The Western NY Blog

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

Peek’n Peak: Think Snow

Posted on by Evan

Packing my ski gear Tuesday morning, I knew a good day was ahead. There was a beautiful sunrise to start the day that gave way to clear visibility for the drive to Clymer, NY. It was an early start to a long, but fun day. I had plans to meet my friends Kyle and Mike at Peek’n Peak later in the morning. We love PnP’s terrain park and it was the focus of our trip.

Peek’n Peak Main Lodge

My first visit to Peek’n Peak was eight years ago via I-86. This time I came on I-90 with views of Lake Erie and vines from the Wine Country Trail. I arrived 30 minutes before opening, to a near empty parking lot. I expected it to be a busy day during a holiday break, at a mountain so close to Erie PA. But the only line I saw all day was at the ticket window.

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Tagged: Indy Pass, Peak'n Peak, Western NY4 Comments