New York: You Gotta Love The Skiing, Riding -
New York has 50 ski areas, the most of any state in America. They nestle in the friendly Catskill Mountains or cling to the high peaks of the Adirondacks, inviting skiers and riders to come, to learn, to enjoy, to challenge themselves on an almost endless variety of terrain.
The Empire State's scenery has long been recognized as extraordinary, immortalized in the lush, romantic paintings of the Hudson River School artists of the mid-19th century. The state's vast forests and quiet dells have been the settings for fictional characters like Washington Irving's Rip Van Winkle and Ichabod Crane, and James Fenimore Cooper's "The Deerslayer."
Fact and fiction share an appreciation for the state's vast tracts of forest, rolling dairy farms, and waterways that include the Erie Canal, Niagara Falls, the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers, and the Finger Lakes.
Yet, this state also is home to one of the world's great cities, whose residents pursue outdoor recreation with passion and energy. Skiers and riders who live and work in an intensely urban setting renew themselves in the same places that attracted the attention of past generations of artists and authors.
Gore Mountain is located in the Adirondacks, on Peaceful Valley Road in North Creek, N.Y. The area is an intermediate's delight with 60 percent of the runs just made for cruising. There's a vertical drop of 2,100 and 344 skiable acres. Four new glade runs have been recently added, bringing the total number of trails to 86. The resort now has snowmaking on 100 percent of its 344 acres.
The Greek Peak Ski Resort is the largest ski area in Central New York with varied terrain suitable for skiers and boarders of all skill levels. The area has 32 trails, from treed glades and cruisers to super steeps. Greek Peak boasts a 952-foot vertical and terrain serviced by six chair lifts and two carpet lifts at the base. There are terrain parks and a half pipe, snow tubing, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. Night skiing is available on 18 trails.
Hunter Mountain has long earned the right to call itself the "Snowmaking Capital of the World." The resort makes snow early, often, and in large quantities, so the moniker remains on the mark. The area is also known for the large numbers of singles it draws from the New York Metro areas.
Food offerings are atypical and blazed new culinary trails. You might even find sushi on the menu. The Catskill Club is a big draw. Located slopeside, it has 109 rooms, and indoor-outdoor pool with a spa and restaurant, and a health club and fitness center.
Peek'n Peak's terrain is spread out over 105 acres of skiable terrain, with 52 percent considered intermediate runs. Beginner or advanced skier or snowboarder? There are some runs just for you, too. The combination of 100 percent snowmaking capacity and availability of night skiing, makes it possible for any skier or snowboarder to experience a full day of fun on the slopes.
Whiteface, nearby Lake Placid, opened back in 1958 and is dedicated to the famed 10th Mountain Division of World War II. It was the skiing venue of the 1980 Winter Olympic Games. The area is serviced by 10 lifts including one gondola, one high-speed quad, one fixed-grip quad, one triple, five doubles, and one Magic Carpet. There are 225 skiable acres. The average snowfall is around 168 inches per year. The resort is the new headquarters for the New York Ski Educational Foundation.
Windham Mountain is located in the Northern Catskills about 118 miles from New York City and 60 miles from Albany. The resort boasts one of the highest vertical drops in the Catskills at 1,600 feet. It has 39 trails over 242 skiable acres, eight lifts that include one high speed detachable quad, five triples, one double, and one surface lift. Windham Mountain has a Mountain Top Adventure Park for snowtubers featuring 15 lanes and three tows. The proximity of Windham and Hunter can make for a varied weekend or vacation.
The state's offerings include Belleayre, Brantling Ski, Bristol Mountain, Buffalo Ski Club, Cockaigne, Dry Hill, Hickory Ski Center, Holiday Mountain, Holiday Valley, Holimont Ski Area, Kissing Bridge, Labrador Mountain, Maple Ski Ridge, McCauley Mountain, Mt. Peter, Plattekill Mountain, Royal Mountain, Snow Ridge, Song Mountain, Swain, Thunder Ridge, Titus Mountain, Toggenburg Mountain, Tuxedo Ridge, West Mountain, Willard Mountain, Woods Valley.
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