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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Hunter Mtn, NY: 4/2/10

Hunter Mountain

Forecast today for the Catskills was sunny with a high around 75, so my daughters and I went skiing. We arrived around 9 to a quickly-filling parking lot. Temps last night went down to around 40 so the snow firmed up.

Racers Edge

We started on Hellgate which was softening quickly in the sun with nice small bumps. We stripped down to t-shirts after the first run.

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