Member of the Month

hi_vis360
November, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

April Snow/Powder?

profile picture
Eljefe5
Posts: 63 - Karma: 91
There is a chance I might get to go skiing in April, and I know it is a really long shot, but is there any good mountain that can get new snow, or at least have a decent base layer in the back country as late as april? cause i live on the east coast and would love to get some pow turns some time this season if possible
Feb 14 2010 1:23AM
0 0
profile picture
Funnel
Posts: 7816 - Karma: 1,534
Honestly, you won't get killer powder, but there is definitely a chance for some fresh snow in April. A few years back in the last El Nino, Squaw got shat on in April and it went off. If I find the video I will post it in here. Regardless of the time of season, you can never be guaranteed fresh turns and pow, so you just have to hope it comes. Your best bet for April pow would probably be CA, as El Nino has really been helping us out by sending lots of storms our way. Stay away from the PNW, Utah and Co should be okay, but I have the feeling March is going to be sweet here in CA. April is always a toss-up and you can either get a few feet of snow or lose a few feet of snow to the warming spring temps. March here in the Sierras is notoriously the snowiest month, but don't expect fresh for more than a day or so after the storm.
Feb 14 2010 1:57AM
0 0
profile picture
magic_raven
Posts: 111 - Karma: 27
If previous el ninos are any indication of what we have to look forward to, the last two weeks of march until the second week of april may be the best month of skiing california will see this season...
Feb 14 2010 2:21AM
0 0
profile picture
Funnel
Posts: 7816 - Karma: 1,534
Yep, we haven't had a strong March in a long time, we're due for one soon and I think this is the one.
Feb 14 2010 2:25AM
0 0
profile picture
skier_boy26
Posts: 11295 - Karma: 502
Washington/Oregon/BC had a pretty incredible April in... '04/'05? Considering how bad that season was... regardless, its a toss up as to whether it will be pow or not.

Feb 14 2010 6:58AM
0 0
profile picture
DAPSKI
Posts: 414 - Karma: 141
the last two years i have been in utah in april actaully 3 but the last two were sick. POW. actaully last year was the end of march. but yea utah can be good in april. but hopefully as the jet moves back up and the el nino breaks down tahoe will get dumbed march and april and i wont have to go to utah. no matter what you are going to have to get lucky unless you chase that april snow. im trying to get silverton good this spring though.
Feb 14 2010 12:12PM
0 0
profile picture
BossHogg
Posts: 189 - Karma: 19

in 07/08 i went to vail for the last week they were open (the middle of april). they got a ft+ the first day and some other random showers

last year i went to breck in early april. it snowed the whole time i was there.

but with all of the weather issues this year, youd be lucky to get a lot of snow in april.

Feb 14 2010 12:42PM
0 0
profile picture
Eljefe5
Posts: 63 - Karma: 91
Ok thanks for all the info. I guess I will see if I can make a real last minute decision on where to go based on the snow.
Feb 14 2010 2:00PM
0 0
profile picture
R.Fahey
Posts: 8602 - Karma: 539
Utah.  The best pow days of my life have been in April.  This is april 27th.

if that doesn't work.. then here is the link.  http://vimeo.com/4769774

<object width="400" height="228"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4769774&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4769774&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="228"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/4769774">Armada - Provo Brothers Shred Uinta</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user954303">ARMADA SKIS INC.</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p>

Feb 14 2010 2:03PM
0 0
profile picture
Jimmy.
Posts: 2888 - Karma: 27
.
Feb 14 2010 2:10PM
0 0
profile picture
R.Fahey
Posts: 8602 - Karma: 539
^  Thanks!
Granted that's the Uintas, I have had some of the best pow days of my life at the resorts (Alta/Bird Particularly) in April.  And if it's not dumping, it's normally bluebird. 
Feb 14 2010 2:18PM
0 0
profile picture
smuggs
Posts: 6561 - Karma: 1,375
powder days in april are sweet, but not consistent.

on one hand, the resorts are usually empty. but on the other you have april sun which would have made a ice crust on the old snow surface, and any new snow it touches, and it touches all aspects by april. snow gets destroyed within the first hour of sun, and it turns utah powder to maritime sludge :( but if you are super lucky and get a few days of some deep snow  then you are stoked.
Feb 14 2010 2:56PM
0 0
profile picture
Funnel
Posts: 7816 - Karma: 1,534
Last year Utah was crazy at the end of March and into April. I remember it being like 12 feet in two or so weeks?
Feb 14 2010 3:04PM
0 0
profile picture
TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,386
It snows through april in most parts of the west. Get out to baker, alta, or mammoth (which is usually open through the end of may even on the worst years).

I skied a pow day on May 24th in mammoth a couple years ago
Feb 14 2010 3:23PM
0 0
profile picture
Eljefe5
Posts: 63 - Karma: 91
That video was so sick.  I had no idea you could find that kind of pow that late. thanks for tyhe tip then, I think we will try to head to utah if possible.
Feb 14 2010 7:52PM
0 0
profile picture
Funnel
Posts: 7816 - Karma: 1,534
Ehhhhh, if it were me, I would go to Mammoth, especially with this year's weather pattern. If you don't get any powder, then I assume you will enjoy riding one of the world's, if not the world's, best park. The place is still in full swing almost all the way into May.
Feb 14 2010 8:44PM
0 0
profile picture
dan4060
Posts: 1458 - Karma: 847
This.

Squaw can get some great pow in April, and sometimes even in May.  You will usually get at least one big April storm.  You cannot be guaranteed pow, but April has better odds than one would think.  The base is usually still solid at that point.

Even if you don't get pow, warm April slush is really fun.  Squaw gets awesome slushy steeps in April.  One of the best times to get into some steeper terrain.
Feb 15 2010 3:17PM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-5)