Tiff
Member
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2024
There’s nothing like a crisp winter morning to kick off a ski day, and with the car thermometer reading 10 degrees (but feeling much colder), we bundled up and headed out. Joining me were Evan and his mom—my soon to be mother-in-law. She shared stories on the drive of learning to ski through her middle school ski club, reminiscing about icy moguls and early days at Ski Valley and Bristol Mountain before it became the destination we now know today.
As we drove toward the mountain, the sunrise painted the valley hills in stripes of pink and orange—an unexpected but welcome surprise. Despite considering a weekend road trip into a snowbelt, we decided to stick close to home. Bristol was the perfect choice after a day at Swain the previous weekend and with plans lined up for Sunday morning. It would be Evan’s 3rd visit to the mountain and my first of the season.
We arrived just before opening and geared up in the parking lot. While we anticipated weekend crowds, the slopes were surprisingly quiet. Even better, the entire mountain was open which now felt like a true treat compared to last year’s warm winter and limited snow.
We started on Rocket and Comet, enjoying excellent conditions thanks to Bristol’s continuous snowmaking. Later, we explored the Galaxy chair. Its cruising runs offered groomed corduroy early on, and some icy patches as the day continued. We spent the majority of our time on North Star and Universe, two trails that never opened last year due to unseasonably warm weather. We only took Galaxy once as today it was covered with snow piles and bumps.
Seeing this area fully open with thick snow cover and freshly groomed trails in January felt like a gift that we weren't sure we would get this season. The north-side runs offered a sense of nostalgia after not having access last season, we soaked up every minute. I forgot how much I enjoyed Lower North Star; a wider trail with scenic turns returning to the Galaxy Quad. After a recent trip to Colorado, it was a true reminder of the fun and technicality that East Coast skiing brings, it felt like home.
We took a snack break at the car around noon. When we returned to the base we were happy to see that there were still no lift lines! We spent the rest of the afternoon on the Morning Star quad. Evan lapped the mini terrain park which was loaded with jibs and jumps, while Evan’s mother and I stuck to the trails nearby, occasionally stopping in to watch him. By 3:30, we made our final descent.
We wrapped up the day with Apres at Lock Stock Bar & Grill, a cozy local favorite that’s a must-visit in the winter. The place was packed with happy skiers, locals, and a live band! We were able to snag the last available table and even the bar was left to standing room only. Food and drinks hit the spot as if helping our bodies to begin thawing out after hours in the cold. It was exactly the energy we were looking for to close out a great day.
Bristol truly is “Ole Reliable”, just as Evan said. Solid snow, great terrain, and plenty of local charm - the makings of a perfect family day in the Finger Lakes.
As we drove toward the mountain, the sunrise painted the valley hills in stripes of pink and orange—an unexpected but welcome surprise. Despite considering a weekend road trip into a snowbelt, we decided to stick close to home. Bristol was the perfect choice after a day at Swain the previous weekend and with plans lined up for Sunday morning. It would be Evan’s 3rd visit to the mountain and my first of the season.
We arrived just before opening and geared up in the parking lot. While we anticipated weekend crowds, the slopes were surprisingly quiet. Even better, the entire mountain was open which now felt like a true treat compared to last year’s warm winter and limited snow.
We started on Rocket and Comet, enjoying excellent conditions thanks to Bristol’s continuous snowmaking. Later, we explored the Galaxy chair. Its cruising runs offered groomed corduroy early on, and some icy patches as the day continued. We spent the majority of our time on North Star and Universe, two trails that never opened last year due to unseasonably warm weather. We only took Galaxy once as today it was covered with snow piles and bumps.
Seeing this area fully open with thick snow cover and freshly groomed trails in January felt like a gift that we weren't sure we would get this season. The north-side runs offered a sense of nostalgia after not having access last season, we soaked up every minute. I forgot how much I enjoyed Lower North Star; a wider trail with scenic turns returning to the Galaxy Quad. After a recent trip to Colorado, it was a true reminder of the fun and technicality that East Coast skiing brings, it felt like home.
We took a snack break at the car around noon. When we returned to the base we were happy to see that there were still no lift lines! We spent the rest of the afternoon on the Morning Star quad. Evan lapped the mini terrain park which was loaded with jibs and jumps, while Evan’s mother and I stuck to the trails nearby, occasionally stopping in to watch him. By 3:30, we made our final descent.
We wrapped up the day with Apres at Lock Stock Bar & Grill, a cozy local favorite that’s a must-visit in the winter. The place was packed with happy skiers, locals, and a live band! We were able to snag the last available table and even the bar was left to standing room only. Food and drinks hit the spot as if helping our bodies to begin thawing out after hours in the cold. It was exactly the energy we were looking for to close out a great day.
Bristol truly is “Ole Reliable”, just as Evan said. Solid snow, great terrain, and plenty of local charm - the makings of a perfect family day in the Finger Lakes.
