Gore Mountain Ski Reports, 2020-2021

NELSAP

12/9/20 - First day of the season for NELSAP

Finally was able to hit the slopes this season at Gore Mountain. This year, I have the ORDA non-holiday pass, and an Indy Pass. Right now, the Indy Pass areas are going to be harder to get to due to distance/Covid travel restrictions. I used to ski Gore 1-3X per year, and Whiteface/Belleayre less so. With these restrictions, I'm really glad to have gotten the pass and will be able to ski Gore more - 50 min way to 2500' of vertical and 124 trails. Whiteface will also be a good option when the weather is nice, though that is farther away, 100 miles away, 1hr 40 min.

Anyways, Gore had a tough first weekend I heard, with snow quality not good, skied off, and WROD. However, that was in the past yesterday, where conditions were greatly improved. The ADK Express II and North Quad were open. 5 different ways down (you could go to Arena off off Lower Showcase), including those two trails, Sunway-Quicksilver-3B route, and Sleeping Bear, Tahawus.

Showcase and ADK Express II

No issues parking, booted up at the car and left everything there. They have a boot-up tent to use as well next to the parking lot.

I got about 10th chair up. The only line I saw was at 830 when it opened (another plus for Gore is that they open at 830 on weekdays instead of 9 like most areas). Everybody was spread out, and I saw 100% compliance for masks. I rode up as a single with one other at the other end of the chair a few times, and a few times by myself before I met up with a friend as well as a fellow NASJA member. The other positive thing for Gore is that because it is local to my area, I have about 10 ski buddies I can connect with, even on weekdays, for socially distant skiing.

There was 1-2" of fluff to start the day - so got first tracks on the first run down Showcase, which was a nice way to start the season!

Showcase and fresh snow

Made several runs there, then hit up the North trails and Quad once that opened. Sleeping Bear and Tahawus are narrow, classic, "New England" style trails with quick drops and rolls. These both have a 730' drop. The North Quad is slow unfortunately, taking longer than the much longer ADK Express II. The ride goes quick with good conversation on the lift however.

Tahwaus

Sleeping Bear

Later, the Quicksilver route opened up - it had new snowmaking that was wet and icy. There is one drop in the middle of this narrow trail that can be tricky, and the new snowmaking made it worse - later in the day, it got ground down by skiers and was easier to access.

Never had to wait in line the whole day.

Had lunch at the Saddle Lodge. It had maybe 20 people in it. This is a terrific mid-mountain lodge with great views, fireplace, and multi-levels of seating. Signs on the table said "20 min limit" but was not being enforced due to the emptiness of the lodge.

Got in 24,500' of vertical, 25 miles of skiing and 21 runs. This is a lot more than my usual first day of skiing. No complaints!

I can't say enough how good it was to be skiing again - it felt very "normal" and safe, and I'm hopeful for the rest of the season.

rickbolger

awesome! thanks for the report

yardsale

nice. looks like mid winter. I've never been to Gore.

Brklynskier

Thanks for the report. We're hoping to be there (my first time) for Christmas.

ski_it

Beautiful. It’s on my bucket list

NELSAP

Today was day #3 for me at Gore. What a day! They got a good dump from the last storm, but not as much as I got at my house (34"!). Probably about 10" there. Dry powder, and it made for excellent packed powder skiing.

It was cold, low 20s, but brilliant sun and blue skies, and endless visibility. I could see Mt. Marcy, Sugarbush/Mad River Glen, Camel's Hump, and Pico/Killington. Zero, and I mean zero, wind.

Today was the opening of the new trail, Pete's Paradise, formerly Cutoff, which used to be a narrow but nearly flat trail from the top of the Sunway Trail. It's been widened significantly, and is more like a connecting trail section than a trail you'd go to on purpose, but, it is a much better connector for other trails like Ward Hill and Little Dipper. I was the third skier ever down this new trail.

The new Sunway chair, a Skytrac Quad with a loading carpet, also opened today. Got to ride it in its first hour. It much more comfortable than the old Riblet double there. Without the midstation, it stopped less. There is a nice pod of mostly low-intermediate trails off this lift, which has a vertical of about 580' and rises about 50' higher than the old double.

Conditions were all quite good, lifts had minimal if any lines, and snowmaking continues on several new trails. The summit will be open soon. And the new High Peaks Chair, a Leitner Poma Quad, was also running for testing.

Enjoy the shots, JD

A view of the High Peaks from Ruby Run

Another expansive view of the High Peaks

Top of new Sunway Chair

More of Sunway

The start of Pete's Paradise (right)

Lower portion of Pete's Paradise

Location of former midstation of Sunway Double

Upper portion of Sunway Chair

Summit view

Tahawus, one of the best narrow, twisty runs anywhere with spectacular views!

yardsale

superb photos. Summit view - that looks awesome.

IBRAKEFORTBARS

These are great! Can Whiteface be seen from the summit of Gore or any Vermont ski areas?

NELSAP

I don't think Whiteface can be seen as the other High Peaks block it out. But I think Whiteface can be seen from the top of Sugarbush/Mad River, probably Stowe too.

IBRAKEFORTBARS

NELSAP;c-45503 wroteI don't think Whiteface can be seen as the other High Peaks block it out. But I think Whiteface can be seen from the top of Sugarbush/Mad River, probably Stowe too.

Ah, gotcha. Always liked these panorama shots with other ski areas visible in the distance. I think some of the best I’ve seen are from Killington Peak and photos from Mt Sunapee.

Of course, the most I’ve seen were from a Lufthansa 747 earlier this March: I saw so many resorts from Saddleback to Mt Snow.

lotsoskiing

IBRAKEFORTBARS;c-45505 wrote
NELSAP;c-45503 wroteI don't think Whiteface can be seen as the other High Peaks block it out. But I think Whiteface can be seen from the top of Sugarbush/Mad River, probably Stowe too.
Ah, gotcha. Always liked these panorama shots with other ski areas visible in the distance. I think some of the best I’ve seen are from Killington Peak and photos from Mt Sunapee.

Of course, the most I’ve seen were from a Lufthansa 747 earlier this March: I saw so many resorts from Saddleback to Mt Snow.

I've been on that route before...mesmerized as we came in right over LeMassif and then basically just east of the spine of the Greens. Saw a big lost PQ area just south of the St. Lawrence, most of the Townships areas, then from Jay to Butternut, then Catskills places at a bit of a distance. Really cool

ciscokid

Awesome clear pics!!

newpylong

Great pics, love Gore. Two new chairs from two different manufacturers in the same year seems odd.

ski_it

I gotta ski here. Beautiful

NELSAP

newpylong;c-45518 wroteGreat pics, love Gore. Two new chairs from two different manufacturers in the same year seems odd.

I believe it's due to the bidding process, lowest bid for two different lifts ending up being from two different companies.

NELSAP

If any of you get up to Gore, let me know and I'd be happy to show you around, if my schedule permits.

I have been very impressed by all the improvements at the mountain over the last 10 years, which led me to finally by the ORDA pass. It offers a lot of variety of terrain, good vertical, some of the best glades around, and some incredible steeps. There are also more classic, narrower trails here and there to mix it up. The Saddle Lodge for lunch has a view that can't be beat of the High Peaks.

The one thing it lacks is a more developed ski town. North Creek does have a few good restaurants and hotels, but not to the level of other ski towns. A lot of Gore skiers day trip from the Albany-Saratoga-Glens Falls area. There isn't the bed base for a large amount of vacationers. Lake George has more than enough bed base, but its 35 minutes away.

newpylong

NELSAP;c-45523 wrote
newpylong;c-45518 wroteGreat pics, love Gore. Two new chairs from two different manufacturers in the same year seems odd.
I believe it's due to the bidding process, lowest bid for two different lifts ending up being from two different companies.

I figured, just rememeber that happening anywhere off top of my head! Usually the multi lift bids win.

ADKskier

I always wondered why North Creek never really took off. Suprising with all the developments and improvements. What ever became of the Copperfield Inn?

lotsoskiing

ADKskier;c-45536 wroteI always wondered why North Creek never really took off with all the developments and improvements. What ever became of the Copperfield Inn?

Now the ADK Hotel and Phoenix Inn Resort

z1000307470

ADKskier;c-45536 wroteI always wondered why North Creek never really took off. Suprising with all the developments and improvements. What ever became of the Copperfield Inn?

Despite the tens of millions of dollars that New York State has invested in the huge expansion of Gore over the last 15 years, North Creek has regressed. There has been a huge population decline in North Creek. Businesses continue to fail.

Gore skiing (lots of blue trails) is very similar to Mt Snow/Stratton/Okemo yet it has stalled at about 210k visits since 2002. Mt Snow/Stratton/Okemo all are in the 600k plus range for visits. Gore could easily add 50K visits without changing the character/crowding of the skiing. Those extra visits would help the local North Creek economy, which is the stated purpose of NYS pumping all that money into Gore. The main reason for the failure is that ORDA (ORDA runs Whiteface, Gore, Belleayre, and the Olympic venues) refuses to market Gore in the NYC metro area. ORDA only cares about Lake Placid and filling Lake Placid beds and businesses. Lake Placid does not want Whiteface to compete with Gore which, for most people, has better skiing, better weather, and easier and closer access to the NYC metro area when compared to Whiteface.

It is an unfortunate situation and it will never change. I owned a place at Gore for 25 years (sold about 5 years ago) and it just wears you out. Here is a current example - the High Peaks double was highlighted for replacement in the 2002 Unit Management Plan. The lift is finally being replaced right now, 18 years later. This is typical. They are great at being penny wise and pound foolish.

I miss being a regular at Gore with its awesome tree skiing and terrain and no crowding, but I do not miss the lack of snowmaking horsepower, lifts closed midweek, waiting until recently for the outhouses at the top of Gore to be replaced with toilets, watching lifts live decades past their replacement. Despite the comments in this post, Gore is one of my favorite places to ski.

Most of my skiing weekends are now spent in the Magic/Stratton/Bromley area.