Whiteface Mtn, opening weekend: 11/28/2015

If I heard one more of my neighbors or co-workers remark about the "lovely" mild November I might have popped him one, but finally the just-barely-cold-enough nights allowed snowmaking crews to get Gore and Whiteface ready for the traditional Thanksgiving weekend season opener.

With temperatures soaring to near 60 degrees down here in the flatlands on Friday, we figured the best skiing on Saturday would be further north than Gore, so we headed to Whiteface to kick off our season.

2015-2016 Ski Season Preview

It may seem like fall is reluctant to give up its grip on the northeast, but ski season is just around the corner.  Gore and Whiteface are targeting the day after Thanksgiving to start spinning their lifts, with most other New York ski areas following suit shortly thereafter.

Take a look at what’s new for skiers and riders across the region in my Ski Season Preview article on Adironack Almanack:
2015-16 Adirondack Ski Season Preview

Cascade Mountain, Lucky 7 Slide: 10/26/2015

If you’ve ever hiked a High Peak, odds are it’s Cascade. Being the easiest and most accessible of the 46, Cascade gets climbed far more frequently than any other 4000-footer. While the summit offers great views, you don’t hike Cascade for solitude or wildness. But thanks to Hurricane Irene in 2011, a new slide provides an alternate route for more adventurous, experienced climbers.

Spruce Mountain: 10/18/2015

Saratoga County has a new hiking trail. Earlier this month the Department of Environmental Conservation announced the opening of a 1.2 mile trail up Spruce Mountain in Corinth, a 2000’ summit with a newly restored fire tower. We hiked the new trail on Sunday, and got our first taste of winter at the same time with temperatures in the 20s and 30s and pockets of snow on the ground.

Hurricane Mountain: 10/11/2015

If you're planning on hiking in the High Peaks region this fall hopefully you got up there over Columbus Day weekend. The colors will hang on for another weekend or two, especially at low elevation, but the foliage for the holiday weekend was as peak as it's gonna get this year. With three days straight of gorgeous weather, we decided to hike Hurricane Mountain, the popular 3700' peak in Keene that is well known for its panoramic views of the High Peaks.