good
even if the temperatures climb into the 40’s and 50’s during the
day. The key during these times is an adequate base. Also, a report
that contains the wording “icy spot” should not be regarded
as a clear indication that skiing is likely to be poor. Some of the
best days may be accompanied by icy spots .
CASE STUDIES: (Latest)
December 10, 2010
Liberty Mtn Opening Day
SQ(3) B 3 days below
20 degrees at night
T (2.5) C+ 50% trails open
B (3) B 15 inches
total 8.5 out of 12 pts B-
December 07, 2008 Liberty Mtn.
Opening Day
Criteria, Numerical value,
Letter Grade, Notes
SQ(3) B PP,MG (Packed Powder, Machine Groomed)
T(2.5) C+ 50% of trails open
B(3) B 15+ inches
total 8.5 out of 12 pts.
B-
March 06, 2008 Liberty Mtn.
Snow Quality
C+ 2.5 loose granular
Trails Open
A+ 4 95% + open
Base A+ 4
25 + inches
Total = 10.5
A
March 6,
2008 Roundtop
Snow Quality
C+ 2.5 loose granular
Trails Open
A+ 4 100% + open
Base A+ 4
20-40 + inches
Total = 10.5
A
|