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Exaggerated snow totals at Killington...

Posted: Dec 2nd, '20, 13:37
by kawabata
Why is it that every time I see the snow totals for Killington they look grossly exaggerated.

For example today in the past 24 hours they claim 4 inches so far. But all you need to do is to pull up their various mountain cameras to see they haven't received anywhere near that amount. The other local mountains seem far more honest about their actual snow fall and go so far as to often include a camera on a measuring stake to prove it. I just find it very disingenuous. Don't get me wrong, they are a great mountain. But the Beast of the East doesn't need to embellish. I've been there plenty of times, have a condo not far away, so I'm also talking from personal experience. The cameras just make it even more obvious.

Re: Exaggerated snow totals at Killington...

Posted: Dec 2nd, '20, 14:07
by throbster
Their snowstake is most likely near the summit which usually gets more snow than the lower mountain. I have witnessed plenty of reports where they under report, so it all comes out in the wash.

Re: Exaggerated snow totals at Killington...

Posted: Dec 2nd, '20, 14:08
by Guy in Shorts
Seemed like 4 fresh inches on the Downdraft Headwall when I skied it this morning. Official snow stake is located in the trees just below. Snow showers all morning long. Honest reporting from someone who was there. Maybe you need to get out and ski.

Re: Exaggerated snow totals at Killington...

Posted: Dec 2nd, '20, 14:29
by kawabata
You guys are a sensitive bunch.

They don't put video on the snow stake. No doubt the rest of the mountain that has cameras doesn't show anywhere near 4 inches, looks more like 1.

I understand that the peak is different than the rest, it always is for obvious reasons.

Guy in Shorts, I've skied plenty there, I'll include a direct picture next time with the snowfall at the peak and the reported amount. Then we can have that discussion -

Re: Exaggerated snow totals at Killington...

Posted: Dec 2nd, '20, 14:35
by RustyK
Revisnow.jpg
Revisnow.jpg (35.38 KiB) Viewed 1637 times

Re: Exaggerated snow totals at Killington...

Posted: Dec 2nd, '20, 14:44
by ski
And the resort is very proud of the 35" total for the season, of which 31" have long since melted and ran down Roaring Brook . . . And let's don't even start to debate the claimed 250" annual average . . . . LOL

Re: Exaggerated snow totals at Killington...

Posted: Dec 2nd, '20, 14:45
by pepperdawg
This thread will become a nice DIStraction to all the covid/mask/quarantine chatter....

tell us more kawabunga....

Re: Exaggerated snow totals at Killington...

Posted: Dec 2nd, '20, 14:45
by jayisking
I’m at k right now. Yes, 4 seems like an exaggeration, even for the peak. 2 max.

Re: Exaggerated snow totals at Killington...

Posted: Dec 2nd, '20, 14:59
by KingsFourMan
Wait a minute, exaggerated snow reporting by ski resorts?? What are you going to tell me next, CNN's reporting is biased? I suppose NYC trash haulers are connected to the mob too!

Re: Exaggerated snow totals at Killington...

Posted: Dec 2nd, '20, 15:02
by kawabata
I totally get exaggerated totals from ski resorts. They all do it. But Killington brings that to another level. 2x is not exaggeration. It's a lie.

Re: Exaggerated snow totals at Killington...

Posted: Dec 2nd, '20, 15:02
by RustyK
We picked up two inches of fresh snow last night and another 2 inches so far today. The blanket of white covering the mountain is always a welcomed sight, especially after weather like what we had earlier in the week. We'll see temps hovering in the upper 20s/low 30s today accompanied by continued snow showers throughout the day.

Killington snowmakers got back to work overnight as soon as the mercury dropped back down into snowmaking territory. They're hammering on East Fall, Mouse Run, Rime and Great Northern to name a few. Expect to find snowguns still on during the day today on Upper East Fall and Upper Mouse Run. As far as lower elevations go, we're hoping to see snowmaking temperatures arrive by the afternoon, so they can light up the lower mountain as well. Rest assured, our snowmaking team is making the absolute most of this cold weather.

Re: Exaggerated snow totals at Killington...

Posted: Dec 2nd, '20, 15:46
by Stormchaser
Saturday was about 3" up top with a only a dusting at Snowshed. You get some good variation depending on location, wind, elevation. Hell I've seen 3 feet at the peak and r*in at Skyeship. Cams don't always tell the story. 4" at Needles, 9" at Snowdon ridge. The measuring stick is keenly placed at a location that maximizes it's marketing value. They used to have a cam on the snow stake, but that's no longer the case.

Re: Exaggerated snow totals at Killington...

Posted: Dec 2nd, '20, 15:53
by throbster
kawabata wrote: ↑Dec 2nd, '20, 15:02 I totally get exaggerated totals from ski resorts. They all do it. But Killington brings that to another level. 2x is not exaggeration. It's a lie.
I see you are a beginner on rentals, so maybe you don't know this, but snow settles and wind pushes it around. If it helps, when K reports 4 inches, cut it in half so you don't get a case of butt-hurt when you arrive at the mountain.

Snowflake out.

Re: Exaggerated snow totals at Killington...

Posted: Dec 2nd, '20, 15:59
by skiadikt
ski wrote: ↑Dec 2nd, '20, 14:44 And the resort is very proud of the 35" total for the season, of which 31" have long since melted and ran down Roaring Brook . . . And let's don't even start to debate the claimed 250" annual average . . . . LOL
didn't ski today, but in town it was an easy 2-3" at 8am.

as someone who skis nearly every day, i find their reporting on average reasonably accurate even leaning towards the under reporting side. however they shouldn't count any snow that fell before opening day in their season total (which is most of it).

over the last 10 years, the yearly average is about 200". however the previous decade was 250".

Re: Exaggerated snow totals at Killington...

Posted: Dec 2nd, '20, 16:04
by ski
skiadikt wrote: ↑Dec 2nd, '20, 15:59 over the last 10 years, the yearly average is about 200". however the previous decade was 250".
Average the last 30 years . . . its a shade over 200"