Skinning: Junior Steps Up

Posted on by Brownski

Saturday night Junior slept soundly for twelve hours straight. Like any teenage boy, he’s accustomed to sleeping in on weekends until somebody makes him get up but that’s usually because he stays up late playing XBox, watching YouTube or TV or some other crap.

On Saturday he crashed early and was immediately out. I’m proud to say it was all my fault. That morning, at my insistence, he skinned up to the top of Plattekill with me for the first time. He did great.

I don’t want to give the impression that my son is in bad shape or anything. He’s a typical high school kid who plays sports. But when I told him we were gonna do a skin before riding the lift the rest of the day, he wasn’t into it.

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Tagged: Earning Turns8 Comments

The Wonder Years at Mont Sauvage

Posted on by ml242

Surface lifts have always held a special place in my heart, which must sound odd to skiers of a previous generation that grew up without bubble lifts and tramways.

Mont Sauvage

But there is so much to recommend about them, like low skier traffic, powder preservation and riding low and out of the wind. Plus you’re doubling your vertical by skiing uphill.

Some of my most memorable runs have been on surface lifts. My first time at Plattekill I drove up when The Weather Channel was forecasting heavy snow potential in the Western Catskills. While the Hudson Valley only had about six inches, I was getting my first taste of Platty magic, skiing the North side by myself in two feet of snow.

ticket window
Lift shack ticket window

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Tagged: Quebec7 Comments

Woods Valley: A New Home

Posted on by Robert

I’ve been lucky to live close to ski resorts. Growing up it was Bristol, in college it was Greek Peak and since I moved to Utica it’s been Woods Valley in Westernville NY.

Over that time I’ve had roughly 25 ski days at Woods each season. I’m not the only one who calls the Woods home, and for good reason. The snow making and grooming is on point, the lodge is cozy, the beer selection wide and there is a constant stream of great local artists playing nightly.

Despite the calendar, this past Saturday was one of those warm spring-like days. With the temperatures forecast for the high 30s in the afternoon and a chance for sun, I made plans to meet up with some friends and family. Around 10am I parked in my usual spot about 50 feet from the main lift.

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Tagged: Central NY, Woods Valley10 Comments