Windham/Hunter/Belleayre/Plattekill

[catskills]

I don't see any Chicken Ridge on the Hunter map. Is that a defunct trail or a slang name?

Yup. Its an old local term. Skiers left of B-Lift. Chicken ridge was steep enough that pretty much meant you need to ski something better than a WEDGE snowplow. Snowplow Stem-Christie might be good enough to get you down Chicken Ridge.

 

[drewfidelic]

Bretton Woods "too popular a product"? Have you ever skied there at all?

No, the only thing common amoungst Okemo, Stratton and Bretton Woods are they appeal to the softer vacationers. (The recent NYT article on BW pretty much nailed what BW is about) Windham is trying to appeal to that very group, and is having reasonable success in raking in their disposable dollar!

I may have used too many pronouns, but I was pointing out that Windham has gotten too popular for their own good. Which is due in large part, because, like Okemo, Stratton and Bretton Woods, Windham also appeals to families, terminal intermediates and infrequent skiers. Windham is generally gently pitched, and its ample trailside real estate (plus history as a private club?) makes it especially appealing for a certain demographic.

I've never skied Bretton Woods. I also generally wouldn't choose to ski Windham except to ski with someone who patrols there.

 

[oakapple]

Windham also appeals to families, terminal intermediates and infrequent skiers. Windham is generally gently pitched, and its ample trailside real estate (plus history as a private club?) makes it especially appealing for a certain demographic.

That grossly misstates Windham's appeal — and I say that as one who is not a huge fan of the place.

For one thing, the trailside real estate flatly contradicts your comment about "infrequent skiers": nobody acquires that real estate if they don't intend to use the mountain regularly. And although nobody would call Windham extreme, I wouldn't call it "gently pitched," either — at least, not its steeper runs.

I know that some people practically hold their nose when they refer to families that ski, as if it's inconceivable that any members of those families could actually be any good at it. If you erase families from the picture, a whole lot of ski areas, not just Windham, would be in deep trouble.

I WILL say that Windham applies to a class of visitor that values ambiance beyond the mountain itself. People who only care about the mountain sometimes have trouble comprehending that the alternative view has any legitimacy. A lot of Western ski areas, places where the terrain puts most of the East to shame, have also invested heavily in their "village" areas. That doesn't mean they're appealing solely to "families, terminal intermediates and infrequent skiers."

 

[ctenidae]

I don't quite get the Bretton haters. I mean, they're absolutely right- no one should ever go there.

I've skied Bretton quite a bit. I have found there to be a much higher percentage of good skiers there than I see at other places. I have not seen large numbers of families. I have not seen much Bogner clothing.

While it's true most of the mountain is great for cruising, the Rosebrook Canyon area has some nutty parts and the trees on the West Mountain are fun. The mountain has some interesting terrain, and is big enough to keep you entertained. It's great for doing laps, and has some good bump fields at times.

If you want natural conditions and narrow twisty trails, go to Cannon, for sure. If you want anything else at all, there's no good reason, in my mind, to go anywhere in NH other than BW.

/.02

 

[180]

Yup. Its an old local term. Skiers left of B-Lift. Chicken ridge was steep enough that pretty much meant you need to ski something better than a WEDGE snowplow. Snowplow Stem-Christie might be good enough to get you down Chicken Ridge.

Chicken Ridge was (is) Lower Broadway, the left side of the terrain park.

 

[catskillman]

I would say there is a great deal more for a non-skier to do at Hunter than Windham. The hotel has a day spa (massages, facials, and other options) and there is a free shuttle to take you there. The restaurant at the hotel is nice, and it is ski in so you could meet someone there for lunch instead of at the base lodge. There is also the Zip Line's and the adveture tower. The Copper Tree is a nice place to sit with a view, and you can sit there all day (just cannot bring in food from outside or another part of the lodge).

Windham has a nice restaruant, big air bag and some rubber band thing.

ALSO- everyone seems to forget that there are several blue runs at Hunter 1 that are accessible from the E chair. The runs through the woods are nice and scenic and winding. The one under the E chair seems to scare most as they watch from the lift but it is entertaining. These runs are all still open and are used by the ski school a lot as they are not as crowded as Kennedy. (They are not supposed to instruct on the Parkway as a rule on weekends.)

 

[oakapple]

ALSO- everyone seems to forget that there are several blue runs at Hunter 1 that are accessible from the E chair. The runs through the woods are nice and scenic and winding.

Those ARE very nice runs, but on off-peak days E lift frequently does not operate.

 

[dmc]

And Hunter will have a kick ass band playing on 3.19 - just sayin...

 

[Black Phantom]

And Hunter will have a kick ass band playing on 3.19 - just sayin...

just sayin? I do not see them on the schedule.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I haven't done Plattekill yet, but I certainly agree w.r.t. the other two.

I skied Plattekill for the first time on Sunday, and I was absolutely blown away. I loved how old-school it was with the lifts about a 2-iron away from the parking lot. lol.

I really appreciate how there seems to be limited grooming going on. That's not to suggest they dont groom, obviously they do, but they allowed big chunks of their mountain to be au natural. Since it was my first time there, I dont know if that's typical, but major props if it is. They even allow for the either/or option on the steeper double blacks where 50% was groomed and 50% was allowed to nicely mogul-up.

And it was empty......on a Sunday......after they reported 16" of snow in 48 hours (which is why I chose to go there in the first place since Hunter reported 9"). Needless to say I'll definitely be back!

Plattekill has a lot of familys and kids skiing the right side of the hill eveytime I go

There were many families there on Sunday, perhaps a product of the "kids under 7 ski free" policy?

 

[Jersey Skier]

I skied Plattekill for the first time on Sunday, and I was absolutely blown away. I loved how old-school it was with the lifts about a 2-iron away from the parking lot. lol.

I really appreciate how there seems to be limited grooming going on. That's not to suggest they dont groom, obviously they do, but they allowed big chunks of their mountain to be au natural. Since it was my first time there, I dont know if that's typical, but major props if it is. They even allow for the either/or option on the steeper double blacks where 50% was groomed and 50% was allowed to nicely mogul-up.

And it was empty......on a Sunday......after they reported 16" of snow in 48 hours (which is why I chose to go there in the first place since Hunter reported 9"). Needless to say I'll definitely be back!





There were many families there on Sunday, perhaps a product of the "kids under 7 ski free" policy?

I was there Sunday too. I actually thought it was overgroomed compared to normal. I've been there days after a decent storm and only the beginner trails were groomed. I also thought it was crowded as I once had to wait for 4 people to get on the lift before me.:wink:

 

[BenedictGomez]

I was there Sunday too. I actually thought it was overgroomed compared to normal. I've been there days after a decent storm and only the beginner trails were groomed.

Wow, so it sounds like they dont do a lot of grooming post snowfalls? Fantastic if so.

I also thought it was crowded as I once had to wait for 4 people to get on the lift before me.:wink:

After I parked, I looked up at the slopes and saw they were virtually empty. I told the 15 year old looking lot attendant that I was "surprised how empty it looks for a weekend", to which he replied, "actually we're kindof busy today". This was a real head-scratcher for me, and I swear I dont think I waited more than 1.5 minutes in a lift line all day. I sure hope they're profitable, as it's a great little place and I want to go back!

 

[andyzee]

Plattekill did use to groom much less. They would leave (looking up at the mountain) the left half ungroomed and the right groomed. Appears that this year they either started grooming more or as Mark stated, they may just be grooming early to allow for better cover in the spring.

 

[2sons]

I was there Sunday too. I actually thought it was overgroomed compared to normal. I've been there days after a decent storm and only the beginner trails were groomed. I also thought it was crowded as I once had to wait for 4 people to get on the lift before me.:wink:

At one point Sunday there were 10 people in front of us waiting for the double-WTF! No seriously awesome day- everybody coming down Plunge had smiles on their faces.

 

[BenedictGomez]

At one point Sunday there were 10 people in front of us waiting for the double-WTF! No seriously awesome day- everybody coming down Plunge had smiles on their faces.

It was a great day, but I was with an advanced beginner, and not wanting to "ditch" her, I skied with her for probably 2/3 the day. So, I didnt get to ski the entire mountain by any means, and missed much of the harder terrain. I'd say the toughest thing I was able to hit was Blockbuster, but I didnt get to do any of the other double blacks (Freefall, Plunge etc...). So, what is the hardest trail they have or is Blockbuster pretty much it? I really want to go back, so I hope they catch another decent snowfall.

 

[2sons]

It was a great day, but I was with an advanced beginner, and not wanting to "ditch" her, I skied with her for probably 2/3 the day. So, I didnt get to ski the entire mountain by any means, and missed much of the harder terrain. I'd say the toughest thing I was able to hit was Blockbuster, but I didnt get to do any of the other double blacks (Freefall, Plunge etc...). So, what is the hardest trail they have or is Blockbuster pretty much it? I really want to go back, so I hope they catch another decent snowfall.

The pitch on Block is the steepest, yet the two times prior I was there it was groomed flat. Quite easy to bomb down it.The flipside is that Plunge was bumped up all three times I was there, so I guess it all depends on what you consider hard.

 

[BenedictGomez]

The pitch on Block is the steepest, yet the two times prior I was there it was groomed flat. Quite easy to bomb down it.The flipside is that Plunge was bumped up all three times I was there, so I guess it all depends on what you consider hard.

The other day the left side of Blockbuster was moguls from top to bottom. The top (steep) moguled part gave me all the challenge I needed. lol. The bottom moguls were fun. My legs were burning after the run for sure.

 

[legalskier]

Wow, so it sounds like they dont do a lot of grooming post snowfalls? Fantastic if so.

Go there on a midweek powder day. You'll be in heaven.

I'd say the toughest thing I was able to hit was Blockbuster, but I didnt get to do any of the other double blacks (Freefall, Plunge etc...). So, what is the hardest trail they have or is Blockbuster pretty much it?

That's just where the fun begins. Everything from BB going east (i.e. skier's right) is terrific. My fave is Plunge. Also check out the runs in the woods like The Cliffs, lots of fun in there.

My legs were burning after the run for sure.

Platty will do that. I bring some Advil with me.

 

[2sons]

That's just where the fun begins. Everything from BB going east (i.e. skier's right) is terrific. My fave is Plunge. Also check out the runs in the woods like The Cliffs, lots of fun in there.

Plunge is awesome especially the upper left side of the trail . My son loves Cliffs.
How's the spring skiing- do they let the double blacks bump up?http://forums.alpinezone.com/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif

 

[ctenidae]

Skied Windham yesterday. Good spring conditions. Not sure why people say the terrain is boring. The steeps are great, nice and long, couple of decent bump runs around. We skied one all-blue trail all day (Wedgie), and it was a good cruiser.

Ski school program is pretty good, too, so we went ahead and booked for my brother's kids next Saturday.