Skier Perceptions of Gore and Belleayre

Since joining the NYSkiBlog crew last fall, I’ve been initiated, from a distance, into the lively discussions about Gore Mountain.

Gore Mountain Snowmaking

Similar to the Alta crowd in Utah, knowledgeable and passionate Gore skiers can spout details about every single trail, lift, glade, and rock on command. Take a look at the reader comments to Harv’s Gore entries this season and you’ll see an array of detailed and divergent theories on everything from snowmaking, grooming, and midweek lift service to parking and placement of terrain parks. Very little seems to escape their laser-like scrutiny, including a growing impatience with the way that operational decisions have been communicated to customers.

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The Garden State: Wild Roses

Over the past few days, my favorite wildflower, the Wild Rose — the Multiflora Rose — has exploded across the New Jersey landscape.

Wild Roses in NJ
Wild Roses

According to American Meadows: “The botanical term for wild rose is ‘species rose’, which means just what it says — a species that occurs naturally, with no help from man — a true wildflower. There are over 100 of these worldwide, some native to North America, many from the Orient and Europe.”

With their trademark five white petals, Wild Roses are virtually everywhere: in the middle of forests, along the sides of highways and roads, next to ponds and streams. Even if you have a blindfold on, they’re tough to miss.

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The Garden State: Ramp Season

After living in Brooklyn for seven years, I moved to New Jersey in 2004. Like most people, mention the Garden State and what came to mind for me was that 20-mile dead zone along the New Jersey Turnpike – all immortalized in the Sopranos’ opening theme…

I’m not here to argue that this hostile perception of New Jersey’s urban areas is false or exaggerated. But what surprises me is how bucolic and pleasant the rest of state is for outdoor people. The past two weekends, my family and I have been hiking at a 2,000-acre park a half mile from our house.

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