Belleayre/Highmount, NY 03/29/15

Early in the week, NOAA had the Catskills at sunny and 40 degrees on Sunday, so I penciled in a daytrip while keeping in mind that the forecast was five days out and could obviously change, which it did. While the "sunny" part of the equation held -- deep blue skies the entire day -- the temperature was colder than we had hoped for. At 8:30, it was a brisk 9 degrees and I'm reasonably sure that the mercury never got above freezing. Too bad as Jason and I, along with everyone else in the northeast, were/are getting really impatient for some proper spring skiing.

But first things first:



Even though the upper parking lot was mostly full, check out what the Overlook Lodge looked like at 10 am. Felt like a weekday!



The trails were equally crowd-free and all of the chairs were ski-on through final bell. While you could certainly get an edge into the groomers, the blazing sun didn't manage to completely move them out of the hard-and-fast zone. The woods were in better shape, so I clucked around the extensive new Dreamcatcher glade:



... and cruised down Deer Run (with Plattekill in the distance).



During the early afternoon, we zipped over to Highmount, where the cut trails are continuing to grow in:





Still, there's plenty of base:



... and we were able to put together some nice turns amidst the brambles. This was Jason's first run at Highmount and I think he now understands why I'm such a fan:





View from the bottom:

 

We eventually made it back to mid-mountain and hung out on the deck with the other sun worshippers.







A fun day, but enough already with the midwinter temps!

James, what does the "Save the Mountain" billboard refer to?

..... and does Highmount connect to Belle ?

.......and did Jason forecast rain ?

Adk Jeff wrote

James, what does the "Save the Mountain" billboard refer to?

If you recall from the, ahem, heated discussions on NYSB several years ago, that's the group Coalition to Save Belleayre, which was formed in the early 80s when NYS threatened to close the ski area. The billboard is from the mid/late 00s, I believe, and refers to the Belleayre Resort project, for which the Coalition has strongly advocated.

Still amazing coverage! It is still full on winter and I hope these mountains don't close to early.  Ours officially closed this weekend but, are open Friday-Sunday and still have so much base that they can make it till May easily.

Great day, but about 10degs too cold...

JasonWx wrote

Great day, but about 10degs too cold...

Jason it may be time...?

Jamesdeluxe wrote

Adk Jeff wrote

James, what does the "Save the Mountain" billboard refer to?

If you recall from the, ahem, heated discussions on NYSB several years ago, that's the group Coalition to Save Belleayre, which was formed in the early 80s when NYS threatened to close the ski area. The billboard is from the mid/late 00s, I believe, and refers to the Belleayre Resort project, for which the Coalition has strongly advocated.

I figured, but is the Coalition to Save Belleayre still active now that the mountain's been "saved" by ORDA?

Looks like a sweet day. Nice report.

Learn it. Love it. Live it.

How's he lookin MC?

Jamesdeluxe wrote

His angles a million times better than before!

Sometimes the technique just needs a little tweak.

I photoshopped out his dropping uphill shoulder.

I'm out!!!

If they ever open Highmount again I wish they would use that same old lift in the picture. I know they probably wouldn't but I would like it.

Zippy wrote

If they ever open Highmount again I wish they would use that same old lift in the picture. I know they probably wouldn't but I would like it.

The Friends double chair: originally installed at Jiminy Peak in 1964, moved to Highmount in 1982. One of those, built by Mueller, is still in operation at Sutton, Quebec on the far looker's right.

Nice report. Any guesses on how much longer until Highmount is opened?