It was truly skiing history and definitely a nostalgic occasion when, on December 21, the Red Ribbon was cut at North Creek Ski Bowl, New York, opening the newly installed triple Village Chair. Local dignitaries, officials from the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) that manage the bowl, members of North Creek’s famous Backwoods Ski Club, representatives from the Town of Johnsburg, a full complement of ski journalist and local loyalist were all on hand for the ceremony.

            The Bowl is not just another ski hill. It was first opened on March 4, 1934 ski a train from Schenectady, N. Y hauled skiers there. Many mountains subsequently copied North Creek’s ski patrol procedures, the first of its kind in the nation. Famed broadcaster, Lowell Thomas and 70-Plus Ski Club founder, Lloyd Lambert, were regulars to the Adirondack ski location.

            As part of his dedication speech, Gore’s General Manager, Mike Pratt, said it was just the beginning of a long awaited planned development for North Creek.”  Eventually they’ll be housing units and retail stores and restaurants in the Ski Bowl area. No doubt the project will help North Creek Village and surrounding locations draw more year-round visitors. Pratt also pointed out that once the trails of big Gore are connected to the Bowl, Gore Mountain’s vertical drop will increase from 2,100 to 2,500 feet, giving it the 6^th greatest vertical in the East.

            Emily Stanton, Gore’s marketing manager, says the Village Chair features a green-circle family friendly slope of approximately 150 vertical as well as a terrain park with half pipe. The Bowl also offers tubing.

            Up a Gore we earlier had the opportunity to tour the new Northwoods Lodge where visitors will now go for rentals and other sundry equipment services. Northwoods is easier to access from Gore parking lot, makes for quicker time acquiring equipment, and equally easy access to the base ski lifts and gondola.

The new Northwoods Lodge also makes for more room in the main base lodge.

            Gore’s trail network is equal to anything in the East. Its snowmaking and grooming second to none and it is, as Stanton, points out, a truly family friendly ski/ride mountain.