The Hunter Blog

The Ski Season in Photos #3

Posted on by NYSkiBlog
Hunter Ski Patrol on Minya
Bumps on Minya Konka • Hunter Mtn, NY • December 25, 2011

Like many of us, ml242 is another one who loves to ski.  And like most of us, he knows that getting his significant other jazzed about skiing is crucial for maximizing his ski days.

This season he was on a mission. He did all kinds of creative things this season share his love for our sport with his friend Amy.  One of the most notable: a romantic Valentine’s ski overnight at the Roxbury Hotel.  But, as we all know, some things are under our control and other things aren’t. Conditions this season were challenging. Early season was especially difficult, but on Christmas day Hunter delivered.

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Tagged: Catskills, Friday Fantasy Photo, Hunter2 Comments

A History of Hunter Mountain

Posted on by NYSkiBlog

Hunter Mountain Ski BowlThe history of Hunter Mountain is the story of two brothers whose desire to build would not be denied.

Orville and Israel Slutzky had a vision for a ski area on a steep, rocky mountain in Hunter New York, and no amount of adversity or skepticism was enough to deter them from their goal.

In the mid-1950’s the sport of skiing was gaining popularity in New York and across the northeast. At the same, as people became more mobile and began to travel farther for vacations, the Catskills’ appeal as a summer vacation destination was declining. Meanwhile a few miles to the south, Belleayre Ski Center was attracting visitors and driving economic activity in the town of Pine Hill.

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Tagged: Catskills, Hunter, NYSkiBlog Directory, Ski History

Spuyten the Duyvil’s Path

Posted on by ml242

A dissected plateau. That’s the official term for the Catskills in the unpoetic language of the geologists who coined the phrase. It makes sense when you stand on their summits and note the similar heights of the various peaks.

Devil's Path View

Still, the designation was clearly given by a scholar at a desk.  On the other hand, our hike, The Devil’s Path Traverse, was clearly named by those with boots on the ground.

I had the rough pleasure of hiking the traverse, which is also known as The Hardest Day Hiking Trail in America. At 25 miles and 17,000 vertical feet, it’s a sprawling journey of soaring views of the Hudson Valley and Catskills Park, replete with opportunities to scramble the climbs and cruise long downhills.

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Tagged: Backcountry, Catskills, Hiking, Hunter6 Comments