Wavewheeler
New member
Date: Thursday, 1/30/14
Resort: Hunter Mountain
Conditions: Packed powder
I am sure glad I listened to the advice I was given and went to Hunter today. It certainly seems to have earned the title "Snowmaking Capitol". We have more snow (unfortunately ) down at the Jersey Shore than in the Catskill Mountains and I was surprised at how sparse the natural snow cover was as I drove north on the NY Thruway. As I got deeper into the mountains and at a higher elevation the snow increased but it wasn't until I got to Hunter and started skiing that I really got an appreciation for just how well the folks at Hunter have been taking advantage of the recent cold snap to put together an impressive day of skiing despite the lack of natural snowfall in the past month.
It was a balmy 2 degrees when I left my home but by the time I hit the slopes at about 10:30 the temperature was rising into the mid 20s and 32 at the base. It was nothing short of a perfect bluebird day with the sun out and the bluest of blue skies and no wind.
I started off my day with a warm up lap on the Belt Parkway and Jimmie Huega and there was plenty of packed powder but it was shady so made the switch to the sunnier trails after that.
First was a run down "The Cliff". The first part was a thin with regards to powder but the bottom half was great. I switched over to Hellgate and pretty much stayed there. Hellgate was about as perfect as it gets for someone like me who loves groomers with packed powder. Lots of loose powder that was evenly distributed. It never got skied off, despite all the traffic on it.
After one run down the Blue trail, Gun Hill Road, I stayed on Eisenhower, which was full of packed and loose powder as well.
I didn't run Racer's Edge (and in hindsight I wish I had) but it seemed to be about the same, though I heard someone comment about how it was getting icy by the end of the day. Hellgate and Eisenhower stayed great for the entire day. By the last two runs (at 3:30-4) it was starting to get a tad icy but still very good.
In between Hellgate and Eisenhower I took a variety of paths, mostly down the areas that are designated as blues (Broadway, 7th Ave, 42nd Street) and also Bleeker Street. All of it was great, lots of powder, excellent conditions.
Around 2pm, I headed over to the West side, taking Colonel's Alternate to Way Out. It was ok, but not as good as the other side. A bit harder and more packed down and not as much powder. Clairs looked good, though I didn't ski it.
I have to say that I was very impressed with how great the skiing was! Hunter must be blowing snow and grooming like crazy to have everything open and in as fine a shape as it was. Most of Hunter West seemed open, including K-27 and Westway. People were commenting at how great conditions were. A few people I talked to had skied Windham and said there was no comparison to Hunter.
There was a bit of crowd at times but I stayed skiing through lunch time and by 2pm I practically had the place to myself and was literally skiing down the mountain and getting right on the lift. Even when it was crowded there was scarcely any wait times at the lift. Midweek is awesome!
In my book it was worth every minute of the 6 hours I spent on the road today getting there and back.
I never got the chance to go down back part and do Minya, East Side, etc. That just gives me a good excuse to come back, which is definitely in my game plan. If they get some natural snow up there it will make things even better!
Resort: Hunter Mountain
Conditions: Packed powder
I am sure glad I listened to the advice I was given and went to Hunter today. It certainly seems to have earned the title "Snowmaking Capitol". We have more snow (unfortunately ) down at the Jersey Shore than in the Catskill Mountains and I was surprised at how sparse the natural snow cover was as I drove north on the NY Thruway. As I got deeper into the mountains and at a higher elevation the snow increased but it wasn't until I got to Hunter and started skiing that I really got an appreciation for just how well the folks at Hunter have been taking advantage of the recent cold snap to put together an impressive day of skiing despite the lack of natural snowfall in the past month.
It was a balmy 2 degrees when I left my home but by the time I hit the slopes at about 10:30 the temperature was rising into the mid 20s and 32 at the base. It was nothing short of a perfect bluebird day with the sun out and the bluest of blue skies and no wind.
I started off my day with a warm up lap on the Belt Parkway and Jimmie Huega and there was plenty of packed powder but it was shady so made the switch to the sunnier trails after that.
First was a run down "The Cliff". The first part was a thin with regards to powder but the bottom half was great. I switched over to Hellgate and pretty much stayed there. Hellgate was about as perfect as it gets for someone like me who loves groomers with packed powder. Lots of loose powder that was evenly distributed. It never got skied off, despite all the traffic on it.
After one run down the Blue trail, Gun Hill Road, I stayed on Eisenhower, which was full of packed and loose powder as well.
I didn't run Racer's Edge (and in hindsight I wish I had) but it seemed to be about the same, though I heard someone comment about how it was getting icy by the end of the day. Hellgate and Eisenhower stayed great for the entire day. By the last two runs (at 3:30-4) it was starting to get a tad icy but still very good.
In between Hellgate and Eisenhower I took a variety of paths, mostly down the areas that are designated as blues (Broadway, 7th Ave, 42nd Street) and also Bleeker Street. All of it was great, lots of powder, excellent conditions.
Around 2pm, I headed over to the West side, taking Colonel's Alternate to Way Out. It was ok, but not as good as the other side. A bit harder and more packed down and not as much powder. Clairs looked good, though I didn't ski it.
I have to say that I was very impressed with how great the skiing was! Hunter must be blowing snow and grooming like crazy to have everything open and in as fine a shape as it was. Most of Hunter West seemed open, including K-27 and Westway. People were commenting at how great conditions were. A few people I talked to had skied Windham and said there was no comparison to Hunter.
There was a bit of crowd at times but I stayed skiing through lunch time and by 2pm I practically had the place to myself and was literally skiing down the mountain and getting right on the lift. Even when it was crowded there was scarcely any wait times at the lift. Midweek is awesome!
In my book it was worth every minute of the 6 hours I spent on the road today getting there and back.
I never got the chance to go down back part and do Minya, East Side, etc. That just gives me a good excuse to come back, which is definitely in my game plan. If they get some natural snow up there it will make things even better!
Last edited: