Tuxedo Ridge, NY 1/29/12

In keeping with the local flavor this week on the NYSKI Blog, I decided to take my daughter to the former Sterling Forest Ski Area now known as Tuxedo Ridge. I have lived in the NY Metro area my whole life and this was my first visit. It was a short 35 minute drive from my home in Bergen County.



It was sunny and 38 degrees when we arrived. There were about 30 cars in the paved parking lot. We walked up the little hill to the lodge and purchased our tickets. There were 4 trails open today: Bunny Hill served by the Bunny Lift, Racing Hill, Tiger Pass, and Tiger West, all served by the Tiger Lift that serves the whole 400 foot vertical. There are 2 other lifts and a few other trails that were closed.

The Racing Hill had some NASTAR-like gates set on it. There was a steep drop at the top.

Racing Hill


Bunny Hill

All the trails were covered with a nice layer of corn snow on top of some hard pack and the occasional icy spot.


The Lodge from Bunny Hill

The slopes were not crowded and we skied right onto the lifts. Tiger West is an old school trail that is narrow and has a funky double fall line.


Tiger West Double Fall Line

The closed Rainbow trail has some snow and at least 10 large snowmaking cannons ready for colder temps.


Closed Rainbow trail

There was one trail open from the top that split into Tiger Pass and Tiger West. There was a flat spot that lead to both but this keeps the safety factor high.


Top of Tuxedo Ridge


Top of the Tiger Lift


Tiger Pass Before the drop

Tiger Pass is a wide trail that connects with the Racing Hill for a hundred yards then splits and leads down to the Lodge.


The Lodge from Tiger Pass

There is a very busy tubing park. It is located just to the skier's left of the main double chair.


Tubing

The inside of the Lodge was warm and inviting. Our lunch was tasty and fairly priced except for the .75 charge for a glass of tap water. There was no water fountain.


Inside the Lodge

After lunch we took 5 more runs.



I am glad I finally skied Tuxedo Ridge. There was enough to keep me interested for the day and my daughter enjoyed her first day of  skiing this season. It is an easy drive and not crowded. I would recomend Tuxedo Ridge for all sliders who need a local fix.



Happy Girl

That's the same lift as at Magic Mountain. It's even painted red. Noice!

Nice one.... kinda gives me some deja vu.  And of course another one checked off THE LIST!

Hopefully both Mt Peter and Tuxedo Ridge can squeeze in some snowmaking this week.

I'm sensing a play date in her future...

x10003q wrote

Harvey44 wrote

I'm sensing a play date in her future...

We are looking forward to it.

I learned how to ski on the Bunny Hill in 1976 on a 9th grade ski trip..
My kids have a race there tomorrow , the upper part of the race trail turns to a icy beast.

Nice to see the old hill still in use..

DAMN, I WAS GOING TO TR THIS NEXT WEEK!

haven't been in 15 years or so, looking great though!

JasonWx wrote

I learned how to ski on the Bunny Hill ...
My kids have a race there tomorrow ...

Me too, and, me too!!!

can't go tonight, got a work

Funny - I was at TR with my daughter a week ago on the bunny hill.  Great little spot.  We didn't get to "the rest" of the mountain.  What I like there vs. Campgaw is that kids 4 and under ski free.  I think it was $42 or $45 for a lift ticket.  Campgaw requires everyone to have a ticket.  With a 3 year old you might get 30 minutes or you might get 3 hours.  Not worth the gamble.

Looks like they lost quite a bit of snow in a week.  They had lots more coverage last weekend.

JasonWx wrote

... the upper part of the race trail turns to a icy beast.

That was certainly the case last night!!!
Lots of crashes and DSQ's ... tough night for the kids.