Monthly Archives: September 2012
The Peaked Mountain Pond Trail, NY
The Peak Mountain hike at the northern end of the Siamese Ponds Wilderness is normally reserved for clear days, to take advantage of sweeping views from the summit. But with forecasts calling for thunderstorms later in the day, I was looking for a close-to-home hiking option, so I could be at the trailhead early.
Balm of Gilead from Thirteenth Lake
I hadn’t been up the Peaked Mountain Pond Trail in several years, so I decided to go for it. The morning dawned clear, and I had visions of snagging fleeting views from the top. I made it to the trailhead at the end of the Beach Road at 7am. As I walked along the shore of Thirteenth Lake, I could see that Balm of Gilead summit was in and out of the mist, and I knew the odds of seeing anything from the summit of Peaked were slim.
Greg Petrics of Famous Internet Skiers
I first noticed Greg Petrics and famousinternetskiers.com in December of 2009. A early winter storm had dumped rain on most of the east coast, but at the highest elevations on the Green Mountain spine, skiable snow had accumulated.
The photos and accounts posted by Petrics and FIS on their website captured my imagination. Who were these guys, who were doing exactly what I wished I was doing, while I was at work?
It wasn’t long before everyone in the ski blogosphere knew of them, and knew they’d raised the bar. Greg Petrics, a founding member of FIS, agreed to answer a few questions. Our interview follows.
NYSB: Where and when did you start skiing? Did you dig it from the beginning?
Greg Petrics: PICO! Age 2. Liked it, but didn’t love it. I was cold most of the time, and the fact that I never knew what it was like NOT knowing how to ski kept me from appreciating what’s so awesome about it: the freedom. What other sport lets you fly over such great distances at will, and at such speed?! I didn’t figure out how awesome this phenomenon was until I got older.
What’s your favorite lift-served mountain in the Northeast?
Tough call. I like Cannon Mountain a lot. Like… a lot a lot. I love the view from Vistaway, and the actual trail “Cannon” (especially the upper part) has to be the coolest trail in the northeast; relentlessly twisting around. Jester at Sugarbush is similar, but Cannon does it way better. Tramline is awesome because it’s the only trail I can think of that has relentless fall line skiing from top to bottom; no intro, no outro, just BANG… vertical fall line skiing. If Cannon Mountain got Green Mountain spine snow, it’d be on par with the best ski areas in the world. When the Nor’Easters are firing, and NH is getting tagged with pow, I can’t think of a place I’d rather be.
The Blue Ledges, NY
The hike to the Blue Ledges on the Hudson is another Southern Adirondack classic. Accessible and beautiful, delivering in spades: a nice trail and an exciting destination for a small effort.
To reach the trailhead take Route 28N north from North Creek. Turn left onto the Northwoods Club road, near the top of the big hill heading out of Minerva. Take it very far, over the bridge at the Boreas River, and then go three miles more to the trailhead at Huntley Pond.
More Plattekill Tree Skiing: Work Day 2012
Plattekill Mountain and NY Ski Blog are proud to present the second annual Plattekill Tree Skiing Work Day at the ski area in Roxbury NY, on October 14th, 2012.
Like last year, we are recruiting a hardy horde of lopper wielding powder fiends to take to the woods to get some of the Catskills best tree skiing primed for a safe, deep, and schuss filled winter. The management certainly appreciates the efforts, as well. Each participant will be treated to a delicious BBQ lunch on the patio and a voucher good for a day ticket to ski one day FREE during the 2012-2013 season.