Big Tupper Snow Reporter: Chris Iwinski

Chris Iwinski will be joining NYSkiBlog this season as one of our Big Tupper ski reporters. Chris wasn’t born into a skiing family; but luckily his mom surprised him with his first snowboard in 1998. "That winter I took my pudgy 4th grade self, in homemade snow pants, to the top of West Mountain. I instantly fell in love with snowboarding."

After teaching himself to slide on snow, he began to beg for rides to West and Willard mountains. Once he reached middle school, he joined the ski club and was able to ride many of the major resorts.

After spending a year and half in college, he loaded up his ’93 Honda Civic and headed to Breckenridge, Colorado for the winter of 2008/09. In Breck, he paid the bills by working at Cecilia’s, a noted local club. Then, in the spring of 2009, he came back to New York and met Jess.

Jess loved skiing as much as Chris loved snowboarding and in 2010 they moved back to Colorado together, where they experienced the best winter of their lives. They worked nights and skied six days a week. But even with nearly unlimited access to big backcountry lines and bottomless powder, they still were missing something they love: home.

Jess and Chris are back east, living in Lake George, enjoying a lifestyle they're passionate about. Along with snowboarding, Chris has his hands in many other activities: hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, XC skiing, surfing, running, fishing, boating and supporting live music.

Big Tupper Ski Reporter: Mike Ranellone

Mike Ranellone is joining NYSkiBlog as one of our two new Big Tupper ski reporters. Mike is a 19-year-old English major at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. He grew up in Saratoga Springs and has been skiing since age five. He learned at Maple Ski Ridge in Rotterdam, NY which was a smaller, local alternative to West Mountain.

Within a few years, his family became regulars at Jiminy Peak. Now, he's a proud passholder at Gore Mountain in North Creek. He managed to ski exactly 40 days last season "without flunking out of school," with his Gore pass covering 30 of those days. "I love Gore’s laid back atmosphere and surprisingly great terrain."

Mike raced with the Saratoga Springs High School team for four years, but now trees and bumps are the name of the game. Of his four pairs of skis, he relies on 181 Icelantic Nomads the most. "I used to click into them only on the deepest days, but I’ve found them to be useful in most conditions, with the exception of ripping slalom turns down a freshly-groomed Lies."

In addition to skiing New York, he's hit most of the major ski areas in Vermont, favoring low-key mountains like Mad River Glen. He's after fresh tracks, good food that doesn’t break the bank, and the company of back-to-basics skiers.

"Big Tupper feels like a community mountain to me and I look forward to bringing what happens there on the slopes to your computer screen. Thanks to Big Tupper and NYSkiBlog for the opportunity."

Hickory Ski Center Work Days

It's that time of year again when Hickory Ski Center begins preparing the mountain for the upcoming ski season. Saturday, October 1 will the season's first Mountain Work Day and Hickory is looking for help.

Volunteers should meet at 9 am on the deck of the lodge and work will be finished by 2:00. Be sure to bring sturdy boots, work gloves, water, lunch, appropriate tools, and a vivacious attitude. In addition to seeing our trails take shape and meeting other hard working skiers and riders who enjoy playing in the woods, volunteers will receive a complimentary day pass voucher or credit toward a season pass for each day they work. Make sure you receive your voucher before you leave the mountain the day you work.

Paul Moore will be the Mountain Crew Leader this Saturday. Contact Paul if you can attend: paul_m12019@yahoo.com or (518) 384-1180.

Hickory will have a second work day on Sunday, October 23, from 8 am - 1 pm. Please call or email Martha Van Vleet at hickorymartha@aol.com or (518) 798-3962 if you can attend on that day.

Jamie Schectman of Mountain Rider's Alliance

Jamie Schectman is more than an avid skier — skiing is a driving force in his life. As one of the founders of the Mountain Riders Alliance, his goal is to develop environmentally-friendly, rider-owned ski areas around the world. He dreams of resorts that produce more energy than they use by limiting resort infrastructure and using alternative energy sources like solar, wind, micro hydro, and geo-thermal to run operations. We spoke with Jamie about his passion for skiing and his vision for "values-based ski areas."

NYSkiBlog: Where were you born and when did you start skiing?

Jamie Schectman: I was born on Long Island, NY, but I moved to California when I was four. I went on a ski trip to Mammoth Mountain in junior high school and was instantly hooked.

NYSB: What did you do after you were “hooked?"

JS: During high school, I saw the movie Hot Dog and knew right then what I was going to do with my life. I moved to Squaw Valley after I graduated at the age of 18. I first started as a lift operator, but quickly realized watching other people skiing was not my calling and found a job making sandwiches. The kitchen was at the base of the mountain and the shift was 4pm - 11pm. I thought I was in heaven.

Wanted: Big Tupper Ski Reporter

Harvey Road, the NYSkiBlog is looking for a reporter to cover skiing, conditions and happenings at the Big Tupper ski area in Tupper Lake, NY.

Responsibilities include skiing, picture taking and writing for NY Ski Blog and the NY Ski Forum. We'll cover your lift tickets in exchange for your well-crafted prose and beautifully composed photographs. We'd like someone who could ski the hill at least once a month from opening until close. If interested send a note to us at harvey44@nyskiblog.com.

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Interview with Jessica Pezak of Hunter Mountain

There have been significant changes to Hunter Mountain over the past few years including the installation of two new high speed lifts and the addition of North America's longest and highest zipline.

We spoke with Jessica Pezak, Hunter’s Marketing Communications Manager, to check in on things at Hunter.

NYSkiBlog: First, did Hunter suffer any damage from Irene?

Jessica: Incredibly, no. We suffered zero damage. There is some normal erosion here and there, but that's to be expected with that much rain. We had sandbags out and were prepared for water rushing down the mountain, and that really made a difference. While our towns were devastated, the Hunter lodge escaped unscathed.

NYSB: What is happening at Hunter this off-season?

JP: The most significant news is the installation of the West Side Quad. It’s a big step up for us, and I think our West Side skiers and riders are going to be pleased. Otherwise, we had success with Bluestock, and our expanded relationship with WDST. Zipline tours are in full operation.

Jean-Claude Killy Skis the Trees

You can learn a lot about skiing by following SkiMadWorld. And on Friday nights, you can learn about skiing while watching great video.

Recently MadPat posted a piece on Jean-Claude Killy and his legendary accomplishments, in the late sixties and the 1968 Olympics. When I finished reading, I got drawn further into YouTube, and I found this silent video of Jean Claude in the trees — it's really beautiful skiing.

"Killy came to a ski camp I was at in 1970 — Lange International Racing Camp at Mammoth Mountain. He could ski so well. He ran a course and we all went over to look at his perfect carved turns in the salted snow. I have never seen anyone with such body control and quickness in my life. It was otherworldly."

-YouTube Comment

Echo Cliffs at Piseco Lake, NY

Echo Cliffs on Panther Mountain are at the end of short, steep, well-worn trail off the West Shore Road on Piseco Lake. The climb offers challenging blowdown, interesting boulders and rock formations, a steep scramble for the summit, and a great view as a reward.

We found this hike in Kids on the Trail! published by the Adirondack Mountain Club. It's another great kid-friendly hike, but again today the book's vague instructions for reaching the trailhead were frustrating.

With the Eastern Adirondacks potentially off limits due to the effects of tropical storm Irene, we again looked to the west in our new guidebook. After hiking Castle Rock, Neve wanted to climb again for more views. We made the hour long drive over to Piseco Lake.

Castle Rock at Blue Mountain Lake, NY

Castle Rock rises five hundred feet above the north shore of Blue Mountain Lake in the Central Adirondacks — a jagged peak at the end of a short but steep hike, that starts at the end of Maple Lodge Road.

We learned of the Castle Rock hike through Kids on the Trail! — a guidebook recommended in an NYSkiForum thread we posted looking for recommendations on kid-friendly hikes. In our first experience with the book, we found it, for the most part, well organized and easy to use.

Over the last few years, as our now five-year old daughter has gotten more able and interested in hiking, we've tried to seek out short rewarding hikes, that would get her excited about walking in the woods.

Friday Fantasy Photo #28

Harvey on Wayout • Hunter Mountain, NY • December 20, 2009

"Conditions started as firm, but edgeable corduroy. The morning progressed and it began to warm up. As skier traffic loosen up the surface, it became obvious that the manmade snow was piled up very deep. Over on West, Claire's was the run of the day. Big bumps, deep manmade and continuous, relentless snowmaking..."