The latest ORDA brightspot

Thinking that if we had a thread to capture all the Orda "bright spots" might help us recognize and share some of the reasons we still choose to ski here. Plenty of chances to whine on that other thread. This one is for the moments that actually make our day. As others have said, there are good people working at our hills. And "surprises" can be found if we stop long enough to accept that it's not all doom and gloom.

Sunday afternoon--top of gondi @ Gore. Lift op was watching a guest (with rental skis...) struggling to click in. He walked over, got down on one knee, reset the heel piece, and then proceeded to use a small welding hammer to knock off the caked up snow on the boot. That was awesome!

I do that all the time at Platty, so much that it's just a routine.

Maybe we should have a higher standard for customer service?

When I started going to a lot of different mountains, I felt like I had Stockholm Syndrome. I was constantly surprised at things that are routine at other mountains, but neglected or never done at ORDA places (mountains can make snow on more than 2 trails at a time?!? It is possible to prepare for a rain event & get through it cleanly without it completely wrecking everything?!?!). It certainly opened my eyes.

SIAWOL wrote

Thinking that if we had a thread to capture all the Orda "bright spots" might help us recognize and share some of the reasons we still choose to ski here. Plenty of chances to whine on that other thread. This one is for the moments that actually make our day. As others have said, there are good people working at our hills. And "surprises" can be found if we stop long enough to accept that it's not all doom and gloom.

Sunday afternoon--top of gondi @ Gore. Lift op was watching a guest (with rental skis...) struggling to click in. He walked over, got down on one knee, reset the heel piece, and then proceeded to use a small welding hammer to knock off the caked up snow on the boot. That was awesome!

MC2 5678F589 wrote

I do that all the time at Platty, so much that it's just a routine.

Maybe we should have a higher standard for customer service?

When I started going to a lot of different mountains, I felt like I had Stockholm Syndrome. I was constantly surprised at things that are routine at other mountains, but neglected or never done at ORDA places (mountains can make snow on more than 2 trails at a time?!? It is possible to prepare for a rain event & get through it cleanly without it completely wrecking everything?!?!). It certainly opened my eyes.

Nice try SIAWOL.  I applaud your effort.  But trying to emphasize positive stuff on social media these days is like trying to stop up a river of sewage with a few used tampons.

Petronio

I like the idea. Let's limit this thread to the positive.

Okay, sorry, you guys are right.

Huge Tele event at Gore this weekend. Demos, a Tele race (if you've never seen one, you should) and tele fun for everyone. Kudos to Gore for finally figuring out how to get the Fey brothers  (telemarkdown.com) to bring their Demo equipment out.

WF opened the summit lift around 12 yesterday
They could have pulled plug on summit for the day
Skyward was quite fun though the visibility was very low

Z wrote

WF opened the summit lift around 12 yesterday
They could have pulled plug on summit for the day
Skyward was quite fun though the visibility was very low

Yup and Cloudspin was very nice as well

NYSEF kiddos showed up for the restaurant race and posted amazing times in the course, competing with and beating most of the adults at Gore today.  Conditions firm but carvable under a bluebird sky!

Darkside Shaman wrote

Z wrote

WF opened the summit lift around 12 yesterday
They could have pulled plug on summit for the day
Skyward was quite fun though the visibility was very low

Yup and Cloudspin was very nice as well

You skied WF? Blasphemous!

Johnnyonthespot wrote

Darkside Shaman wrote

Z wrote

WF opened the summit lift around 12 yesterday
They could have pulled plug on summit for the day
Skyward was quite fun though the visibility was very low

Yup and Cloudspin was very nice as well

You skied WF? Blasphemous!

Sunday Funday

There are a lot of things I like about Gore and Whiteface.  Perhaps my favorite is from my last trip to Gore - a Spring day in 2017 (?) I skied powder, crud, slush, and ice on the same day.  One of the great things about Gore is that it has so many aspects that you probably can find the skiing you are looking for somewhere on the mountain on a given day.  Maybe not powder so often : )

Whiteface is majestic.  The conditions were not good over Christmas, so I get where the snowmaking criticism is coming from.  And I literally fell victim to the wet snow that is being blown.  

Apparently while some will say I have a 'screw loose' for going to Belle, I will be eternally thankful for the ski school teaching my son then as a six-year old to ski everything there with confidence over one really reasonable season program.  All good.

We ski a lot less as a family this year because my 5 yo daughter isn't quite feeling it, but at all of the ORDA locales, I feel the more chilled out vibe that you don't get any many locations.  I freely admit that Platty has the coolest vibe of any mountain I have skied, except for maybe Stowe 15-20 years ago when mgmt reopened the mountain after Easter as a thank you to the locals following a really good year.  One of my first days skiing - I was on the old school straight wooden skis because I was too cheap to rent the new shaped skis.  

Johnnyonthespot wrote

You skied WF? Blasphemous!

  Belle Saturday totally beat my expectations after the two day rain event last week . Coming out of PA my standards for skiing are probably way lower than you Northerners.  Hoping for a cold snowy Feb.
   Gondi at Belle  has really thinned out the East side this season . Got there late 930 am  parking lots loaded , no lines at Super chief all day.
   After years in PA skiing finding any ungroomed trail  is a treat .  Over grooming of trail systems  surely has slowed skier progression. Bell blew  mostly all day on two ungroomed trails Sat. I am a skier not hard to please ,I take what I can get  when I can.

Great stuff Gunny!  And good intel on the effect of the Gondy.  What lot did you park in at 9:30 - bottom or mid?  Last year I was always early because my little guy was in the seasonal program so not much choice.

We are going up this weekend so was wondering about later parking as I won't be going gang busters.  

Best,
D

Harvey wrote

Johnnyonthespot wrote

You skied WF? Blasphemous!

Thought he was strictly a Gore guy.

Johnnyonthespot wrote

Thought he was strictly a Gore guy.

You have a pass to both mountains, ski them both.

In the good news department, it seems like the LWF chair is running normally.

I  always  park in upper lot, it was filled  but they still  let me park by maintenance  garage.

Gore still has a web cam
Gore's web cam is working
It is snowing at Gore

Gore positives - an even dozen:
1. Last year's revisions to the Saddle Lodge are impressive, aesthetically as well as functionally.
Over double the space, so even on weekends it wasn't crowded.  (and... the toilets no longer take your breath away like some WW2 latrine.)
2.  Centerplate food is a bargain compared to most resorts. Although none would be confused with Europe, their soups 'n salads are tasty.  And like most of the staff at Gore, their staff is friendly and helpful.
3. Great variety of slopes, trails and glades.
4. Short or non-existent lift lines most days.
5. E-Z Parking and usually quick shuttle bus service. (tips accepted and usually justified)
6. Generally speaking, the grooming seems to be improving as the weeks pass. (maybe some new hires are learning their jobs?)
7. Always seem to be plenty of blue-jacketed instructors around.
8. Like many resorts, "shore is a purty view" from the top.
9. Relatively easy access from Northeastern population centers.
10. Relatively inexpensive season passes, especially for seniors.
11. The newly revised warming building at the top of the Straight Brook lift is convenient. (Now if the coffee & hot chocolate machine would just work, we'd be all set)
12. The base lodge lounge expansion is nice, although I tend to celebrate down the road at Beck's or Basil & Wicks (more interesting menus and beverages)

Each year they put on a good aerials event.  Good turnout, especially with reasonable weather.