Adirondack Sports December 2023

SKIING, RIDING & SNOWSHOEING
Get On Snow
By Darryl Caron
New York is home to some of the best skiing in the
East. With over 50 ski areas, there’s bound to be one
nearby so check out Ski NY’s snow reports, ski & stay
deals, and mountain info. There’s also details on the Ski
& Ride Passport program, where third and fourth graders
can get one free lift ticket when an adult lift ticket
is purchased. If you’d like to learn to ski or snowboard,
checkout the specials at participating mountains. Visit:
iskiny.com.
The state’s biggest ski area, Gore Mountain, is loved
by skiers and riders for their range of trails and diversity
that nine sides of four peaks deliver. For 2024, there’s new
snowmaking at the Ski Bowl and a new beginner lift, the
Bear Cub Quad. If you don’t have a SKI3 season pass, book
your snow days in advance and save with e-tickets. Visit:
goremountain.com.
If you’re looking for big adventures, Whiteface offers it
– the biggest vertical drop in the East, challenging slopes,
and many off-hill activities in Lake Placid and High Peaks
towns. They’ll be installing a new detachable high-speed
quad, which will open during the 2024 season. The new lift
provides easier means of accessing the whole mountain
and provides more incentive for people to park over at the
Bear Den base area. Visit: whiteface.com.
New York’s coolest little ski area is Willard Mountain
in Easton, minutes from the Capital-Saratoga Region.
They’re open daily, with night skiing (non-holiday weeks),
offering outstanding lessons, snowmaking, retail shop
and tubing park. They have specials on two- and fourhour
night lift tickets. Visit: willardmountain.com.
Just outside of Schenectady, Maple Ski Ridge in
Rotterdam, has something for beginner and experience
skiers and riders of all ages. They’ve just upgraded their
snowmaking and joined the Indy Pass as well. On Monday
and Tuesday nights, they offer Nordic Nights with XC skiing,
snowshoeing and alpine touring/skinning allowed
– on the other nights, you can ski or ride. Visit: mapleskiridge.com.
In the southern Adirondacks, Oak Mountain in
Speculator is an easy drive from Albany, Glens Falls or
Utica. They offer terrain to suit everyone’s needs at an
affordable rate for skiing, riding and tubing. The snowmaking
“whales” are made and being groomed out, and
with Mother Nature’s help they expect to open soon. They
have an outstanding ski and snowboard school, and it is
home to the Acorn Pub & Eatery with Adirondack cuisine.
Visit: oakmountainski.com.
In Hancock, Mass., Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort
is the largest ski and snowboard resort in southern New
England. They’ve been open for a few weekends and
expect to open soon full-time for the season. Jiminy’s
snowmaking and grooming team is working hard to get
as much terrain open as possible. They offer activities for
the whole family on their 45 trails with nine lifts, including
a six-person high-speed chairlift. Visit: jiminypeak.com.
Just an hour from Albany, Catamount Ski Resort,
is located on the border of MA/NY in the Berkshires.
Featuring 44 trails, eight lifts, snowmaking and night skiing,
Catamount is on the Indy Pass with challenging trails
and family fun. Their crews are blanketing the trails with
snow in preparation for their opening day. Visit: catamountski.com.
Run by the same family for nearly 50 years, Berkshire
East Mountain Resort is a hidden gem that’s worth the
trip to Charlemont, Mass. The Indy Pass resort has modern
facilities, top-notch snowmaking and grooming, a
high-speed detachable quad opening this winter, lessons,
dining and nearby lodging. Visit: berkshireeast.com.
Nestled in the central Adirondacks, McCauley
Mountain, in Old Forge provides skiing and snowboarding
for all levels with big mountain terrain but without
long lift lines or high-ticket prices. McCauley’s 21 trails
receive an annual snowfall of 280 inches, and have snowmaking
on 65% of trails, so go play in their snow! Visit:
mccauleyny.com.
Central New York’s largest ski resort is Greek Peak
Mountain Resort in Cortland, with 46 trails and 11 glades,
six chair lifts, two surface lifts, and new and improved
terrain parks, plus lodging and an indoor waterpark. The
Indy Pass, year-round family resort is located in the Finger
Lakes region, minutes from I-81. Visit: greekpeak.net.
Located on the Tug Hill Plateau, Snow Ridge, has
some of the best snow in the East with an average snowfall
of 230 inches. The family owned and operated area
has joined the Indy Pass offers 31 trails and two terrain
parks with small prices and lots of hospitality. With a lot of
support, they’re bouncing back from a damaging tornado
in August. Snow is falling and snowmaking has begun so
keep an eye out for opening day info. Visit: snowridge.
com.
When visiting nearby Vermont, be sure to visit Ikon
Pass resort partners Killington, the largest ski area in the
eastern US (killington.com) and Pico Mountain, one of
the first commercial ski resorts in the state – est. 1937, with
19 miles of trails across 470 skiable acres (picomountain.
com). To the north, Smugglers’ Notch is family and adult
friendly, with everything from beginner terrain to steep
skiing and side-country access (smuggs.com). To the
south, Stratton, near Manchester, offers 99 trails, glades,
fast lifts, hotels and Ikon Pass access (stratton.com).
For best Maine skiing, book your getaway to Sunday
River for day and night skiing with gorgeous views (sundayriver.com).
For cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, Lapland
Lake near Northville, offers lodging and a ski lodge with
a retail and rental shop, plus indoor seating, dining, and
a food truck on busier days. The Ladies XC Ski Clinics are
returning to Lapland for beginner to intermediate skiers
ages 18 and older. This all-women ski program, which is
grouped by ability and taught by PSIA-certified female
instructors, includes a classic-skiing clinic on Jan. 20
and skate-skiing clinic on Feb. 3. Advance reservation is
required. To register, go to “Ticket” section of their website.
A six-week Youth Skate Ski Clinic is for ages 8-14 of all
abilities to introduce them to the technique and improve.
There will also be a Youth Festival on Feb. 11. Visit: laplandlake.com.
In Lake Placid, Mt. Van Hoevenberg has been rolling
out snow and grooming as much as possible since
Thanksgiving. When fully open, Van Ho has 55K of trails
that are groomed daily for all abilities, including 4K of
world championship rated trails. The Mountain Pass
lodge offers a restaurant, ski shop, equipment rentals and
more. Visit: mtvanhoevenberg.com.
At the Gore Mountain Nordic Center, the North
Creek Ski Bowl offers a groomed 5K trail network with
snowmaking and lighting to extend your snow-time into
the evening hours. The stadium layout provides an ideal
training and racing venue. You can also explore a scenic
overlook, challenging hill climbs, descents, and different
loops. There are recreational trails available, plus equipment
rentals and lessons. Visit: goremountain.com.
DECEMBER 2023 11
A gem in the Town of Greenfield, Brookhaven Winter
Park, 10 minutes from Saratoga Springs, it offers about
20K of XC ski trails that are groomed for classic and skate
several days a week. There are also two snowshoe loops.
These trails are free and open to public use. In the clubhouse,
The View, is a full-service bar and restaurant. They
have expanding park events, including a learn to ski program,
5K Snowshoe Race on Jan. 21 – followed by a community
Winterfest Celebration. On Jan. 27, there’s a Full
Moon Party for adults with skiing, snowshoeing, bonfire
and spirits. Visit: facebook.com/brookhavenski.
Based in East Poestenkill, Pineridge, just east of Troy,
this cross-country ski area is situated at about 1,746 feet
above sea level, a prime spot for natural snow, with views
of the Taconic Range and Mount Greylock – celebrating its
40th season in business. In addition to offering day rentals
and lessons, Pineridge has season-long equipment rentals
for children. Visit: pineridgexc.com.
In Saranac Lake, Dewey Mountain has Youth Ski
League and Adult XC and snowshoe programs beginning
in early January. They’ve got lighted night skiing, a new
lodge, groomed and ungroomed trails, rentals – and it’s
only $5 per day. Visit: deweymountain.com.
Purchased by the ADK, Cascade Welcome Center, is
a year-round outdoor recreation and information center.
The 12-mile trail network is groomed for classic skiing and
snowshoeing. The lodge also is a full-service ski shop with
rentals. ADK members can ski for free, and day passes and
season passes are available. Visit: adk.org.
The vision of High Peaks Cyclery owner Brian
Delaney, Scotts Cobble Nordic Center is a newly repurposed
10K community XC trail system on the Craig Wood
Golf Course in the town of North Elba. Once a small
downhill ski area, the new Scotts Cobble features lighted,
dog-friendly trails for day or nighttime cross-country
skiing, backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, fat biking, and
sledding. They’ll host weekday after-school programs. The
clubhouse serves as a lodge with restroom facilities, and
lights are being installed along the 10K trail system. Visit:
highpeakscyclery.com.
The Paul Smith’s VIC, operated by Paul Smith’s
College, just north of Saranac Lake, offers XC skiing and
snowshoeing, a ski school, snowshoe and ski rentals, a
café, and access to the Jenkins Mountain Open Woods Ski
Zone. Visit: paulsmithsvic.org.
In Tupper Lake, the James Frenette Recreational
Trails connect the Tupper Lake Golf Course to Big Tupper
ski area. The six main groomed trails offer a variety of terrain
and scenic vistas, and lighted night skiing. Visit: tupperlake.com.
Inlet and Old Forge – Inlet offers miles of free, groomed
trails for classic and skate skiing at Fern Park (22K), Inlet
Golf Club (3.5K), and Limekiln Lake Campground (3.5K).
Fern Park has some climbs and descents, plus 2K that are
lighted until 10pm. More info: inletny.com. In Old Forge,
McCauley Mountain Ski Area has 2.5K, 5K and 7.5K of
cross-country ski trails. Depending on conditions, the
trails are groomed for classic and skate skiing. More info:
mccauleyny.com.
Other Opportunities – For those interested in racing
this winter, NYSSRA Nordic offers races for all ages
and abilities, beginner to expert, including Club Series,
Points Series, Junior National Qualifiers, NYSSRA Nordic
Championships, and a Youth Ski Festival. NYSSRA also
sponsors several Bill Koch Youth Ski Leagues for children
to learn the sport, with programs in Clifton Park, Saratoga
Springs, Glens Falls, Lake Placid, Saranac Lake, Old Forge,
Tug Hill, and others in western New York. More info: nyssranordic.org.
Let it snow, get outside, and embrace the winter!