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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Belleayre Mtn, NY: 4/3/10

As I was driving north this morning, I started having second thoughts about 20 minutes from my house. It was supposed to hit the high 70s in the mountains for the fourth day in a row and I had visions of top-to-bottom slush and bare spots. Luckily, I pushed on and had one of my best spring skiing days ever.

Tele-Hottie on Belleayre Run

Even though Belleayre, like pretty much all of the northeast, had only received trace amounts of snow in March, the coverage was fantastic and it got just cold enough during the night to firm up the snow a bit for absolutely perfect corn corduroy.

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Jamesdeluxe Interviews Belleayre’s Joe Kelly

You may or may not know that Jamesdeluxe is actually a writer by trade. He’s also a Belleayre regular and is very interested in the future of the hill.

Linked below is his interview with avid Belleayre supporter Joe Kelly, about the future of the mountain in the Catskills. Even if you’ve never skied Bell, it’s a compelling look at an passionate group of Belleayre advocates that has worked hard to keep the mountain alive over the decades. It should be interesting for NY skiers to note the differences between Belleayre and the other two ski state-run mountains.


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