Catskill conditions?

[abc]

Anyone's been at Hunter or Wyndham this week?

I just found out I unexpectedly got a day off tomorrow. So wondering what the condition is like up there. I understand it's mostly man made. Still, is it worth the 2 1/2 drive? Or should I wait till March?

Also, can anyone care to guess whether Hunter or Wyndham be better condition-wise? Or not much difference?

I also have the option of going up on Christmas Day instead. Though not both (can't handle 2 back to back long drives). Which day is usually less crowded?

Thanks for the help. I don't ski the Catskills often enough so apologise the naive questions.

 

[skidbump]

Hunter, most terrain without a doubt..iether day shouldn't be crowded

 

[millerm277]

Hunter is nearly 100% open, and if you've been watching the cams, has been blowing an insane amount of snow, every day. It was well worth the 2.5 hour drive last week, some of the best conditions I've seen there, I can't imagine it's much worse now.

 

[abc]

Thanks. Heading over to Hunter tomorrow!

 

[Greg]

I just commented tonight based on Sundown's great snow conditions that Hunter must be insane right now. I think a stretch of weather like we've had the past few weeks is where Hunter really shines. Gotta get out there maybe during the break.

 

[dmc]

Hunter is currently great... The Anna Purna is open..

 

[goldsbar]

It's decent. I was at Hunter yesterday. Snow making was highly commendable but it's still snow making. Amazing amount of terrain given the time of year and cold weather window. Purna was really good but they were blowing snow literally right in your face which made it not so really good. Much of the rest of the mountain was the typical hardpack you'd expect on a cold, windy day. Though, it did stay mostly carvable and softer stuff was findable. Clair's had bumps but they were way too widely spaced as usual. Racer's Edge had some tighter ones before the last steep section.

So you know where I'm coming from, great to me equals any of the following:
*Real powder - very seldom seen in the Catskills. Though every once in a while there's a good winter at Plattekill...
*Post real powder crud
*Hero bumps (similar to above)
*Lots of at least fairly tight bumps that aren't rock hard - somewhat hard is fine
*Sunny day with no crowds on well groomed slopes where you can leave rr tracks at 50 mph
*Spring (corn, warm sun, etc.)

 

[skidbump]

It's decent. I was at Hunter yesterday. Snow making was highly commendable but it's still snow making. Amazing amount of terrain given the time of year and cold weather window. Purna was really good but they were blowing snow literally right in your face which made it not so really good. Much of the rest of the mountain was the typical hardpack you'd expect on a cold, windy day. Though, it did stay mostly carvable and softer stuff was findable. Clair's had bumps but they were way too widely spaced as usual. Racer's Edge had some tighter ones before the last steep section.

So you know where I'm coming from, great to me equals any of the following:
*Real powder - very seldom seen in the Catskills. Though every once in a while there's a good winter at Plattekill...
*Post real powder crud
*Hero bumps (similar to above)
*Lots of at least fairly tight bumps that aren't rock hard - somewhat hard is fine
*Sunny day with no crowds on well groomed slopes where you can leave rr tracks at 50 mph
*Spring (corn, warm sun, etc.)

Not to burst your bubble "this is from a belleayre regular 5 to 7 days week"You are not going to get it any better in catskills"hunter" than you got today...Its the catskills not the rockies.
Powder is had quite a bit unless you have a real job.
Same with post powder crud.
Hero bumps are fairly frequent.
Tight,soft bumps are a rarity.
Sunny days happen 2 -3 times a week."uncrowder 5 days a week"
Spring corn is usually a 3 to 4 week season"last week of march thru closing weekend"

 

[Stache]

Ustabe Hunter had the crazies and Windham was more mellow folk.

USED To BE!!

I would feel safer at Hunter now.

Windham is now full of WILD KIDS with attitude and management does nothing about it.

Their Attitude, Your Problem.

 

[180]

It's decent. I was at Hunter yesterday. Snow making was highly commendable but it's still snow making. Amazing amount of terrain given the time of year and cold weather window. Purna was really good but they were blowing snow literally right in your face which made it not so really good. Much of the rest of the mountain was the typical hardpack you'd expect on a cold, windy day. Though, it did stay mostly carvable and softer stuff was findable. Clair's had bumps but they were way too widely spaced as usual. Racer's Edge had some tighter ones before the last steep section.

So you know where I'm coming from, great to me equals any of the following:
*Real powder - very seldom seen in the Catskills. Though every once in a while there's a good winter at Plattekill...
*Post real powder crud
*Hero bumps (similar to above)
*Lots of at least fairly tight bumps that aren't rock hard - somewhat hard is fine
*Sunny day with no crowds on well groomed slopes where you can leave rr tracks at 50 mph
*Spring (corn, warm sun, etc.)

Sorry that my standards are not as high and it doesn't get much better save for powder or spring bumps. Conditions today were stellar. Look for my report later. Get here tomorrow because weather coming Saturday. With a warmish day tomorrow, surfaces will be supreme.

Look at the picture, we were skiing the tree with windblown powder.

 

[dmc]

Today was really good... Sun.. Snow... Friends...

 

[Rob A]

I've been to Belleayre twice so far and it is in excellent shape! I imagine Hunter and Windham are probably the same if not better right now.

 

[abc]

Thanks those of you who posted early which convinced me to go to Hunter today (actually yesterday). Just got back after a very good day of skiing and lovely dinner with people I met there.

Snow was good enough, some stashes of soft hero snow, albeit man-made to make for good skiing. It's not the Rockies nor even Vermont. But for Catskill not following a dump, I would say it's as good as it gets considering that.

Met some nice people to ski with for the day. And got invited for dinner which I accepted (yes, Christmas!).

 

[thinnmann]

My holiday skiing @ Belleayre starts tomorrow. Lugged everything up today to the house we rent in Halcott, few miles east of Fleishmanns, over one ridge north of Belleayre. It is icing out right now. Hard. Ice pellets accumulating like ball bearings. Two things might happen tomorrow. Morning snow or ice - and those ball bearings might make for some hella fast runs. But I predict full soak through by noon or 1 PM. Hope we can poach a hot tub and some good beer early because we have taken one too many trips down the caverns and there sure as hell aren't any movie theaters around here!

 

[MarkC]

Bummer.

 

[dmc]

Same shti coming down in Hunter. Sounds like the early turns will be the plan.

 

[kingslug]

Great...so much for good conditions...at least I got 3 good days in so far...yay.

 

[dmc]

Great...so much for good conditions...at least I got 3 good days in so far...yay.

There 4" of snow on the ground... The storm didn't get that bad last night... 33 degrees out now

 

[kingslug]

NOAA is making it sound like a freezing rain washout....keep us posted...you are the best source for weather conditions up there!!!

 

[dmc]

Light rain - 36 degrees