BEWARE the Belleayre/Highmount Scam dude.

[evil]

So yesterday a friend and I hit Belleayre.
AMAZING! The woods were beautiful and we did lines that I have never even seen before, best conditions in a long time.
One thing that bugged me was that the upper Tomahawk glade (chute) and Cathedral woods were closed which I can not for the life of me understand since there was such ample coverage.
Another thing I noticed was the lift mazes were up in full force but with no crowds, I mean, it was almost razorwire and German Shepherds style for a virtually empty mountain.
Ahhh, but let me get back on track and
WARN YOU ABOUT THE SCAM GUY.
Around noon we dipped off into Highmount which is an area that leads away from the Bell lifts and requires a 20 minute walkout on a road.
After a deep and super fun run down my friend noticed a Chevy Lumina parked in a way that sort of looked police-like, he pulled away and we went to the road and began our walk out.
About 5 minutes into it, the car comes back, stops and the dirty looking fella inside asks how often we come up here, he then says that skiing Highmount is illegal and made claims that he was some kind of patrol.
We told him we didin't ski anything and were merely out for a walk with our boards.
This seems to work for him and he offers us a ride.
Once we get in the back he pulls out a camera and starts photographing the plates of a truck parked across the street from the Highmount lift, then begins to drive back towards the Tomahawk lift to drop us off.
The whole time he is going on about how he used to work for the Mtn but found out a 16yr old got his job and how hard it will be to support his wife and 2 kids.
He mentions many times that when he catches people coming out of Highmount, he is not a bad guy and said "so I do accept bribes".
Sitting on coloring books in the back of his dirty car we have to hear over and over again how he accepts pot or beer money from people so he won't report them.
I remind him again that we never skiied there and exit his car with a good luck dude, wondering why he just dosen't offer to shuttle people for $3 - $4 a head, I would have hooked him up gladly if he were just up-front about it.
Anyone met this guy Shawn? (which is most likely as real a name as I gave him)
Whats your thoughts on this?
I'm torn between thinking he is just a loony bird trying a half ass hustle to being angry that he would have the stones to try and mess with people who are just out to have a good time and aren't afraid to work for it a bit.

 

[dmc]

Whats your thoughts on this?
I'm torn between thinking he is just a loony bird trying a half ass hustle to being angry that he would have the stones to try and mess with people who are just out to have a good time and aren't afraid to work for it a bit.

Welcome to the Catskills... He's both...
But mostly it sounds like he was F'ing with you while trying to make some $..
Next time just say someone is getting you but thanks for he ride... And start walking...

I could ask some friends that live in the valley about him...

 

[ta&idaho]

Sounds like Belleayre is skiing really well. The one thing that has always rubbed me the wrong way about the place is the Gestapo-style feel you sometimes get from some of the staff (most, of course, are incredibly friendly and charming, but a few bad apples...):

Another thing I noticed was the lift mazes were up in full force but with no crowds, I mean, it was almost razorwire and German Shepherds style for a virtually empty mountain.

Relax, put down the bullhorns, and let people enjoy their day. Its not like the mountain is so beseiged with troublemakers that you need to crack down on every perceived transgression of the mountain's rules. The strangest thing about this vibe -- and I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who has experienced it -- is that Belleayre *should* be such a chill place.

 

[kingslug]

I've been skiing there for 15 years, not as much as I used too but its the most "chill" place I've gone to. hell its the only place that I was the only ticket holder on the mountain...all day, this was several years ago, but I had the WHOLE place to myself and 6 inches of new powder. It was raining everywhere else, Hunter was an Ice rink...amazing. As far as the ass hat in the car...might end up with a few arrows in his ass he messes with the wrong people! Like the guy in the liquor store told me..I don't have to lock up the good stuff...you'll never make it to you're car.

 

[evil]

Ha! the resounding response from fellas to this story is he is eventually going to mess with the wrong cats.
All good, I just wanted to see if anyone has run into him and what their experience was cause mine was surreal indeed.
What do you think would be the most trouble you could get into riding that area?
Regarding Belleayre's vibe, I agree, most of the staff there are great, friendly and nice (the conductor at the Tomahawk midstation) but there are a few "bad apples" for sure that just seem to hate everyone who is visiting.
It seems that they just stand out in contrast to the laid back feeling of Belleayre.
Oh and Yes, Bell is skiing very well now, EVERYTHING is filled in, ropes are just pointless right now.

 

[catskills]

EVIL - check your personal messages.

As for the "razorwire and German Shepherds style" , Belleayre is usually a mellow laid back kind of place.

 

[evil]

Bell is super mellow, that's why I'm there every week, the lift lines Friday though, they had a full on holiday weekends after snow setup and the guys working, were a bit too aggressive for my taste on a weekday.

 

[thetrailboss]

Isn't it a good idea not to take rides from strangers? :wink:

 

[evil]

I would say it's a worse idea to pick up 2 strangers

 

[thinnmann]

I have only 3 things to say... er, 4 things, I mean...

One thing that bugged me was that the upper Tomahawk glade (chute) and Cathedral woods were closed which I can not for the life of me understand since there was such ample coverage.
Another thing I noticed was the lift mazes were up in full force but with no crowds, I mean, it was almost razorwire and German Shepherds style for a virtually empty mountain.
Ahhh, but let me get back on track and
WARN YOU ABOUT THE SCAM GUY.....

...I'm torn between thinking he is just a loony bird trying a half ass hustle to being angry that he would have the stones to try and mess with people who are just out to have a good time and aren't afraid to work for it a bit.

1. That chute is NEVER open. But just go chute it anyway if you have the skillz and available Ptex for repairs. (Note: Ptex does not work on headbonz...)
2. The way they set up that rope barrier to check tickets is really stupid. They don't always do it, only started recently. It forces too many people through that one hole. They should go back to checking in the lines.
3. The Real Belleayre/Highmount Scam Guy is Dean Gitter...

Sounds like Belleayre is skiing really well. The one thing that has always rubbed me the wrong way about the place is the Gestapo-style feel you sometimes get from some of the staff (most, of course, are incredibly friendly and charming, but a few bad apples...):

4. What?! You must be thinking of a different mountain - Blue or Camelback perhaps?

 

[jamesdeluxe]

The one thing that has always rubbed me the wrong way about the place is the Gestapo-style feel you sometimes get from some of the staff.

I've heard complaints about the lack of sustained pitch, the trail layout, and the upper lodge capacity on a busy weekend day, but I've never, ever heard about being hassled by employees there. The closest that anyone's given me a hard time was a few years ago when a patroller saw me breaking trail through the woods to Belleayre after a run down Highmount, and he told me that next time I should ski to the access road and walk back.

I agree about the goofy rope setup at the bottom of Super Chief and Tomahawk.

 

[Northeast Soul Skier]

Ha! the resounding response from fellas to this story is he is eventually going to mess with the wrong cats.
All good, I just wanted to see if anyone has run into him and what their experience was cause mine was surreal indeed.
What do you think would be the most trouble you could get into riding that area?
Regarding Belleayre's vibe, I agree, most of the staff there are great, friendly and nice (the conductor at the Tomahawk midstation) but there are a few "bad apples" for sure that just seem to hate everyone who is visiting.
It seems that they just stand out in contrast to the laid back feeling of Belleayre.
Oh and Yes, Bell is skiing very well now, EVERYTHING is filled in, ropes are just pointless right now.

i grew up in the time when people were realizing they should not pick up hitchhikers or get into a strangers car. I can appreciate the comradere of being on the mnt and thinking it's cool to hop with a fellow skier. After all we are all here for the same reason. But I wanna caution u bro. It's never smart to get into someones car. Esoeacialy some Deliverance back woods hick. Before u know it you're squealin like a pig boy! If you must, and I do in certain places. Be PREPARED. And aware. Not everybody out there is as cool as u and me

 

[dmc]

I pick up hitchers all the time in my town.. I generally recognize them from spending their govmt checks in the bar...

 

[oakapple]

I've heard complaints about . . . the upper lodge capacity on a busy weekend day.

There have been proposals for years now to expand the lodge capacity. I believe the current proposals is approaching the end stages of regulatory review, so perhaps we'll see it in 2012 or 2013. The same proposal will re-activate Highmount, so it will no longer be back country.

When I was there two weeks ago, my car got stuck, and a security guy had to come help me out. While we were waiting for a tow, he told me that the lodge capacity is, in the staff's opinion, the #1 issue. He thinks the mountain can comfortably handle twice the number of guests as the lodges can.

Of course, the other design flaw is that the nicer lodge is at the bottom, but there are more skiers at the top.

 

[johnnypoach]

hi alpinezone friends. belleayre was perfict for mashed potato mogels. hope killington makes it to may second closing day. I am hiking and skiing tuckermans on may first. hope to see youall soon goodbye.