Hardpack ScrapeOff: Platty vs Belle, Hunter.

[Harvey]

This site was originally built as a tool to help flatlanders pick their ski days. As the designer of that weather section I know how to use it. Raise your hand if you dive deep into those pages!

Picking the best days isn't that hard. The hard part, for me, is doing it far enough in advance so I can line up the time off.

That McCauley day was last year and the "advantage" I had was that it's no problem for me getting my birthday off to ski. Family and work are all good with it, even on a Wednesday.

Another thing is I don't care if I have a pass to a place. If I want to ski there, I'll buy a ticket.

 

[ADKmike]

For the past decade I've been driving past the Cats do my skiing up in either the Daks or in Vermont. However after having a kid that's becoming a much harder proposition, and I'm finding myself back in the Cats more often. The problem with having the ORDA pass is that Belle just isn't very exciting when the bumps and trees aren't in play - after that first drop the mountain is mostly runout.

I hear great things about Plattekill when the snow is soft and the trees are stacked, but how is it on your run of the mill Ice Coast hardpack day? Would you rather be there, Hunter or Belle? How would you compare it to Gore?

I'm probably still going to get the ORDA pass next year but I'd like to augment it with another Catskills mountain.

The way I see it the advantages of Hunter over Plattekill are:
1) 50 minutes less driving round trip
2) Access to other resorts on the Epic Pass
3) Better Grooming?
4) Open all week
5) More terrain
6) More to do in the nearby towns

The advantages of Plattekill over Hunter are:
1) Better off-piste terrain
2) Smaller crowds?

Curious to everyone else's opinions.

We’ve skied together a few times at this point so I think it’s safe to say you need to check out Platekill if you have never been. You’d like it. JTG and I had a killer day there a couple years ago on April 15th I think it was...late in the season...skiing some nice freshly fallen boot deep pow in the woods with pretty much the place to ourself. I’m sure JTG will corroborate my story.

We got a similar thing going on right now...new kid + long drive to the mountains from jers = careful planning for max skiing ha

haven’t skied hunter in a long time and I chase storms to belleayre from time to time since I have ORDA pass

 

[TheGreatAbyss]

Hey Mike! Yeah I'll be adding Platty to my rotation next year. Might even head up on Sunday.

 

[JTG]

I’m sure JTG will corroborate my story.

While I’ve already professed my affinity for the place....yes, that was a great day at a place at which I’ve never had a bad day. I’ll likely be there Sunday using a shiny new 21/22 season pass!

 

[ADKmike]

While I’ve already professed my affinity for the place....yes, that was a great day at a place at which I’ve never had a bad day. I’ll likely be there Sunday using a shiny new 21/22 season pass!

Hey Mike! Yeah I'll be adding Platty to my rotation next year. Might even head up on Sunday.

nice enjoy I’ll be having corn and hopefully a few deck beers at whiteface

 

[JTG]

Come on. Don’t be that way. Harv is a soul skier. He’s very spiritual

Duuudes....you best be steppin’ off, stop giving Harvey a hard time. Not his fault that he gets it and you don’t!

I’m with Harvey, but I get why others may not be. If you are buying a season pass and your goals are to maximize number of days on snow...you have to be prepared for all conditions. That means right tools and right mentality. I did that for many years. I’ve since seen the light. Yeah, I’ll only get 15 to 20 days a year, and generally not enough days at one place to justify a season pass.....but 75%+ of those days are in powder or on soft snow. It can be done, and satisfying. Works for me (and Harvey), but I get that wouldn’t work for others. Different strokes...

 

[Harvey]

shiny new 21/22 season pass

Like.

 

[Harvey]

Duuudes....you best be steppin’ off, stop giving Harvey a hard time. Not his fault that he gets it and you don’t!

I’m with Harvey, but I get why others may not be. If you are buying a season pass and your goals are to maximize number of days on snow...you have to be prepared for all conditions. That means right tool and right mentality. I did that for many years. I’ve since seen the light. Yeah, I’ll only get 15 to 20 days a year, and generally not enough days at one place to justify a season pass.....but 75%+ of those days are in powder or on soft snow. It can be done, and satisfying. Works for me (and Harvey), but I get that wouldn’t work for others. Different strokes...

I'd like to ski more, but it's just not practical. I've found that my "old normal" 35 day season is about as far as I can push it with family and work.

 

[Teledork]

I’ll likely be there Sunday using a shiny new 21/22 season pass!

Any idea what they'll cost? I'm thinking about trying to convince the wife to let me get one for my birthday!

 

[JTG]

Not sure. Assuming similar to 20/21? What did those cost? Link and pricing to be posted tomorrow.