Plattekill Skis Jay Peak VT

Jay PeakHave you ever wondered what it’s like for an owner of a ski area to visit another resort? Is he constantly checking out the lifts, the prices of food, if the ticket people are friendly, or the kind of snowmaking guns they use? Or is the idea to get away, forget about your profession for a few days and just ski — and let someone else deal with things?

This week, Laszlo Vajtay, owner of Plattekill in the western Catskills, is skiing with his family at Jay Peak in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. He’ll be checking in with reports about his vacation: skiing, food, accommodations, skating, curling, or just hanging out with the kids. Here’s the first installment, about his arrival at Jay.

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Plattekill Mountain, NY: 4/2/11

My first trip to Plattekill Mountain dates to the 2000 ski season. I was living in Dutchess County at the time, and they kept reporting astonishing totals.

Plattekill Mountain NY.

Finally, I decided to head over at the last minute to find that the snow was indeed bountiful, and even my late arrival didn’t preclude me from claiming fresh lines all over the place.

I rode until they turned the lifts off and after I left, I told everyone I could find about this gem in the Catskills with a consistent fall line and the most luxurious natural snow I had ever experienced in New York.

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Plattekill’s Facebook Day

Facebook Day at Plattekill looked a lot like every other day I’ve been to Plattekill. Good snow, terrain, plenty of parking, and no lift lines. We booted up at 10:15 and our timing was perfect.

Platty-Parking

We skied the whole mountain, but focused on the steep stuff. In the afternoon when conditions peaked, we lapped Plunge.

Funky soft, but very skiable, in the morning and then unbelievable corn perfection after the sun came out for real around noon.

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