The Adirondacks Blog

North Creek Ski Bowl: BIG Nordic

Posted on by Peter Minde

Snow-starved times call for desperate measures to get one’s ski fix. On a recent spring weekend, I day-tripped to North Creek Ski Bowl to get my fair share of abuse. The year season turned around for the metro area and points north. But on this weekend other options were closed, from the mid-February thaw.

north creek ski bowl nordic

The North Creek Ski Bowl is 40 miles further from my home than my go-to day trip destination, Prospect Mt in VT.

Last year in the miserable 2015-2016-ski season, the Ski Bowl pretty much saved New York cross-country ski racing. ORDA laid out a serpentine — some might have called it Mickey Mouse — course winding around and turning back in on itself, uphill separated from downhill by surveyor’s tape and prayer. Not unlike a cyclocross.

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Tagged: Adirondacks, North Creek Ski Bowl6 Comments

A Little Help from My Friends

Posted on by Harvey

After a big day at Plattekill on Wednesday, I went home to work Thursday and Friday morning. Out the door at 1pm on Friday afternoon, I drove to our ski hut in Johnsburg, NY.

The next morning I was at the North Creek Ski Bowl early. Things were looking good when my friend Duck stepped into the yurt before first chair to boot up. After a lone warmup run on Moxham, we went into the trees, and struck paydirt.

We hit our favorites hard and then headed up to Burnt Ridge. We ran into another musketeer — Suds — en route. Riding the quad we could see that ropes were down on the trees, and we hit Boreas in fine shape.

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Tagged: Adirondacks, Backcountry, Gore Mountain, North Creek Ski Bowl, Powder4 Comments

Another McCauley Surprise

Posted on by Harvey

McCauley. I think about it. I look at the webcams, read the snow report and check the NWS point forecast. The place is on my list.

mccauley first chair

At this point, if I’m staying in North River, I’ve got to be solo to even consider McCauley. After driving from the flatlands, the girls aren’t eager to get up at 5am for a 90 minute drive to the hill.

Early last week the forecast called for a lake effect event, so I started to consider options.  I admit I thought that headline snow totals from farther west might give me a great opportunity. After a huge day Saturday at Gore and in our woods, I crawled into bed with the alarm set for 5:30.

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Tagged: Adirondacks, McCauley, Powder3 Comments