Tiff
Member
- Joined
- Feb 20, 2024
There’s something special about squeezing in a ski day when the odds are stacked against you. Warm temps? Check. No fresh snow for days? Double check. With rain in the forecast ahead, Evan, Dan, and I decided we would make the most of our holiday time and headed to Swain Resort – a low-key favorite. It was easy to convince Dan to join, always down for a new adventure, this year marks his first as an Indy Pass holder and Swain would be his first redemption.
Swain is a place we usually love visiting with a big group, tailgating in the grass lot at the bottom of Lower Mile Sweep trail, grilling, starting a fire, and joining in on the sense of community that Swain has. But today, it was just the three of us, ready to embrace the unseasonably warm weather and see what the mountain had in store.
We rolled into the mountain around 8:15, made our way to the ticket counter, and geared up. I’ll admit, my expectations were low. With the thermometer creeping toward 40°F and a good stretch since the last snowfall, I wasn’t holding out much hope for stellar conditions. But the second we hit the first chair, I was pleasantly surprised. The trails were beautifully groomed soft, bouncy corduroy, and free of icy surprises. It felt like spring skiing in December—disorienting but undeniably fun.
One of my favorite things about Swain is its relaxed and welcoming energy that fills the mountain. The lift lines? Nonexistent, even on a holiday weekend. The resort allows for uphill capacity and has a strong following. Fun fact, Swain is the oldest continuously operating independently owned ski resort in New York, since 1947!
Additionally, Swain was the first Ski resort in New York state to allow snowboarders on the mountain. A true ‘Indy’ mountain that reminds us how lucky we are to live in an area where a visit to the mountain means nothing more than a packed lunch and a quick drive.
Rattler
Feeling as though we had the place to ourselves we zipped around the mountain, trying out every open run. Dan loved Upper Mile Sweep, a wide green trail surrounded by the smell of fresh pines. Evan and I couldn’t get enough of 80 Acres and Rattler.
Our favorite of the day was hiking up to Upper Brewer, from Quad 3 (the Double Chair wasn’t running today). The short climb was worth it for the valley views and barely touched groomers.
Upper Brewer
Around mid-morning, we watched from the lift as a few families set up a classic Swain tailgate in the grass lot. The day was just getting started. The mountain is perfect for kids—everything funnels into one central area, making it easy for families to stick together.
By 11:30, the conditions were very spring-like. December? Could’ve fooled me, it felt more like March, but we were all for it. After a few more runs we skated back to the car for a break, devoured some burritos, snacks, and beers, and soaked up the sunshine. As we were eating we watched as families of locals arrived at the mountain via golf carts and side-by-sides, the resort has a designated area for parking and we couldn't help but daydream of how fun it would be to join in on the fun.
Upper Mile Sweep
After lunch, we hit the slopes again sticking to the left side of the mountain to finish out our day. We were enjoying the sunny conditions as a few more skiers started to trickle in. By 3:00 we decided to wrap it up. Dan and Evan had skied Bristol Mountain the day before, and I felt content with what we’d accomplished. We swapped our gear for fresh clothes and headed to the Shawmutt Grille. We grabbed a couple of beers and fries, soaking up the sun and watching families come and go and skiers glide past was the perfect way to end the day.
It was another successful December ski day, even with the East Coast’s unpredictable conditions. While Mother Nature might keep us on our toes, days like this remind us why we love skiing in New York.
Swain is a place we usually love visiting with a big group, tailgating in the grass lot at the bottom of Lower Mile Sweep trail, grilling, starting a fire, and joining in on the sense of community that Swain has. But today, it was just the three of us, ready to embrace the unseasonably warm weather and see what the mountain had in store.
We rolled into the mountain around 8:15, made our way to the ticket counter, and geared up. I’ll admit, my expectations were low. With the thermometer creeping toward 40°F and a good stretch since the last snowfall, I wasn’t holding out much hope for stellar conditions. But the second we hit the first chair, I was pleasantly surprised. The trails were beautifully groomed soft, bouncy corduroy, and free of icy surprises. It felt like spring skiing in December—disorienting but undeniably fun.
One of my favorite things about Swain is its relaxed and welcoming energy that fills the mountain. The lift lines? Nonexistent, even on a holiday weekend. The resort allows for uphill capacity and has a strong following. Fun fact, Swain is the oldest continuously operating independently owned ski resort in New York, since 1947!
Additionally, Swain was the first Ski resort in New York state to allow snowboarders on the mountain. A true ‘Indy’ mountain that reminds us how lucky we are to live in an area where a visit to the mountain means nothing more than a packed lunch and a quick drive.
Rattler
Feeling as though we had the place to ourselves we zipped around the mountain, trying out every open run. Dan loved Upper Mile Sweep, a wide green trail surrounded by the smell of fresh pines. Evan and I couldn’t get enough of 80 Acres and Rattler.
Our favorite of the day was hiking up to Upper Brewer, from Quad 3 (the Double Chair wasn’t running today). The short climb was worth it for the valley views and barely touched groomers.
Upper Brewer
Around mid-morning, we watched from the lift as a few families set up a classic Swain tailgate in the grass lot. The day was just getting started. The mountain is perfect for kids—everything funnels into one central area, making it easy for families to stick together.
By 11:30, the conditions were very spring-like. December? Could’ve fooled me, it felt more like March, but we were all for it. After a few more runs we skated back to the car for a break, devoured some burritos, snacks, and beers, and soaked up the sunshine. As we were eating we watched as families of locals arrived at the mountain via golf carts and side-by-sides, the resort has a designated area for parking and we couldn't help but daydream of how fun it would be to join in on the fun.
Upper Mile Sweep
After lunch, we hit the slopes again sticking to the left side of the mountain to finish out our day. We were enjoying the sunny conditions as a few more skiers started to trickle in. By 3:00 we decided to wrap it up. Dan and Evan had skied Bristol Mountain the day before, and I felt content with what we’d accomplished. We swapped our gear for fresh clothes and headed to the Shawmutt Grille. We grabbed a couple of beers and fries, soaking up the sun and watching families come and go and skiers glide past was the perfect way to end the day.
It was another successful December ski day, even with the East Coast’s unpredictable conditions. While Mother Nature might keep us on our toes, days like this remind us why we love skiing in New York.
