Dave L
New member
Date(s) Skied: 12/27/07
Resort or Ski Area: Oak Mtn. Speculator, NY
Conditions: Wet PP
Trip Report:
While planning where to go on Friday, I happened to look over in the margin here at new info and saw that Oak Mtn. in Speculator, NY was offering free skiing as a grand re-opening the 26th,27th, and 28th.
I was intrigued as this mountain was for sale last year, and several of us from work were actually entertaining it's purchase.
By the time I reached the Lake Pleasant it was near white out conditions with blowing wet snow. The two lots and the road in were jammed with cars. I drove up to the congested "drop off" and after sticking my ski's in a snowbank caught the glimpse of a car leaving. I quickly procured the spot and headed to the lodge.
Skiing was free, but I assumed they wanted some kind of head count, so I looked for a tix counter. The line for rentals was enormous and it was nice to see people donating as well.
I had absolutely no idea what to expect from the place as pictures are scarce. It was my intent to take a ton, but with the overcast skies and blowing snow it was futile. The one and only Chair is a newer quad that was installed to replace a "T-bar" that used to carry skiers/riders up to the top. What a work out that must have been!
Obviously you can imagine with free skiing the lengthy lift line!
My first ride up was with a family from Carolina. They had skied here when they were growing up and were happy to be able to reminisce despite the weather. They gave me the skinny on some of the trails and what their wish list would be for improvements and off I went.
My first run was a lengthy green called "Crosscut". It had a nice woodsy feel with all the snow and was full of packed powder, bumps and scrapes.
Braving the line again and sharing with yet another pleasant family, I took Crosscut to a black diamond, "The Thing", which was a nice chute like drop and turn with bumps and lots of powder and less people but a tad short.
The North East side of the mountain holds some more blues and blacks I didn't quite make it to, as some were closed and I was getting a bit soggy, but they looked nice too.
With paid tickets starting at $18 for a 4-hr anytime and just $24 for an all day, this could be a fun little mountain to play on when you need a quick fix and can't get to a "big" mountain.
My initial observations/recommendations to the Village, would be to continue to improve lifts, replacing the tuggies and t-bars and to possibly carve out some of the existing trails(blacks) for a little more terrain challenge, expand snow making(currently 30%) to keep it from getting so scraped off early. I'm sure once the place is fully staffed up, more of the mountain will be open for business. Also, the chairs seemed to be cut in half compared to other lifts at other mountains, but I suppose putting more people out faster only congests a small mountain.
All in all, nice little place, and I will get back to gather more photos(or any!).
ALMOST FORGOT:
http://www.oakmountainski.com/index.php
Resort or Ski Area: Oak Mtn. Speculator, NY
Conditions: Wet PP
Trip Report:
While planning where to go on Friday, I happened to look over in the margin here at new info and saw that Oak Mtn. in Speculator, NY was offering free skiing as a grand re-opening the 26th,27th, and 28th.
I was intrigued as this mountain was for sale last year, and several of us from work were actually entertaining it's purchase.
With the wife working, I loaded up the truck and set out on the 1.5hr drive from Glenville.
By the time I reached the Lake Pleasant it was near white out conditions with blowing wet snow. The two lots and the road in were jammed with cars. I drove up to the congested "drop off" and after sticking my ski's in a snowbank caught the glimpse of a car leaving. I quickly procured the spot and headed to the lodge.
Skiing was free, but I assumed they wanted some kind of head count, so I looked for a tix counter. The line for rentals was enormous and it was nice to see people donating as well.
I had absolutely no idea what to expect from the place as pictures are scarce. It was my intent to take a ton, but with the overcast skies and blowing snow it was futile. The one and only Chair is a newer quad that was installed to replace a "T-bar" that used to carry skiers/riders up to the top. What a work out that must have been!
Obviously you can imagine with free skiing the lengthy lift line!
My first ride up was with a family from Carolina. They had skied here when they were growing up and were happy to be able to reminisce despite the weather. They gave me the skinny on some of the trails and what their wish list would be for improvements and off I went.
My first run was a lengthy green called "Crosscut". It had a nice woodsy feel with all the snow and was full of packed powder, bumps and scrapes.
Braving the line again and sharing with yet another pleasant family, I took Crosscut to a black diamond, "The Thing", which was a nice chute like drop and turn with bumps and lots of powder and less people but a tad short.
The North East side of the mountain holds some more blues and blacks I didn't quite make it to, as some were closed and I was getting a bit soggy, but they looked nice too.
With paid tickets starting at $18 for a 4-hr anytime and just $24 for an all day, this could be a fun little mountain to play on when you need a quick fix and can't get to a "big" mountain.
My initial observations/recommendations to the Village, would be to continue to improve lifts, replacing the tuggies and t-bars and to possibly carve out some of the existing trails(blacks) for a little more terrain challenge, expand snow making(currently 30%) to keep it from getting so scraped off early. I'm sure once the place is fully staffed up, more of the mountain will be open for business. Also, the chairs seemed to be cut in half compared to other lifts at other mountains, but I suppose putting more people out faster only congests a small mountain.
All in all, nice little place, and I will get back to gather more photos(or any!).
ALMOST FORGOT:
http://www.oakmountainski.com/index.php
