For some reason, I’ve started responding to those facebook offers to re-share photos from the same date in previous years. Recently I shared a shot of a brand new and unmounted pair of telemark bindings — Rottefella RT8s — from five years ago.
I’m not really sure why I shared it, other than I liked the picture. Brian, a fb friend I’d never met, commented “Dammit.. I can use Cobra parts right now.” I knew I’d probably never use them, so I offered them to him.
Brian lives in the capital district so theoretically I could do some kind of handoff on a trip to our place near Gore. But he had a different idea: He offered to meet me for some earned turns on the Taconic Crest Trail, near the NY/MA border.
Snow was forecast Tuesday, but I couldn’t get away. Throughout the day the radar did look promising. I got Wednesday off and drove deep into Eastern NY to meet Brian and his friend Alyson in a parking lot, near the northern end of the Taconic Crest Trail, at noon.
On a map the Taconics look like they should be snowy. They are a line of mountains, a range, oriented north to south, almost a mini Green Mountain spine. While they are a good distance from the lakes, there is almost nothing blocking them to the west. On top of that — if there is any bad skiing out there right now — I’m not seeing it.
At the northern end of the trail, Petersburg Pass is part of the Taconic Ridge State Forest, near the Massachusetts border. I pulled in the unplowed parking area. To park a car you had to commit to a line and hit your spot.
My goal was to bang out three laps between noon and 4pm. Full disclosure I hadn’t really done my research, I made this goal without any idea of how much vert was involved in a lap. We got our act together and headed up the skin track. After a few dozen yards of gradual pitch, the climb starts in earnest, at a steeper angle. We raised our heel lifters and moved up the hill.
I wish I’d gotten a better shot of the skin track. I was pushing so hard on the first lap, I knew I’d lose momentum if I stopped to take pictures. I didn’t want to slow anyone down. Suffice it to say the track was in excellent condition. Even better, the snow was light, consistent and almost completely unaffected by the wind.
On our first run, we followed tracks down the fall line on what must have been a trail from the old ski area on the site. On our second and third laps we went of the beaten path, and untracked wasn’t too hard for us to find. Brian knows this part of the Taconic Park State Forest well and he took us to some great snow.
Conditions were very forgiving, and we charged our lines. Mount Raimer — the peak at the center of this area — has some nice relatively low angle, but steep enough terrain. The snow was as deep as anything I’ve skied this season.
The vertical we bit off was probably around 600 feet on each lap. But by skiing farther down, below the parking lot, you could probably ski 1000 feet of vertical or more. After our second lap, we took a break to eat, and after our third, we started our cars, broke down our gear, and talked about the skiing and the snow.
We bid our goodbyes and I made my way back towards Albany and NY Thruway in the late afternoon light. I was feeling pretty good about my first attempt at uphill after my illness. I’d been wondering about how I would do, and after the afternoon I came away thinking “I can do this.”
Obviously this season has been up and down for me, or more accurately, up and down and then back up. I’ve only been out 14 times, but seven of them I’m calling powder days. I may even rack this as my first new ski area of the year. Keep your chin up America, we are getting there.
Sounds like a great day. I love making new ski friends!
Place is vast. i find the drive up the pass visually spectacular. glad you got to experience it.
I’ve always been interested in that lost ski area. The NELSAP site says that it could’ve been 1,600 verts if additional trails had been built out.
This is some story! we need to get touring set-ups in our family…
Nice. Your skinning skills have clearly come a long way since our foray to Mt. Trixie all those years ago. (winky face)
Known Brian for years, a good man he is.
Great trip report Harvey! How wide is the old ski trail? Wide enough for someone who is not a glade skier to make it down okay?
Just so much out there to ski in a season like this.
OK you’ve piqued my curiosity. I’ll have to run here one summer.
What a great experience! So many people drive North passed this hidden gem, on rte 22 or 7, to ski at a crowded circus, without even knowing it’s there. I’d love to have seen it back in the day or see what it could have become. This however is way better. Seeing people enjoy it now, the way it is, left alone. Good for you for getting after it! Looking forward to getting back up in that zone.
Anyone gonna poach Dutch Hill in southern VT?
Another reason to buy some skins…. Great story
Thanks for letting me join you guys, and for the gear guidance! Such a cool spot.
What an awesome story. I’d never heard of this lost ski area until this story (don’t worry, I am too lazy to go look for it myself and figure out how to skin up; it’s all yours). Amazing that we have the snowpack to do this kind of thing in NY right now. Glad you’re getting after it while it lasts.
Harvey! I just got around to reading this! That was a fantastic day. Hopefully we’ll get another shot before spring hits. My cousin and I have found some new routes you gotta see. And thank you for the G3’s!!! They will get put to good use!
Love this! Brian and I have a ton of video and photos if you need any for stock or whatever. Hopefully we can get another powder day up there this year. 14-16″ on top of this firm crust would be ideal for this new section we have scoped.
Brian believe me, the pleasure was all mine. Thank you for guiding.
Anyone know where I could purchase a vintage Petersburgh Pass ski lapel pin? Im trying to track down some missing pins for my father in law. Thanks.
I know I’m late to the party…
Been skiing P’burg for about 15 years, only skied it once when it was operating.
It gets and keeps waaay more powder than you might think.
Before my BC gang aged out, moved away and died off, a group of us would regularly ski the backside, roughly 1,700 vert. Backside has some serious terrain, not for the timid, lots a deadfall so at least 24″ snowpack needed to ski it safely.
Our gang would skin up (a mere 500 ft) and 3 of us drop off the backside, 4th guy skis back down to the parking lot and drives down to pick up the others.
Rotate out each time so everyone gets a run with everyone else.
It’s a great place, but severely beat up last season (22-23) with much icing and resulting deadfalls.
Fingers crossed for a deep season…
Mike – I’m out in this area quite a bit (family lives in Petersburg), and I’ve been scoping this area for a few years during the summer months. Hit me up if you want some company. I’d love to get your input about skiing this area–and the old Williams race course–safely.