Hunter Appreciation Thread

[catskills]

Hunter has a legit 1600 vert...Windham says they do but according to my Avocet..it's about 1300...Lately I visit Belleayre more due to the lack of crowds..and cheap tickets'

Although this does not reflect the entire resort's vertical feet, chair lift installs don't lie.

Windham's Whirlwind HSQ 1320 vertical feet

Hunter's HSQ Snow Lite Express 1471 vertical feet

 

[JimG.]

Although this does not reflect the entire resort's vertical feet, chair lift installs don't lie.

Windham's Whirlwind HSQ 1320 vertical feet

Hunter's HSQ Snow Lite Express 1471 vertical feet

Problem is, Hunter's full vertical is not served by the quad...the full vertical is measured from the base of Z lift to the top of Clair's which is the true summit. That number is something like 1590, so 1600 is much more accurate.

 

[Greg]

Problem is, Hunter's full vertical is not served by the quad...the full vertical is measured from the base of Z lift to the top of Clair's which is the true summit. That number is something like 1590, so 1600 is much more accurate.

Not to debate with a pass holder, but according to Google Earth, the base of Z lift is 1850 and the top of Claire's is around 3190. However, the learning zone near the base of Hunter One is around 1650 which would be about about 1540' of skiable vertical. The entrace off 23A is about 1600 and the highest point at the ski area is about 3200 so I think they're 1600 claimed vert is slightly inflated, but not as bad as some ski areas. I'll give them a pass...

 

[JimG.]

Not to debate with a pass holder, but according to Google Earth, the base of Z lift is 1850 and the top of Claire's is around 3190. However, the learning zone near the base of Hunter One is around 1650 which would be about about 1540' of skiable vertical. The entrace off 23A is about 1600 and the highest point at the ski area is about 3200 so I think they're 1600 claimed vert is slightly inflated, but not as bad as some ski areas. I'll give them a pass...

Debate is our creedo here.

Figured a Google geek would get us all the facts. Hey, I feel ripped off now.

First run at Hunter this coming season I'm skiing all the way down to the entrance...even if it is all concrete.

 

[Greg]

First run at Hunter this coming season I'm skiing all the way down to the entrance...even if it is all concrete.

Sweet. We have to get that on video so let me set up...

 

[Vortex]

Hellsgate is the only place I have skied here. June turns are a good thing

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I was most impressed with hunter back when I was in 7th grade...1991-92 when they were open from November 5th until May 5th..for 183 days of skiing...wow...but that was when the Slut-skis owned the mountain and back then they apparently did alot more business. Are real estate prices dropping in the Hunter area?

I also like Phoenicia alot...a very nice town and the Sportsman has great Quesadillas and Nachos...

 

[Grassi21]

I was most impressed with hunter back when I was in 7th grade...1991-92 when they were open from November 5th until May 5th..for 183 days of skiing...wow...but that was when the Slut-skis owned the mountain and back then they apparently did alot more business. Are real estate prices dropping in the Hunter area?

I also like Phoenicia alot...a very nice town and the Sportsman has great Quesadillas and Nachos...

I think the Slutski's still run the hill.

 

[JimG.]

I was most impressed with hunter back when I was in 7th grade...1991-92 when they were open from November 5th until May 5th..for 183 days of skiing...wow...but that was when the Slut-skis owned the mountain and back then they apparently did alot more business. Are real estate prices dropping in the Hunter area?

I also like Phoenicia alot...a very nice town and the Sportsman has great Quesadillas and Nachos...

Slutsky's still own Hunter. I remember that year very well. I don't think they have any less business now and probably more. Real estate prices have gone up some due to the new Kaatskill Mountain Hotel and the completion of the Liftside Condo project. They're currently building another time share type hotel over by the Highlands if I'm not mistaken.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Hellsgate is the only place I have skied here. June turns are a good thing

Is Hunter lenient about earning turns in late Aprl/May/June after the lifts stop turning?

 

[millerm277]

Is Hunter lenient about earning turns in late Aprl/May/June after the lifts stop turning?

Yeah, they don't mind at all...I believe they put pics of Bob R earning turns up on the website.

 

[Vortex]

I did not ask.

 

[JimG.]

Is Hunter lenient about earning turns in late Aprl/May/June after the lifts stop turning?

Not a problem...just stay away from the caretaker at the bottom of Z lift on the west side.

Total wacko.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Yeah, they don't mind at all...I believe they put pics of Bob R earning turns up on the website.

That's great to know..the only east coast resorts I've earned my turns are Loon, Stowe, Bolton Valley, Sugarbush, and Mad River Glen...I know where I'm getting my May turns in 2008

 

[Vortex]

I was on the Mtn jam site not sure if that really was Hunters' or not. I was only one of with about 30 regulars that were there.

 

[andyzee]

Not trying to take away from Hunter for their snowmaking ability is truly amazing(plus, don't want to get hit by the wrath of DMC and JimG ) But any time I see imprssive pics of snowmaking, I can't help but think of this one from Jay Peak:

 

[catskills]

I guess I was wrong about ski lift installs don't lie.

Check out the vertical for Superchief Install at Belleayre of 1138 vertical feet.

Now check out the replacement lift Super Chief Express Belleayre Super Chief express vertical 1338 . Where did that extra 200 feet come from.

Must be a typo. They got the 38 correct.

Personally, all the Catskill resorts should pump up their vertical a few feet every year. Before you know it, all the Catskill ski resorts will have 2000 feet of vertical like Vermont ski areas. Only the locals will know the truth. Shh, the tourists don't need to know anything. We just force them to ski lower K27 and West Side and they will only wish it was less vertical.

 

[millerm277]

Not trying to take away from Hunter for their snowmaking ability is truly amazing(plus, don't want to get hit by the wrath of DMC and JimG ) But any time I see imprssive pics of snowmaking, I can't help but think of this one from Jay Peak:

Damn, that must be a lot of guns on that trail...

What impresses me about Hunter is that when they need to, they can basically resurface every trail in one night, and the way they can run every gun on not just one or two trails, but across half the mountain at once.

 

[Greg]

Some good early season Hunter snowmaking footage in this vid:



Most of the best skiing of my 2006-07 season prior to the V-Day storm was at Hunter.

 

[dmc]

Quiet day here at Hunter..
Hot and humid... Nobodies movin... Not used to this kind of weather lately..