Author: Harvey

Skier, Blogger, Ski Blogger. Editor-in-chief NYSkiBlog.

Plattekill: Family, Skiing and Community

Posted on by Harvey

I’m skiing my way through all of the lift served ski areas in New York over the next three seasons. That’s my goal. I believe it should be requirement for the editor-in-chief of the New York Ski Blog. Now, newly retired, I’m going to level up and make it happen.

Esopus Creek bridge

Since I began skiing, I’ve found joy at every family-owned mountain I’ve visited. That may be corny, but it’s real for me. It’s why I continue to ski and support the independents.

My NY family ski area resume includes: Titus, Dry Hill, Snow Ridge, Woods Valley, Royal Mountain, Hickory, Greek Peak, Holiday Mountain, Mount Peter, and of course Plattekill. I want to ski all the rest, by the end of 2028.

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Tagged: Catskills, Plattekill13 Comments

Another Big Mac Wednesday

Posted on by Harvey

My season has been a mix of things: handling my transition into retirement, managing the construction of our home and chasing NY lake effect snow. I was at it again last week, rolling over my 401k and scoring a powder day at McCauley.

Good morning

It’s weird being retired. It struck me again early last week when I realized the potential for another Big Mac Wednesday. McCauley is closed on Tuesdays, and if you pay attention, you can score some deep untracked from a two-day snowfall. I thought hell yea, I could be there. On Tuesday I drove to our camp in the Adirondacks, started a fire in the woodstove and skied our woods.

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Tagged: Adirondacks, Lake Effect, McCauley, Powder11 Comments

Titus Mountain: Cold Powder

Posted on by Harvey

In 2013, I discovered a valuable life hack: skiing on my birthday is a great way to forget I’m getting older. Ever since that day I’ve made it point to ski Plattekill on the anniversary of my entrance into the world. The joy of skiing drives out any thoughts associated with the inevitable passage of time.

Titus Mountain

In years when my birthday falls on a day when the lifts aren’t spinning at Plattekill, I’ll ski it on the closest operating day. At the same time, I look to one of my other favorite privately owned New York ski areas, to ski on my official date of birth.

I didn’t have a plan to ski Wednesday, and it occurred to me that this tradition/coping mechanism dated back 14 years. I didn’t want to break my streak.

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Tagged: Adirondacks, Powder, Titus8 Comments