Hit the Slopes!

February 18, 2010
Belleayre, NY
Ski Watch Reporter Harris & Ski Watch Reporter Zelda

Ski Watch Reporter Harris and Zelda (a father-daughter ski team) skied at Ski Butternut in the Berkshires of Mass on Thursday, February 11. Here's what they had to say about their day on the slopes:

Temperature Base:: 25-36 degrees
Temperature Summit  22-30 degrees
New snow reported last 24 hrs:  2 plus inches
Winds: Variable: 15 -25 mph
Reported Trails Open from Ski Patrol Report: 52 Trails
Season Snow Reported to date: 86"

 

Belleayre Mountain received an abundant snowfall from 8*12" in the last 5 days.(2/13-17)  This includes the snow storm this past week that dumped a substantial amount of fresh powder (8-10") across the Bellearye Mountain Region. 

Having a substantial base in place before the storm, Bellearye Mountain skiers and snowboarders will have some of the best overall ski and riding conditions of the ski season for Friday and into this weekend (2/19-21).  The Mountain will offer 100% operation according to both the Ski Patrol and Bellearyre Mountain Superintendent Tony.   Both upper and lower Lodges, Discovery and Overlook Lodge and the Sunset Lodge will be open, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.  

Despite the awful weather conditions in the early afternoon, wind driven micro ice pellets, freezing rain and deteriorating visibility at 1 pm, conditions generally improved and cleared up by 2:30 pm and as a rapidly moving front pushed through the region, both weather and skiing conditions rapidly improved until closing at 4pm.

We found The best overall skiing and riding conditions were between 3 and 4:15 pm.  Some thin cover on more heavily trafficked slopes... not unexpected…generally excellent eastern skiing conditions   Outlook for this weekend looks great with heavy mountain grooming planned throughout the holiday weekend.

Skier traffic today was an issue early on... as many families and younger skiers and riders turned out during this holiday week. Despite the size of the turnout, moderate to heavy...Bellearye had 5 lifts and two tows in full operation today to handle the heavy turnout of skiers and boarders.  The Super Chief Quad and Tomahawk Quads offered the most reliable and consistent ways to the summit.  Chairs 1 & 2 became a great alternate for afternoon skiing as crowded slopes became less crowded with many calling it a day at 3 pm for the drive back home.

From the Summit, Belleayre Run, Ashokan, Mohawk and Peekamoose were favorite trails, offering expert level skiers and riders steep terrain with an abundance of surface powder for great carving and mogul skiing. 4-6" of surface powder and in some areas 6-plus inches on the far perimeters.   

Dot Nebel another expert trail offered the very best cruising terrain for the day.  This trail is really amazing, wide open for maximum cruising and offering beautiful views from top to bottom, especially after 3 pm.  Definitely the best kept secret of the day at Belleayre. 

Cathedral Brook and Roaring Brook Trails offered excellent surface conditions for intermediate skiers.

The half pipe for snowboarders was open, however surprisingly the terrain park was closed today.   Interestingly, there were far more skiers at Belleayre Mountain today than snowboarders allowing overall ski conditions to be less skied off at closing time. Usually we have found it the other way around at other ski areas this season with greater snowboarder turnout.  Belleayre typically attracts more skiers then riders.

A huge Spring Tailgate Party is being planned for March...check out the Belleayre Mountain Website for updates on this upcoming event now being planned by Tony the Mountain Superintendent.  He is really excited about this and is expecting the
best turnout ever for what he hopes will be a highlight of this ski season.  Remember this is Belleayre's 60th Anniversary.

Overall, we had a great day of skiing despite the bad weather for the early afternoon... things rapidly improved and Friday and this weekend look to be terrific as more scattered snow showers add some new fresh powder to a substantial base at Bellearye. 

Ski Tip: bring the right ski wax for changing conditions throughout this upcoming weekend.  You will have a ball!

-Ski Watch Reporters Harris and Zelda