Gore Mountain in New York is a popular destination for skiers and snowboarders. As part of a series on ski resorts, Huffington Post Travel offers our guide to Gore Mountain, featuring all the key information snow lovers need to know before they hit the slopes.
The Basics
As the name suggests, this
is set on Gore Mountain in the Adirondack mountain range in the hamlet of North Creek, New York. Gore Mountain played host to its first ski enthusiasts on March 4, 1934, and has continued to attract thrill-seeking Alpine skiers ever since. The resort benefits from easy access, being just 1 1/2 hours by road from the
. Those traveling by rail can enjoy spectacular views from ski trains running directly into North Creek Village from Saratoga Springs. Gore Mountain offers a family-friendly skiing experience with trails for all skill levels as well as an on-site daycare for ages 6 months to 6 years.
The Mountain
is 3,600 feet high and boasts an impressive 2,537-foot vertical drop. The resort has
and an annual snowfall of 150 inches. The resort can manufacture up to 95 percent of its snow coverage from water pumped from the Hudson River, which it began tapping in 1996. The longest run on Gore Mountain is 3.7 miles. Most trails are made up of wet and granular snow. The winter season runs from mid-November through mid-April, while summer sightseers can enjoy the resort's gondola and mountain biking trails between July and October.
Trails And Lifts
The resort offers 94 Alpine trails, including 19 glades and eight cross-country runs. Intermediate skiers can use 60 percent of the available terrain, while 30 percent is reserved for experts. Beginners can enjoy the safest 10 percent of the resort's skiable area.
's signature Showcase trail is a fast downhill single-track run with impressive drops -- it's not for the novice. Skiers can make use of a selection of 13 lifts, including 10 chairlifts and a gondola lift. Snowboarders can take advantage of the resort's terrain park and half-pipe, while those looking for backcountry excitement can head for the glade trails. Those interested in tubing can enjoy 800 feet of tubing trails.
In The News
Although not used in the Winter Olympics held in nearby
in 1980, Gore Mountain joined the New York Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) in 1984. The resort has since benefited from support and funding from the ORDA, New York state and the federal government to ensure the legacy of the games lives on. The resorts hosts various events throughout the year, including the
community food drive, an annual fundraising ski-film day, a New Year's Tubing and Skiing Party and a United States of America Snowboard Association Boarder/SkierCross event. The resort uses nine sides of four mountain peaks: Gore, Bear, Burnt Ridge and Little Gore mountains.
Cost
A
costs $68 for an adult and $55 for a senior or teen. Children start at $37. Adult rates rise to $75 and $79 per day on weekends and public holidays respectively. Children younger than 7 can ski for free when accompanied by an adult. Gore Mountain also offers multiday packages that cost up to $289 for a five-day adult pass. Adult full-season passes start at $849. Group rates are available on purchases of 20 or more tickets starting at $47 per adult per day. Shaped ski, snowboard and blade rentals begin at $44 a day for teens and adults, with discounts available for multiday bookings. Cross-country ski and snowshoe rentals start at $18 a day. Visitors can also take advantage of a range of
at Gore Mountain. These start at $118 for kids and $130 for adults.
Apres-Ski
Skiers and snowboarders certainly aren't short on lodging choice when it comes to winding down after descending Gore Mountain. Local accommodations include hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, cabins and vacation homes.
provides the ideal environment to indulge in some apres-ski refreshments. Alternatively, weary visitors can retire to a number of guesthouses, such as
or the
. Hungry guests can find fare at the resort's
or the
, or they can journey into nearby North Creek or Lake George for a wider variety of restaurant selections.
WATCH: Gore Mountain Ski Resort
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Some skiers may need a little practice before joining these guys on a few of the more demanding runs at Gore Mountain.