Mad River Glen, VT: 3/19/10

Since my daughter Zoe had no school on Friday, we decided to head to Vermont – Mad River Glen was our destination. Considering Mad makes NO SNOW, the coverage was excellent.

The only green trail on the hill, was the only groomed run. Everything else was wall to wall bumps, but they were perfectly soft. The woods were also bumped but skied beautifully.

Mad River is fascinating and completely fun – nothing cookie-cutter about it. Intermediate trails like Antelope and Catamount would be black diamonds on any other hill in the northeast.

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Gore Mountain Timeline

We’re trying to compile a timeline history of Gore. Below is what I have so far, taken from the Gore website. If you have additions, post them in the comments, and I’ll add them.

1934: The first ski patrol was formed by Lois Perret.

1934: The first snow train carrying 378 skiers to North Creek from Schenectady on March 4th.

1946: 300’ Tbar installed servicing 839 vertical feet at the North Creek ski bowl.

1964: Gore Mountain is developed with a J bar, a T bar and a double chair, the longest lift in the East at the time.

1967: Gore installs the first Gondola in New York State.

1976: Installation of the snowmaking system on four trails.

1982: Major improvements to Old Red Gondola, including new hangars and towers, to increase speed to summit (25 minutes) and decrease wind swaying over the first valley, that often puts the Gondola on wind hold.

1984: Installation of the Adirondack Express, a high-speed triple chair – the only lift of it’s kind in the East.

1995: Rumor is cut from the summit. With a 33 degree headwall pitch, it’s one of the steepest trails in the East.

1998: Burnt Ridge North and South Backcountry areas added as part of the nordic trail system. This progressive idea added a very unique aspect to an already diverse skiing experience at Gore.

1999: New hi-speed eight-passenger Northwoods gondola to the top of Bear Mountain replaces the original gondola to the summit of Gore.

2002:  Topridge area is introduced on Bear Mountain including a new lift and 4 new trails.

2003: North Creek Ski Bowl is re-opened for lift service tubing.

2006: Ruby Run was added to allow beginners to ski from the summit of Bear Mountain to the base of Gore.

2007: Opening of the Northwoods Lodge and a new lift at the North Creek Ski Bowl for day and night skiing and riding.

2008: The addition of  Burnt Ridge Mountain increases Gore’s vertical to 2300 feet providing a new high speed Quad, four new trails and two more glades.

Gore Mountain, NY: 3/15/10

Almost didn’t get out of bed this morning. 46 degrees in Scotia at 6:50. Arrived to an eerily empty lot around 9:30. Temp was 41 at the base. We knew that it was going to be soft — we were curious about how much of Sunday’s reported 6 inches remained.

The truth is … not too much, but that was just fine – the remaining snow was heavy, but really made the skiing great. About 5″ of ‘cream cheese’ as another blogger has reported. It was thick today, and a bit difficult down in the Straightbrook valley – but a good way to work on balance. This was some of the slowest “pow” ever. Fun none the less.

Riding up the Quad, the Summit was frosted in some clouds. It was damp today and it didn’t take long to get soaked.

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