East Coast Mourns

Ski it if you can. Just north of Pico if I remember correctly.

Wasn't that their catch phrase for many years? I haven't done much NE skiing since the mid-eighties.

Back in college, I had a bucket list of NE ski areas. I resolved to ski every mountain with greater than 1,000 ft vertical (with a lift). I wasn't crazy enough to attempt Tuckerman's. Back then there were a lot of 'community' ski areas with 300 to 600 ft vertical with three or four trails that were popular with the locals because the lines were nice and short. Sadly, there are few of those left anymore.

Yes, Ski it if You Can! about an hour north of Pico! Skiing there, like Tuckermans is more or less a culture that set itself apart from most other resorts. There is also Hickory Hill in NY and their motto is "Mad River Glen - Ski it when you can't ski Hickory"

I have gone to Tuckermans the last two years, but most likely will pass this year. They do go by the phrase "Be Ice Smart" and from what trip reports I could find, there is a tad too much ice for my liking this year!

I checked out Hickory Hill on-line. Looks like a fun laid back sort of place. Reminds me of the Highlands in southern New Hampshire which has long been closed as a downhill ski area but now a mountain bike destination.

http://www.newenglandskihistory.com/NewHampshire/highlands.php

The Highlands was my first 'big ski area' as a tween on a school ski trip once I got off of the Blue Hills (pic below) in Canton, Mass (300 ft vertical, one chair, one T-bar). As kids we derisively called it the Blue Bump. The thing about Blue Hills was that it was only a 30 minute drive from home.

That looks pretty awesome! I feel fortunate to have a hill like Hickory around. There are no chair lifts only a T bar and two Poma's, and the kids love it! There is expert terrain and a small beginner slope. Just enough fun for the whole family and like your Blue Bump only a half hour drive for us.

All I know is that if it brings something beneficial to you and your area it's 'just the weather' but if it has even the remotest potential to inconvenience you or worse it's 'climate change'.

Don't get the two mixed up or you could seriously offend someone and their sacred views.

I took a graduate course on paleoclimatology while studying Geology at UAlbany. The science is really compelling. Mean global temperatures deviate very little. During periods of rapid climate change there is a rise in sporadic climate patterns. The abnormal El nino patterns we've seen this winter are more or less suggesting a shift in global climates. Its not exactly unprecedented nor are current atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Climate change has happened for millions of years and occurs between stadials and interstadials....aka glaciation cycles. Climate observations for the last few decades are pretty compelling. There is something going on that will likely continue well beyond our lifetime and it is not well supported by traditional means of predicting global climates such as sunspots or the milankovitch cycles.

Have you tried comparing the earlier El-Ninos, of 82-83, '97-'98, and plugged in the same constants? It would be interesting to see the results. Of course, when comparing droughts, many timelines start AFTER the Dust Bowl years of the mid-30's. I guess one can use whatever periods of time to either compliment or hinder the results they are seeking. I am not saying this is the case, but stretching out your time lines may be of help in finding your answer.

Data issues plague geologist. Looking at the past several decades I do see the similarity in the aforementioned years with our current event easily being on of the two strongest el nino events observed in modern history as well as the warmest Dec-Feb for the lower 48 states ever. Looking at the data I would have to say the temperature anomalies show more of an alarming trend, even though sediment cores show a strong correlation between strengthening of ENSO cyles and periods of rapid climate change.

e.g.

https://weather.com/news/climate/news/record-warmest-winter-us-2015-2016

Here in southwest CT we had a very mild winter with little snowfall. Last winter was excessive snowfall and brutally cold. Average the two and it comes out pretty close to average winter weather.

last year Boston was smashing records for snowfall....all the devious carbon mankind emmits was fingered. I don't care what side of the coin people take but you can't have it both ways. it's either Mother nature doing her thing or man is going to cause the oceans to boil by allowing 57 Chevys to idle. enjoy the Spring conditions

I prefer 2 wheels to two skis. No complaints from me about this winter weather. Looking forward to 70 degrees in a few days!