We left home in Western New York around noon on Friday after a few consecutive days of holiday festivities. With sleet in the forecast locally, we planned to hit the road and make the best of our time off of work.
When holiday crowds swell and conditions feel uncertain, Evan and I often find ourselves heading north to Titus Mountain. A place we trust for consistently great snow, zero lift lines, and a refreshingly stress-free ski experience, even during the busiest weeks of the season. As we drove north toward Malone, muddy ground slowly gave way to a blanket of snow and single-digit temperatures.
While Evan drove, I checked the Titus Instagram account and confirmed what we were hoping for: the mountain was 100% open. We settled into a cozy tiny home just outside of town that evening, excited to kick off my ski season and soak in a quiet, wintery start to what already felt like the perfect post-holiday escape.
Saturday morning came and we rolled into the parking lot around 8:00 am. We grabbed our tickets using our Indy Passes, it was my first redemption of the season. It was cold, with a high around seven degrees, but the sun was out and there was no wind, which made all the difference. The snow report claimed two inches overnight, but the drive in made it feel like more.
We started our day on Chair 1 and spent the morning working through that side of the mountain, finding exactly what we hoped for, powder-packed groomers down the center with pockets of untouched snow lingering along the sides.
After a couple of hours, we headed across the mountain and ducked into the Upper Mountain lodge for a quick warm-up before going up to the summit. That’s where the day really came alive. We explored a variety of trails, but Sundance quickly became our favorite. Wide lanes of soft, fluffy snow sat largely untracked and even after multiple laps, it never felt skied off. There was plenty to go around.
We eventually ventured into Partridge Point, a newer glade off Titusville Express. Later, chatting with employees in the rental shop, we learned it was named after a pigeon that lived in the upper mountain area for years and sadly passed away this fall. A small, heartfelt detail that speaks to the community feel of the mountain.
As the sun dipped lower, we wrapped up the day back where we started on Chair 1, finally calling it around 4:00 pm as the sky turned shades of pink and purple. Throughout the day, we chatted with lifties who were thrilled, and a bit surprised, by the amount of natural snow so far this season. Many shared that their goal is to be fully open by Christmas, but this year felt like something extra.
We changed quickly and returned to the lodge for the evening, settling in at the bar to watch kids night skiing, catch a live band, and tune into some football. Between a great dinner, a few drinks, and conversations with locals. The lodge felt especially festive, with Christmas lights, decorations, a lit fireplace, and families dancing near the live music and the Christmas tree. By around 7:30, we were ready to call it a night.
As we closed our tab the employees mentioned that this is typically their busiest day of the year, yet we never waited in a lift line. That’s the magic here, you can visit during peak holiday weekends and still feel like you have the mountain to yourself. On our way out, we paused to watch families tubing under neon rainbow lights and music. The new Neon Tubing had sold out for its second night in a row, and it was fun to see so many people soaking up the holiday spirit alongside us.
Sunday morning greeted us with a peaceful pink sunrise and snow sparkling from the day before. No new snow had fallen overnight, but we weren’t worried! We knew the groomers would be pristine. We arrived around 8:00 a.m. to a quiet base area, the chairs just beginning to spin. We took our time to gear up in the warmth of the lodge, excited for day two.
Our first runs were on the face of the lower mountain, where perfectly groomed corduroy glistened in the sun. There’s nothing quite like unloading off the first chair and laying down big, sweeping turns on untouched snow to start the day.
We repeated those runs a few times before a group of instructors began gathering for lessons, which sent us back toward Chair 1 and the Moon Valley side. The grooming was flawless. With skiers spread out across the mountain and no lines in sight, it felt like we were skiing at our own private resort.
By late morning, we made our way back across the mountain to the summit as more families and skiers arrived, bringing the mountain to life without ever feeling crowded. Music cranked from the upper lodge, turning up the excitement. I lapped Titus Express, and Sundance, while Evan dipped in and out of the glades, meeting me for moments of speed and effortless cruising.
Around 2:00 pm we made the responsible decision to end our day. We had about a four and a half hour drive ahead of us and wanted to beat the incoming icy rain in Western NY. We took Bridge Run to River View, gliding over the Ski Bridge. A uniquely fun way to travel between parts of the mountain.
One last lap down the face for me and a final park run for Evan felt like the perfect way to close out an unforgettable holiday weekend. Back at the lodge, families and friends gathered on the deck and around the fire pits, enjoying food, drinks, sunshine, and live music that had started earlier in the afternoon.
As we packed up, I made a quick stop in the gift shop for Moon Valley maple syrup (an absolute must every time we visit). Walking back to the car, I told Evan this was the best opening weekend to a season I’ve ever had. Mixing a quick getaway with the post-holiday glow felt just right. Evan laughed and reminded me that Titus has never let us down, and I couldn’t agree more. This might be the start of a new holiday tradition for us!
NYSkiBlog is joining with The Indy Pass to bring exposure to independent mountains.
This piece is part of our effort. For more information visit the Indy Pass website.
100% well done Tiff!
Don’t you cross a road to get to the summit?
Did they name a trail or lift after the patroller who passed on duty?
Titus looks right up my ally, like a Indianhead, Blackjack, Whitecap and hint of Bohemia mix.
A guy I’ve known for years at Bristol raves about Titus. We may get to it this year.
RE: CiscoKid
Thank you! Yes! To get to the summit you actually go UNDER the road crossing through a tunnel. There are two on the mountain and on the way back to the base you could go over the bridge, or under – both options are very fun and unique!
The new trail in the story is named after a pigeon. I am not confident about how the patroller may have been memorialized, that’s a great question!
We will have to look up these places, not familiar – but we love an indy mountain feel!
Titus is way up North for me, but hopefully I will make it up there this season. Thanks for sharing.