Hunter West Expansion - Is the future liftline skiable?

[kingslug]

The question is, can they even expand the west side. They can't even keep it open most of the time now as it is.

 

[millerm277]

The question is, can they even expand the west side. They can't even keep it open most of the time now as it is.

That's only a snowmaking issue. The West Side has the oldest snowguns, as does 42nd street, so they take a long time to build up enough snow to open.

Also, the terrain of the West Side means there are probably a lot more obstacles (rocks and boulders) in the trails that have to be covered before the trails can be open.

Besides, other than Annapurna, the rest of Hunter West was open for most of the season wasn't it?

I would expect if they are going to expand....they will put in new snowmaking there as well.

 

[rjc1976]

If I'm not mistaken, the west side expansion isn't really on the western face where the trails are now. The new trails would actually actually across from where the trails are now (think of the current trails and new trails making a "V"), with more of an eastern exposure. That would eliminate any issues with extra wind or lack of sun.

 

[goldsbar]

You mean where you can see the hiking trail going up that mountain? I thought that was state land.

 

[rjc1976]

Not across from the main face, but across from the west side...further west of where everything is now. Yes, the land further east is state land, but the land further west isn't.

 

[kingslug]

That's only a snowmaking issue. The West Side has the oldest snowguns, as does 42nd street, so they take a long time to build up enough snow to open.

Also, the terrain of the West Side means there are probably a lot more obstacles (rocks and boulders) in the trails that have to be covered before the trails can be open.

Besides, other than Annapurna, the rest of Hunter West was open for most of the season wasn't it?

I would expect if they are going to expand....they will put in new snowmaking there as well.

Westway was not open for most of the time and Clair's was pretty sketchy at best. With current weather conditions being the way they are I'm wondering if they will spend the money to expand and how it will affect ticket prices which are always rising. It's getting VERY expensive to ski in the East. So much so that it only costs me a little more to go west. I mean $70.00 for Mt. Snow is pretty steep and Hunter is climbing as well each year. But it's something we will all have to deal with if we want to continue skiing here.