More Gore: Guns on Sunway

As reported at the beginning of the off season, Gore Mountain continues their incremental infrastructure upgrades.  One important improvement that will help get the East Side going in the early season is the extension of the Foxlair snowmaking line down skier’s right on Sunway.

Gore Mountain News: Snowguns
New Guns on Sunway

Last season, short, marginal snowmaking temperatures hindered the process of opening early season terrain. The addition of this additional pipeline and five new hydrants with tower guns will allow Gore to blow snow from both sides of the trail and reduce the time needed to cover the crucial intersection of Sunway and Wildair.

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Whiteface News October 2012

Whiteface Mountain NewsThe season is getting closer and NYSkiBlog has got some Whiteface Mountain news to report.

Hoyt’s High

According to representatives from G.W. Tatro, the company installing the Hoyt’s snowmaking pipe, it’s the most difficult job they have undertaken in several years, due to the length of the pipe and the steepness of the pitch.

At 4200 feet in length, Hoyt’s will be the longest stretch of expert terrain at Whiteface without a bail out option. The length presents a grooming challenge as the PB 600w winch cable is only 3000 feet long. The trail will be groomed, but it will require some finesse.

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The Peaked Mountain Pond Trail, NY

The Peak Mountain hike at the northern end of the Siamese Ponds Wilderness is normally reserved for clear days, to take advantage of sweeping views from the summit. But with forecasts calling for thunderstorms later in the day, I was looking for a close-to-home hiking option, so I could be at the trailhead early.

Twin Pines campsite on 13th Lake.
Balm of Gilead from Thirteenth Lake

I hadn’t been up the Peaked Mountain Pond Trail in several years, so I decided to go for it. The morning dawned clear, and I had visions of snagging fleeting views from the top. I made it to the trailhead at the end of the Beach Road at 7am.

As I walked along the shore of Thirteenth Lake, I could see that Balm of Gilead summit was in and out of the mist, and I knew the odds of seeing anything from the summit of Peaked were slim.

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