The NYSkiBlog Indy Tour

This season NYSkiBlog is stepping up our support of the independent ski areas that we feel are vital to the sport. As part of this effort, we’re embarking on a venture with Indy Pass, a multi-mountain pass that gives the holder privileges to ski 2 days at 44 independent ski areas across North America. More on that in a moment, but first, a bit of backstory.


In 1988, at age 30, I learned to cross country ski in the southern Adirondacks. In 1997, I bought land in the area and would camp to keep the cost of skiing down. In 2002, I married Zelda, and in 2006, our lives changed bigtime when we had a baby. Backcountry skiing became impractical, but my jones to slide on snow remained strong.

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Killy Closer

I had a decent season, but some big omissions kept it from great or all-time status. I never had an over-the-top deep powder day, and somehow, as hard as it is to do, I missed out on a perfect spring day too.

Deep powder is something that you — or more accurately I — might not get in any given season. Apparently.  It’s a fact of life: powder comes when it will and often doesn’t last long.

But spring is more durable.  Or it’s supposed to be. Each year some snow falls the sky and some is made by man. Eventually it all melts. The days become sunny and warm and the skiing is good. On occasion, these days fall on weekends too.

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The Plattekill Plunge Army

I really like skiing lift lines. Something about them is just a bit more exciting to me. Maybe it’s dropping directly down the fall line, or maybe it’s the extra pressure from above to do your best.

Plattekill sign

On top of that, I’ve always had a thing for Plattekill’s Plunge. For starters, it’s a steep and narrow trail below a Hall Double. Plunge has snowmaking on its upper and lower third and is mostly all natural in the middle.

From the top, Plunge is often groomed about 60% of the way across starting from skier’s right. Down skier’s left 2 or 3 bump lines will form if given enough time. The middle — after the split with Giant Slalom — is almost never groomed.

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