Winter Park Colorado First Snow Contest

First Snow in Winter Park, CO 2010/2011

The time has come again for the second annual First Snow in Winter Park, CO Contest. Lady Summer is on her way out of the building and our three weeks of fall will come and go and then we are left with six months of glorious glorious snowy winter.

Here is a comment from WP  local Mr. Scott Hefel on Aug 24th, 2010:

Seasons are a changing, I could see my breath on my morning walk with (my dog) Sam. I actually started to get excited for snow.

So the contest is, guess the date  that Winter Park Resort will receive the first measurable amount (more than a half inch) of snow and you will win dinner, drinks and desert for two at either Deno’s Mountain Bistro or The Cheeky Monk Belgium Beer Cafe in the Winter Park Village.  Guesses can be put below in the comment section and need to be guessed at-least 24 hours before the date of the snow.  One guess per person please.

Last years first snow at Winter Park Resort was on September 21st, yes less than one month away.  There were two snow contest winners last year and each received a prize.

Last years first Winter Park snow contest had 74 guesses and we are hoping to beat that this year.

All-right here goes, get your snow dance on and lets start getting ready for some  fluffy white stuff here in Winter Park, CO.  I will be the first to guess below so make sure to not guess my date for you will be certain to have no chance of winning if you do, I will definitely be wrong.

How Much Snow for Winter Park Resort 2009/2010 Ski Season?

Winter Park Resort Snow Total Contest

How much snow will Winter Park Resort receive for the 2009/2010 ski season ending on April 19th, 2010?  That is the question that we  skiers ponder up here in Winter Park, Colorado.  Kinda of like mulling over the lint in your belly button but much more fun.  We here at Winter Park Lodging Company thought we could make this snow forecasting bit more fun if we had a contest.  So here is the contest:

Guess how much snow Winter Park Resort will receive by April 18th, 2010, as reported on the Winter Park Resort website, for a chance to win dinner and drinks for two at one of our fine restaurants here in WP.  Use the comment section below for your official entry and all guesses need to be in by April 5th.  He/She that is closest to the snow total wins.  We will post a winner by April 20, 2010 on this blog.

We had a slow snow start to this ski season but the ski gods have been pretty kind to us the last month or so with a couple of doozy storms that dropped as much as 16″ of fluffy white on our beloved Winter Park.  A couple of these storms also sent avalanches crashing down on US Highway 40 to give us Winter park folk the better part of the day to enjoy Mary Jane/Winter Park by ourselves (and those fortunate enough to already be here).

The snow report and total for today March13th, 2010 look like this:

Winter Park Resort  averages 350″ inches of snow per year so we should be getting some big storms the rest of March and April this year.  Here is some historical info on snow totals at Winter Park Resort for the last year and the ten previous years:

Plenty of info to base your guesses on but please research away.  I will put my guess in first and may the best man win.  We all actually win with the more snow we get though!

Over Two Feet of New Snow in Winter Park

New Snow at  Winter Park/Mary Jane Resorts Colorado

Snow snow and more snow in Winter Park.  That’s right we have been getting crushed with snow here in Winter Park.  27 inches is the total in  the last week with more on the way.   Here are our snow totals for the last few days and for the year as of Feb 23, 2010:

Winter Park/Mary Jane averages around 350 inches for the year so we can expect to just get blasted the next eight weeks that the resort is open.  Here is what our friends over at SnowForecast.com are calling for for the next month or so here in Winter Park:

–We may see lingering snow flurries next Monday, mixed with sun and clouds, then next Tuesday high pressure ridging is possible. Mid next week (3rd of March) begins a series of storms, some moving more southerly, some northerly, but frequent, for frequent light to moderate or even heavy snow. This unsettled pattern over the west should keep the slopes fresh through mid March at least. The rest of March and most of April still look potentially snowy.

Snow in December, January and the first part of February was below average with most of the Colorado storms hitting the resorts located in the southern part of the state.  It looks as though that these storms should start taking a more northern route and it is looking really good for Mary Jane and Winter Park.

March and April are by far the best months to ski in Colorado.  The weather is a little warmer, the snow a little deeper and the beers taste a little better.

Spring Skiing in the Colorado Rockies – heaven on earth!

Snow in Winter Park, Colorado

Snowing in Winter Park, CO

The white stuff is falling here in Winter Park.  Supposed to get 5 to 6 inches of snow from this storm and a couple more each day the rest of this week.  So far this year has been a feast or famine year with snow but most forecasters are calling for late February, March and April to be way above avareage.  Here is the snow report as of Feb 12, 2010:

And as I sit here the snow has been dumping at a furious pace all day.  I would not be surprised if there was 10 inches of fresh powder by tomorrow morning.  Now is the time to head up to Winter Park Resort to get your fresh helping of freshies.  If you want some real deep stuff take a trip with Powder Addiction, our snow cat professionals up here in Winter Park.

Compare Winter Park’s snowfall with that of other resorts in the area. What will you find? We get more snow than anyone in the Colorado area. That’s great news for your ski and snowboard vacation!

Here is the long range forecast for Winter Park from our friends at SnowForecast.com:

–Strong Pacific storms start pushing into the west coast, and moisture feeds into Colorado, around the 21st/ 22nd of Feb. Storms should be a bit more favorable for northern regions at this time. We will watch and see how this unfolds. March and April still look like potentially snowy months.

As I finish this blog post the snow is now really really coming down and I say LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!  Winter Park Style.

Winter Park- Lots of Snow and Ready to Go!

One of our inside sources (who also happens to be a snowmaker at the ski area), has good news for all of us chomping at the bit for the lifts to open. Last weeks huge storm and more snow forecasted for this week has helped create a substantial base – at least twice as much now compared to this time last year- in the highcountry. This early season accumulation has aided the snowmaking crews in mixing the natural with the man made white stuff. Another bonus is that they’re now making snow on 50% more trails than this time last year. If this keeps up (and we hope it does!), we can look forward to a stellar opening day.

We heard a little something about the possibility of cloud seeding this year in WP. We recently learned that it is official. Denver Water and Winter Park Resort are teaming up to help clouds produce greater amounts of snowfall for the 09′-10′ ski season. So get your flight, book your lodging with Winter Park Lodging Company, and come join us for an Epic Season!

It’s Snowing in Winter Park, Colorado!

Enough already with the it’s snowing in Winter Park blog posts, huh!  Well it keeps on snowing.  Isn’t it supposed to snow in a place named Winter Park? Well, yes it is and we are on our third day of snow.  Let it keep on coming.

The picture to the left was taken yesterday, September 23rd, after pretty much snowing the entire day.  The weather keeps up like this and we will be having a true epic year of skiing and boarding up here in the Colorado Rockies.

56 days until Winter Park Resort is open.

Winter Park First Snow Contest | We have Winners!

We have the first snow in Winter Park! September 21st, 2009 is the day and we have two winners.  Wendy and Heather come on down you two are the lucky winners of Winter Park Lodging Company’s Winter Park first snow contest.

The evidence is clear as you can see in the photos and we have official word that the resort received more than three inches at mid-mountain.  Not just yesterday, but today it is snowing even harder and the fore-cast calls for snow the next couple of days also.  We are gearing up for ski season here in Winter Park.  Crazy, seems like we were having a great summer just three days ago.  Well, now that we have snow on the ground let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

The time is now to book your 2009/10 ski lodging.  It is an El Nino year so we are looking for lots of snow without the bone chilling temperatures.

Winter Park Resort: Snow on the Ground!

Snow at Winter Park Resort

That’s right we got snow today up in Winter Park!  It has been snowing off and on all day and it definitely feels like winter is starting to nudge fall out of the way.  No, we didn’t get as much snow as the picture on the left but we did get some sticking to the ground, yes a measurable amount.  The “when will it first snow in Winter Park contest” is over and a winner will be announced here shortly.

It was great summer up here in WP but it was a nice sight to wake up to some snow on the ground and a cold chill in the air.  Nothing like a some white stuff on the ground to get the skiing juices flowing.  Winter Park Resort opens November 18th, 2009 and that is not a day too soon.  That means there are only 58 days until the Resort opens, but who is counting?  ME, I am.  If today’s weather forecast is any indication we are in for a lot of snow this winter.  El Nino 2006 brought a whole bunch powder our way and here is hoping for a bunch for El Nino winter 2009/2010.

Now is the time to reserve your Winter Park ski lodging.  Remember until the end of September it is only 25% down to reserve your Winter Park, Colorado vacation lodging.

Farmer’s Almanac Says “Lots of Snow and Mild Temps” for Winter Park this Ski Season

Get Ready for a Big, Snowy Winter

According to the Farmer’s Almanac, we are going to have milder than average temperatures with higher than average snow fall. Sounds great to me! It should be an early start with snow starting accumulating early in November and falling all through late January. Things will cool down in February, keeping the snow from falling, but then it will pick up again for March and April. Whatever the winter brings, we will be having fun up here in Winter Park. Get your vacation booked early to guarantee you have the perfect spot.  Things are filling up fast!

Winter Park Snowfall | Update to First Measurable Snow Contest

Winter Park Snowfall

Here is an update to our “guess the first measurable snowfall in Winter Park” contest.  We will be using On the Snow’s website for Winter Park Resort as the first measurable snow barometer.  Sorry to Winter Park Resort and Intrawest for saying their snow report was lame.  They have a great website and snow report page, it is just that there is now no skiing at the resort so they have not updated their snow-report since last season.

We have 34 guesses so far and judging by the looks of the weather today it might snow sooner rather than later this year.

86 days until Winter Park Resort opens, get your skis and body ready!