Today - sometimes the lift lines are long at Belle but I don’t feel it on the slopes. Today was the opposite. Skied onto 7 for the most part all day (via the singles line). Went over to 8 and quickly bailed - constant stopping. Steeps are skiing off to a very firm base really quickly. We need snow.
Belleayre Conditions
- Thread starter ScottySkis
- Start date
Q*bert Jones IV
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
Gorgeous day. Plenty of powder to be found, if you know where to look.
Q*bert Jones IV
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
Ok, here's my question to the group. At the bottom of Cathedral Brook's steep section, where it turns left, a trail seems to go straight. If I look at the trail map, it seems to suggest that it comes quite close to the entrance to the Belleayre Express quad. I just don't want to end up on Route 28. Anybody tried this?
Ripitz
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2020
The ski trail continues only for a short bit (just a few hundred feet) then ends at another left turn for a lower traverse back to Lower Cathedral. The lower traverse requires walking and there is a seep that rarely freezes. This area used to have a lean-to. If you continue straight it becomes the Cathedral Brook hiking trail. There is a ravine between the trail and the lift so it’s not really possible to traverse over lower down. If you go down the trail you will come out at Bonnie View Ave. There is not enough snow right now to do that. There are lots of rocks, especially since there is a lot of hemlocks in that area that create thin cover. It is possible to ski back up to the Discovery Lodge up the XC trails if you have fishscales or skins.
I would caution anyone going that way. Please familiarize yourself with NY/NJ Trail Conference maps. Don’t rely on the ski trail maps. Never ski alone through there unless you are already familiar with what is involved. Stay safe, have fun.
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Q*bert Jones IV
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
Fair enough. I though maybe I'd discovered a trail that everyone else already knew about.
I had a response typed out and something grabbed me at work before I hit post. Ripitz’ reply is spot on.
Last section of lower cathedral is short but nice. Worth doing when the snow is good. Continuing down past the walk out brings you to the hiking trail which brings you to the Glen pond which is snowmaking storage, water is pumped there from pine hill lake. Once you hit the glen pond you can make a right and take the railroad tracks into Pine hill, or go left then a quick right and ski down Bonnie view where you hopefully have a waiting friend or a car.
Edited to add, Rip’s caution about hemlocks and thin snow is also spot on. The lower elevation and exposure makes it so that run is really only worth it shortly after a storm when there is good cover in the trees.
Last section of lower cathedral is short but nice. Worth doing when the snow is good. Continuing down past the walk out brings you to the hiking trail which brings you to the Glen pond which is snowmaking storage, water is pumped there from pine hill lake. Once you hit the glen pond you can make a right and take the railroad tracks into Pine hill, or go left then a quick right and ski down Bonnie view where you hopefully have a waiting friend or a car.
Edited to add, Rip’s caution about hemlocks and thin snow is also spot on. The lower elevation and exposure makes it so that run is really only worth it shortly after a storm when there is good cover in the trees.
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Q*bert Jones IV
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2020
There were some big ol' whales on Seneca, which is already the steepest slope on the mountain. Definitely felt my testicles in my throat a few times.
Too much information.There were some big ol' whales on Seneca, which is already the steepest slope on the mountain. Definitely felt my testicles in my throat a few times.
DomB
Well-known member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2020
The upper part of Seneca can be quite fun. They used to let it bump up (which is why they mark it double black I think). Wet whales was probably interesting and fun . . . . If you liked that, check out Tongora.There were some big ol' whales on Seneca, which is already the steepest slope on the mountain. Definitely felt my testicles in my throat a few times.
