Harv's NY/VT Pictures Thread
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Siamese BC, NY: 2/06/26 - Hooper Mine and William Blake Pond
Zelda hoks William Blake Pond
Not a great shot but a great moment for me, us.
Yesterday was awesome. First time taking my wife into the BC this winter season. Up to the Hooper Mine and over to William Blake Pond and back down to the trailhead.
She's been insistent she wouldn't ski again (ACL) and has been exclusively snowshoeing, on our property. We were given a pair of Hoks and she tried them here at home, and really liked them. The are short fat skis with a skin built in to the bottom. Originally developed for hunters.
Zelda works from home, sets her own schedule to some extent, and tries to keep Fridays light. Yesterday am she told me she was up for some hok'ing in the Siamese. To reassure her I carried her snowshoes on my back, but we didn't need them.
Whatever happens, I am digging it.
Ski Day 65.
Zelda hoks William Blake Pond
Not a great shot but a great moment for me, us.
Yesterday was awesome. First time taking my wife into the BC this winter season. Up to the Hooper Mine and over to William Blake Pond and back down to the trailhead.
She's been insistent she wouldn't ski again (ACL) and has been exclusively snowshoeing, on our property. We were given a pair of Hoks and she tried them here at home, and really liked them. The are short fat skis with a skin built in to the bottom. Originally developed for hunters.
Zelda works from home, sets her own schedule to some extent, and tries to keep Fridays light. Yesterday am she told me she was up for some hok'ing in the Siamese. To reassure her I carried her snowshoes on my back, but we didn't need them.
Whatever happens, I am digging it.
Ski Day 65.
EMSC
Well-known member
So basically a cross between a backcountry ski and a really long snowshoe. Never heard of them before. Perfect place and season for such winter tools though. Also perfect to get out there before the big weekend cold snap!
Likewise. Looks great.
Agree.
Not a coincidence on the cold snap.
Still cold today, but warm enough to hok our woods.
From one of the NYSkiBlog regulars . . .
January 2023
ANCIENT ART: HOK SKIING IN THE HIGHLANDS
Titus, NY: 02/11/26
I drove to Titus on Wednesday and it paid off. Snowed the day before, the night before and all day.
Twelve runs off lifts 5 and 6, including several completely untracked.
Route 30, the road to Titus
First chair on Lift 6
Sweet Sugar Lou
After lunch I earned a lap on the closed upper mountain. At foot of new snow on top of the groomers.
Upper Mountain base
Lovin' the Leanto for skin transitions
Not a track under Lift 8
Titusville Express
Maybe the best run of the year for me.
Story and more pics:
I drove to Titus on Wednesday and it paid off. Snowed the day before, the night before and all day.
Twelve runs off lifts 5 and 6, including several completely untracked.
Route 30, the road to Titus
First chair on Lift 6
Sweet Sugar Lou
After lunch I earned a lap on the closed upper mountain. At foot of new snow on top of the groomers.
Upper Mountain base
Lovin' the Leanto for skin transitions
Not a track under Lift 8
Titusville Express
Maybe the best run of the year for me.
Story and more pics:
Harv racking up powder days in the awful east.
Is the table below still accurate? It's a Hall museum?
Is the table below still accurate? It's a Hall museum?
FIFY
There are 9 or 10 lifts, all Hall. Only two different kinds (haul rope diameter) so they got a lot of interchangeability.
Honestly I've never seen a fixed grip like Lift 6. They run it REALLY fast. The liftie cranked it up to full speed to get the snow off it, when I showed up! And then kept it hammering all day.
Titus should make a bigger deal of that in their marketing: a "made by real people in northern NY State" pride thing. Do they cannibalize their retired chairs for replacement parts? It must be challenging for the very few ski areas that still use Halls (e.g. Plattekill, Smuggs, Monarch) to find parts.
Lookout Pass had a similar situation going on with Riblet, the WA version of Hall. Maybe not every chair but most of them were Riblets back when we went there in 2013; however, they've been replacing them with different makes. Riblet ceased ops in 2003; Hall was sold off in 1982?
FIFY. LOL I know that's what you meant.
Doppelmayr makes parts for Hall lifts. Because the are so reliable (ie many are still in service) it's worth it to them.
However at some point that will no longer be true.
Val Bialas Reopens in 2026
Last time the lift spun here was in 2017. Energetic young mayor, snowboarder, gettin it done. Cold air too.
Val Bialas
Robert
The Glades
Sunset interview with Mayor Michael
Ice Skating
Utica
Story:
nyskiblog.com
Last time the lift spun here was in 2017. Energetic young mayor, snowboarder, gettin it done. Cold air too.
Val Bialas
Robert
The Glades
Sunset interview with Mayor Michael
Ice Skating
Utica
Story:
Val Bialas Opens in 2026
The city of Utica is pushing an all-season approach for the sports center.
nyskiblog.com