Gore Mountain: The North Creek Connection

In this uncertain, economic time, it hardly seems appropriate to be talking about money being spent on a mountain in the heart of the Adirondack mountains. In fact, Gore Mountain is really in the middle of no where.

During the ski season, weekends can be very crowded at Gore. It is not unusual to have the parking lot filled and cars parked for a mile down the access road. Recent improvements and development have helped to spread skiers out over 4 peaks so the lift lines are still short or non-existent on even the busiest days. But, come Monday, the crowds are gone and its not unusual to ski down a trail and not see a single soul. The week days hardly pay the expenses.

Gore Mountain is a state owned and operated ski area under the management of the Olympic Regional Development Authority, better known as ORDA. New York State is in the throes of an unprecedented economic downturn and many tax related projects have been scrapped, put on hold or entirely eliminated. Tax money was put aside several years ago for the Gore Mountain project. This was a fortunate turn of events because the plans made to connect Gore Mountain with the village of North Creek and the North Creek Snow Bowl will not be delayed.

Why is this project important to he town of North Creek, Gore Mt. and the southern Adirondack communities? This will make make Gore Mountain a destination ski resort with a village right at bottom of the lift. This will be a major lift for the economy of North Creek and the Town of Johnsburg, NY.

The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) approved a three-phase, ski resort development project.The project includes reopening the town's old Ski Bowl Park at Gore Mountain and installing a new 3,500-foot quad chairlift, which will be built and operated by the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA).

The APA also approved new construction of a private resort complex on 432 acres of land beside the ski area owned by FrontStreet Mountain Development LLC, a company run by the Crikelair family based in Darien, Conn. The resort, to be called the Ski Bowl Village at Gore Mountain, will have five hotels and inns, 131 townhouses, 18 single-family dwellings, a private ski lodge, an equestrian center, a nine-hole golf course, restaurants and retail space.

It was recently announced that the work has started on connecting Gore and the North Creek Snow Bowl. The main lodge is being expanded and modernized, and access to the Burnt Ridge ski area is being improved.

The connection project will be ready for 2010/2011 ski season.

“..the interconnect bridges the gap between the mountain and village.
It brings us back to our roots and North Creek's ski heritage," commented
Gore Mountain General Manager Mike Pratt in a March 13 article in the New York Times.

What does this mean for Albany region skiers? More skier terrain, a new lift and more parking. It also means that more families will think of Gore to spend a week vacation in the village of North Creek. More ski dollars for the local economy and it’s more tax revenue for NY state.

The only downside: You’ll have more company on the slopes during the week.

The Ski Traveler

It's Official! Snowmaking starts tonight!

When West Mountain starts the snow guns it means only one thing. Skiing is officially here and a long range forecast of cold weather assures piles of man made snow. Typically, this little mountain can cover top to bottom on 4 or 5 trails in about 4 days. The long range cold weather forecast insures that the money spent on snow making will not melt away.

This time of the the year is pretty much at the mercy of cold temps, early snow storms and the vagaries of weather patterns. It is shaping up to be as normal as Eastern, Western and European winters can be.

The Northeast: The biggies have opened around Thanksgiving with mostly man made snow but there have been a couple of early snow storms that left its mark in November. In NY: Whiteface, Gore have opened with limited skiing. In Vermont, Killington, Stowe, Bromeley, Stratton, Mt. Snow are also open but with out the natural snow, skiing will be limited to how fast snow making can cover trails before Christmas and the holidays. If it stays cold expect new trails opened daily.

Out West it's Vail, Aspen, Loveland. Arapahoe, Breckenridge, Copper and Telluride. Vail is hosting the World Cup at Beaver Creek and the downhill race this weekend on the Birds of Prey course. Still not a lot of natural snow yet and no big dumps in the forecast. However, they are getting those daily 4- 6" snowfalls overnight. It's piling up!

Farther west The Sierras and Lake Tahoe are waiting for El Nino and those wet Pacific storms to kick in. Squaw Valley and Heavenly are searching for snow. Sun Valley (my favorite) had to postpone a Thanksgiving opening due to the lack of the white stuff and cold temps to make snow.

Europe seems to getting it's share of early snow in the Alps. Val d'Isere, Zermatt and Cortina D'Ampezzo all getting the white stuff for great skiing around the holidays. Look for more snow in the Northern Alps.

If you live in the Albany,NY area check out West Mountain this weekend. Willard, Bousquets and Royal Mountain will be open too. Oak Mountain is open for tubing and will open after Christmas for skiing. Call Maple Ridge for their opening date.

Get those skis ready. Skiing is here.
See you on the hill.
The Ski Traveler