Hunter Mountain 12/5/2010

[dmc]

Date Skied: 5 December

Resort or Ski Area: Hunter

Conditions: Machine made ppd, hardpack

Trip Report:
Hunter opened the bar last night and all the regulars showed up. Talk was all about the delayed opening - most agreed with it - some were pissed. Also people chatting about the new 6 pack chair. Some people(180) got to check it out yesterday for a round trip.

This morning I got out about 11:00 - partly cloudy - high 20's.
Had to pick up my pass - no issues always nice to chat with the ticket sales folks.

New lift spinnin' nice! Little gates that open and let you in to the lift. Lift moves nicely is really comfy. No real lines except the positioning of groups to try to get on alone - probably to smoke. Out on my Arbor with new Burton DriverX boots to break in.

Option was Hellgate to Broadway to Kennedy Drive - snowmaking on Eisenhower and Belt Parkway they should open soon which always helps lessen high traffic areas.
Typical early season conditions - nice manmade pow bumps on the edges all the way - softer under the fan guns after midstation. High traffic areas like the center of Hellgate and Kennedy are skied off and a bit scary. Some kickers and rails setup near the base.

Counted on most people checking in early with first day legs. Trails seemed to empty out by noon. Rode till 1:30. Good day.

 

[Rambo]

From Hunters FB page: Opening Day - First Chair:
(Indeed there is plenty of room for six. Great Pic)

 

[dmc]

Actually just heard the 6pack is down for the day... haha...

 

[180]

Well the decision on early opening is thankfully past us and Hunters awesome snowmaking showed its might. First runs were covered with an inch or two of lake effect snow. The six pack was awesome with its 5.5 minute rides. One thing apparent after my first run is that top to bottom Hunter is not the same as Belleayre or Rime at Killington. Really nice to have the pitch and vertical. Great powder bumps formed along the left edge of Hellgate and Broadway was soft edge to edge where the guns were on. A couple of nice lines formed down the middle. The far right of Kennedy was very soft with small bumps.

I telemarked all morning and then hit the bumps for the afternoon. So nice to have my weekends filled again. The honey-do list is officially put away.

They have expanded snowmaking to Eisenhower, Belt, Minya, lower Cross, Mosssy, Madision and Hunter 1. They claim they will be 99% open before Christmas.

 

[andrec10]

Actually just heard the 6pack is down for the day... haha...

I saw some maintenence worker standing on top of tower 5 on one of my last runs looking at the mechanism were the cable goes thru both sets of wheels. With such a compex machine, there are bound to be a few bugs, just get them worked out before next weekend!

 

[Greg]

Looks awesome. Congrats guys.

 

[Harvey]

Jamesdeluxe and I made the long drive from the flatlands. It was definitely worth it to check out the new lift and ski under Hunter's guns.

The Flyer is a sweet ride. No lines today and some really nice bumps as others have said.

Our report: Hunter Mountain, NY: 12/5/10

 

[tarponhead]

Jamesdeluxe and I made the long drive from the flatlands. It was definitely worth it to check out the new lift and ski under Hunter's guns.

The Flyer is a sweet ride. No lines today and some really nice bumps as others have said.

Our report: Hunter Mountain, NY: 12/5/10

That made the slide down hellgate worth it!

Son #2 and I had a blast. Legs were toast by noon. I kicked back and waited for Zack to finish up. Beautiful day. 6-pac very very nice.

 

[JimG.]

I was out from 10-3pm...a little before because I was on my way to my locker when the lift officially closed.
Really nice day, even better with 3 ski days already under my belt.

Good pic of the nice section under the new flyer Harvey.

Mid-station bumps were nice by 1pm.

Hellgate was Hellgate with no other route down.

Really a great day; I heard the lift had some sort of safety protocol issue that would explain why it kept starting and stopping as the wind up top got a bit stronger. Apparently some snow gun overspray was messing a sensor up. Alot of folks were griping. Some things will never change.

 

[dmc]

Really a great day; I heard the lift had some sort of safety protocol issue that would explain why it kept starting and stopping as the wind up top got a bit stronger. Apparently some snow gun overspray was messing a sensor up. Alot of folks were griping. Some things will never change.

yeah it was fun...

I know I'm too kind - but I'm going to give them a pass on the new lift for a couple weekends.. It is a big piece of technology that needs to be pretty robust.

 

[zyk]

The flyer was down this morning. I believe it was a wind hold... They did open it up around noon. Hopefully this isn't a common occerance as that other lift is slow...

 

[JimG.]

yeah it was fun...

I know I'm too kind - but I'm going to give them a pass on the new lift for a couple weekends.. It is a big piece of technology that needs to be pretty robust.

I thought the lift ran really well...until it didn't anymore, but I was cooked anyway by then.

They need a concrete windbreak up on top. The wind wasn't that bad yesterday but the chairs were banging around whenever it blew. It's too exposed up there without a barrier, and the way the chairs turn before detaching makes that a recipe for recurring issues.

 

[Mapnut]

So nice to have my weekends filled again. The honey-do list is officially put away.

You can do that?

 

[180]

You can do that?

Yes, the secret I have learned with respect to that list is: buy your wife or girlfriend new ski gear all the time. That includes clothes and skis. You will be amply rewarded. They will want to use it. Of course, if you are lucky you can find a ripper for a spouse like my wife. So that cost me a lot more because I had to by a slope-side so she could see the kids if WE both were going to ski every weekend.

 

[dmc]

Yes, the secret I have learned with respect to that list is: buy your wife or girlfriend new ski gear all the time. That includes clothes and skis. You will be amply rewarded. They will want to use it. Of course, if you are lucky you can find a ripper for a spouse like my wife. So that cost me a lot more because I had to by a slope-side so she could see the kids if WE both were going to ski every weekend.

Not only are you a happy family - but your decked out pretty nicely too..

Your wife kicks ass and takes names on the hill.

 

[180]

Not only are you a happy family - but your decked out pretty nicely too..

Your wife kicks ass and takes names on the hill.

Everything I have is because she convinced me it was best for the family. And she pulls her weight in all aspects of our life work and play.

Buying a condo in a crappy market in 1995 everyone thought we were nuts/