Hunter west

[kingslug]

For the first time this year Clairs run was in awesome condition. I went yesterday, skied the front for a little while then checked out the west side. Tons of people back there. I was amazed. They must have blown feet of snow, the base was up to the fence line. The moguls where huge, and little to no ice. I skied it all day which is rare as it is usually a disaster. Get there before the rains hit and turn it back into it's usual glacier.

 

[dmc]

For the first time this year Clairs run was in awesome condition. I went yesterday, skied the front for a little while then checked out the west side. Tons of people back there. I was amazed. They must have blown feet of snow, the base was up to the fence line. The moguls where huge, and little to no ice. I skied it all day which is rare as it is usually a disaster. Get there before the rains hit and turn it back into it's usual glacier.

Clairs has been great all year...

 

[Flatiron]

Yes, Clair's Run was awesome yesterday! Sadly I found it just before I had to pick my kids up from ski lessons and got only one run in... But hey, we played hooky from school yesterday so who am I to complain?

 

[kingslug]

For the first time this year Clairs run was in awesome condition. I went yesterday, skied the front for a little while then checked out the west side. Tons of people back there. I was amazed. They must have blown feet of snow, the base was up to the fence line. The moguls where huge, and little to no ice. I skied it all day which is rare as it is usually a disaster. Get there before the rains hit and turn it back into it's usual glacier.

Clairs has been great all year...

You must be the master of the ice mogul. I was on it in Jan. Nothing but ice, scary ride. I'm getting spoiled by western pow.

 

[dmc]

For the first time this year Clairs run was in awesome condition. I went yesterday, skied the front for a little while then checked out the west side. Tons of people back there. I was amazed. They must have blown feet of snow, the base was up to the fence line. The moguls where huge, and little to no ice. I skied it all day which is rare as it is usually a disaster. Get there before the rains hit and turn it back into it's usual glacier.

Clairs has been great all year...

You must be the master of the ice mogul. I was on it in Jan. Nothing but ice, scary ride. I'm getting spoiled by western pow.

Generally - Clairs has been groomed and sweet this year - tons of snowmaking... You just caught it on a bad day - seriously..

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

For the first time this year Clairs run was in awesome condition.

Clairs has been great all year...

You must be the master of the ice mogul. I was on it in Jan. Nothing but ice, scary ride. I'm getting spoiled by western pow.

I'm not trying to be critical of kingslug, but I don't get why people make sweeping generalizations about trail conditions or entire ski areas based a 1 or 2 experiences there. I guess it just shows how important it is for mountains to do everything they can to put there best foot forward. If a person has a bad experience or 2 you can lose them forever.

 

[dmc]

For the first time this year Clairs run was in awesome condition.

Clairs has been great all year...

You must be the master of the ice mogul. I was on it in Jan. Nothing but ice, scary ride. I'm getting spoiled by western pow.

I'm not trying to be critical of kingslug, but I don't get why people make sweeping generalizations about trail conditions or entire ski areas based a 1 or 2 experiences there. I guess it just shows how important it is for mountains to do everything they can to put there best foot forward. If a person has a bad experience or 2 you can lose them forever.

Thats why JimG and I are here... To clear up the generalizations about Hunter...

Hunter's generalizations are based upon things the past.. The past wasn't pretty..

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Thats why JimG and I are here... To clear up the generalizations about Hunter...

Hunter's generalizations are based upon things the past.. The past wasn't pretty..

I have not been there in 6 years. As I've written here before, prior to that, I was a pass holder there for 40 years (since I was 6 yrs old). What exactly has changed that you keep writting about?

 

[dmc]

Thats why JimG and I are here... To clear up the generalizations about Hunter...

Hunter's generalizations are based upon things the past.. The past wasn't pretty..

I have not been there in 6 years. As I've written here before, prior to that, I was a pass holder there for 40 years (since I was 6 yrs old). What exactly has changed that you keep writting about?

It's just less crowded, better attitude and a setup better now..
No time to get into it now... Suffice it to say - I've already listed the positives about Hunter on many occasions..

 

[JimG.]

Here's something I've learned about ski conditions at any mountain:

The term "ICE" is a relative term. What is shiny and unedgeable to some is just hardpack and fast to others.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

It's just less crowded, better attitude and a setup better now..
No time to get into it now... Suffice it to say - I've already listed the positives about Hunter on many occasions..

You’re there and I’m not so anything I write is just conjecture. However, the capacity is the same (lifts & terrain), so I don’t see how it’s less crowded. It’s always had a fast paced NYC vibe to it (I’m not inferring that as good or bad), so I don’t get where the attitude would change. I don’t know what you mean by setup.

Now don’t get defensive at what I wrote. As a former Hunter regular I’m just very curious. So DMC, Jimmy G. or anyone else there tell me what I’m missing.

 

[dmc]

It's just less crowded, better attitude and a setup better now..
No time to get into it now... Suffice it to say - I've already listed the positives about Hunter on many occasions..

You’re there and I’m not so anything I write is just conjecture. However, the capacity is the same (lifts & terrain), so I don’t see how it’s less crowded. It’s always had a fast paced NYC vibe to it (I’m not inferring that as good or bad), so I don’t get where the attitude would change. I don’t know what you mean by setup.

Now don’t get defensive at what I wrote. As a former Hunter regular I’m just very curious. So DMC, Jimmy G. or anyone else there tell me what I’m missing.

The lack of people that don't come up based upon past perceptions is one way the mountain is less crowded... I meet people everyday that skied Hunter in 1988 and won't come back because it was packed...
It's not like that now..

The mountains attitude has changed.. There's more of an emphasis on families and beginners learning.. The new Learning Center is state of the art and makes it really easy to get rentals and lessons..

Hunter also has been opening Westway - which takes the heat off of Clairs and is awesome for experts..

The addition of the B lift has taken heat off the main quad(A lift).. And providing the "Mossy Brook" and "park" set a nice reprive from the main mountain...

 

[JimG.]

It's just less crowded, better attitude and a setup better now..
No time to get into it now... Suffice it to say - I've already listed the positives about Hunter on many occasions..

You’re there and I’m not so anything I write is just conjecture. However, the capacity is the same (lifts & terrain), so I don’t see how it’s less crowded. It’s always had a fast paced NYC vibe to it (I’m not inferring that as good or bad), so I don’t get where the attitude would change. I don’t know what you mean by setup.

Now don’t get defensive at what I wrote. As a former Hunter regular I’m just very curious. So DMC, Jimmy G. or anyone else there tell me what I’m missing.

The lack of people that don't come up based upon past perceptions is one way the mountain is less crowded... I meet people everyday that skied Hunter in 1988 and won't come back because it was packed...
It's not like that now..

The mountains attitude has changed.. There's more of an emphasis on families and beginners learning.. The new Learning Center is state of the art and makes it really easy to get rentals and lessons..

Hunter also has been opening Westway - which takes the heat off of Clairs and is awesome for experts..

The addition of the B lift has taken heat off the main quad(A lift).. And providing the "Mossy Brook" and "park" set a nice reprive from the main mountain...

Also, a ton of money has been invested in snowmaking in the past few years, and a new pumphouse was built too. The added capacity means more snow on more trails, spreading the crowds out alot more.

Much has been invested in slopeside accomodations too. The clientele at Hunter is still decidedly NY, but the folks you see now are wealthier types with families. The singles crowd has diminished a great deal in the past decade.

 

[Brettski]

Have they opened up 42nd?

 

[JimG.]

Have they opened up 42nd?

Nope...most ignored trail on the main mountain.

 

[dmc]

Have they opened up 42nd?

Nope...most ignored trail on the main mountain.

That an Anna Purna..


I think another thing that has changed the whole vibe is DWI laws.. People don't party nearly as much and lot's of bars(clubs) that were open 6 years ago are either closed or don't do much business..

 

[goldsbar]

As an every once in a while Hunter skier (figure 3-6 times/year of 15-20 total depending on how conditions are at other resorts - Hunter's snowmaking is top notch so it's always my choice in early/late and bad seasons), I can agree with most of what's been said here.

Improvements (all my skiing is done on weekends/holidays):

*Less crowded - It's still a crowded mountian and you're still putting your life at risk on some of the trails but it's noticeably less crowded than it was a decade or so ago. Avoiding the bottom after 10am and choosing some less popular trails can minimize lift lines.

*Less chance of a fist fight - There's still an "element" there, but it's smaller and seems to be shrinking. Someone mentioned more families and I've noticed that as well.

*Snowmaking - Always their strength, at times in the recent past it's been outright astonishing.

I hope these trends continue as the mountain itself offers up some good skiing. Now if they would only seed a true intermediate bump run and pick up the death cookies after grooming...

 

[JimG.]

As an every once in a while Hunter skier (figure 3-6 times/year of 15-20 total depending on how conditions are at other resorts - Hunter's snowmaking is top notch so it's always my choice in early/late and bad seasons), I can agree with most of what's been said here.

Improvements (all my skiing is done on weekends/holidays):

*Less crowded - It's still a crowded mountian and you're still putting your life at risk on some of the trails but it's noticeably less crowded than it was a decade or so ago. Avoiding the bottom after 10am and choosing some less popular trails can minimize lift lines.

*Less chance of a fist fight - There's still an "element" there, but it's smaller and seems to be shrinking. Someone mentioned more families and I've noticed that as well.

*Snowmaking - Always their strength, at times in the recent past it's been outright astonishing.

I hope these trends continue as the mountain itself offers up some good skiing. Now if they would only seed a true intermediate bump run and pick up the death cookies after grooming...

It's obvious that you spend time skiing at Hunter.
Your observations are all on the money.

We ought to hook up in the near future and take a few runs.

 

[kingslug]

For the first time this year Clairs run was in awesome condition.

Clairs has been great all year...

You must be the master of the ice mogul. I was on it in Jan. Nothing but ice, scary ride. I'm getting spoiled by western pow.

I'm not trying to be critical of kingslug, but I don't get why people make sweeping generalizations about trail conditions or entire ski areas based a 1 or 2 experiences there. I guess it just shows how important it is for mountains to do everything they can to put there best foot forward. If a person has a bad experience or 2 you can lose them forever.

I've been skiing Hunter for about 8 years now. I've had all kinds of experiences with every trail they have. I'm just a little careful about the west side as I've had some pretty scary slides for life back there. Sometimes it's tough to tell the condition until you are on it, but then there is no way out but down. It's still one of my favorite areas and I try to ski it as much as possible. I've been spending half my season out west so I'm getting a little spoiled. The pow is much easier than our "hardpack".

I posted this because I was real happy with the way they are keeping conditions up back there. It's a hard place to keep snow on due to the steepness. They seem to be paying more attention back there. Hope they keep improving on it. They are some of the best runs around.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I've been spending half my season out west so I'm getting a little spoiled. The pow is much easier than our "hardpack".

I'm headed for Summit County tomorrow. Colorado has gotten a ton of snow this season. I'm ready for some pow. Where have you been out West this season.