Waiting on winter
Posted By Marg. Bruineman
Posted 2 months ago
Our long, late fall is ever so slowly petering to an end.
The six-day forecast has nothing but overcast skies and lots of precipitation. But that precipitation, for the most part, is rain. What's missing are the sub-zero daytime temperatures and the snow that comes with it.
In fact, it's noticeably missing. We've had less than half a centimetre of snow and we're well on our way to setting a record for the lowest snowfall in October and November. By this time last year we had already had a big storm, and a good base of snow prompted us to go skiing on the weekends. By the end of November 2008, 100 centimetres of snow had fallen. This year, we're not likely to see a single centimetre.
We do know that, like every winter, the lingering leaves and grass with its remaining hues of green will eventually disappear and be covered in a blanket of white.
Or will it?
"People shouldn't be seduced into thinking that this is going to be what winter will be," warns Environment Canada senior climatologist David Phillips. "If you (in Barrie) don't get it, no one's going to get it."
Afterall, he adds, we're in the snow belt where the lake effect of cold air meeting warmer water serves as nature's snowmaking machine.
The models, he says, show a colder than normal winter, but that's just a guideline. That can easily be undone by the El Nino weather system on track to modify temperatures in areas closer to the Pacific. The unknown is its impact here. As it comes east from from South America it loses strength, often dissipating around Manitoba.
On local ski resorts, the snow guns are cocked and ready to go, but are sitting silent next to reeled up hoses and power lines.
"Originally our opening date was going to be Nov. 27, prior to the weather telling us otherwise," said Christine Jamieson, Horseshoe Resort's vice president of marketing and public relations.
The resort then set an opening date for Dec. 4, with a plan to open the entire resort for full-time skiing operations on Dec. 11. But the weather patterns are showing that Dec. 4 will likely be the first day of snowmaking.
"Our hope is that we can make snow around the clock that entire weekend.... as soon as we're able to open the doors, we will do so," said Jamieson, suggesting that, if weather permits, that could happen as soon as Dec. 6.
Go a couple of clicks south where skiing takes on a leaner, more horizontal form and you'll find a different gang just itching for winter.
"Bring on the snow, we're ready," said Hardwood Hills president and general manager Jack Sasseville.
Sure, there's the the trails snaking through the woods at Hardwood Hills, including a new classic trail ready for some white precipitation and a modified main trail ready for the test of winter cross-country skiing.
But it's also an Olympic year. Even though the Olympic site is a little more than a few clicks west in the already snow-encased region of Whistler, there's an incredible sense of anticipation for the games here at home.
"We've got a Team Hardwood member vying for a spot," said Sasseville who, himself will be in Whistler providing colour commentary for CTV's coverage of the cross country and nordic combined events. This will be Sasseville's eighth Olympics, four as coach and four as a television commentator.
Five of Hardwood's skiers, now at various centres throughout the country, are expected to be at the Olympic team qualifying race in Canmore, AB the weekend of Dec. 19 and Dec. 20. There is hope that Len Valjas, who has twice ranked in the Top 10 in his age category, is a contender for one of the remaining spots on the Canadian team.
Hardwood is organizing a day in between Christmas and New Year's Day when all five will be on hand to talk about their favourite sport and encourage other Olympic hopefuls. That, undoubtedly, will serve as a great warm-up to the home games.
At Snow Valley Resort the lifts, the snow-making and snow-grooming equipment were all in full gear by this time last year. Right now, they're idle, ready for when the temperature finally drops.
"We're keeping an eye on the thermometre and when it starts to dip below -3C we will begin" to make lots of snow, said Snow Valley general manager John Ball.
