Arizona Snowbowl... January 2025

[RidgeRacer]

So I'm not 100% sure how this would go. Every time I ski snowbowl its snowed, however the southwest has been experiencing one of the worst droughts in recent memory. Snowbowl, especially, has been dry as a bone really since November. Things have been bleak and I've been contemplating a @Johnny Law style plan b, which is to drive wherever the road takes me until I find actual snow, snow that the good lord placed upon a mountain top for winter sports enthusiasts like me to bask in. Then yesterday, as if it were a scene from "its a wonderful life", it happened..

4 yesterday and some reports are saying up to a foot could fall this week. Just like that the excitement levels jumped 100 fold and it looks like I'll be parking it in Flagstaff and staying there. Yes no upper bowl and most likely limited if any 🌲 or off piste. I'll be lucky if the gondi line is open. But it's gonna snow, and snow it shall so hoping these next couple of days are filled with ear to ear smiles at the most bad ass ski resort this side of the grand canyon!

Edited Tuesday at 03:48 PM by RidgeRacer

[AirheadD8]

2 minutes ago, RidgeRacer said:

So I'm not 100% sure how this would go. Every time I ski snowbowl its snowed, however the southwest has been experiencing one of the worst droughts in recent memory. Snowbowl, especially, has been dry as a bone really since November. Things have been bleak and I've been contemplating a @johnnylaw style plan b, which is to drive wherever the road takes me until I find actual snow, snow that the good lord placed upon a mountain top for winter sports enthusiasts like me to bask in. Then yesterday, as if it were a scene from "its a wonderful life", it happened..

4 yesterday and some reports are saying up to a foot could fall this week. Just like that the excitement levels jumped 100 fold and it looks like I'll be parking it in Flagstaff and staying there. Yes no upper bowl and most likely limited if any 🌲 or off piste. I'll be lucky if the gondi line is open. But it's gonna snow, and snow it shall so hoping these next couple of days are filled with ear to ear smiles at the most bad ass ski resort this side of the grand canyon!

I just checked their site this morning, they only had 29” this year, lol you have a gift. 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

6 hours ago, AirheadD8 said:

I just checked their site this morning, they only had 29” this year, lol you have a gift. 

A gift of optimism….Have a blast Ridge!!!  

[AirheadD8]

1 hour ago, GrilledSteezeSandwich said:

A gift of optimism….Have a blast Ridge!!!  

 

[RidgeRacer]

21 hours ago, AirheadD8 said:

I just checked their site this morning, they only had 29” this year, lol you have a gift. 

I just saw on the weather channel that northern AZ is only at 9% of its average snowfall this time of year. With that said…they’re reporting 5 since Monday. It definitely snowed some overnight in town. Can’t tell because it’s dark out still but the mountain is reporting an inch. It could snow on and off today. I’m anticipating some nice western groomers on lower bowl, and upper ridge. Perhaps some playful stuff here and there but most likely not much more but we’ll see when I get there in a few. 
 

@AirheadD8 who’s the creepy guy with the hat?

Edited Wednesday at 01:47 PM by RidgeRacer

[AirheadD8]

31 minutes ago, RidgeRacer said:

I just saw on the weather channel that northern AZ is only at 9% of its average snowfall this time of year. With that said…they’re reporting 5 since Monday. It definitely snowed some overnight in town. Can’t tell because it’s dark out still but the mountain is reporting an inch. It could snow on and off today. I’m anticipating some nice western groomers on lower bowl, and upper ridge. Perhaps some playful stuff here and there but most likely not much more but we’ll see when I get there in a few. 
 

@AirheadD8 who’s the creepy guy with the hat?

Snow Miser , from the 60s Rudolph film he has the ability to make it snow. 
Have fun !!!

[RidgeRacer]

Umm it's pretty clear from town. Unless something rolls in here I think we're skiing under the AZ sunshine today

[RidgeRacer]

So far so good!

[RidgeRacer]

Day 1...hella fun with a bit of fresh snow. It was exactly what I had anticipated. Sweet and soft western groomers with some playful stuff off the sides of the trails. Off piste is probably not very smart given the drought situation, although I saw a few tracks here and there. I didn't want to risk it. Started off sunny up top then the clouds rolled in with a little bit of pixie dust falling from the sky. They may call it an inch when it's all said and done. Either way my best runs of the season so far. High or low tide... There's just something about the snowbeezy that just feels like being at home. And I probably love it even more than I did yesterday. The locals were pumped this morning. High fiving each other and blasting bob Marley. You'd think they be bummed over the lack of snow but instead it's like whoville on Christmas morning. It didn't matter. Excellent ski day!!

Edited Wednesday at 09:14 PM by RidgeRacer

[RidgeRacer]

Snowing in town and the roads are a bit spicy. Hopefully means good things a few thousand feet higher on the mountain. Supposed to clear out however. Tomorrow looks like a straight bluebird day!

Edited yesterday at 02:18 AM by RidgeRacer

[RidgeRacer]

4 inches officially being reported for today…all of that happened last night as it appears the last of this most recent storm system has cleared out bringing in 9 inches since Monday. So sunny skies and fresh snow waiting for us at opening …

[PSUFrankenstein]

Awesome, sounds like a good day, look forward to the pics.  I've been having good luck with the snow up north but can't say the same about gear malfunctions.  After the boot incident,  I realized the zipper on my Picture jacket is stuck.  @RidgeRacer didn't you recently have an issue with yours?

[RidgeRacer]

3 minutes ago, PSUFrankenstein said:

Awesome, sounds like a good day, look forward to the pics.  I've been having good luck with the snow up north but can't say the same about gear malfunctions.  After the boot incident,  I realized the zipper on my Picture jacket is stuck.  @RidgeRacer didn't you recently have an issue with yours?

Yes sir. Some of the teeth wouldn’t catch and I either couldn’t zip it up fully or it would pop open when I’m skiing. Took it to a fabric shop that @Benm recommended and they replaced the zipper with a much sturdier one. So far so good

[PSUFrankenstein]

32 minutes ago, RidgeRacer said:

Yes sir. Some of the teeth wouldn’t catch and I either couldn’t zip it up fully or it would pop open when I’m skiing. Took it to a fabric shop that @Benm recommended and they replaced the zipper with a much sturdier one. So far so good

Yeah mine is still able to be zipped up but the bottom zipper is stuck so I have to get it on/off by pulling it over my head.   I'll get it figured out somehow, thanks for the info

[RidgeRacer]

Anytime should be around 50 bucks or so to replace. Better than getting a new jacket 

[RidgeRacer]

Sunshine and snow LFG!!!

Edited 17 hours ago by RidgeRacer

[Benm]

3 hours ago, RidgeRacer said:

Took it to a fabric shop that @Benm recommended and they replaced the zipper with a much sturdier one.

you make me sound like an old lady that does quilting in my spare time.

[Johnny Law]

2 hours ago, Benm said:

you make me sound like an old lady that does quilting in my spare time.

An og like you is straight cross point,  bless this home and stuff

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Glad the snow came around for you ridge, get some 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

3 hours ago, Benm said:

you make me sound like an old lady that does quilting in my spare time.

I mean you’re pretty Domestic. 

[RidgeRacer]

Day 2.

Just wrapped not too long ago. By far the my best day of the season. It started off with a scare though. when I went out to the car the low tire pressure warning was on. I immediately panicked thinking I may have had a flat and that I'd be late or worse, but there was plenty of air to get me to the circle k. $2.50 later the tire was back to 32 psi. That snafu cost me a few minutes however and the roads were dicey, especially snowbowl road which required AWD (they were checking). Climbing the mountain I passed some guy in a Kia Sportage who was going way to slow and got there around 9:05.

What a day though. The bluest of blue skies, not a single cloud in the sky with freshly fallen snow from overnight, clear views of the surrounding area and the Grand canyon to the north. Started off on the Grand canyon Express which was the move since the gondola was on wind hold. It really wasn't that windy but windy enough to blow piles of new snow into deeper piles. The first few runs were $$$. Like the million dollar man Ted Dibiasi money. Shin deep in spots and a bit of flotilla. That didn't last long however as locals don't play when it snows here. That said, the gondi opened at noon so there was a chance for round two on lower bowl or upper ridge. I was there waiting in line but it was taking long so I took my chances and skied back to the GCE. when I got to the top I saw that the gondi was loading. I hauled ass down logjam and hopped on for a sloppy seconds run down lower bowl with a few more runs before calling it. I didn't want to leave but my legs had it. My face is red as I think I got burnt. By tomorrow (more sunshine) I'll look like Kramer from the episode of Seinfeld where he fries himself with butter.

A 10 out of 10 day at snowbowl which is now officially my most frequented ski resort outside of Pennsylvania, taking over the spot previously held by whiteface.

Edited 12 hours ago by RidgeRacer

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Nice report and the circle K might sell sunscreen.  Have you had any good meals this trip?  I know it’s all about the skiing but gotta be some good local Cuisine 

[RidgeRacer]

10 minutes ago, GrilledSteezeSandwich said:

Nice report and the circle K might sell sunscreen.  Have you had any good meals this trip?  I know it’s all about the skiing but gotta be some good local Cuisine 

Kinda. My kid and I went to outback steakhouse when I got here. I got the kukaburra wings and the ribeye. She'll be in town later so we may go somewhere if it's not too late. I really want to grab pizza at fratellis which is the bomb dot com (voted best in flag). Last night I did Mexican takeout (2 beef burritos) although (funny story) before that I went to a pizza place and ordered a veggie pizza. I'm waiting and 10 minutes later they bring out a cold veggie pizza that needed to be heated up. I asked them if they could heat it up for me as I obviously cannot. He said they don't have an oven and refunded me. Apparently they're made to go. Oops. Oh also meeting with friends tomorrow at a brewery near Scottsdale.

Edited 11 hours ago by RidgeRacer