Snow Ridge: Sap Line Saturday

I spent last week traveling for work. After 4 am wake ups, economy class seating and stuffy hotel rooms I wanted to stretch my legs and get some fresh air. When I left New York on Monday, another round of lake effect was rolling in off Ontario and the inches were stacking up on Tug Hill. I knew there was a place where the stashes would be deep and untouched come Saturday; the Snow Pocket.

snow-ridge-tbar

On weekends the old t-bar spins at 11, which gives me time to sleep in and still make it to the mountain for a few warm up laps. I made my way up the Ridge Runner chair a little after 10, time enough to take Keursteiner to The Pocket.

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Snow Ridge Opens North Slope

I spend a lot of time at work setting expectations. It’s important stakeholders know what they are getting to avoid disappointment. Skiing and riding in New York can be the same. Set your expectations modestly and winter will never let you down. It can magnify the fun you are having on the slopes. It does for me.

North Slope
North Slope

Last Saturday I geared up late in the morning and headed to Snow Ridge without expectations. On the way up Route 26, the resort comes into sight. From there you can see the face of the mountain. This view always gives me an clue about what to expect.

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Dry Hill: Finally Dry

In 2010, I began work on NYSkiBlog’s Directory of NY Ski Areas to educate myself about New York skiing. In the process, I learned about Dry Hill, the other Tug Hill ski area. It’s a beautiful ski hill on a ripple in the terrain, a few miles south of Watertown. Dry Hill has a magic all her own.

Dry Hill Ski Area

There’s a lot to like about Dry Hill. Dry has a double chair, a T-bar and a magic carpet serving 7 trails on 42 acres; 1.5 miles of terrain with 300 feet of vertical drop. It’s not too surprising that both the double and the T-bar were made by the venerable Hall Ski Lift Company — which was also based in Watertown NY — from 1955 until 1982.

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