Black Phantom
Active member
White Face. Hands down. Best skiing East of the Mississippi. And then some.
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What's the Best Ski Area in NY?
- Thread starter ChileMass
- Start date
Puck it
Well-known member
jaja111
New member
Amen to that. I don't even know if I'm really a "core" skier. I think they just alienate skiers above beginner level. Yelled at because I had a 10 minute conversation at the top of Falcon with some lady at 4:30. Yelled at for skiing under the Yodeler lift even though the closed sign had been removed for 3 runs (no, I was not the one that threw it into the pines.) Yelled at skiing under the Yodeler lift after having been given permission, in fact recruited by patrol - picked out of the damn offload line!, to obtain lost equipment of some kid. Yelled at for skiing too close to the edge of a trail (maybe 3-6 feet from the edge). Yelled at for not having a leash on a monoski. Yelled at for skiing on a monoski (the "office" had to be called to confirm it was okay before I was free to go - this was 15 minutes). Yelled at for skiing to fast (I am the slowest assed skier on that hill - for a $60 lift ticket I need to maximize my turns like I'm in moguls on a 600 ft hill). Yelled at ..... I could go on forever. And when I mean yelled at, I mean foaming at the mouth mall security guard screaming at skateboarder punks yelled at. It feels great to be treated like that at age 35 with 25 years of skiing under your belt. Yelled at with gray hair. Just can't deal with it anymore. I am NOT a jackass on skis and don't deserve it.
As for HH, I'll be talking to the guy within a month.
skiersleft
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The truth is HV shouldn't be on the list. However, Hunter, Belleayre, Plattekill, Windham and West Mountain shouldn't be either. It's obvious that the best ski area in NY is either Gore or Whiteface. Anyone who believes otherwise has a very idiosyncratic view of what being the best ski area in a region means.
My vote is for Gore. Skis bigger than Whiteface because of its horizontal spread out layout. Whiteface skis relatively small because all runs funnel to the same area. Vertical at Whiteface is king, but it's not the sort of setup that you lap often and the summit lift is often closed. Also, Burnt Ridge at Gore is a phenomenal mountain face. The tree skiing is really good.
My vote is for Gore. Skis bigger than Whiteface because of its horizontal spread out layout. Whiteface skis relatively small because all runs funnel to the same area. Vertical at Whiteface is king, but it's not the sort of setup that you lap often and the summit lift is often closed. Also, Burnt Ridge at Gore is a phenomenal mountain face. The tree skiing is really good.
Dollar for dollar Hunter gives you a lot for the dollar if your ability is single black diamond or above. Hunter West Side after a night of making tons of man made snow also rules. Hunter snow making power means the entire mountain can be covered in man made snow in a matter of days not weeks.
Belleayre dollar value "was" maybe still "is" very good for intermediates blue square skiers. The low weekend skier traffic on Belleayre trails makes it great place to ski and ride weekends after all the trails are opened. Expert skiers that like good quality moguls also get a lot for their money at Belleayre. I said maybe still is because Belleayre may be managed by ORDA this next season. Ticket prices could go up and snow making and grooming quality could go down. We shall see.
Whiteface on a powder day rules.
Belleayre dollar value "was" maybe still "is" very good for intermediates blue square skiers. The low weekend skier traffic on Belleayre trails makes it great place to ski and ride weekends after all the trails are opened. Expert skiers that like good quality moguls also get a lot for their money at Belleayre. I said maybe still is because Belleayre may be managed by ORDA this next season. Ticket prices could go up and snow making and grooming quality could go down. We shall see.
Whiteface on a powder day rules.
oakapple
New member
If the question is "best" in the absolute sense, ignoring dollar value or location, I don't know how there could any NY area could beat Gore and Whiteface. From New York City, Gore is about the same distance as the southern Vermont resorts. But bus companies offer day trips to Stratton, Mount Snow, Okemo, and Killington, and never to Gore. The lack of on-site accommodation at Gore is a problem, as well. These factors have nothing to do with Gore's intrinsic merits, but they explain why it doesn't get as many skier visits as it should.
Wow,I feel for ya bro.I also can see a little gray around the edges and feel way to old to be treated like that.That's what I mean by 'core'.Any skier who is advanced,has some years under thier belt,dosen't like crowds,likes the crud around the edges and hey,posts on a ski forum in september.Unfortunatly Holiday Valley sees this person as a undeserving,minority.
twinplanx
Active member
my question: What authority does this "yeller" have & whats to stop ya from slidding away from them? Maybe a little game of "follow-me" is in order? I ski to avoid crap like this!!! Oh, and any area that forbids tree-skiing won't be getting my $$$
tarponhead
New member
skiersleft;654234 My vote is for Gore. Skis bigger than Whiteface because of its horizontal spread out layout. Whiteface skis relatively small because all runs funnel to the same area. Vertical at Whiteface is king said:
jaja111
New member
They're preventing me from getting on the lift at the bottom. "follow me" is as unwinnable as tic tac toe at HV as its only maybe 600ft of vertical. Within 50ft you're usually committed to one lift for a ride back up.
Huck_It_Baby
Active member
Without a doubt! I shoot up there whenever Lake Ontario pukes!
jaja111
New member
Is it really 3 hrs from rochester? You take the thruway over?
Warp Daddy
Active member
The Ridge is NOT to be believed after Ontario dumpage - skied it every season for the past 20 yrs --it DELIVERS
Skier4life
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I have only skied Hunter and Windham in NY and I prefer Hunter [many more deals to take advantage of].
I will be using my Warren Miller movie lift vouchers at Gore and possibly Jiminy this year, so I may have to re-evaluate my position come Christmas. I know I am missing out. I hope we get a huge dump this year as I will also try out Plattekill the day after, judging from some other comments on this thread.
I will be using my Warren Miller movie lift vouchers at Gore and possibly Jiminy this year, so I may have to re-evaluate my position come Christmas. I know I am missing out. I hope we get a huge dump this year as I will also try out Plattekill the day after, judging from some other comments on this thread.
Huck_It_Baby
Active member
Roughly 3. I can make it in under three but it all depends on a the roads/conditions.
Yep I-90 over to Rome and then north.
Huck_It_Baby
Active member
And that's no joke! It's all about those local unmarked glades on the north side.
Although last year I didn't feel like they got the really huge lake storms like in past years.
BenedictGomez
Well-known member
Is there a list out of what showings will have what tickets?
(i.e., I see that if I view the show in NYC I get Gore/Jiminy Peak, but I'm curious if it will be the same in Bethlehem, PA)
Now adays NY is underrated. Gore has grown into as good an area as any in Vermont [I almost hesitate to spread the word]. I ski Hunter during the week , it's deals are great, it's close to NJ, snowmaking is terrific and trails are as good or better than many of the medium size mountains in New England. Whiteface is premo, yes it's cold but it's had that rep for years the Lifts and better clothes and equipment have rounded a few of the edges, snowmaking and grooming makes it much more tolerable mid-winter and try Stowe or even Sugarbush in a cold snap brrrrrr. Belleayre which used to be a hidden gem has been discovered by the unwashed masses, still good if you know how to navigate.
skiersleft
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+1. Gore and Whiteface offer some of the best skiing in the East. They can hold their own against some of New England's best offering.
The biggest downside of NY areas, including Gore and Whiteface is natural snowfall. They just don't get as much as the Green and White Mountain ski areas. That makes a significant difference as to conditions generally, and as to tree skiing in particular. Still, the Dacks offer fantastic lift served skiing.
Natural Snow
You're correct New York especially the Catskills certainly doesn't get as much natural as Vt. but more and more the game in the East is snowmaking and grooming. Some of my friends who almost gave up on the East in the 90's are shocked when they go back. Real powder is a rarity even in Vermont. I remember the days when all Winter it was a fifty-fifty proposition that you were going to get decent conditions even in central Vermont. I'd say right up thru March it's more than 75% good now. Rarely powder or even PP, but still more than decent skiing.
You're correct New York especially the Catskills certainly doesn't get as much natural as Vt. but more and more the game in the East is snowmaking and grooming. Some of my friends who almost gave up on the East in the 90's are shocked when they go back. Real powder is a rarity even in Vermont. I remember the days when all Winter it was a fifty-fifty proposition that you were going to get decent conditions even in central Vermont. I'd say right up thru March it's more than 75% good now. Rarely powder or even PP, but still more than decent skiing.
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