Gunks skiing 2018

Man, you have got to love Kenr's enthusiasm! 

Have fun. Better skiing than the Sierra!

Scoop wrote:

Better skiing than the Sierra!

Yes, better groomed-track cross-country than California's southern Sierra (not including the Lake Tahoe area) -- when the Gunks have snow (which right now is "just barely").

Gunks arguably have overall combination of close + far views on the trails, but for overall skiing (including probability of sufficient snow cover), then the Lake Tahoe Sierra wins easily.

. . . (but if take the Gunks combined with the other fun groomed-trail networks of the I-87 Thruway+Northway corridor, then maybe NY region beats Sierra for quailties overall). 

For lift-served downhill skiing, the California Sierra (including Tahoe) have way more and way better than the Gunks, the Adirondacks, and all of New England combined.

For ungroomed backcountry ski touring, the California Sierra mountains (even not including Tahoe) just blow away the Gunks, the Adirondacks, and all of New England combined.

I've spent lots of days skiing in California (and expect to spend lots more -- in years when there's good snow -- perhaps not 2018).

Here's a sample of what I ski in the Sierra backcountry just in
- - [ the Mt Whitney area ] - -

I really love skiing the Gunks, but there's lots more kinds of great skiing.

Ken

Mohonk Sunday report : hotel side

Fun day out.
As often here in the Gunks, reality on the snow was better than might guess from the official reports. Mainly wish there had been sunshine earlier to get some views.

Access from Gatehouse to Lake + Hotel was groomed, and Bridge Rd + Forest Rd + Long Woodland + Humpty Dumpty pretty nicely groomed . . . as in smoothed / "combed" for skating -- No classic tracks.

Skytop was not groomed, but several days of holiday human traffic had packed it to be very skatable (and Sharon liked it fine for classic striding) -- except for increasing bare spots toward the top. Perhaps best to go up along left (E) , then return the same way (instead of finishing the summit loop to the Lake view side).

Sharon also tried classic striding on Eagle Cliffs -- not at all groomed, but nice for striding -- sun came out for the great view across the lake to the tower above the Skytop climbing cliffs.

Less than an inch of new snow -- unfortunately just enough to make it difficult to see the bare spots. And the top layer of fluffy very cold snow tended to be a bit slow for skating.

Fee at the Gatehouse entry -- They told us $26 per person for using the trails. But since Sharon+I are Mohonk Preserve members, we only had to pay $10 each.

Ken

Prospect Mountain VT excellent snow conditions + coverage today. Sharon classic striding and me skating.

Farther drive and not as remarkably spectacular as Gunks skiing, but a nice break from gravel patches (didn't need my rock skis), and much wider variety of interesting fun trails, better grooming w heavier machinery -- 

 and the excellent skiing at Prospect will still be there in week -- after most of the snow  in the Gunks turns to dirty slush - (but let's hope for unpredicted sustained cold instead).

Ken

Gunks ridge did well in this last storm reported on MHXCSS, should have more cover on the trails. Hopefully Mohonk will groom lots more of theirs.

Sharon and I got out today classic striding on grassy park in valley down south. Enough snow to cover, though some thin areas due to high winds.

Likely the ungroomed is not good for skating because so variable, but perhaps not week Tue or Wed after a thaw-freeze cycle or two, might be some fun skating in valley parks.

Kem

Sunday likely skiing Gunks. Sharon mellow classic striding, me skate (perhaps including some ungroomed adventure). 

Might have some others joining already, but more could be more fun

If want to meet in New Paltz beforehand, send a message with your phone to my MP account.

Ken

Mohonk's latest report is that they indeed groomed lots more, including the golf course (north) side from the Gatehouse parking.

But not getting to groom Overcliff and Old Minnewaska until today. So . . .

Sunday there should be a groomed-trail connection from Trapps Bridge and West Trapps parking to Rhododendren Bridge + Lake Mohonk + Skytop.

. . . (Old Minnewaska connection is pretty steep: be nice if they also happened to groom Laurel Ledges).

Ken

The excellent XC skiing at Prospect Mountain continues, but all the snow on the old downhill runs ended up somewhere else :)

MountainProject Gunks ski day . . .
Started with varied arrivals to get together first in New Paltz for coffee + variety of lunch/snack options for the trail -- after newbies picked up rental equipment at Rock & Snow shop.

Sharon + Kevin + Sarah + Kevin got out classic striding on Mohonk hotel side, great views and (mostly) good snow / trail conditions on different chosen combinations of Humpty Dumpty, Eagle Cliffs, Sky Top, with different connections betweee them.

Afterward re-assembled with varied arrivals for dinner together afterward down in New Paltz.

ridge-connect Minnewaska -> Mohonk . . .
Meanwhile Sharon had dropped me off at Lake Minnewaska, and after a fun lap on the surface of the lake, I skied first track down ungroomed Sunset trail, then visited majestically frozen Awosting Falls, and skied (double-poling and marathon skate) on the (ungroomed) Old Minnewaska Rd above the S side route 44 and across it on Trapps Bridge, skated gentle on (groomed) Overcliff to Rhododendron Bridge, then up and up and up on (groomed) Laurel Ledge then (groomed) Eagle Cliffs to the remarkably view across Lake Mohonk to the Sky Top cliffs and tower - (nice that I can still pick out some fo the classic easy + moderate routes -- of course also the once-famous "hardest climb in America").

About the easiest trail conditions for the connection I could have hoped for -- but while the best trails around Lake Minnewaska and Lake Mohonk are spectacular, mucn of the connection between is fairly boring -- anyway a rather nice day to be out for a mild adventure challenge.

Ken

Cool report, Ken, too bad I was out of town. I want to head up this weekend but the weather seems to be warming up... Here's hoping.

Nice conditions up on Gunks ridge today reported on MHXCSS. 

Unfortunately we're busy until Saturday.

Rather pleasant valley classic striding this afternoon (but good for only today) - just barely enough snow in range of Newark airport for classic. Skating didn't work well, then Snow was so mushy I was able to do classic striding on my skate skis. 

. . (_Maybe_ some worthwhile crust skating first thing tomorrow morning I might try).

Seemed like East PA got more snow -- we might try there Fri morn.

Pretty good conditions at both Mohonk hotel side and Minnewaska Park yesterday reported on MHXCSS.

Dawn Patrol this morning 7:30
in range of Newark airport.

Lots of fun skating, with some short steps over melted-out asphalt trails and some slower sections over higher grass -- the joys of having "rock" skis ready. Delightful scenery and the big view, with a couple of downhill runs.

Yesterday afternoon was too mushy/sticky to skate, so did classic striding. After good re-freeze overnight, snow ready for skating this morning. But for now it's over -- to get the nice valley skiing, have to be quick to see the opportunity and know what to do with it.

? Maybe still enough in East PA for tomorrrow morning ?

Reports of good conditions upstate NY further N from Albany, so we might head up there this weekend for change of scenery.

Ken

Any current info on the snow up there? I'll be up this weekend and wondered if it was at all worth bringing skis after the recent storms. Snow in the woods? Carriage roads? I'd only be looking for flat / easy terrain.

Or plan on running?

We only got 3-4" last night here in Poughkeepsie, so I suspect there's not any decent skiing this w/e. Locals - feel free to correct me.

There’s still snow at Minnewaska, I’d bet this weekend is you’re last chance. Go early if you could, it gets soft and slow as the day warms up.

Still piles of snow up in ADK

Thanks for the info! Minnewaska updated their forecast and we did decide to bring skis and I'm looking forward to getting out!

Minnewaska still holding a little section of skiable snow yesterday, reported on MHXCSS. Looks like winter temperatures and fresh snow coming, so might be more for the weekend? or just enough to hide the rocks?

Instead Sharon and I betting on . . .
Fresh snow and sunshine at Prospect Mountain VT for Sunday April 8.
. . . (or fresh snow without sunshine on Saturday).
Good base on all the trails for us last Sunday -- I skied both low on the Beaver Pond and high up the Mountain Trail to the top.

--> Meet us before or during skiing this coming Sunday . . . Send a message to my MountainProject.com account. I'll be skating (and perhaps some ski-mo), Sharon mellow classic striding.

other places . . .
* Mt Van Ho farther N by Lake Placid reports still holding most of the their trails.
* Garnet Hill is holding on with fewer trails.

Catskills lift-served areas . . .
* Hunter Mt still operating reporting decent snow. Website says they permit uphill skiing only early morning _before_ the lifts start operating (8:30 on weekends) -- and the trails they say are permitted for uphill skiing are rather steep for normal cross-country equipment (and the gentler trails might be too icy).
* Belleayre still operating their lifts and downhill policy, but not sure what their policy is for uphill nowadays (and their cross-country trail network is poorly designed, not recommended).
* Windham stopped operating their lifts for the season last Sunday, and trashed most of the snow surface on their trails afterward. (Windham did have uphill skiing this year, and Sharon and I had a season pass for uphill skiing on their trails. We tried ski-mo there on Monday, not knowing that they had closed the day before).

. . . (I _might_ try ski-mo uphill at Hunter early morning Monday, but the forecast is rather cold and breezy).

Ken

I'll probably try a lap or two at Prospect Friday evening. Remind me to report back. And I'll be there on Sunday.