This storm should possibly open up a few local venues. Bellearye summit ridge had about a six inch base well away from the ski area on Friday. Should we add a foot or more, that should open up ........... and ............ and don't forget ........... or even .............
Let the fun begin.

Keep us posted! the second the cats. are BCable I'll leave the city and .................
were getting dumped on right now, which makes for some good local XC skiing. However I cant wait to................

Unfortunately, current weather prognositcations call for above normal temps and rain come the weekend, followed by hard freeze. Great for those doing the vertical ice dance. Get it while we can.

After nearly three hours of snow clearing at home, I finally hit the road. To late for anything too far north, so I headed up to Aumick Rd/Awosting Reserve. Unfortunately, the PA is not plowed as of 11am this morning. Probably good I did not head up.
Ended up at the Trapps. Breaking trail around the Trapps though with a team of others, was arduous. Never remembered it being this tough. Probably would have died doing it by myself.

Went to Windham on Monday (1 day after the storm), it was windy, but good dry deep powder (it was only my second time there, so I didn't venture into any trees - didn't see any open woods that could be skied). On Wednesday (3 days after the storm), went to Hunter - conditions still good though snow got heavier. Tree skiing is excellent, you still occasionally scratch the bottom, but it's nice and fluffy in the trees. Belleayre woods are probably going to be excellent this weekend. I'm, however, staying away from downhill this weekend - school is out and it's a bit of a mob scene out there...

were is there tree skiing at hunter mtn.?

Franky, Hunter has lots of trees, tens of thousands of them.LOL
On the other hand the commercial ski area only allows tree skiing on a very small portion of the mountain. "The MIlky Glade" off of "Milky Way" may be the only formal glade skiing at Hunter.

A hardcore Hunter devotee would propose that there is certainly some fine tree skiing side country at Hunter. But, be cautious, Hunter has a strong rep for cutting tickets of those caught poaching the king's lumber.

Now for the real Hunter experience, use nearly any other state foot trail to the summit or adjacent ridges and you'll have lots of glades, single track foot trails, an old jeep road, steeps, gullys etc.

I've no idea how good conditions are at the moment, probably hard and crusty off the groom.

Trees at Bellearye were just coming in to shape though only two of their formal glades were "open" last Friday before the big rains. Snow totals throughout the Catskills were spotty at best.

Skied at Bellearye today. They did get the advertised snow fall's 7 inches or so. Very little wind, so it just filled in all day. However, if the woods along the groom are any indication, the Catskill BC is not yet ready. I bottomed out a number of times riding the berm and some side country. Staying on the groom was a dream even with only the aforementioned 7 inches daily total on top of the snow from the last few days.

Went to Lost City today (Snow Day!!!!) after sleeping in.
About 7 inches of new fluff with little base left over. Big boards keep you floating unless you make a hard turn. Needs another storm to really come in.
Lost City Glades (Video)

Chris, 2011! Thanks for sharing.

I made a few to many of those "hard" turns yesterday. I'd be two or three turns into the trees and realize the absence of any base, then remember to ski flat. P-Tex required.