Monthly Archives: May 2010
The New York State Ski Blog
Harvey Road was launched in October of 2008. It started out as a place to store our Gore Mountain ski pictures and trip reports. In time, we added all important weather links on the home page, and started to think of the site as a resource for southern Adirondack skiers.
In the summer of 2009, we realized the site would be more valuable if other skiers contributed, so we reached out to new authors. As others came on board, and we began covering more ski areas. We soon realized that the common denominator was our love for NY State skiing. Whiteface, Gore Mountain, Hunter, Belleayre, Plattekill, Hickory Ski Center and Greek Peak were key components of our collective ski seasons. To reflect our expanded focus, Harvey Road is now the New York Ski Blog located at:
Please bookmark our new url as one of your favorites and make the move with us. It’s our new home on the web. We’re still Harvey Road, but at a new address.
A Simple Twist of Fate
Since I was 6 years old I’d always had a season pass at Hunter Mountain. My parents, Dorothy and Jack skied Hunter and Dad was a ski instructor there for a long time. After they moved to Florida; Orville Slutzky, still comped my son and me a season pass every year. An act of generosity I’ll always remember.
At the time, I didn’t have many friends/acquaintances that skied. Those that did wanted to go on to Vermont instead of going to Hunter. I’d ski Hunter with my son or by myself. Once he went away to college I either went to Hunter by myself or with a couple of guys from work. Since I’m a teacher, I also skied one night a week with my school ski club.
My wife was never too interested, but as my daughter and youngest son got older, I took them with me and we had a great time. I was getting out probably 30+ times a year, either alone, with my kids, with the occasional friend or on a school trip.
Life was good, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. I felt unfulfilled. When I was a kid we had a house at Hunter that we shared with my uncle who was also a ski instructor. There was always friends and family, loads of people to ski with, après parties. We felt very much connected to the Hunter ski community, especially with those involved in the ski school. It was more than just skiing, it was a lifestyle. I missed that lifestyle and it didn’t look like I was going to be a part of it again anytime soon.
Highpeaksdrifter joins Harvey Road
Highpeaksdrifter has joined Harvey Road as an author for the 2010/2011 season.
As our go-to guy for Whiteface and northern Adirondacks, Highpeaksdrifter will be checking in during the ski season with trip reports from his home hill, and news from ORDA headquarters in Lake Placid. After the snow melts, you’ll find him hiking, biking, or kayaking throughout the High Peaks. Chances are, you’ve read his informative and passionate posts on ski forums including AlpineZone and SkiADK, where he also moderated.
In addition to repping for Nordica, Highpeaksdrifter has also worked the past nine seasons as a mountain host at Whiteface. If you ask him to name his favorite trails there, he doesn’t hesitate. “Cloudspin’s my favorite. I love that there are so many different lines on that trail. I became a big fan of Hoyt’s High this last season and, of course, I love the Slides: the best slack-country skiing in the Northeast.”
Moose River Plains to Open
From the NY State DEC:
Thanks to a creative state-local partnership, the Moose River Plains Road — which provides access to one of the largest blocks of remote lands in the Adirondack Park — will be open to motor vehicles this summer, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today.
DEC worked with local officials from Inlet, Indian Lake and Hamilton County, as well as state legislators, to cover maintenance duties and costs for the season. The Moose River Plains includes more than 40 miles of dirt roads, approximately 170 primitive campsites and 50,000 acres of wild forest in the central and southwestern sections of the park. DEC had previously announced that this road would not be opened in 2010 because the state’s historic fiscal crisis had limited agency maintenance funds. Instead, local communities will assist by providing gasoline, trucks, materials and law-enforcement personnel to help cover operational needs.
Full text of the DEC News Release at Adirondack Explorer.