The Global Ski Industry: Skier Visits

[jasoncapecod]

A good overview of Hunter. The only thing that needs to be further underscored is how in recent years their clientele is extremely unhappy with Vail's (mis)management of the mountain, especially the snowmaking, which was likely the impetus for the long-running "F Vail" thread on @Harvey's NY Ski Forum.

I haven't skied there in many years; maybe @jasoncapecod can mention his more recent experiences.

Such a shame that they never developed those big bowls under the true summit.

Haven't skied Hunter since Epic took over.. I refuse to ski any Vail owned resort( yeah i'm crazy).. Hunter Mtn proper is one of my fav Catskill hikes...Correct me if i'm wrong, the ski area tops out around 3200 ft +-...

 

[ChrisC]

Good and interesting views, but clearly old pics. There is no Hunter North expansion trails/lift.

Yes, I couldn't find any up-to-date pictures showing the rock/cliff bands.

Too green in summer

This was a nice, older aerial video of Hunter:

I always assume that everyone from back east knows that the Slutzky's who started Hunter were developers/construction guys first and were looking for something to bring people into the Catskills during the slow months of year. So they had easy access to low cost bulldozers, TNT, etc... back in the day when they chopped the runs into all that rock.

I was only vaguely aware of their love of dynamite.


I am only vaguely aware of Al Kryger's legacy at Greek Peak. To some, he is a visionary, having developed the Greek Peak ski area and resort base, introduced learn-to-ski programs, and pioneered adaptive skiing, among other initiatives. Others, I have heard, he was a wheeler-dealer or a thief.

 

[ChrisC]

My daughther lives in Cambridge, she will only ski in Southern New Hampshire when day tripping..She has a Indy Pass and a uphill only pass at Pats Peak..

Agree. Wachusett is a last-minute decision, as you could arrive in the afternoon and ski into the night. Never a planned outing - more like last call.

 

[EMSC]

Harvey says Plattekill's snowfall is similar to Belleayre, which claims 140. Windham claims 105. Why should Hunter, a higher mountain, be that much less than the other Catskill areas?

I don't buy any of those numbers for starters.

I am only vaguely aware of Al Kryger's legacy at Greek Peak. To some, he is a visionary, having developed the Greek Peak ski area and resort base, introduced learn-to-ski programs, and pioneered adaptive skiing, among other initiatives. Others, I have heard, he was a wheeler-dealer or a thief.

I would say that over the course of time that Al was there he leaves a bit of a complex story. As he did do the stuff in your first sentence. But he also screwed over a lot of people financially over the years too. Total salesman and big talker that was not overall good at actual business. I was mostly around to witness the latter not nearly as much the former.

 

[Tony Crocker]

I don't buy any of those numbers for starters.

That is certainly a possibility. In my rain vs. snow exercise, I looked for a location in the Catskills and found East Jewett, elevation 1,950. It had scattered data (aggregate about 25 years) averaging 81 inches snowfall. I'd be interested in Harvey's 2 cents here.