A Simple Twist of Fate

Posted on by Highpeaksdrifter

Since I was 6 years old I’d always had a season pass at Hunter Mountain. My parents, Dorothy and Jack skied Hunter and Dad was a ski instructor there for a long time. After they moved to Florida; Orville Slutzky, still comped my son and me a season pass every year. An act of generosity I’ll always remember.

At the time, I didn’t have many friends/acquaintances that skied. Those that did wanted to go on to Vermont instead of going to Hunter. I’d ski Hunter with my son or by myself. Once he went away to college I either went to Hunter by myself or with a couple of guys from work. Since I’m a teacher, I also skied one night a week with my school ski club.

My wife was never too interested, but as my daughter and youngest son got older, I took them with me and we had a great time. I was getting out probably 30+ times a year, either alone, with my kids, with the occasional friend or on a school trip.

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Tagged: Adirondacks, Hunter, Whiteface9 Comments

Highpeaksdrifter joins NYSkiBlog

Posted on by NYSkiBlog

Hoyt's HighHighpeaksdrifter has joined NY Ski Blog as an author for the 2010/2011 season.

As our go-to guy for Whiteface and northern Adirondacks, Highpeaksdrifter will be checking in during the ski season with trip reports from his home hill, and news from ORDA headquarters in Lake Placid. After the snow melts, you’ll find him hiking, biking, or kayaking throughout the High Peaks. Chances are, you’ve read his informative and passionate posts on ski forums including AlpineZone and SkiADK, where he also moderated.

In addition to repping for Nordica, Highpeaksdrifter has also worked the past nine seasons as a mountain host at Whiteface. If you ask him to name his favorite trails there, he doesn’t hesitate. “Cloudspin’s my favorite. I love that there are so many different lines on that trail. I became a big fan of Hoyt’s High this last season and, of course, I love the Slides: the best slack-country skiing in the Northeast.”

Tagged: Author Bios, Whiteface10 Comments

Moose River Plains to Open

Posted on by NYSkiBlog

Moose River Plains
From the NY State DEC:

Thanks to a creative state-local partnership, the Moose River Plains Road — which provides access to one of the largest blocks of remote lands in the Adirondack Park — will be open to motor vehicles this summer, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Pete Grannis announced today.

DEC worked with local officials from Inlet, Indian Lake and Hamilton County, as well as state legislators, to cover maintenance duties and costs for the season. The Moose River Plains includes more than 40 miles of dirt roads, approximately 170 primitive campsites and 50,000 acres of wild forest in the central and southwestern sections of the park. DEC had previously announced that this road would not be opened in 2010 because the state’s historic fiscal crisis had limited agency maintenance funds. Instead, local communities will assist by providing gasoline, trucks, materials and law-enforcement personnel to help cover operational needs.

Full text of the DEC News Release at Adirondack Explorer.

Tagged: Adirondacks4 Comments