West Mountain Conditions

[NYSkiBlog]

WEST MOUNTAIN and STEWART’S SHOPS TO LAUNCH “BRING A FRIEND FRIDAYS” PROMOTION

Introducing Friendship Fridays at West Mountain.

Buy 1 Lift Ticket, Get 1 Free!
Brought to you by your local Stewart’s Shops.

Queensbury, NY--- For immediate release: January 4, 2024
West Mountain has opened for Winter 23-24 ski season, and new this year, West Mountain and
Stewart’s Shops are coming together to kick-off “Friendship Fridays”. Starting January 5, 2024, and
running through March 29, 2024, West Mountain and Stewart’s Shops are introducing “Bring A Friend
Fridays” – Buy 1 Lift Ticket, Get 1 Free! Valid on Fridays only.

To take advantage of the offer, skiers, riders, snow tubers and all-around outdoor enthusiasts are
encouraged to visit their local participating neighborhood Stewart’s Shop to pick up a coupon redeemable
for 1 Free Lift Ticket to ski or ride at West Mountain on select Fridays January through March 2024,
valid with the purchase of 1 Full-Priced Lift Ticket at equal value, for same day. The offer is valid on
8-hour lift tickets (non-holiday periods) on regularly priced Adult ($64), Youth ($44), Teen ($54) tickets.
The promotion starts JANUARY 5, 2024, and ends MARCH 29, 2024 and coupons are valid on: Fridays
2024: 1/5, 1/12, 1/19, 1/26, 2/2, 2/9, 2/16, 2/23, 3/1, 3/8, 3/15, 3/22, 3/29.

The promotional coupon is exclusively available at participating Stewart’s Shops, while supplies last.
Visit any Stewart’s Shops store location in Albany, Bennington, Fulton, Hamilton, Montgomery,
Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, and Washington Counties, to pick up the coupon.
The coupon must be redeemed at West Mountain Ticket Window to receive complimentary ticket of
equal value with the purchase of a full-priced ticket. Offer expires 3/29/24. Coupon must be redeemed in
person. One per customer. No double discounts. The coupon has no cash value. Photocopies will not be
accepted.

There is a $6 fee for RFID cards. There will be an additional replacement fee if the card is lost, stolen,
etc. Please make sure to have your RFID card on you to access the lift. RFID cards can be reloaded online
at westmountain.com for future visits.

West Mountain is located north of Saratoga, off Exit 18 I-87N, at 59 West Mountain Road, Queensbury,
NY. West Mountain offers beginner through advanced terrain and is open for day and nighttime skiing,
riding and tubing. https://westmountain.com/

 

[Capdistski]

Had too much work this afternoon to go to Gore so went to West to pick up my six pack I ordered online months ago and did 7 runs just to be out in the sun.

Only three paths down the mountain but lots of guns going - snow was decent, not as icy as West can often be. The black ‘Cure’ run at the top was fun with new snow falling from the guns. Too much terrain being used for racing IMO on a holiday when lots of families are there and so little open terrain. I’m hearing a few longtime West skiers complain about how much they are emphasizing racing…

But the sun was shining, it was white and cold, and it’s great to have that mountain 15 minutes away.

 

[capecodbeach]

Preaching to the choir re: over emphasis on racing. The Face has always been congested since the entire mountain empties into it. But having that 1/3 always designated for racing shrinks the general ski area a lot. Then take another swatch for a terrain park and it shrinks even more. For me the final straw... the base camera that would snow conditions. lifts, and lift lines has now been focused entirely on the race slope. Even renamed Race Zoom Camera! I am not sure it is permanently a race cam? But not having a base camera for the general public to view is quite a slap in the face for the average skiers and families who have supported West for many years.

 

[westcoastben]

Was there on a weekday very recently - really just reaffirmed my negative feelings toward West. One way down for us common folk, Lower Mackerel was pretty torn up even early on. When it was time to go I went back to the lodge to change after the racers’ lunch break and there was garbage literally everywhere. Zero attempt by anybody to clean up. Race bags were strewn about all over the chairs/tables/floor (anywhere BUT the cubbies) from the moment I walked in that morning, too. Doesn’t really make you feel welcome.

Makes me not even want to do my two Indy redemptions there now after we were passholders for the last two years. I’ll just continue to drive past it without a thought on my way north instead of dealing with unresponsive staff and unsupervised teenagers.

 

[loafface]

Anyone have any idea why the Apex Chairlift has not been running? I swear it hasn't been open all season. There are some great runs on that side and seems like West should be fully open by now with groomed runs but that doesn't seem to be the case. I wonder if cars have to be rerouted back to the other main lodge if that side is closed...

 

[westcoastben]

Anyone have any idea why the Apex Chairlift has not been running? I swear it hasn't been open all season. There are some great runs on that side and seems like West should be fully open by now with groomed runs but that doesn't seem to be the case. I wonder if cars have to be rerouted back to the other main lodge if that side is closed...

My guess is that they didn’t prioritize it, as they looked to be blowing the snot out of that side today when my son and I were driving up. My honest impression, especially after this reluctant visit that will most likely be my last for a while, is that they don’t care about much else but the race program. I was there right before MLK weekend and they hadn’t opened any new trails since their first public operating day a month prior. I get the idea of snowmaking windows, but they put all of their eggs in that basket. My son and I watched about ten total WMR skiers take practice runs down the Cure and Race Face for the remainder of the day once the collegiate race event had been completed, leaving the rest of us to share two ways down the mountain with a**hole teenagers who are buddy buddy with the staff and literally can do whatever they want. For example, my son and I took our first run off the short chair and he was promptly hit in the face with a softball sized ball of ice by kids on the chair above when we got off. I reported this to ski patrol immediately, including the chair number, yet saw them enjoy the rest of their day.

I actually literally hate this place now. Stay away.

 

[loafface]

Good to know! Sorry to hear about your dismal experience and that ski patrol didn't take you seriously and talk to those kids. I also don't get what the big deal is about racing there, i think its overrated. West also opened super late this season and seemed like they missed a few snowmaking windows especially in November and early December.

I literally live 15 minutes away and have the Indy Pass, so probably just gonna use my two days and be outta there. I never really saw the hype of West. The best thing going for it is the night skiing, but even last year they closed mad early for the season while so much snow went to waste. Especially for a independent mountain just didn't make sense to me even being so close to a population center.

Its also a small mountain, they don't have a lot of terrain, so the expectation is they should be able to open most of what they have. Other mountains of similar size comparison around the area are. I wouldn't be surprised if there new housing project never comes to fruition.

 

[westcoastben]

The best thing going for it is the night skiing, but even last year they closed mad early for the season while so much snow went to waste.

Agreed. If you didn’t live so close, I’d recommend Jiminy Peak for their night skiing as they’re open until 10pm seven days a week with superior mountain ops.

West was the mountain the boys and I progressed to after learning at Maple Ski Ridge in 20-21, so it filled a need for us until the dysfunction really started to shine through, last year in particular.

 

[capecodbeach]

Not many posts here BUT most share the same thoughts... Sell, sell, sell the tickets, then emphasize the racing program and the tubing. The problem is quite simple... West Mountain as many of us knew it has shrunk! Racing takes a third of the face. Terrain park takes another chunk. That leaves a smaller highly congested area where all the trails empty into. The Face was always the merge area BUT now is much smaller because of racing and terrain park. Even the Base Camera has now been re aimed and zoomed for the racing. You do not even get to see the lift area at all. To me that is an unfair decision. I want to see the snow conditions and the lines. Old lesson area is now the tubing park. Beginners and their parents have to trudge far to the right away from the lodge. Once there, the magic carpet is uncovered, a bit steep and gets slippery with even a bit of snow falling. Sometimes the only way it can be used is to take skis off. I have been pleased with the workers so that is a plus. Oh, I almost forgot the lodge gets extremely crowded. Even crazier most enter through the first entrance and have to walk thru the ticket buying line. I at least know to use the mountainside entrance. Will I continue to support them... YES. But they need to rethink some decisions and answer the phone. A call back a day or two later for booking lessons was common early in the season.

 

[Jim]

I have been hoping to use an Indy day or maybe both once they get some more terrain open. I'm worried they won't even try at this point. It's obviously been a tough snow season. but many nearby mountains have managed to get the majority of their terrain open. I had a pretty nice day there last season on 2/28 with at least some Northwest terrain open after a small snowfall, would be happy to have something similar later this month if it looks worth it.

I also think it's misleading when the banner at the top of the website says "Trails 35" even when most are not open. The temperature is probably current right next to it, so the trail count should be as well.