Dark Side Liftline Photos

[x10003q]

If you weren't there before 1995, you don't know what it was like when the red gondola and 2 doubles all converged at the top. Few complained about shortening the Summit lift because that reduced traffic at the top which made it easier to skate across from Straightbrook on crowded days. Everyone was happy to see the red gondola replaced with a shorter one because it added new terrain and further calmed the summit. Nobody complained about replacing the Straightbrook double because that didn't ruin anything. I'm glad it took 18 years to replace the old HP because the new one is awful. Most of the UMP is also awful and I hope it takers anoyher 18 years to complete it because I won't be around to see it.

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More revisionist history. Most people complained about shortening the HP double. It was a horrible decision.

For about 25 years until about 1995, the top of Gore had the same lift capacity of 2 doubles (800 each per hour) and the red gondola (also 800/hour) all going to the top. When did it became crowded? It was the same capacity for all those years. Shortening the HP double was a stupid mistake based on having a new double motor leftover from when the Straightbrook double broke early one season before the planned double to FGQ replacement. If the SB double lasted one more season, the HP double would have been replaced one year after the SB with a FGQ to the top. Instead, they reduced the efficiency of the upper mountain for 25 years. They also screwed the public by having the unreliable, Frankenstein HP double as the only backup for both Gondolas to get to the top.

I am sure you complained about the Straightbrook Quad as it went from the 800person/hour Straightbrook double to a 2400/hour quad. The "crowds" on top must have driven you crazy, especially when compared to the old setup. The new Straightbrook quad lift line was much wider than the old double, but you just forgot about that, too.

I could understand the complaining if the HP pod was truly like Castlerock at Sugarbush. However, the HP pod is nothing like Castlerock. HP is a major part of the traffic pattern at Gore, both up and down the mountain. Replacing the HP double with the quad has made Gore a much better ski area.

 

[JTG]

Replacing the HP double with the quad has made Gore a much better ski area.

How so, and for whom?

Yeah, now they have a modern, more reliable and efficient lift that can move more skiers uphill per hour, depositing them higher up the mountain. That may make the lift system better, but I’m not sure you can unilaterally conclude that it makes Gore a much better ski area. Sure, intermediates will love it....at least until the terrain gets skied off by all those additional people on the summit.

The flip side is that they accomplished that improvement at the expense of terrain on the mountain that actually mattered to people. For me a ski area is judged more on the available terrain than the efficiency of the lift system.

Honestly, you can dismiss the value of the Dark Side terrain (Dark Side glades and HP lift line, now ruined, and Steilhang, destined for straightening?) all you want but such improvements, that make Gore a much better mountain in your eyes, only give me one more reason to take a day trip to Platty instead of Gore.

Therein lies the main point that you seem to miss by solely judging this improvement based on the efficiency of the lift system. Improvements these days are mostly aimed at satisfying the intermediate family masses, and not much thought is given to uniqueness of terrain and what that means for the future. After all, if a good percentage of those intermediate masses don’t go on to become better skiers the sport is in trouble...and once they do become better skiers they are bound to get tired of the boulevards and long for something like what the Dark Side, sadly, used to be.

 

[Flying Z]

State didn't build Gore

If the state didn't dump money into these places there most certainly would be skiing in the Dacks. NY used to have over 300 ski areas, now there's 40 something, I think. The state created an unlevel playing field. Talk to the owners of smaller hills and get their take.

Its true that many ski areas went bust, but that occurred everywhere in the northeast. I suppose your right, Big Tupper and Paleface would of made it.

 

[G.ski]

So yesterday I rode the new High Peaks chair for the first time. I've always skied Gore a few days each season and I've always skied Dark Side when it's open. A favorite of mine. However, I don't have the time spent or connection to local history you guys do.

That said, man they blew that shit up!!

 

[Benny Profane]

Ha.

 

[xWeatherman]

I took the new High peaks lift yesterday for the first time. Yes the liftline has lots of downed trees and a few piles of boulders, no skiing it this year without snow of epic proportions. Also no way to cross the liftline to ski the glades between it and Hulabaloo. I hope/assume Gore will clean up for next season. Once they clean it up it is still steep, has boulders and the glades are still there. It will be the dark side again.

 

[SudsNBumps]

with enough snow it can be easily opened from Steilhang. On week days maybe from cloud. Week days have had been busier than usual.

 

[G.ski]

with enough snow it can be easily opened from Steilhang. On week days maybe from cloud. Week days have had been busier than usual.

I thought the same thing, with enough snow.

I was surprised though when I first saw it and now understand why some people are upset.

 

[SudsNBumps]

eh it is what it is....with enough snow there is always some great skiing on the Darkside and that won't change...we just need some snow!

 

[TheGreatAbyss]

with enough snow it can be easily opened from Steilhang. On week days maybe from cloud. Week days have had been busier than usual.

Maybe following the switchback, but I'm not so sure "off piste". There are so many 3- 4 foot jagged rocks, it would be like skiing down a minefield.