Gore Mountain: Early Season Workout

The last few years, Gore has become my early season goto mountain. On occasion we’ll get some crazy lake effect that opens up resorts in CNY, but we know we can rely on Gore to be open, by the end of November. A little elevation and a few degrees of latitude have a big impact on snowmaking and snow retention.

Gore Mountain early season

While the rain washed us out last week, Gore held on. Midweek skiing is great work if you can get it; Cam and I decided to drive up together early Friday morning.

It was 6am when I pulled into Stewart’s to meet Cam. The sign was like a lighthouse guiding me through the fog to a hot cup of coffee.

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Woods Valley: Time Flies

The older I get, the faster time flies. The season snuck up on me and my general lack of fitness, again. For Woods Valley, on the other hand, wisdom has come with age and on the dawn of their 60th year in operation they were ready to go.

Woods Valley opening day 2023
Woods Valley opening day 2023

Early last week mother nature decided to help the resort with 10 inches of lake effect to add to their snowmaking efforts. Ullr giveth and he taketh away, and on Friday it rained. Woods was undeterred, and on Saturday at 10am they kicked off their 60th season. Normally I pick up my season pass the week prior to opening but my lack of planning found me a few families deep in the pick up line.

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Snow Ridge: A Classic Indy Rise Up

There’s been some excitement about the eastern ski season getting an early start. Ski Ward in Massachusetts garnered significant attention with its new snowmaking system, claiming the first open ski resort in North America. Killington spun early as always. Belleayre got out first in New York with a sneak preview before Thanksgiving.

Snow Pocket tbar

Those efforts may pale in comparison to the work done at Snow Ridge, a family-owned resort on Tug Hill. In August, as most resorts were completing lift maintenance and inspection, Turin NY came into the path of an EF-3 tornado. Trees were snapped and lifts were rendered inoperable.

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