Across the Snow Line

Now that we’re under NY State PAUSE (‘shelter-in-place’ by another name), I’m only doing the updates for the data.

Trapp Family Lodge and Bear Notch are hanging tough, despite the weather and the coronavirus. Osceola may yet open its trails if they get the snow they’re expecting.

Craftsbury called out the congregations of skiers and lack of ‘safe distancing’ (six feet) among reasons they’ve closed the trails. I suspect something similar contributed to Jackson XC ceasing to groom or report on trail conditions, even after closing their public facilities last week.

Another factor for rural areas appears to be concern that they might attract people from outside their locality and contribute to transmission. Closer to home it’s related to fears that NYC folks will try to leave the city as well as fears of depleting county resources for its live-in residents. In case you were thinking about holing up at the second home in Sullivan county, an excerpt from this message specifically for us:

 Please DON’T travel here from another county or geographic area (including the five boroughs of New York City) which is experiencing community transmission of COVID-19… Please DON’T have an expectation that resources will be available to you here that are not available to you in your home town.

Sullivan county government, Wednesday, March 18, 2020

As a quickie exercise, using the map in this article on Lohud and population data, Sullivan county has 13 ICU beds for 78,000 people, or a ratio of 1:6000. It’s a rough gauge of the county’s hospital capacity. By comparison, Westchester has 1:6800, and NYC counties collectively have 1414 ICU beds for a ratio of 1:5900. That’s before counting the additional 2000 beds expected by converting the Javits center and the arrival of the hospital ship Hope. With those beds, the NYC ratio becomes 1:3500.

Which is not to say that care is convenient in rural counties that may have only one or two hospitals at most, and fewer doctors or nurses of any kind to draw on in an ongoing crisis.

This post contains section links to More info, Forecast, and Coda.

Summary

Weather and the Covid-19 epidemic have put an early end to the ski season in the northeast. Despite some decent snow cover in the far north country, only a few places remain technically ‘open’, but most of their facilities are closed to the public, and grooming is a courtesy. To paraphrase Jackson Ski Touring Foundation, ‘April skiing rules’ are in effect.

The only ski centers that are still ‘open’ are Trapp Family Lodge and Bear Notch. Jackson is on an ‘honor system’, Great Glen and Crafstbury are doing ‘courtesy grooming’ while not open for operation, and Osceola isn’t charging but may not be grooming either.

More info

With rain on Friday and cold weather on the weekend, the remaining snowpack is going to get thin and icy. No sign of any big snowstorm coming early next week either.

Together and apart, we’re all trying to find a balance between reassurance and anxiety, and it can be a no-win situation as Waterville Valley found. After summarizing efforts the resort made to stay open while limiting the chances of infection transmission, they admitted failure:

Our continuing operations have been met with outcry by many who choose to misrepresent our efforts and have created an environment that has incited people to act irresponsibly to the point of becoming abusive and threatening to our staff. Therefore, regretfully, effective at 4:00pm today, Wednesday, March 18, 2020, Waterville Valley Resort will close for winter operations for the 2019/2020 ski season.

Waterville Valley Resort Covid-19 memo, March 18 2020

With much less angst and in light of the risk of virus transmission posed by group outings, AMC activities have been suspended from March 17 through April 30.

Forecast

If you’re going off on your own or with people you live with, you’ll have to deal with rain on Friday before cold weather comes in for the weekend. On Saturday, daytime temps in the north country will be teens to about 40. Downstate temps in the high 30s to about 50. Sunday will be similar in general.

Daytime temps will gradually trend upward starting Sunday. A front will come in overnight Sunday-Monday, bringing some snow showers that will change over to rain Monday evening as temperatures continue to warm, with moderate chance of rain and some spotty snow showers up north on Tuesday.

Coda

You aren’t here for advice about what to do off the snow, but here it is: if you aren’t somewhat panicky, you don’t appreciate the gravity of the situation and the risk it poses to people around you.

But don’t let uncertainty drive you crazy or allow panic to dictate your shopping list. Unlike the zombie apocalypse that some people dread/hope for, we can’t fight nature with tanks and AR-15s, and it’s not realistic to flee to a bunker till a vaccine is distributed.

To get to the other side with our lives and consciences intact, We’ll need to mobilize government, civic infrastructure and citizen solidarity. You know, the stuff a civilization maintains as standard equipment.

After-season analysis to come over the next few weeks. Thanks for reading.

Except for the White Mountains, where good skiing can still be found, the fat guy has definitely sung his aria:

Between the weather and the escalating Covid-19 epidemic, most ski areas called it quits this weekend, even if they have enough cover to go another week or so.

The exceptions that remain open for now include: Bretton Woods, Jackson XC, Great Glen Trails, Bear Notch Ski Touring, and Waterville Valley, as well as Trapp Family Lodge.

A few select quotes about the end:

In response to escalating concerns of COVID 19 from our guests, and our state and federal government, we have decided to close the Center on Sunday, March 15th, after lunch is served.

Crafstbury Outdoor Center, March 13

Regardless of what happens with weather over the next week or so, this season is coming to an end shortly.  As many of you know this is my last year running the ski center.  I want to thank all who have skied here over the last 40 years.  I hope I have brought some health and enjoyment to everyone.  I know it has been a pleasure to run a ski center and get to interact with one of the greatest group of individuls one could hope to get to know. 

Osceola Tug Hill XC Ski, March 15

Yesterday’s report promised more details today.  Unfortunately, there’s not much good news – at least in the short term. Winter, however, can still make a comeback as it has in several of the past few years… So, we’ll just wait it out and see what happens.  Next report when there is a change worth reporting.  

BETA trail conditions, March 13

At this point, given all that is going on in the world, we probably won’t open back up even if we get a big dumping of snow. 
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It’s been a weird winter. Mother Nature sure had her ups and downs. But we all hung in there and made the best of it… Happy spring, stay well. Come see us again next ski season.  

Viking Nordic Center

The snow depth graphic has gotten much grimmer since last weekend:

Well, s**t. I’ll be tracking the end of the season to finish out data collection, and start doing some post-season assessments. Stay tuned for more from the nerdopolis.