Plattekill snowmaking?

[ta&idaho]

Bring rock skis...cause thats what you'll be on.

Funny story...my first trip there, I was inspecting my (gouged up) bases after a fantastic (but rock/stump/etc-strewn) day, and this local -- sporting a huge snow-filled beard, gear from the late mid-90s, and a goofy grin -- walked by and told me "that's what we call the Plattekill base grind."

From what I can tell, enjoying Eastern tree skiing requires a willingness to trash your skis a little bit. Fair trade-off, in my book.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

Funny story...my first trip there, I was inspecting my (gouged up) bases after a fantastic (but rock/stump/etc-strewn) day, and this local -- sporting a huge snow-filled beard, gear from the late mid-90s, and a goofy grin -- walked by and told me "that's what we call the Plattekill base grind."

From what I can tell, enjoying Eastern tree skiing requires a willingness to trash your skis a little bit. Fair trade-off, in my book.

Prior to about Jan 15 or so in the Dacks, VT, or NNH, that's true. Always exceptions for cleaner, low angle lines, though you need to scout in the summer to know that. Anywhere/anytime below I-90 in NY, the VT border, and the WMNF in NH is dicey.

 

[MarkC]

Thanks for the info. Would be smart for Plattekill mgmt to pick up on the interest here and get more detail on the web site.

Reading between the lines it seems like the focus is to bolster coverage on the triple side of the hill, if that's where the 3500' of new pipe is set. BUT is permanent mounting of new snow guns on Blockbuster a new development as well? It's been more than a year since I skied Plattekill (b/c it was washed out whenever I had a Catskills trip and I ended up at Belleayre for the snowmaking ... ) but I don't recall any snowmaking on on the double lift part of the hill (i.e. the steeper side), certainly don't recall any on Blockbuster, which was a steep natural snow bumpfest (with a little grass and rock mixed in) on my last couple of visits.

The placement of the new pipe on the triple side was an attempt to make the mountain look covered from a far. When you make the turn on to the main access road (meeker hollow road) and see the face trail half covered just plain old looks bad. Snowmaking from wall to wall on the face will improve this dramatically. Most of the 30 new HKD snowguns will be placed on the double side of the mountain. This side of the mountain is set up for air / water snowmaking on Northface, Plunge, Giant Slalom, and on Blockbuster. I believe the last time snow was made on Blockbuster was 03/04. I have attached a picture from that year.

 

[andyzee]

Yep, have it logged, 03/04 season. Remember them making snow on Blockbuster.

 

[ts01]

This is good!

Economics aside -- is there any physical reason, i.e altitude, exposure, pitch -- why snowmaking at Plattekill could not be as effective as Belleayre?

I know economics are a big factor but obviously they're putting some money in this year and hopefully they get a return that allows continued improvements.

Agree with the Blockbuster = best trail chorus; and (duh) Plattekill = best w/in 3 hrs of NYC (when its skiable).

 

[ta&idaho]

Pretty cool article about Plattekill: http://blog.nj.com/skiing/2010/01/poachable_plattekill_will_be_1.html

I should be there on Saturday.

 

[kingslug]

Picked up 2 half price tix...just waiting to use them, prolly in Feb

 

[dmc]

Just walked in from Plattekill...
2 guns going off at the top near the chairs... Otherwise all natural... Like a 70's porn star...

 

[ta&idaho]

Just walked in from Plattekill...
2 guns going off at the top near the chairs... Otherwise all natural... Like a 70's porn star...

so . . . how was the bush-whacking today?

 

[dmc]

so . . . how was the bush-whacking today?

Brilliant in places... Boney in others... Took a while to figure out...