Belleayre Ski Center
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Belleayre Ski Center | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location: | |
| Top elevation: | 3,429 ft (1,045.2 m) |
| Skiable area: | 171 acres (0.7 km²) |
| Runs: | 47 |
| Longest run: | 2 mi |
| Lift system: | 5 chairlifts; 3 tows |
| Terrain parks: | 2 |
| Snowfall: | 160" |
| Web site: | http://www.belleayre.com |
Belleayre Ski Center, in the New York City Catskill watershed, is a NY State owned and subsidized low-cost attraction for family and beginners, straddling Ulster and Delaware Counties. It is located off State Route 28, just 3 hours from New York City. The Ski Center is managed by the Department of Environmental Conservation.
During the 1800s, Catskill and Adirondack deforestation had created massive siltation of NY City harbor and imperiled shipping up the Hudson river. In 1855 New York became one of the first states to create constitutionally designated “Forever Wild” preserves to prevent environmental and economic harms, to create a desperately needed water supply for NYC, and for future generations of nature lovers to enjoy. In 1947, the people of New York passed a constitutional amendment by referendum to allow an intensive use ski center within this protected forever wild region.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Statistical Information
47 Glades, Parks and Trails
Longest Run: 12,024 feet (3,664.9 m)
Vertical Drop: 1,404 feet (427.9 m)
Snowmaking - 96% of terrain
Skiable area - 171 acres (0.7 km²)
Hours of Operation - Lodges are open 8:00-5:00 pm daily, Lifts operate 9:00 - 4:00 pm daily
8 Lifts
1 Detachable High Speed Quad - "Super Chief" located in the Intermediate/Expert Area
1 Fixed Grip Quad - "Tomahawk" located in the Intermediate/Expert Area
1 Triple Chiar - "Lift #7" located in the Intermediate/Expert Area
2 Double Chairs - "Lifts #1 & #2 located in the Novice/Beginner area
3 Handle Tow - located in the Novice/Beginner Area
TERRAIN: 39 Trails, 5 Glades, 1 Rail Park, 1 Terrain Park, 1 Half Pipe
Beginner 22%
Intermediate 58%
Expert 20
9.2 Kilometers of Cross-Country Trails.
[edit] Trails, Glades & Parks
- Number of Trails, Glades & Parks: 47
- Percentage of Terrain:
-
- Beginner 22%
- Intermediate:58%
- Expert: 20%
"Key"
- (B) - Beginner/Green Circle
- (I) - Intermediate/Blue Square
- (A) - Advanced/Black Diamond
- (E) - Expert/Double Black Diamond
"Easiest Trails"
- (B)Catawba Pass
- (B)Chief's Cut
- (B)Chinook
- (B)Dakota
- (B)Discovery Way
- (B)Easy In
- (B)Easy Out
- (B)Huron
- (B)Iroquois
- (B)Mohican
- (B)Oneida
- (B)Running Bear
- (B)The Canyon Top
"More Difficult Trails"
- (I)Algonquin
- (I)Ashokan
- (I)Belleayre Run
- (I)Cayuga
- (I)Cathedral Brook
- (I)Deer Run
- (I)Dot Nebel
- (I)Eagle Falls
- (I)Esopus
- (I)Expressway
- (I)Horseshoe Pass
- (I)Mohawk
- (I)Onondaga
- (I)Peekamoose
- (I)Pepacton
- (I)Ridge Trail
- (I)Roaring Brook
- (I)Seneca
- (I)The Canyon
- (I)Tomahawk Crossing
- (I)Tongora
- (I)Wanatuska
- (I)Winnisook Botton
- (I)Yahoo
"Most Difficult Trails"
- (A)Algonquin Top
- (A)Belleayre Run Top
- (A)Dot Nebel
- (A)Mohawk Top
- (A)Onteora
- (A)Peekamoose Top
- (A)Tuscarora
- (A)Wanatuska Top
- (A)Winnisook Top
"Expert Trails"
- (E)Cathedral Brook
- (E)Onteora Top
- (E)Seneca Top
- (E)Tongora Top
- (E)Utsayantha
- (E)Yahoo Top
"Glades & Parks"
- (E)Chippewa Glade
- (E)Glen Glade
- (E)Belleayre Glades
- (E)Lift Line Glade
- (E)Winnisook Glade
- (E)Area 51 Park
- (E)Rail Park
[edit] Lifts
| Lift Name | Type | Length | Vertical | Cap./Hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chair 1 | Double Chair | 3,792 | 479 | 1,200 |
| Chair 2 | Double Chair | 3,792 | 479 | 1,200 |
| Little Creek Tow 3 | Handle Tow | 725 | 98 | 540 |
| Skiwee Tow 4 | Handle Tow | 725 | 115 | 540 |
| Handle Tow 5 | Handle Tow | 400 | 40 | 540 |
| Superchief | Detachable Quad | 4,866 | 1,133 | 2,400 |
| Triple Chair 7 | Triple Chairlift | 2,861 | 806 | 1,800 |
| Tomahawk 8 | Quad ChairLift | 3,412 | 923 | 2,400 |
[edit] Cross-Country
Belleayre Mountain cross country trails are separated from the downhill slopes. Cross-country trails have no trail use fee. Lessons for cross-country are available on weekends and holiday periods. There are 5 cross-country trails at Belleayre Mountain totaling 9.2 kilometers. Trail markings range from easy to difficult to accommodate all ability levels of cross-country skiers.
| Name of trail | Rating | Length/Miles | Length/KM | Trail Marking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Green | 1.5 | 2.4 | Novice |
| AA | Green | .7 | 1.0 | Novice |
| H | Blue | 1.1 | 1.8 | Intermediate |
| HH | Blue | 1.5 | 2.3 | Intermediate |
| J | Black | 1.5 | 2.5 | Expert |
[edit] Snowmaking
Natural snowfall averages 111 inches annually. Currently 160 of 171 acres (93%) of ski slopes at Belleayre Ski Center Snowmaking are covered by snowmaking capacity. Snow is made as weather patterns indicate favorable conditions and 4,480 gallons of water are converted to snow per minute. The snowmaking guarantees winter operation of the facility daily through the entire winter season. Water is pumped from the Belleayre Beach directly to storage ponds. During summer operation the ponds are open to the public for summer recreation, including swimming and boating at the Belleayre Beach.
[edit] Development and Controversy
[edit] Belleayre Resort Project
On September 5, 2007, New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer announced, as part of an agremeent with a developer that is proposing a huge hotel/condo/golf resort bordering Belleayre, that New York State will acquire from the developer "78 acres at the former Highmount Ski Center to be integrated into a westward expansion of the state-owned Belleayre Mountain Ski Center". This large private development, called "The Belleayre Resort at Catskill Park"[2] has been subject to years of political opposition from environmental activists and competing business owners, and to lengthy environmental review processes.[3]
For the last 8 years, the exhausting review of Dean Gitter's proposed Belleayre Resort has overshadowed the future of the entire area. This controversial golf-ski-hotel-timeshare-shopping mall-real estate project has drawn intense opposition from local residents on environmental, economic and legal grounds. Last year, Governor Eliot Spitzer brokered back-door public/private negotiations offering up to $75 million in taxpayer money to expand the state run ski area to benefit the resort. State budget shortfalls make this increasingly unlikely to happen. A second round of Public hearings will be scheduled soon, giving skiers and residents an opportunity to participate in the SEQRA[4] review process.
[edit] Private ski area opposition to public ski area development
Neighboring commercial ski areas Hunter Mountain and Windham Mountain oppose both the Belleayre Resort project and any improvement or expansion of Belleayre Ski Center, and also advocate additional measures such as
- Delaying or eliminating funding for renovation of Belleayre Ski Center lower lodge
- Forcing Belleayre, a state-run public resort, to charge private resort ticket prices
- Shutting down Belleayre ski center altogether
In opposition to the private ski areas are customers of Belleayre Ski Center and local business owners in the neighborhood of Belleayre whose businesses depend on Belleayre tourism. The proponents of Belleayre development staged a political rally in Albany, New York in March, 2008, to present their views.[5]
[edit] References
- ^ "History of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Belleayre Mountain Ski Area"
- ^ The Belleayre Resort at Catskill Park
- ^ "Reporter should have contacted Belleayre Resort project developer, too"
- ^ State Environmental Quality Review Act
- ^ "Belleayre supporters lobby for expansion, deflect opposition from Hunter, Windham", by Jay Braman, Jr., March 29, 2008
