Bye bye snow...

[Flora]

Help! I'm melting!!!! :eek:
I believe we've set a record for warmest temps and also heavy snowfall in the same two week period. Crazy Vermont weather.

The snowmobile trails have turned to muddy, mucky, mush, and Burke ski slopes have become very icy. We've had 55 degree weather and warm rain too. Not a very good deal for the tourist industry here, or for locals who want to enjoy snow sports.

From the Brighton Snowmobile Club trail report page:

With the warming trend that we are experiencing, the groomers did not go out last night so that we can preserve the base that we presently have and weather this warming trend over the next couple of days. They will hold off from grooming until the temperatures drop below freezing which is predicted for later in the week. When this happens, they will be out Thursday and Friday nights. We will let you know just as soon as we can as to what is happening in this area.

Please just keep calling this trail report line for any and all updates or
visit the clubs web site at www.brightonsnowmobile.org

Trail Report Line: 802.723.4316
ALL LODGING and OTHER MISC. INFORMATION, CONTACT:
IPCHAMBERSEC@AOL.COM
OR
THE ISLAND POND WELCOME CENTER AT:
802.723.9889

This was the report from Monday, and conditions have detiorated since then.

[jimswife]

Last week we were in the lower 40's and all the snow melted. This weekend we had 7" of snow and it's suppose to be in the single digits by next weekend. Everyone always thinks Wisconsin is in the deep freeze...not so much anymore.

[NewEnglander]

Hey, we got your snow by mistake. When are you coming to pick it up? The 8" of heavy wet snow would be great in IP, not so much fun here in Western MA.

[jimswife]

Sorry, can't pick it up. I have to wait for the 2-5 to arrive tomorrow evening. My gosh...what the heck happend to global warming?:D

[Flora]

Good to see you both here! Well conditions have improved a bit, but not that great. Probably comparable to last year at this time. There are still a lot of water bars and rough riding, but of course the die hards don't care about a little sled damage, a rock here or there, or slush.

I have been told they actually have trails closed signs up Derby way, but out east here, ya know it'd take really really bad conditions before they did that.

Today I went skiing at Burke Mountain with the kiddies from school. What a wonderful day! NOthing like seeing their faces as they go from learning how to even put on and walk in ski boots, to zipping down the slopes in less than 4 hours. Their staff is so very patient too with the kids, and their first trips on the J-bar, etc.... Great deal, great day, and they make snow now at Burke so conditions were great too. :cool: Snowmobiler or no, there's still a lot of good outdoor things to do in the NEK. Supposed to get really cold this weekend - as in the minus 20's... :eek: :eek:

[dallan]

It seems your snow decided to give
Alabama a short visit. It is snowing in Montgomery, and I am hoping it makes it to Brewton. We haven't seen snow in years.


Dot

[NewEnglander]

Don't know if this site is visit by many snowmobilers looking for conditions or not. The loss of the Island Pond.com site is still a puzzle to me as I used it frequently.

Last Sunday the conditions were very good to excellent. Rode from Island Pond to Canaan, great grooming, no water bars. What surprised me most was the lack of sleds. Was it the football games or the January thaw that made people stay home. Who knows but it was nice to have the trails to ourselves. Maybe I shouldn't speak up, but it was some of the best riding in the past 3 years. Smiling ear to ear.

Actually it was a little sad. Where has everyone gone? Hotels with vacancies on a 3 day weekend. I didn't go out to eat at any of the 3 restaurants, so I don't know how they faired. The new Grand Trunk had several cars outside when we came into town. We will be stopping in to try out their menu soon. Craved a pot roast so cooked one at home and then made Stroganoff with the left overs. Gassed up the sleds at the Erving without a wait. Stopped at Simon the Tanner as hubby needed new shoes, badly. I usually make it a point to stop at Ted's and Mike's for groceries every time we are up, as I really appreciate their presence. First time in a long time that we didn't stop at Gervais for something.

[Flora]

Thanks for the UPdate Nancy. I'm sorry I missed you, hubby's been sick. The deep freeze and a few more inches of snow did help a lot. Town has been quieter than usual, but remember that it costs a lot of $$$ for gas for everything, and the hotels are expensive too. I have heard complaints from some that the local hotel rates in winter are too high. Too bad they didn't cut the price if there's vacancies.

I'm glad you made it back in the forums here. Please let me know if there are any other posting or logging issues here. Were still working out the kinks.