Recommendations for the Last Week of December

[Campgottagopee]

If you're driving all that way you may as well spend the extra time and go to Gore. It's a lot bigger and the terrain is a lot more interesting than Bell. Neither town has much to do. Lakes George will have lodging if you choose Gore.

Concur
For my 120 minutes Gore and LG would be the clear winner. Or get a VRBO right near Gore and bring my own party.

 

[Harvey]

@wgo follow this link:

https://nyskiblog.com/forum/threads/gore-conditions.1133/page-144#post-47788

 

[Harvey]

@wgo just read online that TODAY is the LAST DAY to buy a frequent skier card.

 

[wgo]

@wgo just read online that TODAY is the LAST DAY to buy a frequent skier card.

Thanks for the heads up! I think I am just going to go ahead and buy 2-day tickets to Gore without the FSC. Thanks again for all of the advice, I really appreciate it.

 

[wgo]

This looks promising:

 

[Harvey]

This looks promising:

GFS is calling for another bomb on 12/23.

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NYSkiBlog's Albany weather page: point forecasts, radar, temp and precip reports, webcams and ski reports from the Eastern NY and Southern VT.

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[DomB]

Hello,

Not sure if this is the correct sub-forum to use, so please let me know if this post needs to be moved. I am a new forum member, based in Charlottesville, VA. I have enjoyed the content on this site for years and now that my teenage son and I are planning a trip to NY the last week of December I thought that I would ask for some advice. We are heading up for 2 or 3 days and are looking at either Belleayre or Gore. From our house it is around 7.5 hours to Belleayre and 9.5 hours to Gore. I would be fine with driving the extra 2 hours to Gore, but to this point it looks like Belleayre has been able to open up more terrain. My plan is to wait until early next week before deciding where to buy lift tickets - at that point hopefully I will have a better sense of what will be open. To oversimplify things a bit, if some of the harder runs at Gore (such as Rumor or Lies) are likely to be open, then we will plan on going there - otherwise we will save the 2 hours of driving and plan for Belleayre.

I suppose I am looking for guesses on what may be open, given the weather over the next 12 days. Obviously just guesses at this point.

Thanks! Looking forward to being part of this community.

Welcome! You didn't mention age of son or your ability levels, but I catch the reference to Rumor. Detail below, but I would go to Gore. Heck, I am going to Gore and Bell is my home base this season.

I have skied over 50 days at both mountains, and Belle was the home base for a while and likely this year. I don't think it is close - go to Gore. From at least the past few xmas's you will be lucky if Lies is open, but early season it is pretty gnarly anyway, so you'll get your challenge in. Belleayre doesn't really have much that is challenging, but it is a very fun mountain, and has good hidden spots likely to be open on natural terrain if the forecast holds (Cathedral Brook; Utsyana (sp?).

I say this as someone who likes Belleayre. It gets knocked a bit on this forum.

Why?

1. Gore handles crowds better. Though I think Belle does not get too crowded for the week because it tends to be weekenders.

2. Gore has loads of fun terrain and variety. While all 4 or 5 pods won't be in play, Gore skies really, really big. It is plausible some trees will be in play if you like that, though that is the case at Belle as well.

3. Gore is just a lot bigger.

4. For the extra 2 hours I think you get a lot of ADK charm.

I think Rumor is unlikely to be open though again this seems to be an early season embarrassment of riches with two projected storms before Xmas. I think (but others can confirm) Lies sometimes gets open Xmas week.

 

[Harvey]

I'd be cautious about recommending trees at this point, 6 inches year to date.

Rule of thumb: "At least 40 inches of snow before it's time to go."

 

[tirolski]

@wgo just read online that TODAY is the LAST DAY to buy a frequent skier card.

Tomorrow is the 15th, just saying.
"Enjoy guaranteed discounts and consistent availability with a 22/23 Frequent Skier Card! These cards are only on sale through Thursday (12/15), so act quickly to lock in your season of savings and fun!"
Emphasis added.

 

[DomB]

I'd be cautious about recommending trees at this point, 6 inches year to date.

Rule of thumb: "At least 40 inches of snow before it's time to go."

Good point. I was focused on the storm coming and the storm before xmas. But since I have been going up xmas week (since 2019?) I don't think any trees have been open that week. I think the variety point still holds.