Belleayre 3/27/2010

[catskills]

I am usually VERY good about predicting snow conditions based on previous days weather. I was predicting really really bad snow conditions for Belleayre today (Sat. 3/27). I figure with the warm weather and then the deep freeze that the moguls would have some huge snow snakes lurking beneath the new snow Belleayre got. I figured that new snow Belleyare got would have thawed and the flash froze again.

I was oh so WRONG.

The conditions were awesome at Belleayre. The moguls had real dry powder and the snow snakes were non-existent beneath the powder. Just awesome snow conditions. The groomers were slightly crusty but soften up quickly. It was cold enough that it ever got to the point where it was mashed potatoes. Skiing was great all day.

I think it will be great conditions on Sunday. Then again I was wrong about today so you never know.

 

[zinger3000]

I was going to post a TR from my trip to Belleayre today, but you already beat me to it! Wow, what great conditions for this time of year! No spring conditions here. Their website says to watch for bare patches and icy spots; I saw hardly of either. Edge-to-edge coverage on all trails. Trails skiied as easily at 2 PM as they did at 9 AM. Belleayre's website says they'll try to stay open for another month; looks like I might just have to go back sometime in April.

At 9:00 this morning, only 12 cars in the Tomahawk parking lot. I felt like I had that whole side of the mountain to myself for the first hour.

During their "peak" time today (from what I saw as I looked at each lift):
Superchief Quad - less than a minute wait; sometimes ski-on
Lift 7 and Tomahawk lift - about 25% of the chairs were empty
Lift 1 - about 40% of the chairs were empty.

 

[jlboyell]

I had never been there before. I have been checking out this forum lately and saw that name, decided to check the mountain out today. We had a great time in much better than expected conditions. The only thing that surprised me more was the crowd or lack of it. Does it get much better? I had never heard of Belleayre until i stumbled upon this forum so thanks guys for showing me a nice, unexpected gem. The people were nice, employees and patrons alike. Im from Delaware, so our day trips are usually to the Poconos...
What are the crowds like here during peak season? I read it is usually not crowded, relatively speaking, this true?
Anyway, thanks it was a blast today.

 

[marcski]

I need to check out Belleayre. I've still never been. I was at Jiminy yesterday and everything was groomed flat and it was pretty hard. The lower angled runs did soften up nicely, which is where I spent most of my day as I was with my 7 y.o. and her friend. Plus, without bumps, no need to hit any of the steeper runs which were flat and fast. Next year, I'll hit Bell for a spring day. How much were passes? Did they have any deals? That's the thing about Jiminy, they do e-coupon days. I skied for $29 and we got a free tix for my 7 y.o.

 

[jlboyell]

We stayed at a nearby hotel/condo, and somehow through mathematical wizardry, got 3 lift tickets for $48.

 

[goldsbar]

I had never been there before. I have been checking out this forum lately and saw that name, decided to check the mountain out today. We had a great time in much better than expected conditions. The only thing that surprised me more was the crowd or lack of it. Does it get much better? I had never heard of Belleayre until i stumbled upon this forum so thanks guys for showing me a nice, unexpected gem. The people were nice, employees and patrons alike. Im from Delaware, so our day trips are usually to the Poconos...
What are the crowds like here during peak season? I read it is usually not crowded, relatively speaking, this true?
Anyway, thanks it was a blast today.

It can get crowded, but is generally manageable except on the very worst days - think Xmas/New Year holiday weekends. In general, the main quad might have a 10-15 minute wait at peak times peak season. You can often ski almost on/off up until 10ish. The fixed grip quad on the other side usually has a shorter wait but it's a slow lift. Similar story on the fixed triple. Beginner doubles seem like they're generally empty but I'm not down there at peak times.