The Base Camp » Snow Report

Backcountry Skiing in the Summer?

Leah — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:43:12 +0000

Piloting down a dirt road at 40 mph while jamming out to Modest Mouse on the eve of Fourth of July hardly seemed like the precursor to a summer ski session. But there Shawtann Whitson was, cruising Big Timber Road at a quarter till one on a moonless night, half expecting the dark road to lead him on forever. He was on his way to Blue Lake, where he would meet Ty Gittins for some summer corn...

Read the rest of this article from the Independent Record online!

Mac Pass Ski Report 6/11/10

Tim — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 16:54:25 +0000

Mac Pass June Snow!

We are sorry to report the trails are not groomed:)

Ski Storage Wax Special $5

Leah — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 23:30:53 +0000

End of season Ski Storage Wax special! Get your skis ready for a proper rest this Summer with a layer of specially formulated base prep wax from the shop, only $5! Keeps your ski bases from drying out/oxidizing through the Summer months. See store for details.

Red Lodge-POWDER DAY! 3/19/10 Billings

Tim — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:34:09 +0000

POWDER ALERT

Red Lodge Mountain Resort has received over 12" of new snow. Temperatures in the low 30's and light winds. All the ingredients for a perfect day on the hill.

Enjoy the skiing!

Mac Pass/Showdown Ski Conditions 3/19/10 Helena

Tim — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:18:23 +0000

Good morning!

Mac Pass received a skiff of new snow overnight. This new snow has fallen over typical morning spring conditions. This morning the trails will be firm. We will have to see as the day progresses if the warmer temps soften the track. The microwave road has a frozen snowmachine track for its duration, use caution when descending. Temperatures this morning were 22 degrees with 93% RH. Look for warmer temps this weekend and great skiing. The trails are holding up well. The rise just passed the patrol hut is very thin and a patch of thin snow persists on Little Porcupine.

By the way, Showdown was hit with 9" of snow overnight--POWDER DAY!

Enjoy the skiing--

Equinox Ski Challenge Toko Wax Recommendations

Tim — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:06:40 +0000

Race Wax Recommendations March 20 West Yellowstone

Mac Pass Ski Conditions 3/14/10 Helena

Tim — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 03:48:16 +0000

Hello!
Mac Pass was skiing very well today. New snow fell yesterday and provided a nice freshness to the trails. Temperatures were a little cooler today with light winds all day. Coverage is good on the trail system. The few bare spots that exisisted were covered with the fresh snow. The slope just past the snowmobiles is the only real bare spot and has been baked by the sun again today. Use caution when descending back towards the parking lot. The trails are groomed for skate and classic. The next few days will bring high pressure and warm, sunny conditions. Look for typical spring freeze-thaw cycle over the next couple of days. Temperatures will spike into the 50's.
Enjoy the skiing!

Mac Pass Ski Conditions 3/12/10 Helena–Think Structure

Tim — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:08:35 +0000

Good afternoon,
The ski report was a little delayed today because we were having so much fun up on the Pass!
Mac Pass temps were in the low 40's this am and spiked to the low 50's this afternoon. The prime time ski window is post grooming 10:00 am-1:00 pm. We are in a significant freeze-thaw pattern and after todays heat the trails will be very firm in the am. Wax selection for this morning was Swix LF8 and Toko LF Red. As we moved toward the early afternoon Swix LF10 and Toko LF Yellow was the call. Also, consider a medium to coarse structure for your skis. I was getting away with a Toko structurite red pattern .75mm this morning in the shadows, but out in the meadows the snow is moist and sunbaked; a coarse 1.0mm structure was preferred.
Now, all this being said, things will change for tomorrow with more cloud cover and snow high, rain low. The conditions will be variable tomorrow depending on how much snow falls in the am.

Join the club groomers for celebration of a great ski season on the Pass Saturday, March 13. Everyone will be rallying out on Lil Cabin at the hut around 11:00 am.
This is a great time to share stories, thank the groomers, hang out, ski and have a great time. It's also a great time to consider financial support for the groomers and the Last Chance Nordic Ski Club for all their great work in helping manage this wonderful resource.
Enjoy the skiing!

Red Lodge Nordic Center Update 3/10/10 Billings

Tim — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:43:07 +0000

RL Nordic Center is experiencing warm, pleasant March weather which has been cool in the mornings and warm in the afternoons. Skate skiing has been great on firm morning snow. Classic skiing good in the pm's. Grooming has been limited due to frozen, icey morning snow and melted snow as soon as the sun hits it. Setting of tracks has been nearly impossible.
So don't expect much improvement until winter snows return and then only if the weather stays cold enough to preserve it.
Although you may ski at RL Nordic Center in marginal conditions, we may have to cease grooming if the weather does not cooperate.

Mac Pass Ski Conditions-Video 3/9/10 Helena

Tim — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:20:43 +0000