This winter season has been, at times, difficult. Especially for a skiers who earn their turns in the backcountry, relying on Mother Nature to make it possible. After a March Nor’easter pummeled New York with 2 feet of snow in some places, it seemed like a fitting time to head back into the High Peaks wilderness in search of soft snow. My friend Jack and brother Bailey and I decided upon a couple classic lines within the MacIntyre Range: Algonquin’s » Read More » The NYSkiBlog: NYSkiBlog.com ..read more

This season I’ve been a dedicated New Yorker. I’ve managed to log 50+ days without crossing any state borders. The last storm delivered some late season magic in April. I had options in New York but I was ready to try something new. Magic was in the 12-18 inch zone on the NWS maps being published before the storm, and the mountain’s reputation for low key and crowdlessness piqued my interest. I planned to ride solo on Friday and meet » Read More » The NYSkiBlog: NYSkiBlog.com ..read more

Lucky for me I had plans to ski Killington with my friend Mark on Sunday March 24. Due to personal commitments, I couldn’t make the trip until Saturday, and knew driving conditions might get tricky going into the storm on Saturday. Just after getting on the Northway at Albany, Waze started giving reports that traffic was building ahead, which was the first sign of travel issues. A few miles north, the pouring rain started to freeze, which is where things » Read More » The NYSkiBlog: NYSkiBlog.com ..read more

“Don’t take off your snow tires yet,” my mechanic advised me. “It’s March. Anything can happen.” Sure enough, the following Sunday, snow started falling in Schroon Lake as I returned from rehearsal with Katye Kellye and The Interruption. I spent Monday, 11 March, clearing my driveway and an elderly neighbor’s driveway. On Tuesday, I drove to Cascade Welcome Center. When I arrived, it was already above freezing. For all I knew, this might be the last ski of the season. » Read More » The NYSkiBlog: NYSkiBlog.com ..read more

For me the Flower Skate Shop Rail Jam is now a must send event. For the 4th year in a row, the Jam at Snow Ridge closed the season down on the Tug Hill. It has become the embodiment of NY park. A carnival of riding, it’s sheer pandemonium as bodies get tossed. 55 riders come from across the state, some driving hours, to ride a 100’ magic carpet and slide on rails. It almost seemed wrong to be riding » Read More » The NYSkiBlog: NYSkiBlog.com ..read more

A storm was looming, but where to go? Feeling tired from the work week, and unprepared to spend the weekend away, we pondered the pros and cons of a handful of options. With Robert’s recent PSA to “get it while it’s good” front of mind, Evan and I hopped in the car Friday night to make the best of the weekend storm ahead. The last-minute decision was made to set out for a late-season powder day at Bolton Valley. We » Read More » The NYSkiBlog: NYSkiBlog.com ..read more

I had one day to ski last weekend and for me, this year, that means the Catskills. I wanted to ski those intermediate pitched bumps underneath the Belleayre Express. I also yearned to be back with my people, at Plattekill, on what was likely closing day. Early in the week, Plattekill was promoting St Platty’s Day without specifically mentioning skiing. Believe me I get it, Saturday was a long ways off. I decided I’d ski Belle in the morning and » Read More » The NYSkiBlog: NYSkiBlog.com ..read more

I’m done talking about the weather this year. Social media proclaimed the season over. The warm up is here and the four horsemen of spring rapidly are approaching. If you’re going to complain when it’s bad then you better get it while it’s good. As it happened the season wasn’t over, doomsday was averted as a large storm was rolling in last weekend. Forecasts favored northern and higher elevation peaks, so Farah and I set our sights for Whiteface. On » Read More » The NYSkiBlog: NYSkiBlog.com ..read more

The rain has been relentless. On my last two drives to the mountains I found myself doing my best Brook Benton baritone. It helps me adjust to a March that looks like April. Still, I haven’t given up on winter. Last week, with a chance of snow in NY, and a bit of now or neverism in my mind, I started making plans. I skipped skiing Saturday, convincing Scott to roll with me to our camp in the Adirondacks that night. » Read More » The NYSkiBlog: NYSkiBlog.com ..read more

Over the last few years I have been lucky to cover some amazing events and tap into the culture, the community and the park vibe in upstate NY. A few stand out as true zeitgeists like the first Berms, Bruises and Beers at Hunt Hollow. In Rome NY one movement is traveling with such velocity that it cannot be ignored. The SFM Skatepark Project was born from the tragic passing of Stone Mercurio last April and since then has grown » Read More » The NYSkiBlog: NYSkiBlog.com ..read more