The Western NY Blog

Kissing Bridge: Into the Snowbelt

Posted on by Evan

Waking up early on the weekends comes a lot easier when fresh snow awaits. For the second weekend in a row Tiff and I were on the road by 6:00 a.m., headed for more Erie lake effect.

A big and bright full moon lit the way. The air was crisp and cold, the car thermometer read a brisk 6 degrees, but we were fired up for the adventure.

first chair

This weekend we headed to Kissing Bridge, located in the ‘Colden Snowbelt’ south of Buffalo, with plans to meet our friend Kyle. I’d always heard Kissing Bridge was a fun spot, and was excited for our first-ever visit.

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Tagged: Kissing Bridge, Lake Effect, Powder, Western NY4 Comments

Holiday Valley Opens in 2024

Posted on by Robert

The Erie lake effect machine fired her guns hard and heavy the last week. Usually I would turn my eyes towards the Tug Hill, but lake effect can be a fickle thing. At Dry Hill they needed snorkels, but Snow Ridge could only launch a soft opening.

Tannenbaum Express

Cold Canadian air was pushing south and in the early season Lake Erie often reigns supreme. Holiday Valley was in the epicenter getting over three feet of snow.

I called my boys Alex and Evan, and on Friday we headed to the Aspen of the East, Ellicottville for Holiday Valley Opening Day 2024.

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Tagged: Holiday Valley, Lake Effect, Powder, Western NY6 Comments

The Bristol Hills Trail

Posted on by Evan

As seasons change, so do our methods of outdoor recreation. When ILoveNY starts to put out their Fall Foliage Report, it ques my brain to contemplate hiking in the Adirondacks.

Naples Creek Trail Head

The ADK region is usually first for peak foliage in early October, and I wasn’t able to make it work. Luckily here in the Finger Lakes, peak is much later. The large bodies of water hold heat and delay the onset of cooler temperatures needed to trigger the color change in leaves, and extend the fall foliage season. The FLX has some challenging hikes, and I set my sights on Naples. The Bristol Hills Trail is a 50-mile branch trail of the 900+ mile Finger Lakes Trail System.

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Tagged: Hiking, Western NY3 Comments