Harvey Road

Wildcat, NH: Location, Location, Location

2012-02-29T23:00:00.273-05:00

Wildcat Mountain is in a sweet spot in Pinkham Notch. Like all the ski areas in the valley, it has the greatest views. It's near the visitors center and across the street from Mount Washington. We stopped at VC for breakfast and then headed over to the Base Lodge.

Pinkham Notch Visitors Center

We started on the groomers, and at opening the cord was similar to what we found at Attitash yesterday — grippy and rippy. Flying along in front of a spectacular backdrop, groomed runs have a front row seat to some of the most beautiful and talked about views in the northeast.

Read more »

Attitash, NH: Groomers and Trees

2012-02-28T20:00:00.005-05:00

I didn't really know what to expect from Attitash. I had a general sense that it was a tamer place than Cannon, and that we'd be skiing groomers, but beyond that, to me the mountain was an unknown.

Attitash Mountain Resort is two peaks: Attitash and Bear Peak. Bear Peak was added to the mountain in the 1990s, nearly doubling the size of the mountain. Since we were staying on the Bear side, we started our day on that peak riding the Flying Bear high speed quad.

Read more »

Cannon, NH: Man and Mountain

2012-02-27T23:00:00.024-05:00

Cannon has a wild feel and it's a beautiful, inspiring place to ski. The mountain is big, rugged and the Franconia Ridge is a stunning backdrop to everything you ski and do.

The Northeast Ski Bloggers Summit chose New Hampshire as its base of operations for this year's meeting. Our first day was spent at Cannon; arguably the state's most challenging lift-served mountain. With the reopening of Mittersill, the mountain has a little bit of everything.

Read more »

Jason's Weather: Storm Call 2/24/12

2012-02-24T13:00:00.001-05:00

This week's storm presents a rare case: a disturbance tracking to our west is going to produce a measureable snow storm. This is due in part to some redevelopment off the coast, but the primary driver of this event is a vigorous upper-level low.

The map above is the surface forecast for 10pm tonight. Note the tightly wrapped low over Lake Ontario. As far as accumulations, the last model run has backed off the qpf and I'm calling for 2-4 inches of snow in the Catskills, 4-10 in the Adirondacks, and 6-12 along the top half of the Green Mountain spine in VT. Models are showing from .5-1 inches of liquid equivalent.

There may be some more on the backside snow in favored upslope areas. As is often the case with storms on the east coast, wind will be a issue late Friday and Saturday and may effect lift operations.

Coach Z: A Mature Approach to Bump Skiing

2012-02-21T08:00:00.077-05:00

I love to ski bumps; however I’ve had to modify my approach as I get older so that the repeated impact doesn't wear me out. While I can ski a "zipper line" of bumps, I find that it's much harder on my body. I try to avoid the much bigger absorption that skiing directly into the front of the trough requires.

This discussion assumes that you can already ski short-radius turns on a black slope. If not, you can revisit my previous post on short turns. With those skills in-hand, there three keys to mastering the bumps: pressure control, pole usage, and tactics.

Pressure control in the bumps is the flexing and extension of your legs to keep your skis in contact with the snow over uneven terrain. As you ride up onto the bump, allow your legs to absorb the impact starting with your ankles. Keep your core strong and don’t break at the waist. As you come off each bump, extend your legs so that you can absorb the next bump. I see skiers forget to do this and after a few bumps, they "explode" as they have no way to absorb the terrain.

Pole usage in the bumps is essential. You must touch every bump you ski with a pole. This helps your timing and flow, and allows you to stabilize your upper body.

Read more »

Catskill Valentine Jackpot

2012-02-18T06:00:00.002-05:00

by ml242

My girlfriend Amy has really jumped into skiing this season, traveling with me across NY and VT at early hours in search of snow. I decided it was time to slow down the pace from Wu-tang Clan to Marvin Gaye. Instead of a six AM wake-up call to action, I surprised her with a double rainbow moment: a relaxing stay at a funky Catskill hotel to celebrate Valentine's Day and ski.

Although no one will confuse Roxbury, NY, with preeminent vacation destinations Lake Placid or Niagara Falls, it's a charming town tucked into a valley with views of hills on all sides. The star hotel, The Roxbury, recommended by a friend, impressed my better half with lots of modern and quirky art, plenty of shiny surfaces, and high brow bath products I wouldn't even know how to procure.

Read more »

Sugar Shack at Mont Blanc, QC

2012-02-16T16:00:00.014-05:00

by Jamesdeluxe

As you drive northwest from Montreal through the Laurentians, there are a number of family ski areas right alongside Autoroute 15. While these smaller hills can't compare with the region's big destination area, Tremblant, in vertical, skiable trail acreage, or base village amenities, they offer great access, no-frills ambiance, and affordable rates for families on a budget.

Mont Blanc is a prototype Laurentians area. With a reported 1,000 vertical feet, it has the same general footprint as Greek Peak, but a more consistent pitch. With easily edgeable hardpack on the menu, the skiing was fast and fun, so we worked our way across the hill, skiing every trail and dropping into a few glades to mix things up.

Read more »

Diamond Day at Plattekill

2012-02-15T07:00:00.003-05:00

by ml242

There’s an old adage in the ski business: lack of snow in backyards yields a lack of skiers on the slopes, even when conditions are good. But since almost no one has a backyard in the city, this season's snowfall totals didn't hurt attendance at The Diamond’s first annual Ugly Sweater Party and Caravan Trip to Plattekill Mountain.

The Diamond in Brooklyn NY

Despite disagreements about whether my own green fleece qualified for $2 "ugly" beers, the fete was an unqualified success. With Aspen Extreme on the projector and party-goers lining up for the shot-ski, we spent Saturday night getting "ready" for our ski trip in the morning.

Read more »

Gore Mountain, NY: 2/11/12

2012-02-11T23:00:00.017-05:00

I hadn't been to North Creek since mid-January and two things surprised me — the lack of snow on our stoop and the extent of cover on open terrain at Gore. It seems clear that management has decided to make snow on open trails, and put aside, for now, thoughts of further terrain expansion. After skiing today, I think it might be the right call.

Underneath everything there's a very firm base. Most trails had enough loose snow on them to make turning fun and those with intermediate pitch or recent snowmaking were fairly "quiet." And then there was Uncas; guns on all day, swales, frozen goggles, a little gak, and some really fun bumps on the steepest sections.

Read more »

SANY's Union Square Snow Jam

2012-02-09T21:00:00.004-05:00

by ml242

I wasn't sure what to expect at the SANY-sponsored Union Square Snow Jam, but snow has been so scarce this season that I ran to the park with my camera gear and a prayer that it wouldn't be tracked out before I got there. What I found was fun to see — a big pile of snow sponsored by Whiteface, Gore, Windham, Hunter, Belleayre and Mountain Creek.

Normally, this event includes a snowmaking demonstration, but this week's mild temps required a different approach. The participating NY ski areas blew snow at home, loaded piles into dump trucks and drove it down the New York Thruway into the city.

Read more »

Gun Running at Plattekill

2012-02-06T13:00:00.011-05:00

Late Saturday night, I sent Laszlo Vajtay, the CEO of Plattekill, a note: "Laz... I have a few hours tomorrow — should I come up? I need a steep trail lined with soft bumps." His response: "Come to Plattekill."

As I made my way up the valley Sunday morning, I could see the snowmaking crew was going all out. Almost everything served by the triple was getting new snow, and coverage looked good. I was pumped.

I ran into Laszlo in the lodge, and he introduced me to the snowmaking chief, Macker, and some other Plattekill notables. Plattekill has a unique, relaxed feeling in the morning: it's the only mountain I ski where I'm willing to socialize, while chairlifts are running. You have the feeling that the snow isn't going anywhere.

Read more »

Mad River Glen: Turn Back the Clock

2012-02-02T13:00:00.011-05:00

by ml242

This winter, it's especially important to make your ski days memorable. Fortunately, Mad River Glen always saves a day each year that is special no matter what: its "Turn Back the Clock Day" and Anniversary Party. This year, it even snowed a bit for old time's sake. I was happy to get a front-row seat, just as the single chair started to spin.

The snow gods laid down four inches of fresh snow overnight, and in the morning I plunked down $3.50 for a lift ticket. I knew that it was going to be a good day. Without wasting any time, I began to show my buddy RipVanWinter some of my favorite routes on the mountain. It was his first day on natural snow, so we started with some easier descents before taking on some of those narrower Mad River lines.

Read more »

Guided Winter Hike on Mount Washington

2012-01-30T09:00:00.008-05:00

by ml242

Mount Washington is a long way from New York City in more ways than one. The gulf between the two landmarks is greater than the 380 miles that separates them: the northern Appalachians tallest peak has one of the most challenging environments in the east. The drive feels especially long if you’re a young guide entrusted with a group of city dwellers who've never faced the challenges of an alpine zone.

Recently, I made the journey with a group of inexperienced adventurers from the city. I tried some bad snowboarder jokes to try to lighten the mood and help speed the trip; but the only true cure for lingering anxiety is diligent preparation. Once you’ve prepared, success hinges on determination and knowing when to abandon a summit bid. If you do make it, the reward is significant. Nothing beats the feeling of standing on top of Mount Washington in the dead of winter surrounded by teammates.

Read more »

Coach Z: Improving your Short Radius Turns

2012-01-27T18:00:00.009-05:00

Good skiers know that the best snow late in the day on groomed trails is always right along the edge; however you need solid short radius turn to hang there. If you want to ski in the woods or bumps, it's the same deal, you need those short turns. We don’t live in the land of the large open bowl, so if you want to be a good skier in the northeast, you need rock solid short turns.

Do this “corridor drill” in the morning when the groomer tracks are still fresh. Find a nice moderate pitch and make short turns staying inside the track of one groomer width. Work on keeping your belly button pointed downhill with your legs turning under a stable upper body accompanied by rhythmic pole touches.

Read more »

Go West (Mountain), Young Man!

2012-01-24T10:00:00.009-05:00

by ml242

I've wanted to ski West Mountain for a long time. When I was a kid, every time we drove to Vermont my dad would look over from the highway and say "we should stop there sometime." On my most recent trip north, I saw the lights from the highway, and remembered those childhood car rides. On the return trip, I decided to stop, and what I found surprised me.

For me, showing up at a ski area in the late afternoon was unique and memorable. When we arrived, we were greeted on the triple side by a couple of friendly snowmobilers who gave us directions to the proper base area. The young lady at the ticket counter could have been the owner's niece judging by the way she carefully sharpied the expiration time on our lift tickets.

Read more »

Mount Peter, NY: 1/21/12

2012-01-21T23:59:00.023-05:00

by Jamesdeluxe

Everyone knows that being a skier based in the tri-state area is not for the weak of heart. To get to any high-profile mountain — either in New York or in New England — you're looking at a lot of time on the interstates. But on the plus side, if you're the parent of a young skier who doesn't need thousands of uninterrupted vertical feet, there are quite a few ski areas that fit the bill and are only a short drive away.

This morning, the first measurable snow to hit our region since the day before Halloween got me motivated to check out a classic downstate family ski hill: Mount Peter in Warwick, NY. Mount Peter has three chairlifts to cover its 400 vertical feet, so even though there was a good crowd today, we never waited in a lift line.

Read more »

Is the Subaru Outback the Ultimate Ski Car?

2012-01-18T07:00:00.002-05:00

We've been thinking about replacing our 2006 Honda CRV. While I have always been a "drive it into the ground" kind of guy, our last two mountain cars, both CRVs, have shown more rust than I'd like after six years. Both cars looked fine, but upon close inspection, it was evident that to get value on the trade-in, it was time to sell.

2012 Subaru Outback 2.5i

After owning six consecutive Hondas, we've been considering switching to a Subaru Outback. While I'm not a fan of the styling, the Outback would fit our need for a high-mileage highway car, with the traction to negotiate our steep driveway, and a state-of-the-art automatic transmission to make Sunday night traffic more tolerable.

Read more »

Snow in New York

2012-01-14T23:00:00.006-05:00

When we arrived last night, the first thing I did was shovel the porch. Our porch is our snow measurement device providing a record of what's fallen since our last visit — so shoveling is a job I relish. The harder the job the better.

This week's haul was seven inches of snow, an inch of sneet, topped with another three inches of snow. It wasn't the 18 inches of upslope blower that Vermont got, but it was perfect base-building snow for tree skiing, or any snow sport.

Read more »

Coach Z: Getting Your 3 Year Old Skiing

2012-01-12T08:00:00.025-05:00

One of the questions I get asked the most is how and when to start a young child skiing. The answer requires some parental intuition. Does your child enjoy playing outside in the snow? How do your child respond to people he or she doesn't know? At Whiteface, where I teach, children must be four years old to participate in a group lesson environment like our Play and Ski program. Younger kids learn best one-on-one.

The choice between using a ski instructor for private lessons and teaching your child yourself depends on several factors. How comfortable are you skiing in a wedge with your child? Children learn by watching. Young kids may not be comfortable with anyone other than a parent, so that may limit your options. Trying to teach a young child to ski while snowboarding simply doesn't work. Be honest with yourself about your patience, temperament, and experience to pull it off.

Read more »

NY Ski Magazine: The Road to Alta, UT

2012-01-10T07:00:00.004-05:00

Last season, we posted an interview with Bob Peters, which told the story of an Iowan who moved to Jackson Hole in the mid-1970s and witnessed that mountain's transformation into a world-renown resort.

Marc Guido at Powder Mountain, UT

To kick off the new year, here's another inspirational tale of a skier who found his promised land. Seven years ago, Marc Guido relocated from the northeast to Salt Lake City, where he routinely scores more powder days in one season than many of us get in a decade.

Lest you launch into a "some-guys-have-all-the-luck" rant, don’t think that he didn’t pay his dues. Before moving to the Wasatch Front, Guido developed the first full-service online skiing magazine while being based at several less advantageous locations, including Boston, Albany NY, and most improbably, eight long years on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Read this issue of NY Ski Magazine:

Searching For First Tracks: The Road to Alta, UT

The Dark Side Opens at Gore Mountain

2012-01-07T22:00:00.008-05:00

Our plans for Saturday night B+B stay in the Catskills went south Friday morning when both my wife and daughter woke up with colds. With my two ski days at Plattekill put on hold, I called an audible, and left work for the Adirondacks at 2pm.

When I arrived in the mountains, I heard reports of good conditions at both Whiteface and Gore. I haven't been to Whiteface this season, and it seemed like a logical choice for Saturday. But a call from a valued ski partner convinced me to ski my "home mountain." Temps were going to be warm enough to ensure good skiing on primarily manmade snow. And the trail report called for the opening of the Dark Side.

Read more »

Liftopia's Ron Schneidermann

2012-01-05T12:00:00.017-05:00

There are some basic truths that human beings are eventually forced to recognize — day follows night; winter is the best season; and lift-served skiing is a really expensive sport. After overcoming the hurdles of paying for equipment, clothing, gas, lodging, food, lessons, and lift tickets, it’s a wonder that we’re psychically capable of strapping on our boots at the base lodge.

As a survival technique, skiers and boarders are genetically wired to look for deals, and one of the most obvious places is lift tickets. 2-for-1 coupons, season passes, and buying at offsite ski shops are some of the time-tested ways to take a small bite out of this unavoidable cost.

Six years ago, Evan Reece and Ron Schneidermann figured out another way — one that benefits both the supply and demand end of the equation. By using a variation of congestion pricing, their popular website Liftopia enables skiers to score discounts and at the same time helps resorts sell tickets during off-peak periods. Harvey spoke to Ron about the company's business model and core markets.

NYSkiBlog: How did Liftopia start? Is the company run by skiers?

Ron: Evan Reece and I started Liftopia back in 2005. We met while working together at the online travel website Hotwire.com. I worked in Business Development and Evan worked on the Supplier Team doing revenue management for hotels in ski areas. The whole idea originated over an IM conversation about whether to head up to Tahoe to ski despite the lack of fresh snow, and we quickly realized that there was a huge opportunity to help ski areas sell things like lift tickets, lessons, and rentals online and in advance with prices that change depending on the demand for any given date.

Read more »

Snow Ridge Powder Day (Video)

2012-01-04T21:00:00.019-05:00

The just released video from Tuesday's Powder Day at Snow Ridge...

See the full photo trip report: Snow Ridge, NY: 1/3/12

Powder Turns at Snow Ridge!

2012-01-03T23:00:00.023-05:00

Over the past month, fresh snow has been a scarce commodity in New York State, the northeast and across most of the continent. After a long drought, Ullr pushed some cold arctic air across Lake Ontario and dropped a foot of lake-effect blower on the Tug Hill Plateau.

Tuesday morning, two diehard New York skiers rose before dawn, and made the trek across the Adirondacks to slay fresh lines at Snow Ridge in Turin, NY. See the full photo report: Snow Ridge, NY: 1/3/12

MegaHarv Snow Totals 11/12

2012-01-01T23:00:00.005-05:00

Gore Mountain Snow Totals 2011-2012