Hickory is a Magic Machine

I first met Stuart of The Storm back in 2020 on an off-the-hook powder day at McCauley. We got to talking about all the great small ski areas in New York. He told me “NYSkiBlog has more Hickory content than anyone else on the web.” At the time, I wondered if we’d ever publish an on-snow piece about Hickory again.

An enormous amount of work has gone into getting the hill open. Led by Hickory founder Hans Winbauer’s daughter, Sue Catana, the hill has navigated operational, inspection and insurance challenges. With significant help from the Indy Pass and Unofficial Networks, Hickory announced they’d spin lifts on Saturday, for the first time since 2015.

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Whiteface: Earning Opening Day

Thanksgiving is time to be appreciate, and gather with family to celebrate the approaching new year. For me, it’s also the start to one of the best times of the year: ski season. Shoppers are searching for the deals on Black Friday, skiers head to mountains with snow. Whiteface, Jay Peak, and Smuggler’s Notch to name a few.

tour start

Conditions are generally less than ideal in November, with most ski areas opening a handful of groomed trails for skiers of all abilities. This combination can feel chaotic to a reclusive skier, who’d rather seek solitude somewhere in the backcountry.

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A Walk in the Woods at Plattekill

Thirteen years ago, a noted New York skier, a friend of mine, came up with the idea of recruiting lopper-wielding powderhounds to trim tree lines at Plattekill. He asked me to promote it and recruit volunteers on NYSkiBlog, and I agreed.

Route 28

We had a crew of ten volunteers that first year, and the numbers have grown. Now it seems we can count on 40 to 50 volunteers each year. I believe it’s really the right amount allowing us to split up into groups and spread out.

In my years of writing about Plattekill and promoting the work day, this is my first time contributing with loppers. My landscaping skills are limited compared to some others, but on the upside my enthusiasm runs high.

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