Memorial Day Snow: May Storm in the Northeast

by Cyril Brunner May 28, 2013 Leave a Comment

After putting all my gear away, waxing my skis with a nice summer coat and getting out the bikes, my mind was fully in summer mode. But some early reports on Saturday claimed 3-4 inches up high in Vermont’s Green Mountains, and the National Weather Service was predicting another 5-9 inches overnight. So, it was time to break out the gear once again and head to Stowe.

Tate and I shoved off at dawn with hopes that the falling snow wouldn’t turn to rain. But a sign on Route 108 stated that the Notch was closed due to the snow. And when we pulled into the Stowe lot, we were greeted by 10 other cars and dime-sized snowflakes.

We hiked through wet grass up Nosedive, past frozen flowers and frosted fiddleheads. At about 2,000 feet, the snow was two inches deep, and from there, we skinned through frozen grass and ice-coated rocks. Eventually, at the top of the quad, there was just more than a foot of creamy, wet snow.

Upper Nosedive was completely windblown, and I wiggled smooth turns through two-plus-foot drifts. We arced rock-free turns for 2,500 feet before sliding on fast grass and fiddleheads back to the car. Not bad for Memorial Day. What’s next? A July Fourth storm?

If April showers bring May flowers, then what do May snow showers bring? [Photo] Cyril Brunner

If April showers bring May flowers, then what do May snow showers bring? [Photo] Cyril Brunner

Twelve-plus inches at the top of the quad at Stowe, Vt. [Photo] Cyril Brunner

Twelve-plus inches at the top of the quad at Stowe, Vt. [Photo] Cyril Brunner

Isn’t there some saying about not wearing white before Memorial Day? Skier: Tate Colbert. [Photo] Cyril Brunner

Isn’t there some saying about not wearing white before Memorial Day? Skier: Tate Colbert. [Photo] Cyril Brunner

Tate Colbert drifting down Nosedive. [Photo] Cyril Brunner

Tate Colbert drifting down Nosedive. [Photo] Cyril Brunner

Late May? No way! [Photo] Cyril Brunner

Late May? No way! [Photo] Cyril Brunner

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