The Ski Season in Photos #6

Finally, in mid-January, we got some significant measurable snow in the mountains of New York.  At HQ in North River, it was barely a foot, and didn’t really get the trees going, but it was snow. Natural snow always improves conditions.

It Finally Snowed.
Tree Dreamin’ • Somewhere in New York • January 14, 2012

Finally, in mid-January, we got some significant measurable snow in the mountains of New York.  At HQ in North River, it was barely a foot, and didn’t really get the trees going, but it was snow. Natural snow always improves conditions.

Reports and photos from Greek Peak were very encouraging. Laszlo Vajtay of Plattekill called the improvement in surfaces “amazing.”

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The Ski Season in Photos #5

Ski Season Photos
Mattchuck on Kuersteiner • Snow Ridge, NY • January 3, 2012

On New Year’s Day 2012, forecasters were calling for a short but intense blast of arctic air to sweep across the lakes into New York. While it didn’t look like we were actually getting the pattern change everyone was hoping for, some excitement was generated by forecast lake effect snows.  While the actual totals were far less than predicted, For tBatt and Mattchuck, blind faith and determination netted some hard earned natural turns:

“Skiing groomers on manmade snow was getting old, pretty quickly. When I heard that the Tug Hill was forecast to get HAMMERED with 2′-3′ of lake effect, my ears perked up. I kept an eye on the radar and forecast totals.”

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The Ski Season in Photos #4

Early Season Snowmaking at Gore Mountain.
Zach on Pine Knot • Gore Mtn, NY • December 29, 2011

This past season was the unofficial “year of the snowmaker.” Snowmaking systems were pushed to the limit. At Gore, there was a somewhat fortuitous coincidence in this regard: a major snowmaking upgrade took place in the summer of 2011. The mountain added 160 high efficiency guns designed for precisely what the season dictated — constant resurfacing at marginal temperatures.

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