How crowded does Hunter get?

[highpeaksdrifter]

Yes it is, been going on for a while.

The problem now is 23A which is closed from Palenville to Haines Falls. The heavy rains a few weeks ago blew out a retaining wall and destroyed alot of the rebuilding that had gone on there since the end of the ski season. Now that part is closed until the beginning of November.

Yeah, I was disappointed I had to drive around through Windham. It wasn't the extra 10 minutes, I just like the drive up 23A, especially the tight turn where the waterfall is, very scenic.

 

[BeanoNYC]

especially the tight turn where the waterfall is, very scenic.

Word!

 

[JimG.]

Word!

There is a beautiful 1/2 mile hiking trail to the bottom of upper Kaaterskill Falls right at that turn. If you make an additional 1/4 mile scramble up steep scree you can walk behind the falls. Another 1/4 mile climb up to the top of the upper falls can be really exciting.

 

[BeanoNYC]

Do you need a permit to park there, Jim?

 

[JimG.]

Do you need a permit to park there, Jim?

No, there's a public lot a few hundred feet up 23A on the left as you're heading west.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

No, there's a public lot a few hundred feet up 23A on the left as you're heading west.

I remember years ago someone must of been flying down 23A and went right through the guard rail in that parking area and over the cliff. They had a big crane there pulling the car up. I don't know how the driver made out.

 

[JimG.]

I remember years ago someone must of been flying down 23A and went right through the guard rail in that parking area and over the cliff. They had a big crane there pulling the car up. I don't know how the driver made out.

Probably coming home from Hunter after a few at the bar. I'm surprised more cars don't go off the road there. Platte Cove road is another spot famous for folks needing the tow truck.

 

[tekweezle]

my apprecitation for Hunter has increased as I have gotten to be more experienced as a skier. it was boring/scary to me when I was limited by my abilities to the Belt Parkway, White Cloud and ocasionally Hellgate.

I like Racer;s Edge. I just wish it was longer. there are several blue/black trails on the front face of the mountain that are pretty good..

 

[tirolerpeter]

Kaaterskill Falls

There is a beautiful 1/2 mile hiking trail to the bottom of upper Kaaterskill Falls right at that turn. If you make an additional 1/4 mile scramble up steep scree you can walk behind the falls. Another 1/4 mile climb up to the top of the upper falls can be really exciting.

Did that with one of my sons a few years ago. It is an easy hike, and a lot of fun to walk under the waterfall. We didn't even get wet. We didn't see any signs requiring a permit of any type, and had no issue with parking. We did it on a week day, so there were very few people there. The dumbest thing we saw was people wearing "flip-flops" and a couple of women in shoes with heels! The "flip flop folks" (nice alliteration, no?) found it possible, at least initially, to walk uphill; downhill turned into a nightmare for them.

 

[tirolerpeter]

Hunter Road

I remember years ago someone must of been flying down 23A and went right through the guard rail in that parking area and over the cliff. They had a big crane there pulling the car up. I don't know how the driver made out.

Many years ago (before they built most of the guard rails they had those old post and steel cable barriers on that road) we saw a car literally teetering over the edge of the cliff on the outside, downhill side of the first curve down from the beginning of the mountain section of the road. It was right at the bottom of the last "slow vehicle climbing lane" as you headed toward Tannersville. The front doors were open, and I don't know how the occupants actually got out without falling down the cliff.

 

[mattchuck2]

Mountains that have 1 blue trail from the top are just asking for trouble. They get skied off quickly, and by mid-afternoon, when beginners decide that they are ready to handle the trail, it's an icy death trap. Parron's Run on Whiteface suffers the same fate. And Excelsior on Little Whiteface.

I don't know how they can fix this problem, but it always gets worse on days that are more crowded.

 

[JimG.]

Mountains that have 1 blue trail from the top are just asking for trouble.

This is why Hunter used to have the "Ski off" for people at Hunter One. You weren't allowed to go to the summit until you demonstrated to a group of instructors that you were able to handle skiing down from the top. That was a great idea that should still be in place.

But, of course, management didn't want to pay instructors to stand and do something that would really improve the skiing experience for everyone when those instructors could be earning the hill a ton of dough teaching lessons. So, now the unguided missles fly wherever.

 

[mattchuck2]

Wow, that is a good idea . . .

You're right though . . . probably wasn't making any money for them.

 

[tirolerpeter]

Off Topic?

This is why Hunter used to have the "Ski off" for people at Hunter One. You weren't allowed to go to the summit until you demonstrated to a group of instructors that you were able to handle skiing down from the top. That was a great idea that should still be in place.

But, of course, management didn't want to pay instructors to stand and do something that would really improve the skiing experience for everyone when those instructors could be earning the hill a ton of dough teaching lessons. So, now the unguided missles fly wherever.

Windham used to have a triple that serviced only three black diamond trails. If you had rental equipment they made you go to ski patrol to qualify to use the lift. A few years ago they cut a wide Green Trail from the top and now the same lift services that too. It is now a real PIA since lots of families with little kids and really basic beginners use that lift. It is forever slowing down and/or stopping. It has made the three black runs barely worth skiing, since you can take forever to get up to the top? They need a detachable quad or larger lift so that the trails can become worth skiing again.

 

[tekweezle]

at Windham, they need to replace that chair and maybe cut a few more trails from the top. I hear you can do some tree skiing from the top and often see people ducking into the woods. I haven;t tried it myself though.

look at it this way, the green trail probably accounts for more skier visits from families and beginners which means more money which means a better mountain in general depending on your point of view.

well one thing I have noticed that maybe because the chair is so slow, the black trails are not so heavily trafficked and are not so skied off.

 

[SkiDork]

at Windham, they need to replace that chair and maybe cut a few more trails from the top. I hear you can do some tree skiing from the top and often see people ducking into the woods. I haven;t tried it myself though.

look at it this way, the green trail probably accounts for more skier visits from families and beginners which means more money which means a better mountain in general depending on your point of view.

well one thing I have noticed that maybe because the chair is so slow, the black trails are not so heavily trafficked and are not so skied off.

It's all about the pow my man....

 

[drewfidelic]

Windham used to have a triple that serviced only three black diamond trails. If you had rental equipment they made you go to ski patrol to qualify to use the lift. A few years ago they cut a wide Green Trail from the top and now the same lift services that too. It is now a real PIA since lots of families with little kids and really basic beginners use that lift. It is forever slowing down and/or stopping. It has made the three black runs barely worth skiing, since you can take forever to get up to the top? They need a detachable quad or larger lift so that the trails can become worth skiing again.

That is, in fact, what Windham is doing this summer-- replacing that triple chair with a detachable quad, cutting a new trail from the summit of that lift (and moving the triple chair to the other side of the mountain to replace the older triple chair.)

Here's a map and updates (with photos).
________
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[kingslug]

Hunter Mountain is a mountain that Intermediate skiers LOVE to trash... It makes them feel good about themselves in some way...
They can't handle the black trails... They get crowded out on Belt Parkway(as noted the only really easy way down)... they can't handle hardpack... Hellgate get chocked with intermediates and skied off... Meanwhile people that can handle bumps and steeper stuff play all day unfettered - totally blind to the intermediate carnage that takes place...

And to compensate for their lack of skiing ability - they bitch about the mountain... Whats their choice?? Admit they suck and can't ski expert trails???? Or admit they got stuck on the easy trail...??

I've given up fighting intermediate skiers about Hunter - you can't win... They are going to continue to pretend they ski much better then they do - and trash Hunter cause they can't ski the stuff thats really good...

Same crap happens a Killington...

I couldn't say it better, so I won't. But I ski it on Mondays so I avoid the whole issue anyway.

 

[tirolerpeter]

Windham Changes

That is, in fact, what Windham is doing this summer-- replacing that triple chair with a detachable quad, cutting a new trail from the summit of that lift (and moving the triple chair to the other side of the mountain to replace the older triple chair.)

Here's a map and updates (with photos).

HOORAY! Might make it worth going there again. It can be a real ego builder or buster to rip through the bumps on the trail directly below the current lift. lots of "Oooh and Ahhh" from the beginners riding up above you!