Plattekill Conditions (2016 - 2017)

Another reason to open... the more work you can provide the better employees you can retain.  I know Laszlo thinks this way.

Ethan is right, there is a different Plattekill that the public doesn't see.  That's true of every mountain where I have behind the scenes access, and my guess is it is true of every mountain.

I find it hard to separate my perception of Plattekill from bigger picture stretching back over 30 years.  Laszlo was a ripping ski instructor who met a beautiful girl skiing one day. He married her, borrowed $375,000, and bought the mountain in 1994.  All of his true direct competitors, 9 small family mountains, are gone and he remains competing Belleayre and to a lesser extent Hunter and Windham.  For years the state of NY undercut him using tax dollars to do it.

He's fighting for his life, to sustain his dream which is his life's work.

Put yourself in that position. But don't do it now, do it when you are out of school, married with a mortgage and couple of kids. Do it after your biggest customer calls and says he wants to make a change.

You make commitments in life, and then you have to stand up and deliver. It's fucking scary and Laszlo has the balls of a lion.

JTG4eva! wrote

  So for someone who is a little more familiar with the place to question his snow reporting totals as a ruse for ticket sales?  Seems off.

I don't care why he does it, I just think it "seems off" that Belleayre is reporting 22" last 5 days, and Plattekill is reporting 40" last 5 days. I can see Belleayre from Plattekill.

Harvey wrote

 All of his true direct competitors, 9 small family mountains, are gone and he remains competing Belleayre and to a lesser extent Hunter and Windham.  

I agree! This is what's awesome about Laszlo and Plattekill in general. He should feel good about the fact that he has held up as a competitor with Belleayre. I hope he keeps going.

Never said I didn't like the mountain, or Laszlo himself. This is really just me calling him out on lying about snow totals.

That's why I continue to ski there and support it even though I prefer more vert, and fast comfy lifts. I worked there last summer because I wanted to help him keep the place going on the off-season. Honestly I don't think I was a very good employee because I was stretched thin between that and my other higher paying job closer to home. I have built up my business to the point where I do not plan on keeping my summer groundskeeping job at the Resort in Cooperstown. I'll have a really flexible schedule, and I am hoping I can find a way to help out maybe 1 or 2 days a week. Maybe I can work on the wall-to-wall glade clearing goal.

To be perfectly honest, Laszlo has always been very, very good to me. Also hollered at me a few times too. LOL

Just for a laugh

I mean come on.
I know it's not snowfall but 67"

Have you seen Hellgate lately? may not be that deep across the whole mountain, but a few select trails I would not doubt it. I have seen them report 90" in past years.

When we were on the traverse from the double towards the Triple chair section I spotted a ski area on what looked the next Ridge over.  My guess is that would have been west.  It can't be Bellarye as that has to be pretty far away I think to the south.

What ski area is that?  Maybe one of the exinct ones like bobcat?

Nope it probably was Belleayre, you can see the Triple side from certain areas of Belleayre, so you should be able to see Belleayre just fine from Plattekill.

Yeah, you were seeing Bobcat which is to the West. When you are on the triple looking straight back, you can see Belleayre which is South.  Where were you looking? If you look hard enough behind the mountain, you can see Bobcat, but if you were looking out in front of the mountain you were definitely seeing Belleayre.

Discussion from seven years ago.
http://forum.nyskiblog.com/Bobcat-Tribute-To-A-Lost-NYS-Ski-Area-tp970156p1032661.html

Not to change the subject but here are a couple pics from Saturday

Couple more




The often heard but seldom seen Brownski

Nice pics Brownski!

Great action shots.

It was a very good morning.

Good to hear.  Hoping to free things up and head there for a nice day of February spring skiing tomorrow!

IMG_2024.JPG Beautiful pow day today. Blue skies and fresh snow.

how crowed was platty? anything left for the early risers?  

sig wrote

how crowed was platty? anything left for the early risers?

Not crowded, but the woods got skied a lot. I bet if you poke around you'll find something.

Looks like Plattekill is our call for tomorrow.  Will be there with my son(s).  If any NYSBers are gonna be there and want some company let me know!

8am, holiday weekend, 5th car in the lot.  Gonna be a good day!  With my oldest son.  We are the blue jacket/black pants and all grey duo.  Give a shout if anyone's around!