Hunter: Not Good, It's January

[Zykamps]

I didn't realize Annapurna was off the table.

When did it last open? When did it last open on manmade snow?

Maybe 5 or 6 years ago? Around the time of the north expansion. They mostly abandoned the west side and stopped running the z lift midweek. Based on the reports I don't think the z lift has run this year?

 

[jimmypete]

Everything turns to ice at Hunter because the main face of Hunter is on the southside of the ridge and is hit hard by daily freeze thaw cycles, especially after Feb. No amount of touch up snowmaking is ever going to affect the freeze thaw cycles. Vail blowing snow after mid -Feb has to do with keeping trails open until closing date because they do not blow a big base.

 

[jimmypete]

I understand Hunter's face problems but have skied in March when they haven't blown and in March when they have, and there is a marked difference in quality,

 

[jimmypete]

Both westway and annapurna having snowmaking infrastructure. Not sure if it works now but the Slutzkys and then peak would typically blow annapurna. Peak tried westway a few times and failed.

I think Westway is completely defunct, broken rusted pipes etc. The last time I remember Annapurna open was maybe two years ago for just for a few days, both trails could be remediated for way less money than Peaks spent on the North Side but still would take some will , foresight and bucks, Hunter is a moneymaker, this weekend every parking lot was full way down to the street, leaving the West closed just creates problems as there are all levels of skiers crowding into the face, despite it's rep Hunter has some really good skiers and riders and filtering them to the West and somewhat North side would make the place fantastic.

 

[Harvey]

Maybe 5 or 6 years ago? Around the time of the north expansion. They mostly abandoned the west side and stopped running the z lift midweek. Based on the reports I don't think the z lift has run this year?

Valentine's Day 2014

Hunter Mountain Valentine's Day Pow

It's been years since I saw such a powder-crazed group skiing in the Catskills.

nyskiblog.com

 

[jimmypete]

My son skied West Way either last year or 2021, he said it was crazy but he loved the bragging, bushes and plants and big rocks everywhere and some real steeps. Clairs was open about a third of the time in the last few years and I recall some big whales on it in 2021, the Z lift is a good lift and it's a crime not to use it more.

 

[jasonwx]

Here’s a pic from late april
Early 80’s.
That famous deep base

 

[Ripitz]

Deep base in the late eighties. Same spot.

 

[Benny Profane]

Maybe 5 or 6 years ago? Around the time of the north expansion. They mostly abandoned the west side and stopped running the z lift midweek. Based on the reports I don't think the z lift has run this year?

Wow, even less inspired to go back. I remember a time when the Slotskys were talking about maybe expanding into that bowl you see to the left riding up the six pack just out of bounds that looks perfect for a new set of trails, and I think is used as "backcountry" by some, but a Brooklyn state senator blocked that. Now they cant even get west running. Sad.

 

[Q*bert Jones IV]

Some time ago, a user on this forum excoriated me for comparing Hunter unfavorably to Belleayre and Windham. Their point was that the West Side at Hunter was far better than anything else at the other two. I was planning on heading over there some time this month and checking it out. But from what I'm seeing here, even with natural snow those slopes aren't generally open.