Gore Mountain: Early Season Workout

The last few years, Gore has become my early season goto mountain. On occasion we’ll get some crazy lake effect that opens up resorts in CNY, but we know we can rely on Gore to be open, by the end of November. A little elevation and a few degrees of latitude have a big impact on snowmaking and snow retention.

Gore Mountain early season

While the rain washed us out last week, Gore held on. Midweek skiing is great work if you can get it; Cam and I decided to drive up together early Friday morning.

It was 6am when I pulled into Stewart’s to meet Cam. The sign was like a lighthouse guiding me through the fog to a hot cup of coffee.

Continue reading

Perfect Early Winter at Killington

Last Friday, I enjoyed a splendid early season day at Killington. Conditions were good, terrain was abundant for the date (open trails from Skylark to Rams Head) and the weather was perfect – one of those days I like to call no weather – due to the comfortable conditions. I met up with Vinny, Dennis and Mark to celebrate Mark’s birthday on the slopes.

Killington gondola
Killington gondola approaches the summit

We rode the K1 Gondola to the summit and skied down Great Northern towards North Ridge. The guns blasting along upper Great Northern were putting out sticky snow, and the passengers in the first few gondolas of the day wound up in a multi-skier pile up at the start of their first runs.

Continue reading

Woods Valley: Time Flies

The older I get, the faster time flies. The season snuck up on me and my general lack of fitness, again. For Woods Valley, on the other hand, wisdom has come with age and on the dawn of their 60th year in operation they were ready to go.

Woods Valley opening day 2023
Woods Valley opening day 2023

Early last week mother nature decided to help the resort with 10 inches of lake effect to add to their snowmaking efforts. Ullr giveth and he taketh away, and on Friday it rained. Woods was undeterred, and on Saturday at 10am they kicked off their 60th season. Normally I pick up my season pass the week prior to opening but my lack of planning found me a few families deep in the pick up line.

Continue reading