Belleayre 12-23-11

[legalskier]

I was on the fence about going, what with the rain we got in the flatlands last night, but the website stated they picked up 3" of fresh so I jumped in the car for a late start. It was my last chance before the start of a stretch of family holiday obligations. It turned out to be a good decision. It snowed/flurried off & on all day long, with a dark cloud blanketing the upper mountain. The clouds were so low that you couldn't see the other side of the valley most of the time. My estimate is that the 3" they reported was more like 4", as the mountain had no brown patches and the snow stuck on the trees thick like cotton balls. Sorry about not posting pics but if you check out today's other TRs, you'll get a good idea of how it looked. Very few people on the trails, never waited on a lift line, but rode up once with a charming young woman visiting from Japan. Wanatuska & Onteora are open from top to bottom and Mohawk is partially open. The lower mountain chairlift was running but I didn't go down there.

The good news is that night time temps for the next 5 days will be cold enough to fire up the guns. This little dump might just be the kick start we've all been waiting for.

 

[k123]

Website showing Superchief open for tomorrow, although you can't trust the projected conditions these days. They were blowing down to the superchief last weekend and should have some good production tonight with temps dropping to around 10 so maybe.

 

[legalskier]

I hope so, even if I can't go.

 

[kingslug]

I've gone there several times when it was raining and ended up with a pretty decent powder day..even when it was pouring at Hunter..One time I was there only paying customer for the day due to rain..They do have a decent elevation..what they need is more diverse terrain..

 

[k123]

I've gone there several times when it was raining and ended up with a pretty decent powder day..even when it was pouring at Hunter..One time I was there only paying customer for the day due to rain..They do have a decent elevation..what they need is more diverse terrain..

They need to connect with Highmount :smash: too bad it probably will never happen

 

[k123]

Pics off the website from today. Looks like guns going from the summit down Onondaga, Horseshoe Pass, and down to the quad. Hopefully they'll start blowing on Tomohawk Crossing and Algonquin.

 

[thinnmann]

Skied Belleayre today - Christmas.

Onondaga, Onteora, Wanatuska from the top, Mohawk from the middle. That is it. Too warm to blow. Skiing was good on the limited terrain. No lift lines and no fighting for a table at lunch.

pics from top of Wanatuska:

http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/393735_10150645981317818_786702817_11789946_837607312_n.jpg