Winter Starts When Killington Says So

Posted on by Brownski

Winter starts when Killington says it does. That may sound like marketing hype, but it rings true to me. In addition to being big and burly and awesome, Killington is known for doing whatever it takes to extend its season on both ends. As soon as temps drop low enough, even if it is still October, Killington’s snowmakers get the mountain open.

K1 Lodge

This year that turned out to be Wednesday — November 12. I wanted to be there for opening day but couldn’t get away midweek so I settled for Friday.

Killington is a long haul for me. I don’t do well getting out of bed before 5 AM, so I cheat a little to day-trip the place.

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Tagged: Killington, VT14 Comments

Letchworth State Park

Posted on by Robert

The Empire Pass is a great product for New Yorkers who want to get outside. This summer Farah and I used our passes at a bunch of beaches. Now that swimming season is over we’ve been looking for places to hike and continue to explore. Recently we visited my parents in the Finger Lakes and from there, we checked out the Grand Canyon of the East, Letchworth State Park.

descending the stairs

I visited Letchwork and had my first white water rafting experience as a young kid. It was Farah’s first time; she’d wanted to go all summer. With unseasonably warm weather and leaves turning, it looked prime for a visit. We left early in the morning making stopping once, in Dansville for coffee.

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Tagged: Hiking, Western NY6 Comments

Dennis Eshbaugh of Holiday Valley

Posted on by NYSkiBlog

Holiday Valley logoDennis Eshbaugh is the President and General Manager of Holiday Valley, one of New York’s largest resorts. He came to Ellicottville in the 1970s as a ski instructor assumed his leadership position in the mid-1990s, overseeing significant growth and the transformation of the resort.

Under Eshbaugh, Holiday grew into one of the most successful ski areas in the East, adding amenities and becoming a year-round destination. He has focused on a local approach to resort management, allowing the resort to thrive without becoming part of one of the major ski pass conglomerates.

He graciously agreed to detail his rise through the company and the philosophy that has contributed to this success story.

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Tagged: Holiday Mountain, Interviews, Western NY10 Comments