Hunter or Belleayre for Sat. 4/10

[Rambo]

Which would be the better choice for Sat 4/10, Hunter or Belleayre?

It will be cold enough Friday night so they can groom and push base around. Hunter has 2 lift tickets for $50 special this weekend (or you can buy 1 ticket for $25 according to the website). Belleayres lift tickets are at the late season rate of $43 weekends.

Hunter is closed Thurs. and Fri. but "plans on reopening for this weekend".

Last weekend for Belleayre, message from the website:
"Well it looks like this is it Folks! And with temperatures dropping Belleayre will be able to get the groomers to give the final push that will insure the best possible ski conditions. See you this weekend - Tony Lanza"

 

[RichT]

Hunter's "closed for the season" can't figure Bellayere being open(?)

 

[catskills]

Belleayre will be open this weekend and will close Sunday 4/11 at 4:00pm

Hunter is Closed for the Season. Following post on Hunter Web site.
After careful assessment of the mountain, we have decided not to re-open for the weekend. We thank everyone who made it a great season, and we look forward to a productive summer. Construction on our new six-pack chairlift will be starting immediately.

 

[Eski]

Belleayre still claiming to be open, looks like their committal to snowmaking just may be the difference

 

[catskills]

Belleayre still claiming to be open, looks like their committal to snowmaking just may be the difference

Probably more to do with mother nature in the Belleayre area. Last weekend there was snow in the woods at Belleayre and the mountains around Belleayre were still covered with snow. Belleayre's Utsy trail, that does not have snow making, was still opened last weekend in April, which never happens.

 

[Eski]

Probably more to do with mother nature in the Belleayre area. Last weekend there was snow in the woods at Belleayre and the mountains around Belleayre were still covered with snow. Belleayre's Utsy trail, that does not have snow making, was still opened last weekend in April, which never happens.

the big storm was our saving grace at Hunter, if not for that it would have been uglier a long time ago ... but what a great season we had, no complaints here other than the usual nonsense

 

[Rambo]

Belleayre still claiming to be open, looks like their committal to snowmaking just may be the difference

Hunters main slopes face directly into the sun with southern exposure. However Hunter blasts their slopes with such a deep machine made base, they almost always make it to mid-April with several trails still going strong. But 3 staright weeks of 70 to 80 degree weather just finally took a toll.

Because Belleayres slopes face away from direct sunlight this helps a lot. With Belleayres slopes being groomed Fri. night the skiing should be great on Sat.

 

[catskills]

Hunters main slopes face directly into the sun with southern exposure..

Ahh this is an incorrect statement. No ski areas in the Catskills face directly into the sun. I think someone needs to get a new compass. Some of Hunter's trails face east like K27 and will get morning sun. Belleayre's Roaring brook has the same eastern exposure for morning sun. Most ski areas in the east have minimal southern exposure for obvious reasons.

 

[oakapple]

Well...whatever the reason may be, a look at Hunter's webcams confirms they have almost nothing left.

 

[180]

All of Belleayre's trails start at 3300' elevation and end at 2500'. Plus with a more northerly exposure they hold snow much better. It is a plus now, but Hunter can be nice and soft on a 32 degree day while Belleayre and WIndham are still ice.

 

[RichT]

The groomers are hard at work at Hunter, to get the snow "out of the way" from the quad. They must be planning to start on the new 6 pack tomorrow!! YEEHAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[catskills]

.......It is a plus now, but Hunter can be nice and soft on a 32 degree day while Belleayre and WIndham are still ice.

I got to call BS on this statement as well. The implication here is one ski area has more ice conditions than others based on temp and altitude with no scientific data to back this up. Did someone ski all 3 mountains on multiple days collecting data? I don't think so. Give me a break.

This years mother nature's storm system produced very significant differences in weather results within only a few miles all over the east coast. One area like my house got 1 inch of snow while 30 miles down the road got 5 feet. Go figure. On top of that the weathermen's projections were all over the place depending on which weathermen you listened to.

Strange weather this year but it was a great season for snow sports in the east. I can't remember a better season for overall high quality snow conditions in the Catskills.

I can't explain it either. The snow on the ground is what it is. Enjoy it while it lasts.

 

[drewfidelic]

Considering how much base Hunter had, I'm amazed at just how quickly all the snow melted. I guess that's what happens when we skip over spring directly to summer. Now we'll get to complain about a new lift.
________
Amateur exhibitionist

 

[Sotto]

Ill be at Belleayre with a few people from thunder ridge, PM me if anyone wants to meet up.

 

[m32shakedown@aol.com]

Tax Dollars at work

Belleayre has an amazing comittement to snow making and big bucks from Albany behind them. Although I would rather ski Plattekill they closed last weekend as did the other local private ski areas who had to stop making snow due to lack of funding . I will hit Belleayre this weekend and take advantage of the great snow provided by the NY tax payer.

All that I can say is great job lobying Albany, it is amazing that the state is sitll able to make snow in light of what is going on.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK !!!

 

[Rambo]

Belleayre has an amazing comittement to snow making and big bucks from Albany behind them. Although I would rather ski Plattekill they closed last weekend as did the other local private ski areas who had to stop making snow due to lack of funding . I will hit Belleayre this weekend and take advantage of the great snow provided by the NY tax payer.

All that I can say is great job lobying Albany, it is amazing that the state is sitll able to make snow in light of what is going on.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK !!!

HEY MODERATORS! I thought NO politics were allowed on this forum.

 

[gmcunni]

it is amazing that the state is sitll able to make snow in light of what is going on.

they are still making snow, in this weather? that is insane!

 

[oakapple]

When I was at Hunter recently, I rode the chairlift with a Hunter instructor who was really bitter about the state investment at Belleayre. He claimed that the two state-owned ski resorts have never been able to break even, and at the same time, they siphon business away from the private operators who have no government help.

I don't know Belleayre's finances, but Hunter never exactly seemed to be hurting: look at all of the investments they've announced for the next couple of off-seasons.

 

[gmcunni]

He claimed that the two state-owned ski resorts have never been able to break even

forgive my ignorance, Belleayre is one, who's the 2nd?

 

[skidbump]

Troll in da house

Belleayre has an amazing comittement to snow making and big bucks from Albany behind them. Although I would rather ski Plattekill they closed last weekend as did the other local private ski areas who had to stop making snow due to lack of funding . I will hit Belleayre this weekend and take advantage of the great snow provided by the NY tax payer.

All that I can say is great job lobying Albany, it is amazing that the state is sitll able to make snow in light of what is going on.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK !!!