Tampico / Ahtanum Snow Report 2011-2012:Part 1

[Tampico]

12/02/11 Weather Update

Friday, 12/12/11 0700hr

Sno-Park 8F (estimate), 0-4" snow, 1.5"-2.0" new last night (Sunday). Very light stuff.
Green Lake Snotel site is down; no report.

See earlier reports for logging operations. AS of this time I do not forsee grooming starting on time (Friday, 12/16/11). Forecast does look promising for a moderate event Wednesday night; then High pressure rebuilds. I will update as conditions warrant.

Tampico

 

[Davenjw]

Any snow fall?

 

[mantisman]

Shop looks pretty nice.

 

[Tampico]

Sucky Weather Update

Thursday, 12/15/11 0800hr

Sno-Park 22F (estimate), 0-3" snow, only a trace of snow last night (less than what Yakima got).
Green Lake 28.6F, 21" snow (concrete at this point in time), no new snow indicated last night.

Chip and log trucks are running, Middle Fork is closed to traffic. North Fork, Red Saddle and Jackass are open. Due to the lack of snow (and grooming), there is a chance that the operations will continue through-out the holiday week between Christmas and New Years (might as well get it over with).

Due to limited snow, grooming or berming of roads will not start until there is sufficient snow.

Current weather forecasts are short term horrible, up to 15 days out - I need to find a slightly moderate form of the word horrible.

The seasonal/monthly forecasts come out this afternoon; I will try to do a more extensive outlook tomorrow.

Tampico

 

[Tampico]

Worst December Forecast that I can remember

Friday 12/16/2011 1200hrs

Sno-Park 33F (estimate), 0-3" snow, no major snowfall since last Sunday night.
Green Lake 44.4F (yes, that is 44 degrees according to the snotel), 21" snow (concrete at this point in time), no new snow indicated in the last week.

Short term Forecast (6 day) - Slight chance of snow Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday; daytime snopark temps range from 36 to 40F.

NWS outlooks as of this afternoon:
6-10 Day outlook-Normal Temps and below normal Precipitation
8-14 Day outlook-Above normal Temps and below normal Precipitation.

My other 2 longer term 1-14 day outlooks also call for only 2 days of precipitation from now through the end of December.

Seasonal Outlooks (NWS)- At least these look better, , BUT they also forecast a normal precip and temp December; Seattle will probably set a record for the driest December on record!

January- Below normal temps and above normal precip
January through March- Below normal temps and above normal precip
February through April- Below normal temps and above normal precip
March through May- Below normal temps and normal precip

For at least a small glimmer of hope, a private forecaster out of Portland does forecast a wet christmas weekend, with continued wet weather through the end of the year into 2012. I can only hope that he is right, and the NWS is wrong.

No change in grooming from my above posts.

On another point, this sucks from an agriculture/job point of view also.

There has not been a year (including 2005) that I have not been able to ride from my place at least once during the Christmas break.

I knew I should have pushed harder to get my wifey to move to 4 years ago. On the other hand, I am thankful that she doesn't read snowest, either! T think I am going to be doing a lot of "yes dear" during the next 3 weeks or so...yep, yep, yep, yep...

I will post updates when things change, ie when I actually have good news, since it really can't get much worse from my frozen gearhead viewpoint.

Tampico

 

[doc202]

thanks for all your updates Tampico, much appreciated. We went up today thinking there may have been some new snow the last couple days and we were wrong. A bunch of us in our group bought new pro rmks and at least we got some break in miles in, but wow, there is no snow. It was a beautiful day though, and we still had alot of fun. By the way, what is this Discovery pass? If we bought a snowpark pass does this make us legal or do we need to go get one of these?

 

[94fordguy]

A Snow-Park permit IS NOT VALID AT THE AHTANUM, you must purchase a Discover pass. You can purchase them anywhere that sells fishing or hunting licenses - Bi-Mart is a good example.

 

[doc202]

thanks fordguy, do you know how much they cost? does the money go strictly to our riding areas or is it sucked up by the government? if it stays put in snowmobiling it's a good idea

 

[Snodawg]

thanks for all your updates Tampico, much appreciated. We went up today thinking there may have been some new snow the last couple days and we were wrong. A bunch of us in our group bought new pro rmks and at least we got some break in miles in, but wow, there is no snow. It was a beautiful day though, and we still had alot of fun. By the way, what is this Discovery pass? If we bought a snowpark pass does this make us legal or do we need to go get one of these?

Someday soon (hopefully) we will get some new snow piled up in feet and you will "Discover" how great the Pro really is. Your gonna love it. Congratulations on your new addition!

 

[94fordguy]

thanks fordguy, do you know how much they cost? does the money go strictly to our riding areas or is it sucked up by the government? if it stays put in snowmobiling it's a good idea

Well far less of it goes to sledding than I think should, but the bottom line is it was the only way to keep the DNR lands open to us, plain and simple.

 

[doc202]

Well far less of it goes to sledding than I think should, but the bottom line is it was the only way to keep the DNR lands open to us, plain and simple.

well, won't be able to see out of our windshields before long if they keep this up. How many passes and permits are we going to need to enjoy "our" great outdoors? Nice shed Snowdawg, makes me jealous. can't wait for more snow to see what these new sleds can do, so far I'm pretty impressed but on hardpack they all feel strong I guess

 

[Tampico]

Snow is coming, at least up high..

Christmas Day 12/25/2011 1100hrs

Sno-Park 28F (estimate), 0-3" snow, no major snowfall in last 2.5 weeks. Had a few flakes come down within the last hour, partly sunny now.
Green Lake 30.4F, 21" snow (concrete at this point in time), no new snow indicated in the last 2.5 weeks.

Forecast for the Ahtanum Sno-Park:

Christmas Day: Snow showers likely, mainly before 4pm. Cloudy, with a temperature falling to around 28 by 5pm. West wind between 11 and 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Tonight: A 50 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 10pm. Cloudy, with a low around 25. West wind between 6 and 9 mph. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Monday: A 30 percent chance of snow. Cloudy, with a high near 38. West wind around 6 mph.

Monday Night: Snow. Low around 29. Southwest wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

Tuesday: Rain likely. Snow level 3700 feet. Cloudy, with a high near 40. West wind between 8 and 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Tuesday Night: Rain and snow. Snow level 3300 feet. Cloudy, with a low around 31.

Wednesday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 43.

Wednesday Night: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a low around 33.

Thursday: Rain likely. Cloudy, with a high near 42.

Thursday Night: Rain and snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 31.

Friday: Rain and snow likely. Snow level 3400 feet. Cloudy, with a high near 41.

Friday Night: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 30.

Saturday: Snow likely. Cloudy, with a high near 41.

8-14 day outlooks are for above normal temps and precip, temps should slowly come down to normal through the 2 week period. Snow should accumulate in the higher elevations, the only problem will be is getting to it with marginal snow in the sno-parks. Rain amounts mid-week at the lower elevations could be significant. Should be fairly windy also the next week. The conditions after next weekend should drastically improve for a more regular season, I hope.

Please be aware of high avalanche hazard with the long snow-less period and weak layers due to hoar frost formation. There is an increased probability of slab avalanches.

Grooming

As of now, still not enough snow for berm up or grooming. Grooming can normally not start without at least a foot at the sno-parks, the berm up can start with less. I am hoping for enough to maybe get the berms up Tuesday night, we don't want to put them up and trap people up above them.

Chipping operations should be completed and the machinery gone from the Middle Fork by Tuesday night (I have been told, confirm before heading up), the lack of snow has enabled the operation to complete earlier than planned.

I will update to the best of my abilities any new snow accumulations, with all my kids home for the weekend, my bandwidth is now severely limited...

Tampico

 

[Snodawg]

Snow permitting, I'm thinking I should be ready for a ride Thursday or Friday. Anyone else???


Will be taking Tater and her new sled out Sat or Sun.

 

[Snodawg]

NOAA forecast for the Darland area:

Christmas Day: A 40 percent chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a steady temperature around 26. Breezy, with a west wind around 24 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph.

Tonight: A 40 percent chance of snow showers, mainly before 4am. Cloudy, with a low around 19. West wind 17 to 20 mph decreasing to between 8 and 11 mph. Winds could gust as high as 29 mph.

Monday: A 40 percent chance of snow, mainly after 10am. Cloudy, with a high near 30. West wind between 7 and 10 mph.

Monday Night: Snow. Low around 24. West wind between 11 and 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible.

Tuesday: Snow. High near 33. West wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Tuesday Night: Snow. Cloudy, with a low around 29.

Wednesday: Snow. Cloudy and windy, with a high near 37.

Wednesday Night: Snow likely. Cloudy and breezy, with a low around 29.

Thursday: Snow likely. Cloudy and windy, with a high near 42.

Thursday Night: Snow likely. Cloudy and windy, with a low around 28.

Friday: Snow likely. Cloudy and breezy, with a high near 39.

Friday Night: Snow showers likely. Cloudy and breezy, with a low around 28.

Saturday: Snow showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 40.

Saturday Night: A chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a low around 27.

New Year's Day: A chance of snow showers. Cloudy, with a high near 39.

 

[WFOWA]

paperwork questions

I already have a WA state snow park groomed trails parking permit. Do I still need a "discovery pass"? If so, where can I get a discovery pass? Also, is Oregon sled registration acknowledged for riding in WA?

 

[94fordguy]

I already have a WA state snow park groomed trails parking permit. Do I still need a "discovery pass"? If so, where can I get a discovery pass? Also, is Oregon sled registration acknowledged for riding in WA?

Yes, you WILL NEED A DISCOVER PASS at the Ahtanum/Tampico and ANY DNR winter rec area.

Can't comment on Oregon/Wa/Id... I can't remember, lol

 

[94fordguy]

Snow permitting, I'm thinking I should be ready for a ride Thursday or Friday. Anyone else???


Will be taking Tater and her new sled out Sat or Sun.

I work Tuesday-Friday this week and again Tuesday -Friday next week too....

Planning to hit it Sat if I can though... looks like there will finally be some snow.

 

[summ8rmk]

First. I am riding tomorrow, Monday (snodawg) maybe again next weekend if I get the tunnel/bulkhead fixed on my baby.
Second. You do NOT need a snowpark permit for the ahtanum because they donot have snowparks anylonger! They are winter recreation parking lots. Lol, but you DO need a discover pass!
Third. I don't think the oregon license works in WA. But I don't know for sure.

 

[cascadesnowjunky]

If you guys go tomorrow you have to post up the conditions We want honest reports too LOL

 

[catzr]

yes there is resiprocity between Ore. and Wa. yet. Your Ore tag still works in Wa., but yes you do need a Discover Pass for the Tampico area which is a DNR land owner, You can get the pass at most hardware stores, Bi-marts, hunting outlets, or on line