How did 2013 treat you? How's 2014 shaping up?

[Nurse Ben]

I got a new job and a new house (fingers crossed), finally moving back to the West after a twenty year banishment in the Southeast.

I'll miss the four seasons and the Southern ways, but I won't miss the rain, mold and rot.

For 2014 I'm looking forward to less humidity, more skiing, and being foot loose and kid free

[airinwrite]

I'll miss the four seasons

For 2014 I'm looking forward to less humidity, more skiing, and being foot loose and kid free

Wenatchee definitely has four seasons. You might be hard pressed to get more skiing this season. The desert does have low humidity.

[Nurse Ben]

I think your four seasons are different from ours, we actually have an extended Spring and Fall, Wenatchee gets cold quick once the days get short.

So why do you think the snow will be poor? It does appear to be slow start, but that's too unusual for December, right?

Leaving for Guatemala on eight days ��

[airinwrite]

I think your four seasons are different from ours, we actually have an extended Spring and Fall, Wenatchee gets cold quick once the days get short.

So why do you think the snow will be poor? It does appear to be slow start, but that's too unusual for December, right?

Leaving for Guatemala on eight days ��

Actually fall and spring are both pretty long in the valley, around three months. Summer weather only lasts about 3 months. The coldest weather is in Nov, Dec, and Jan.

I don't think the snow will be poor, I know it is. I doubt if we will have any real significant snowfall until March, late February at the earliest. Just my opinion base on living here for a decade and reading various weather blogs and institutional climate forecasts.

[Dostie]

I don't think the snow will be poor, I know it is. I doubt if we will have any real significant snowfall until March, late February at the earliest. Just my opinion base on living here for a decade and reading various weather blogs and institutional climate forecasts.

Ouch. And I don't think Airin's being a grouch - just callin' it like he sees it but we won't know if his view proves true for a few more months. I sure hope you're wrong aaronright.

[airinwrite]

Not being grouchy at all, if we haven't had half a dozen good dumps by now we are usually subjected to this persistent ridge that will only gradually break down starting sometime in early February. The gradual breakdown will provide only meager snowfall until sometime around the 1st of March. From December thru February we ski on the snow we get in November and early December, that seems to be the usual pattern regardless of ENSO status. Of course this is for the east slopes of the central Cascades in WA.

The snow way out here in the Wenatchee Mtns is pretty meager right now, there is good skiing above 5500 ft if you want to work for it. The situation closer to the crest is better but not by much.

[jibmaster]

2013 sucked.
I didn't get on the river even once.
I lost my job that I've had for the past 15 years.

But on the bright side, my new job approved my annual January vacation.
And the money's been good so far. Lot's of opportunity for that...

Been killing it on the bike this past summer. I used the downtime between jobs to
tick off a bunch of backcountry routes around here that I've always wanted to accomplish.
No spring/summer Shasta trips = more opportunities for local biking.

The only question is - how much skiing am I going to get with this new job?

My ski bum lifestyle the past 15 years has been based on the cool scheduling at the old job.

So, I hope this new job can offer more than money. I'm hoping the scheduling won't interfere
with my jibbing...

------------------

January looks to be good for catching up on some much needed precip.

[climbhoser]

2013 was a series of extreme highs and lows. It was a new job that didn't work, and didn't pay while I did have it, but it was the year my 3rd daughter was born. It's the year I've done some soul searching and found some things I really love, and decided to be intolerant towards unhappiness by choice. I skied very little. I ran a shyteload. I logged some heavy mileage and felt great. But it's time to get it all together and head into 2014 with a solid vision and to make it happen. 2014 will be great.

[3PinGrin]

Rather than pontificate about year to year happenings, how about "happy to be a zygote that made it". If it all ends tomorrow I've had a great life, what a ride!

[Baaahb]

Life is good. 2013 was dominated by home renovation, brushed up on my masonry, tile and drywall skills,a little stucco, a little electric, a little plumbing, replaced some posts.....I look forward to starting a large garden and small orchard in 2014.

Oh...and then skiing....I had plans to expand my knowledge of BC ski areas in California, but those plans are currently on hold. Not sure what I'll do in January...I guess start I'll start replacing all the moldings I took off ....

[dschane]

2013 . . . probably skied more days this year than any other since my first child was born (he turned 5 and has a pair of 3-year old siblings) . . . loaded the skis on a kayak, crossed Lynn Canal, and skied a peak that I'd been eye-balling for a few years . . . my wife passed the 2.5-year mark of cancer free living . . . job/schlob, it pays the bills and I work with great folks, so I don't complain . . . it was a great year as far as my tiny world goes.

Cheers to you, praise to Ullr, and clink of the glass to what 2014 may bring.

[Vtfreeski]

Not being grouchy at all, if we haven't had half a dozen good dumps by now we are usually subjected to this persistent ridge that will only gradually break down starting sometime in early February. The gradual breakdown will provide only meager snowfall until sometime around the 1st of March. From December thru February we ski on the snow we get in November and early December, that seems to be the usual pattern regardless of ENSO status. Of course this is for the east slopes of the central Cascades in WA.
The snow way out here in the Wenatchee Mtns is pretty meager right now, there is good skiing above 5500 ft if you want to work for it. The situation closer to the crest is better but not by much.

I think there's really not much to support any thesis that
a dry December in the Inland NW portends a, b , c or d
concerning the remaining months of winter here, certainly not
in a given neutral year like this one..The climate records simply
suggest that there's a small chance of making up the current
snowfall deficit(s) (maybe 20% chance ) in the ensuing months,
but the chances are that the remaining months will produce fairly
normal snowfall totals per/month..The storms now appear to be lining up..

It's certainly been dry, some areas more than others ..There's
a decent pack around here, but only above 4500 or so , generally..
Strangely, Aaron, the Wenatchee area has actually seen December
deficits made up at a higher percentage than the other areas in
the region for which records have been kept --34 occurrences since 1931!


Been really dry in some areas


The ridge is neither that strong nor that persistent..
The Crest and Selkirks have SOMEWHAT escaped the effects running up to 75 %
of normal in places ..
Today..

[Nurse Ben]

No matter how dry the season, it cannot be worse that where I live now

Leaving for Guatemala in five days, it's been fifteen years since I traveled abroad, kinda scary, but so cool, only wish my bride was going too

[MattB]

I got more fun skiing with my son in than ever and he is skiing very well so that's a good thing.
My photography business had it's strongest year yet, but it still isn't all that much.
My family is together and healthy.

I also had some challenges personally and professionally but they just make the good parts better.
Cheers to you all for 2014!

-Matt

[stevesliva]

The coldest weather is in Nov, Dec, and Jan.

Seems to be the way around here, too. It's just not cold. But you said "coldest." On this side of the mountains, though, there's little segue between summer and winter. September is usually a fantastic summer month, while November is near the worst of "winter." How does that work? Only been here a little while. I suppose I'll get used to it.