North Creek Ski Bowl - Formerly North Creek T-Bar 9 Feb 08

P

phil

New member
On Sat 9 Feb 2008 my 12yo son and I skied a few runs at the North Creek Ski Bowl, {Previously known as the North Creek T-Bar, or Little Gore}.

We were skiing there after most of a day at Gore which is just down the road from it. Conditions there were a wet sticky snow falling that was right at the edge of becoming rain. At the time we were there we were the only people skiing and we did cut some fresh tracks in the trail side of their area. They had a couple of short trails thru a few trees, an open slope, and a small terrain Park.

Currently Gore is running the area. Daytime tickets on weekends are regular Gore tickets, with evening tickets available. Only open some evenings and weekends, maybe holidays. More activity was at the tubing park also there.
 
Nice to see some other folks reporting on Gore.

The Ski Bowl is really a part of ski history. It is one of the first ski areas in North America. Next year it will be connected to "Big Gore" with a quad, and the plan is to recut the original trails and use the original names - Hudson, Hudson Bypass, Ridge and Oak Ridge - I think. There are lots of pros and cons to this...there will be real estate, more skiers, and more terrain, more vertical, more BC access.
 
Tried to find an old map with the original trails, but no dice. I know nothing about NCSB and what's going to eventually happen... Harvey, can you fill me in or post a link?
 
This will take me some time, to find a decent link, and I'm trying to get out the door to get up to the mountain. I'll look for a better link if I can find some wireless when I get up there. For now this is what I could find it's old, but some details:

http://www.apnmag.com/spring_2006/northcreekskibowl.php

The original trails are of more interest for their history than pitch or elevation. From a skiers perspective, the real news is on Burnt Ridge which will be part of the connection. A HSQ will run from the Bowl to the top of the Ridge. Trails from the Ridge will go back to the ski bowl and down also down to the Triple - making the connection. The top of the Ridge is roughly equal to the Saddle in elevation - around 3000' or a little lower. Pitch on at least one of the runs will be steeper than Showcase and classified as a black. Another impact - the lower half of Twister glades is gone, but now you could drop in there from either side.

More as I find it.

M
 
Your welcome Admin

Thru family connections we belong to the Schenectady Wintersports Club which has a clubhouse near Stowe. On the walls there are displays that talk about early members of the club being involved with the snow trains and cutting the original trails at Gore. When we had a chance to ski there last weekend I just thought that seeing it was a must do. As a T-bar fan I'm sorry that the T-bar is gone
 
Harvey44":3693s8c1 said:
Nice to see some other folks reporting on Gore.

The Ski Bowl is really a part of ski history. It is one of the first ski areas in North America. Next year it will be connected to "Big Gore" with a quad, and the plan is to recut the original trails and use the original names - Hudson, Hudson Bypass, Ridge and Oak Ridge - I think. There are lots of pros and cons to this...there will be real estate, more skiers, and more terrain, more vertical, more BC access.
Click to expand...

Yeah, growth has been rampant in the North Country/Upstate region of NY. Do not want to upset the recession/depression that has been gripping the region - Buffalo to Binghamton to Albany - for 20 years or so.

The only negative I see is that the state of NY is essentially subsidizing areal estate development by paying for the link to the North Creek Ski Bowl from Gore Mountain - aka Burnt Mountain. Out west, developers often pay for these links. However, the state should probably not be in the ski business to start.

I understand the developer will pay for the new lift at North Creek Ski Bowl - and redevelopment of the trails. A nice pod of 1000 vertical feet or so. Probably a benefit instead of letting it go unused/overgrown. And a second, less-crowded base area is a plus.
 
ChrisC":2j1vcw1q said:
Yeah, growth has been rampant in the North Country/Upstate region of NY. Do not want to upset the recession/depression that has been gripping the region - Buffalo to Binghamton to Albany - for 20 years or so.

The only negative I see is that the state of NY is essentially subsidizing areal estate development by paying for the link to the North Creek Ski Bowl from Gore Mountain - aka Burnt Mountain. Out west, developers often pay for these links. However, the state should probably not be in the ski business to start.

I understand the developer will pay for the new lift at North Creek Ski Bowl - and redevelopment of the trails. A nice pod of 1000 vertical feet or so. Probably a benefit instead of letting it go unused/overgrown. And a second, less-crowded base area is a plus.
Click to expand...

Chris - you obviously know a lot about the expansion, it's great to read your opinion. Personally I don't mind the state giving the area a little push.

I'm not sure how it will turn out. One thing I've always liked about Gore is that IF the mountain is 100% open, the parking lot can be full and it still feels uncrowded. If the real estate dev happens, and I understand your skepticism on this point...I think the it will add a lot of parking, and not much terrain. Of course that's selfish on my part. I'm so close that I don't get competition for parking or first tracks.

One nice thing about Gore being on state land...there is no real estate on the mountain itself. I actually shared a chair on Friday with a women from Britain...who brings her family to Gore every year. She likes it better than Switzerland, France, Colorado and Utah. Because it is so undeveloped. I was flabbergasted.

I do think Gore is going "to happen" in the next few years. The cost of land is really rising. But if the developement does or doesn't happen it will be ok with me.

And one thing is for sure...as long as the majority of skiers would rather ride lifts than earn turns...there will be unlimited untracked skiing in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness for years to come.

Love it up there.
 
Harvey44":2w8v7u83 said:
Chris - you obviously know a lot about the expansion, it's great to read your opinion. Personally I don't mind the state giving the area a little push.

I'm not sure how it will turn out. One thing I've always liked about Gore is that IF the mountain is 100% open, the parking lot can be full and it still feels uncrowded. If the real estate dev happens, and I understand your skepticism on this point...I think the it will ad a lot of parking, and not much terrain. Of course that's selfish on my part. I'm so close that I don't get competition for parking or first tracks.

One nice thing about Gore being on state land...there is no real estate on the mountain itself. I actually shared a chair on Friday with a women from Britain...who brings here family to Gore every year. She likes it better than Switzerland, France, Colorado and Utah. Because it is so undeveloped. I was flabbergasted.

I do think Gore is going "to happen" in the next few years. The cost of land is really rising. But if the developement does or doesn't happen it will be ok with me.

And one thing is for sure...as long as the majority of skiers would rather ride lifts than earn turns...there will be unlimited untracked skiing in the Siamese Ponds Wilderness for years to come.

Love it up there.
Click to expand...

The Adirondacks are definitely a unique place. Even more so being a giant state park.

The state owned ski areas are a little bit of a throwback -- Gore and Whiteface in NY, Cannon and Sunapee in NH, Winter Park by City of Denver. I can see states being involved/helping development - especially initial development - but its just not their skill. I believe most revenue/profits generally go back/get lost in the general state funds - so it is hard for any mgt team to run them as a viable business. Capital improvements come from legislative action.

I think a better model is Sunapee being leased to the Okemo owners, or the City of Denver leasing Winter Park to Intrawest.

My problem stems more from the following:
Private developers have purchased 323 acres at the base of the historic North Creek Ski Bowl and are planning to build condominiums, hotels and an upscale day lodge on the site. Local officials said the $1.98 million purchase is a huge step toward making Gore Mountain Ski Center more of a destination resort, greatly expanding Johnsburg’s tax base and stimulating the local economy.

I assume any developer - especially politically connected - can make a return on $2M building the following.

The Ski Bowl Village at Gore Mountain is planning upscale trailside housing, an equestrian facility, retail shops and restaurants, a major hotel, two smaller inns, a spa, a private lodge, and a 9-hole golf course, all adjacent to the town's Historic Ski Bowl Park, the original site of skiing in North Creek (and one of the first in the nation).

Anyways, I agree it will probably happen in one form or another. However, some thoughtful development can probably help the region.
 
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