The Adirondacks Blog

Snowmaking on Hoyt’s High

Posted on by NYSkiBlog

At this time of year in 2009 ORDA announced that snowmaking on Hoyt’s High — the signature expert trail on Lookout Mountain at Whiteface — would have to wait. The price tag for the project, estimated at $500,000 at that time, was too steep, when combined with reductions in state funding. Over the last two seasons, skiing on the trail has been limited to those days when the skies delivered enough natural snow to open the steep pitch.

Hoyts-High
Hoyt’s High on Feb 26, 2010

That is about to change. ORDA announced today that the construction of the snowmaking infrastructure is underway and will be completed by the beginning of the 2012-2013 ski season. From our conversation with Bruce McCulley this morning:

“We will be installing snowmaking on Hoyt’s High this summer. The pipe has started to arrive and we expect crews on site next week. This is a significant undertaking since the access is limited.

Continue reading →

Tagged: Adirondacks, Whiteface12 Comments

The Ski Season in Photos #9

Posted on by NYSkiBlog
Condor shreds Chatiemac • Gore Mtn • Feb 25 2012

Finally, finally, finally we got a taste of winter in late February.  And it started with a little bit of magic.  On February 24, Jason called a storm, a lake cutter, that would track to our west, and deliver snow.  I’d never heard of significant snow falling on the warm side of the storm before, but like most skiers across the northeast, I wasn’t arguing with the call.

Plans were adjusted, and I made a run for Gore on Saturday morning, and rolled into the parking lot before noon.  I booted up in the car, and walked straight to the triple to grab some turns in the new snow. I knew the place would be crawling with potential ski partners.  I figured I’d do laps on the darkside and see who came out of the woodwork.

Continue reading →

Tagged: Adirondacks, Friday Fantasy Photo, Gore Mountain, PowderLeave a comment

The Halfway Brook Trail

Posted on by Harvey

The Halfway Brook Trail was another traditional path through the Garnet Hills, in the Southern Adirondacks. It was used by locals for decades prior to the land’s inclusion into the Forest Preserve. In the 1930s, it was traveled by mine workers moving from their North River living quarters to the mine each day. In the last 50 years, the trail has been used mostly during the winter by backcountry skiers.

William Blake Pond.
William Blake Pond

Halfway Brook Trail now officially extends all the way to the old farm road, absorbing (and shortening) a trail that had been called “Overlook” on the Garnet Hill trail map for years. I was never sure if Overlook was actually a new name for part of the Halfway Brook Trail, or something truly distinct.  To further complicate things, the first section of the trail, became known as the William Blake Pond Trail — another result of the way lodge guests used the route.

Continue reading →

Tagged: Adirondacks, Backcountry, Hiking, Siamese Ponds Wilderness2 Comments