Gore vs Belleayre

[not2brite]

My daughter and I have skied at Gore before and have skied Lies and Rumor, so ability level is not part of the equation. More just Bell would be a new place that we haven’t skied.

In this case go with Gore. Belle’ is an outstanding mountain for intermediates (like myself) or if it happens to be much more convenient (like myself). You likely wouldn’t get bored because it would be new for you, but it is much less interesting than Gore.

 

[TheGreatAbyss]

Check the conditions report night before and make a game time decision. When Gore is >60% open it's the better mountain hands down, but lately Gore has very little advanced terrain open. Lies and Rumor haven't even had snow blown on them yet and are far from open. If you're comparing Gore with only Uncas, Top Ridge and Open Pit (really should be a blue), against Belle at 90% open, Belle might be the better choice.

 

[Face4Me]

Whiteface in the early morning can be done in 1:55 minutes from Albany. That going 76 in 65. 62 in 55. Skip Belle. As soon as whiteface comes into view from Jay you will he happy you did. The extra 20 minutes each way you spend in the car will be worth the memory you have forever. Belle sucks... But that's just me...you see how many people like it on here.

I'd have to agree with TJF on this one, especially if you've never been to Whiteface, and assuming you can use that same pass at Belleayre or Whiteface.

If it turns out that it's going to be a powder day at Belleayre, and not in the ADK's, then by all means, go to Belleayre. Otherwise, for the extra 25 - 35 minutes each way (depending on where you're coming from in Albany), I think you'll find that it would be well worth it.

That said, given the current weather situation, reserve the decision until that week. With the Winter University Games coming up, the entire focus is going to be on that. Without some serious help from Mother Nature, there may not be much more open at Whiteface in early February than there is now, and right now, given what's available, it wouldn't be worth making the trip. Keep your eyes on the Whiteface Conditions thread to see how things are going.

 

[SayvilleSteve]

but lately Gore has very little advanced terrain open. Lies and Rumor haven't even had snow blown on them yet and are far from open. If you're comparing Gore with only Uncas, Top Ridge and Open Pit (really should be a blue), against Belle at 90% open, Belle might be the better choice.

I strongly disagree with this. Just the last drop at the end of Showcase or Arena/Wild Air is just as steep and may actually be longer than anything challenging at Belleayre. Those will be open. Add just Topridge and Open Pit you are already ahead of Belleayre. Not to mention the strong likelihood of at least Hawkeye, Chatiemac, and Lower Darby. The "blue cruisers" at Gore such as Quicksilver, Twister, Tahawus will stand up to repeated runs way better than anything to be found at Belle where all of the trails are very similar. Even if Gore is at 25% open, three runs down Topridge will be more interesting than taking runs down three "different" trails at Belle.

I would also second that the added distance/time to Whiteface is well worth it and should be considered long before Belleayre.

(Note: I have skied five times this season: 2x at Belle and 3x at Gore)

 

[tirolski]

Jan 6th 2023
Gore has 22 trails open on it's venue of 447 total acres
Belle has 45 trails open on it's venue of 175 total acres

 

[MarzNC]

Jan 6th 2023
Gore has 22 trails open on it's venue of 447 total acres
Belle has 45 trails open on it's venue of 175 total acres

 

[MarzNC]

Also I am staying in Albany and the drive is close to the same

Hmm . . . if I were staying in Albany and had a choice of making the drive up to ski Whiteface or drive south to check out Belleayre on a Friday, I would probably drive to Lake Placid. Assuming clear highway in both directions during mid-season. I would plan on having an early dinner in Lake Placid before heading back to Albany. It's a fun place to walk around when not overrun with non-skiing tourists.

 

[MiSkier]

Hmm . . . if I were staying in Albany and had a choice of making the drive up to ski Whiteface or drive south to check out Belleayre on a Friday, I would probably drive to Lake Placid. Assuming clear highway in both directions during mid-season. I would plan on having an early dinner in Lake Placid before heading back to Albany. It's a fun place to walk around when not overrun with non-skiing tourists.

We are most likely just going to spend the first day exploring the runs that are open at Gore and the second day going back and make laps on the runs we liked. Also part of this trip is to see family that I don't get to see that often and dinner is being planned for Friday night.
I appreciate everyone's input. Like I said i had never been to Belleayre. I am used to skiing 300'-400' hills and would kill to have a place like Belleayre near me.

 

[Cornhead]

Make sure there's no weird Canadian holidays if you go to Whiteface. I got burned by that once. I asked some women on the gondola why there were so many French speaking people there It was whatever obscure Canadian holiday, I can't recall which. It hadn't dawned on me that WF is pretty close to Canada.

 

[DomB]

We are most likely just going to spend the first day exploring the runs that are open at Gore and the second day going back and make laps on the runs we liked. Also part of this trip is to see family that I don't get to see that often and dinner is being planned for Friday night.
I appreciate everyone's input. Like I said i had never been to Belleayre. I am used to skiing 300'-400' hills and would kill to have a place like Belleayre near me.

To take a middle ground approach, I will say this is a good decision; you also could not have made a bad decision. Belle will be pretty good in Feb.

If the trees are in play in February (70-100% likely) and you like tree skiing you will be in paradise. Not an exaggeration. Based on your ability (I think you referred to Rumor) jump into Twister glades. Not that hard, but you will be in awe of nature around you as you ski by 40 foot high glacial erratics (boulders) in the middle of the woods. If you don't tree ski alot, I recall it is a trail where you do have to look at the drops below you because there are a handful of smaller boulders that you can ski over. If you are not focused on that just make sure you are in good balance!

You will have fun in any event.