Whiteface: Get It While You Can

I’m done talking about the weather this year. Social media proclaimed the season over. The warm up is here and the four horsemen of spring rapidly are approaching. If you’re going to complain when it’s bad then you better get it while it’s good.

hidden summit

As it happened the season wasn’t over, doomsday was averted as a large storm was rolling in last weekend. Forecasts favored northern and higher elevation peaks, so Farah and I set our sights for Whiteface.

On Saturday we headed up Route 28 to the Central Adirondack Trail. After passing through Old Forge, we turn north onto Route 30 at Blue Mountain Lake.

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Gore Mountain: Snacking on a Donut

The rain has been relentless. On my last two drives to the mountains I found myself doing my best Brook Benton baritone. It helps me adjust to a March that looks like April. Still, I haven’t given up on winter. Last week, with a chance of snow in NY, and a bit of now or neverism in my mind, I started making plans.

driving in the rain
Did you ever feel like it was a rainin’ all over the world?

I skipped skiing Saturday, convincing Scott to roll with me to our camp in the Adirondacks that night. More accurately I convinced Scott to roll the dice with me, and ski Gore on Sunday. When I left NJ in early afternoon, I was driving up in a dreary winter downpour at 41 degrees.

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Woods Valley SFM Skatepark Rail Jam

Over the last few years I have been lucky to cover some amazing events and tap into the culture, the community and the park vibe in upstate NY. A few stand out as true zeitgeists like the first Berms, Bruises and Beers at Hunt Hollow. In Rome NY one movement is traveling with such velocity that it cannot be ignored.

Woods Valley

The SFM Skatepark Project was born from the tragic passing of Stone Mercurio last April and since then has grown into one of the “most prolific grassroots movements in Rome.” Family and friends quickly organized to honor Stone, a native Roman who loved to shred and loved his city.

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