Belleayre 2/12/22

[Low Angle Life]

Saturday was the obvious choice. Reports at Belleayre were calling for 46 degrees and partly sunny Saturday while Superbowl Sunday was looking like battling crowds on boiler plate. A leisurely 7:30 departure from NNJ had us arriving in the lot just before 9:30 after driving through rain on 28 from Kingston through Shandaken. At lot H the temperature was 46 with a slight wind and partly cloudy, by the time we made it to the top of the gondola the sun was out in force and things were warming up. It was spring conditions all morning across the hill, easy turns, moderate crowds and plenty of fun. Just after noon while traversing the top ridge I saw a splitboarder traveling the other direction towards Sunset Lodge. Figuring he came from the Cathedral Brook area I figured I would hike out that way and adventure a bit.

The natural snow was holding up great on Cathedral, packed firm, untracked on the sides, nice and chalky, just a bit too cold for corn. I made the hike twice sine I was enjoying myself so much and the conditions inspired some further adventuring...

It probably wasn't worth it given the way the crust was but I made the whole way down clean! Shout out to Dave? for offering me a ride back to my truck, I was ready to make the long walk but you saved the day. PSA, I would not have ventured this way had it not been for the impending feeling that spring was closing in and I might loose a chance to get it this season.

By the time we were headed out the temperature was 34 and the sun had dipped below the mountain. There is still plenty of snow out there in the Cats and it's about to get frozen up solid tonight and tomorrow. Fingers crossed we're not done yet!

 

[Country Gun]

We also skied Belleayre yesterday. First real warm and sunny day I skied this year.. Had a blast very soft snow. We left just as the sun went over the hill and it started to firm up.

 

[jamesdeluxe]

Sad to see how Highmount has filled in. Almost 15 years ago to the day, it was clear sailing for the most part.

 

[Low Angle Life]

Sad to see how Highmount has filled in. Almost 15 years ago to the day, it was clear sailing for the most part.

Worst part is how that stuff fills in on former ski trails, dense, twiggy little shit everywhere. A pain to snake through and a lot of effort to try to clear. At least its relatively rock free.

 

[DomB]

Worst part is how that stuff fills in on former ski trails, dense, twiggy little shit everywhere. A pain to snake through and a lot of effort to try to clear. At least its relatively rock free.

What's the etiquette/permissibility/feasibility of someone organizing a day like is done at Platty to clear up?

 

[Low Angle Life]

What's the etiquette/permissibility/feasibility of someone organizing a day like is done at Platty to clear up?

I'm sure there are enough people on this site that might be interested in forming some kind of organization to make that kind of thing a reality. Think like BETA in the Daks or Granite Backcountry Alliance in the Whites or CTA in the Greens. It all comes down to who owns the land and getting cooperation from the owner/manager, having a legitimate non-profit organization that carries an insurance policy and has trained volunteers goes a long way in gaining that legitimacy. That would be the by the book way to go about it at least.

Then there is always a quiet rouge individual who wanders into the woods with loppers and a saw keeping things low key. When going that route its best to stay solo and keep your mouth shut so as to not end up like the guy who cleared Big Jay... just don't get too excited and start sawing over 1000 mature growth trees like those fuckers did.

 

[DomB]

Got it. I would not be the rogue solo guy, I think. But this is great info.

 

[Ripitz]

What's the etiquette/permissibility/feasibility of someone organizing a day like is done at Platty to clear up?

Unless NYS buys that property I would say the chance of that happening is zero. Even then they’ll probably just drive a bulldozer down it not have a work party. The guy was in his 60s when he first proposed to redevelop that area and died 20 years later with the process still dragging along. It’s sad to see those lifts and lodges rotting away. I doubt anything could be reused at this point. They should have combined with Tom’s Tow and gone all the way to Rte. 28. It wouldn’t make sense economically to clear it and run a shuttle. There’s not enough consistent snowpack to justify it. In the meantime, ski fast and thwack away.

 

[tirolski]

I'm sure there are enough people on this site that might be interested in forming some kind of organization to make that kind of thing a reality. Think like BETA in the Daks or Granite Backcountry Alliance in the Whites or CTA in the Greens. It all comes down to who owns the land and getting cooperation from the owner/manager, having a legitimate non-profit organization that carries an insurance policy and has trained volunteers goes a long way in gaining that legitimacy. That would be the by the book way to go about it at least.

Then there is always a quiet rouge individual who wanders into the woods with loppers and a saw keeping things low key. When going that route its best to stay solo and keep your mouth shut so as to not end up like the guy who cleared Big Jay... just don't get too excited and start sawing over 1000 mature growth trees like those fuckers did.

This dude is in Ulster County.

 

[G.ski]

I was at Belle the 12th as well; trees were a bit bony and crusty but bumps everywhere were fantastic!