West Mountain (NY)? Crowd level during holiday?

[abc]

I’ll be around Lake George area for something else during the coming (President’s Day) weekend. Contemplating if I could squeeze in a casual day of skiing nearby. I know it being a major holiday weekend, crowds will be a major concern wherever I try.

Driving up and down the Thruway all these years, I’ve seen the signage for West Mountain, but never took the detour to check it out. With Gore, Garnet Hill, Lake Placid nearby, it just slipped through…

I know it’s not a big place. Probably more of a local’s mountain? A quick check on the trail map, it’s got enough trail and variety for a casual day. Would be a good diversion for my to escape to during a busy holiday weekend, would it not?

But then I have second thoughts. Some of the “local’s mountain”, while off the radar for mass tourists, can get mobbed by local families and school kids. (My local bump fits that description, I would never go there on weekend, never mind a holiday weekend).

So anyone familiar with the mountain who maybe able to shed some light on that?

 

[trackbiker]

I've been there on a few weekends using the Indy Pass. The crowds have never been that bad. Maybe a 5 minute wait on the West Express lift. The Northwest side Apex Chair line is usually shorter. Not being a destination resort, I wouldn't think the holiday will be much worse than a typical weekend.

 

[BenedictGomez]

You probably wont get any satisfactory responses, I have it on good authority this website's completely useless.

 

[Warp Daddy]

Have skied it for years as a second venue whenever we do Gore as a primary destination. It's a good small venue but can get crowded
Personally I prefer their Northwest area . But frankly if your time is limited go to Gore it's legit 2500 vert, so many sides (9)even on a busy day it is almost ski on after you get off the Gondi. Multiple lodges too

Gore has something for everyone,for a legit full day of skiing opening bell to close .....West imho not so much


.

 

[abc]

Gore has something for everyone,for a legit full day of skiing opening bell to close .....West imho not so much

I know. That’s why I haven’t been to West so far.

From Lake George, it’s a longer drive to Gore than West.

If I do go, I’d like to aim for Sunday, which may be … snowy! (slow going traffic)

 

[Warp Daddy]

I know. That’s why I haven’t been to West so far.

From Lake George, it’s a longer drive to Gore than West.

If I do go, I’d like to aim for Sunday, which may be … snowy! (slow going traffic)

Yeah it's good for maybe 3 hrs max then you're bored

 

[drjeff]

First ski area I ever road a chairlift at back in 1980! I used to race against the current owner back when we were in Highschool in the late 80's.

Probably logged 300+ days there growing up.

Some fun cruisers, most more wide than narrow, but with some terrain in the trail network.

The current owners over the last 10ish years they've owned the mtn have replaced all 3 of their main chairs and invested a bunch in snowmaking upgrades.

It's a good place to get out on the hill for a few hours and enjoy some turns and if the weather is clear some nice views of the Hudson River, the Southern Adirondack's and Glens Falls.

West will always bring back fond memories of the years when I learned to love this great sport!

 

[abc]

Yeah it's good for maybe 3 hrs max then you're bored

Interestingly, they do have a 4-hr pass.

 

[drjeff]

Have skied it for years as a second venue whenever we do Gore as a primary destination. It's a good small venue but can get crowded
Personally I prefer their Northwest area . But frankly if your time is limited go to Gore it's legit 2500 vert, so many sides (9)even on a busy day it is almost ski on after you get off the Gondi. Multiple lodges too

Gore has something for everyone,for a legit full day of skiing opening bell to close .....West imho not so much


.

BTW, Warp, great to see a post from you! Hope you are doing well and still getting out on the hill, on the links in the non skiing season and jamming on the guitar!

 

[Warp Daddy]

BTW, Warp, great to see a post from you! Hope you are doing well and still getting out on the hill, on the links in the non skiing season and jamming on the guitar!

Thank you Doc ,it's been a hell of a year. In July I was diagnosed with waldenstrom's macro globulamia a very rare form of blood cancer. It was a gut punch as I am totally asymptomatic

My blood viscosity was so thick they had to rush me to the University of Vermont Medical Center for emergency apheresis I've had eight of those procedures as well as 82 other procedures was hospitalized at UVM for 10 days and then was undergoing a particular form of chemother every month until the end of October at which time the chemo was not felt to be effective enough in reducing the blood viscosity.

I was there for transferred to my local Cancer Center 3 minutes from my home and they working in conjunction with the oncology department at UVM have initiated on different form of chemo treatment which has reduced the most significant benchmark by 70%.

The strange thing is is I feel fine and if had no negative reaction to any of the procedures or the chemo. But it's a medical professional you understand that this is like managing chaos because the lab draws determine what gets done in any treatment session. And is often is the case with cancer while they kill the bad stuff it also negatively affects your immunity so right now I am in a state of neutropenia which means a low white blood cell count and low blood platelets which means I'm very susceptible and have to isolate from crowds or crowded spaces.

I was able to play golf in the fall and will be able to in the spring because outside activity is no problem whatsoever. My spirits are fine I'm in good shape otherwise and frankly the strength of my heart has been improving since I'm under therapy. The hypothesis was it's undiagnosed waldenstroms with thickening of the blood causes great stress on the heart which stimulated some of the heart problems I was having now that I'm undergoing therapy and the blood viscosity is considerably thinner my heart is improved.

I'm told that this disease is incurable but treatable and frankly one of my former assistant deans has had this for 17 years and just recently underwent a highly experimental million and a half dollar procedure call c a r t

To cut to the chase Ron is now skiing Whiteface mountain five times since he was put into remission with this wonderful procedure. He was a former ski School director at Titus mountain in addition to his profession in higher education.

I'm so overjoyed for him he's like a kid giddy with happiness and just ripping white face again.

So my prayer is for remission and continuation of my other activities. In the meantime I tried to stay in shape best I can in the winter given the circumstances and have been playing the hell out of my guitars and making some vids to share with my friends who get a giggle outta the old fart


Be well doc , and I want you to know that your advice and counsel on the golf course really help bring my handicap down to single digits I remember when I was struggling to break 80 and now I'm in the 70s even at my age.
Although I'm playing the old guy tees at 81

 

[Warp Daddy]

This pic of me and The Queen of The Hop was taken at Hope Lodge a magnificent ACA facility for lodging cancer patients right on UVM campus

 

[Killingtime]

I’ll be around Lake George area for something else during the coming (President’s Day) weekend. Contemplating if I could squeeze in a casual day of skiing nearby. I know it being a major holiday weekend, crowds will be a major concern wherever I try.

Driving up and down the Thruway all these years, I’ve seen the signage for West Mountain, but never took the detour to check it out. With Gore, Garnet Hill, Lake Placid nearby, it just slipped through…

I know it’s not a big place. Probably more of a local’s mountain? A quick check on the trail map, it’s got enough trail and variety for a casual day. Would be a good diversion for my to escape to during a busy holiday weekend, would it not?

But then I have second thoughts. Some of the “local’s mountain”, while off the radar for mass tourists, can get mobbed by local families and school kids. (My local bump fits that description, I would never go there on weekend, never mind a holiday weekend).

So anyone familiar with the mountain who maybe able to shed some light on that?

If you can use an Indy day, its a cool place for a few hours. I don't remember really being blown away by anything there. Also, when I was there they had the best trails closed for racing which was a bummer. If you have to buy a day pass, go to Gore.

 

[Warp Daddy]

This pic of me and The Queen of The Hop was taken at Hope Lodge a magnificent ACA facility for lodging cancer patients right on UVM campus
View attachment 64899

Thank you Doc ,it's been a hell of a year. In July I was diagnosed with waldenstrom's macro globulamia a very rare form of blood cancer. It was a gut punch as I am totally asymptomatic

My blood viscosity was so thick they had to rush me to the University of Vermont Medical Center for emergency apheresis I've had eight of those procedures as well as 82 other procedures was hospitalized at UVM for 10 days and then was undergoing a particular form of chemother every month until the end of October at which time the chemo was not felt to be effective enough in reducing the blood viscosity.

I was there for transferred to my local Cancer Center 3 minutes from my home and they working in conjunction with the oncology department at UVM have initiated on different form of chemo treatment which has reduced the most significant benchmark by 70%.

The strange thing is is I feel fine and if had no negative reaction to any of the procedures or the chemo. But it's a medical professional you understand that this is like managing chaos because the lab draws determine what gets done in any treatment session. And is often is the case with cancer while they kill the bad stuff it also negatively affects your immunity so right now I am in a state of neutropenia which means a low white blood cell count and low blood platelets which means I'm very susceptible and have to isolate from crowds or crowded spaces.

I was able to play golf in the fall and will be able to in the spring because outside activity is no problem whatsoever. My spirits are fine I'm in good shape otherwise and frankly the strength of my heart has been improving since I'm under therapy. The hypothesis was it's undiagnosed waldenstroms with thickening of the blood causes great stress on the heart which stimulated some of the heart problems I was having now that I'm undergoing therapy and the blood viscosity is considerably thinner my heart is improved.

I'm told that this disease is incurable but treatable and frankly one of my former assistant deans has had this for 17 years and just recently underwent a highly experimental million and a half dollar procedure call c a r t

To cut to the chase Ron is now skiing Whiteface mountain five times since he was put into remission with this wonderful procedure. He was a former ski School director at Titus mountain in addition to his profession in higher education.

I'm so overjoyed for him he's like a kid giddy with happiness and just ripping white face again.

So my prayer is for remission and continuation of my other activities. In the meantime I tried to stay in shape best I can in the winter given the circumstances and have been playing the hell out of my guitars and making some vids to share with my friends who get a giggle outta the old fart


Be well doc , and I want you to know that your advice and counsel on the golf course really help bring my handicap down to single digits I remember when I was struggling to break 80 and now I'm in the 70s even at my age.
Although I'm playing the old guy tees at 81

Yo DHS how ya been young dude ? It's been awhile but decided to check in here again . Been hangin' for 20 years at Harv 's NYSskiblog ,some fine peeps there to chat with . Hope all is well with you and The Family ,kids must be all grown up huh

If you can use an Indy day, its a cool place for a few hours. I don't remember really being blown away by anything there. Also, when I was there they had the best trails closed for racing which was a bummer. If you have to buy a day pass, go to Gore.