TAP NEW YORK: GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!

What started out twelve years ago with a couple hundred beer fanatics and a handful of craft brewers at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park is now the longest running craft beer and food event in New York State.

We're not talking about big-corporation beer that comes out of huge vats...we're talking about hand-made beer.... not beer that is rushed through the brewing process to get it on the shelf as quickly as possible, but beer with enough personality and genuine taste to be called "craft-brewed".

TAP New York has grown over tenfold through the years to now encompass the entire Base Lodge facilities at Hunter Mountain. Over 30 invited breweries representing over 100 individual beers offer everything from IPAs and lagers to wiesbiers, doppel and trippel bocks, stouts, ales... pretty much any variety you know of, and probably a few that you don't.

We're already up to 29 breweries registered so far for TAP NY 2010 (with some regulars not yet responded). Newcomers to TAP NY like Fire Island Beer Co., Middle Ages Brewery and Empire Brewing Company have now signed on as well.

TAP New York is also about food. Each year we offer plenty to eat and best of all...it's included in the ticket price. The food theme for 2010 is barbecue. Take a look at what's in store!

So join us this April 24th & 25th as we TAP New York at Hunter Mountain in the beautiful northern Catskill Mountains. Hours are 1pm to 5pm Saturday, 12 noon to 4pm Sunday.

BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!
Saturday Early Full Admission: $59 if purchased on-line before April 24th
Saturday Designated Driver: $20 ...also $20 at the door, if available
Sunday Early Full Admission: $45 if purchased on-line before April 24th ($50 at the door, if available)
Sunday Designated Driver: $20 ...also $20 at the door, if available
Two-Day Full Admission: $99. There are a very limited number of two-day full admission tickets available. These will not be available at the door.

Need a ride? Jump on these party buses with your fellow beer enthusiasts and stumble up to TAP New York on Sunday!

Urban Sherpa: 917-692-5222
OvrRide: 347-559-1787

That's it everyone. I urge you to call your friends and click on TAP-NY.com or HunterMtn.com to purchase your tickets today! You and your friends at TAP NY is surely one of the best ways to welcome spring!

Deals deals deals!

We're still open!

We're offering discounted lift tickets through the end of the 09/10 season...

• $46 midweek tickets... and $23 for Big Lift Card holders or when you show your 09/10 season pass from a closed mountain!
  
• $56 weekend tickets... that's $42 for Big Lift Card holders or when you show your 09/10 season pass from a closed mountain!
• Check out our offer for 09/10 closed mountain season passholders here !
• Also remember we've got an amazing offer for Killington going on !
  

PONDSKIMMING today!

Well folks, it is a BEAUTIFUL morning here in Hunter, the sun's out, the pond's ready, we've got Nike 6.0 here, Solid Smoke band, DJs, outdoor bar & a deck party to begin sooner than later. Today will be 77 degrees...you may doubt the viability of skiing or riding in this weather, but I suggest you stop by and talk to one of the many boys and girls skiing or riding in shorts & t-shirts!

In case you can't make it, check out the webcams.. you can see the pond in the left-hand side. We hope to see you! It's going to be an awesome day, and don't forget we're giving away a 2010 MINI Cooper at 3pm!

In the clouds....

Our webmaster pointed this out this morning... the Summit Webcam image (as 8:10am)... Amazing, right?

Big weekend coming up!!

We are looking at some incredible weather this weekend, and we're ready! Saturday shows a high of 72 degrees and sunny skies... what a perfect time to take a dip in the pond! Our FREE Pondskimming & Bump Competition kicks off on Saturday , sponsored by Budweiser. Pondskimming is free to enter, and free to watch, so come on out! We'll have lots of live music (Solid Smoke out on the deck, plus a guest DJ), giveaways, a deck party and unbelievable conditions for everyone to enjoy!

We've got a new video available at YouTube.com/huntermountain... check out footage from last weekend right here!

The Hunter Mountain Racing Foundation will be holding their annual Pig Roast on Saturday, so if you're in the mood for some BBQ, head on over! All proceeds from the roast go to the Hunter Mountain Racing Foundation. Head over to gohmrf.org for more info!

We're also giving away a 2010 MINI Cooper! While we expect everyone at Hunter on Saturday to have an awesome day, we're promising one lucky winner an unforgettable one!

We've got some end-of-season ticket pricing for you... when we reopen Wednesday, our late season pricing will kick in, and stick around for the remainder of the season:

• $46 midweek tickets
  
• $56 weekend tickets
  

Remember, Big Lift Card holders, this means you! Big Lift Card holders will receive $23 midweek tickets and $42 weekend tickets!

We've decided that for our final weekend open (April 10-11), we're going to give you one last 50th Anniversary special: 2 for $50 lift tickets ($25 per lift ticket). Join us to end an incredible ski season with our last 50th Anniversary special!

New Video Available!

Hunter closing midweek Monday & Tuesday... will reopen Wednesday

Due to some inclement weather coming our way starting tonight, we'll be closing down Monday & Tuesday, and will reopen Wednesday (3/31).

Thanks! We hope to see you all soon! We've had another wonderful weekend, and we have YOU to thank for it!!

You Should Be at Hunter Today!

We have plenty going on today at Hunter! The weather is starting to warm up and it's turning out to be a gorgeous day. Today's high is 42 degrees with plenty of sunshine!

Come out to the Goodbye March Jib Session brought to you by Muscle Milk and Lift Gear. Muscle Milk will be here this afternoon with plenty of samples and swag! Lift Gear's in the house with plenty of giveaways as well!
Registration 3-5pm
Jam- 5pm

Rip's USSA Spring Open is today! We are hosting our biggest USSA race series of the year today and tomorrow. This is a J1, J2 and second year J3 scored GS from mid-station down Eisenhower to Race City.

Don't forget! Tomorrow is any mountain season passholder's day!
Bring your 09/10 season pass from any other mountain and we'll give you a free lift ticket on Sunday! Must be a full- or midweek 09/10 season pass.

Want to get some extra runs in? Today the lifts are open til 5pm!

Happy Spring & HUGE Savings!!

It's spring, and April is near, but there's still a TON of awesome stuff going on! Before we start with the specials... you heard it here first... we'll be installing a new lift for 2010/2011! See below for more info!

We've also got two new videos this week: our weekly recap video, and a new terrain park video!

Some other stuff to keep in mind:

• Great weather coming up! Sunny skies and highs around 40 this weekend... a bit on the chilly side compared to last weekend, but PERFECT conditions and the deepest base in the northeast!
  
• We've got a great offer for discounted Killington lift tickets & rentals for 09/10 Hunter season passholders! See below for more info!
• Killington offers continue to lift ticket purchases! Purchase ANY lift ticket at Hunter now through April 11th and receive a $29 lift ticket at Killington and a $20 rental! Killington voucher is redeemable from April 12 through the end of their 09/10 season! Visit HunterMtn.com for more info!
  
• We're giving deep discounts to season passholders of closed mountains! Save big, and keep skiing & riding at Hunter! Visit the website to learn more about what you can save if you're a passholder of a closed mountain!
• Customer Appreciation Day is this Friday, March 26! Visit the following retail locations (first come, first served!) -- Potter Bros, Ski Barn, Pelican, Paragon, Burton SoHo, Blades, Panda, Emilio's, Homage, Pedigree, SnoHaus, D&Q, Buckman's and Brave New World for your $25 lift ticket voucher! The voucher is ONLY valid on Friday, March 26!
• We're open until 5pm again on Saturday, March 27! Make that extra sunlight work for you... stick around on the slopes, on the deck or in the lodge and enjoy an extra hour of skiing & riding!
  
• Sunday, March 28 is Any Mountain Season Passholder Day! Bring your 09/10 season pass from any other mountain and we'll give you a free lift ticket on Sunday! Must be a full- or midweek 09/10 season pass.

Hot Off The Press! POMA 6-pack lift installation beginning soon!

We know the skiers and riders who call Hunter Mountain home love our slopes and the energy that surrounds us. We also realize that for our skiers and riders to truly enjoy these slopes, we need to invest in "your" mountain...what better investment, than a brand new base to summit lift?

Leitner-Poma has consistently been the leader in high-speed aerial lifts for the winter sports industry and they have been chosen to supply Hunter Mountain with a detachable Six Pack lift to replace the existing Snowlite Express (Quad-Lift). Construction will commence as soon as our season ends and we plan to have the new Six Pack up and running for some late summer Sky Ride enjoyment.

This capital improvement is another major step in the effort to make your experience here at Hunter Mountain all it could be... And that's not all. In the summer of 2011 we also plan to remove the Z & Y lifts on our famed West Side to make room for a Quad that will carry a new line and allow for better snow making coverage over the black diamond terrain.

We're looking for a name...so please drop us a line if you think you have the perfect name for the new Six Pack at Hunter Mountain!

Stayed tuned and watch our progress on HunterMtn.com all spring and summer long.

Exclusive deal for 09/10 season passholders:

Two (2) $29 lift ticket vouchers to Killington!
Show your 09/10 season pass at the lift ticket window and receive two (2) $29 lift ticket vouchers valid April 12 through the end of Killington's 09/10 season! Check HunterMtn.com or Killington.com next week for another exclusive offer for Hunter Mountain season passholders!

There are a number of other exclusive offers for spring skiing & riding at Killington, available to Hunter Mountain passholders & ticket purchasers. Head over to this page for more information about what we've got to offer you: some of the best late spring conditions in the east, at Killington, at incredible discounts!

SPRING FLING IN FULL EFFECT!

If you're not here we feel really sorry for you! This is without a doubt one of the most pristine days in years. We've come into Spring skiing and riding with one of if not the deepest bases in the east. Spring Fling is happening...volleyball, snowtubing, skydiving competition, snow bar and bbq, live music inside and outside the base lodge and best of all....SUN! The webcams don't like check out these epic conditions. click here

Spring Fling :: March 20, 2010!

Spring is in the air this Saturday and a trip to Hunter Mountain will have you enjoying a bluebird day complete with amazing conditions. Saturday’s weather calls for a sunny day with a high near 60. Get out the suntan lotion, put on your Hawaiian shirt and get ready for spring skiing and riding at it’s best.

Outside on the slopes Never Summer will be holding it down with a sneak peek snowboard demo for their handcrafted 2011 line. Oakley will be on-site as well for the afternoon and the rail jam. The March Into Spring Rail Jam is free to enter…registration will be at the Never Summer tent from 2-4 pm. Rail Jam starts at 4 and runs till 6 pm.

DJ DL and DJ OZ will be spinning all your favorites inside and outside the base lodge. Route 23A Band will start at 4pm and rock the evening away…these guys always get the crowd jumping.

The Paraski Skydiving exhibition will run throughout the day…and will prove to be an amazing sight above the slopes. These skydivers including the famed US Army Team Golden Knights will land on a bulls-eye right at the bottom of the slope…you’ve got to see it to believe it.

Heineken has a snow-bar and BBQ outside on the slopes…just in case you need a cold one or a hot dog between runs. T-shirt giveaways, games for kids and adults, rail jam, snowboard demo, Oakley tent, Heineken bar, and the best in entertainment.

What a day we have planned…come out and enjoy the sun! Spring Fling at Hunter!

Up To 50% Off Regular Season Rates at the Kaatskill Mountain Club & Liftside Village!

What’s The Secret To Enjoying Spring Skiing & Riding?

• Go where the snow is. Hunter Mountain got dumped on three weeks ago with over 7’ of snow! We had a mixed bag of precipitation last weekend that didn’t affect our base…meaning the condition of our slopes is epic for this time of year.
• Stay Close. Whether weekday or weekend lodging…how about slopeside ski-in/ski-out accessibility…we’re talking 200 feet to the nearest slope and a quick minute ski to the high-speed quad.
• Find The Best Accommodations For Less. Stay now at The Kaatskill Mountain Club and Liftside Village for up to 50% off regular season rates. Studios with kitchens for just $125 midweek/$150 weekend per night. One-bedroom Jacuzzi Suites, sleep 4, just $165 midweek/$200 weekend per night. Two-Bedroom Jacuzzi Suites, sleep 8, for just $195 midweek/$250 weekend. Best of all…the amenities: indoor/outdoor heated pool, hot tubs, sauna, steam room, video game room, full-service Mountain Club Spa, VanWinkles Restaurant and much more.
• Watch the weather. Spring weather can be fickle so we’ve extended a 48-hour cancellation policy for all reservations booked for Spring skiing and riding.
  

We invite you to enjoy Spring skiing and riding the way it should be enjoyed. THE BEST FOR LESS! Up to 50% off regular season rates at the Kaatskill Mountain Club and Liftside Village. The best snow and the best terrain…closest to the NYC and metro area…only at Hunter

New Video Available!

3" of snow at base, 7" at summit...... rain everywhere else.

I was told this morning that the Thruway & parts of northern New Jersey are flooded, but you'll be pleased to know we got very little rain, if any at all; we received about 3" of slushy, wet snow overnight, and a ski patroller told me this morning that they have about 7" of drier, fluffier snow at the summit.

I'll try to get some pics up today... check out the weather forecast from Tuesday on!

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 25.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 50.

Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 28.

Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 49.

Thursday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 29.

Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 52.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 31.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 54.

Rain down there, snow up here! 5-7" coming to Hunter!

Well, we have certainly enjoyed the week of sunny, blue skies... but mother nature is back with a vengeance!! Y'all may be getting rain down in the metro area (even as close as the Thruway corridor) but we've got sleet now, and the National Weather Service tells us it'll be changing to snow over night... with a grand total of 5-7" of snow coming to Hunter.

Throughout the day we've received some slushy mix, but the temperature is dropping, and we're keeping our fingers crossed. With temps dropping more over night, we're hoping for some fresh pow pow! It's March, and more snow's coming... we hope to see you! Keep checking back here, and Twitter, and at HunterMtn.com!! We'll be posting some pics and info as it keeps coming down!!

Tuesday eNewsletter Blip

Hello from Hunter Mountain!

We have had the most epic spring conditions EVER for the past week!! First we get 7 feet of snow, then the sun comes out and we have amazing 45-50 degree days with full sun! What a winter, right?? We expect to be open until April 11, in case you were wondering! Any Mountain Season Passholder Day is scheduled for Sunday, March 28... we've got a lot of people asking about it!

We've got two new videos up this week... our weekly video with a recap of the previous weekend, and a new terrain park video! Check them out below!

For those of you with Big Lift Cards, you've got a special day coming up on Sunday! Bring a friend and get a $39 lift ticket for him or her this Sunday, March 14!

Season pass & Value pass sales will go on sale next week, with huge incentives to purchase before May 2, 2010! Stay tuned for more details or check back at HunterMtn.com!

Great weather coming up Saturday & Sunday!

Hello everyone!

We have some incredible weather coming up this weekend -- SPRING CONDITIONS! With highs in the 40's and sunshine both days, we're expecting PERFECT spring skiing & riding weather! Check out what NOAA has to say:

Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 41. Northwest wind between 6 and 13 mph.
Saturday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 22. West wind between 7 and 9 mph.
Sunday: Sunny, with a high near 42. West wind between 8 and 13 mph.
Sunday Night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 22.

YOWZA! Bring your sunglasses! I don't know about all of you, but we are TOTALLY ready for spring... and here she comes. Thanks again, Mother Nature! We've got some cool stuff happening this weekend, including the US Chefs Race on Sunday... hang around later on at the bar for live music, a DJ and more! Snowtubing is open, and it's a great weekend to slip n' slide on our snowtubing chutes!

We hope to see you -- have a fantastic weekend!

Happy Tuesday!

It's a beautiful day here, and for the first time in over a week, the sun is out! We've got a new video up with footage from the weekend below! We also uploaded our b-roll storm footage... check it out, also on our YouTube channel!

We've been all over the news with our record snowfall... we're hoping you saw us on Channel 13 or Channel 9! We hope you all have had a chance to come up and enjoy the incredible conditions... this week is going to be spectacular, and we're looking forward to the start of the spring skiing season with a HUGE base!!

This weekend is going to be one of the most incredible weekends ever, weather-wise. Sunny skies and highs in the high 30s! Don't have a car? Come with a bus... there are a ton of operators to choose from and even more pickup locations!

Blizzard B-Roll

Here's a quick look at the B-roll we made for TV stations and the National Weather Service...



Hope y'all saw us on Channel 13 last night! Still looking for the clip. We'll be on Channel 9 tonight!

Sunday Update - Lifts, Trails, Parking, etc.

Good morning campers!

Yesterday, Greene County issued a state of emergency and decided to close some roads on us for periods of time... there were power outages on the West Side... etc. But we woke up today to clean, wet roads (no snow, no slush), no wind, and no more heavy snow!

So here's the deal for Sunday:
- there are quite a few people who are more or less camping out in our parking lot. Dudes, we can't plow if your cars are there! We're hoping that by tonight everyone will have moved out of the parking lot so the entire lot can be spic & span. Until people move their cars, though, we will experience issues with snow in between cars/crooked spaces/etc. If you're parking there and decided to leave it in the lot (or have left it for the past few days *cough* grey BMW in my spot *cough*).... please move soon!
- there is power back on the West Side/Z-Lift. We will have Z-Lift running today... we just may open it a bit later than usual, but according to our Chief Engineer, power is not an issue, and our lifts have all been dug out... so it looks like we're good to go.
- please use caution & personal responsibility when driving through the lot. As I said, due to cars that have remained there for days, we're doing the best we can to keep it clean. Be careful and park responsibly. Once our lots are full, please understand that's it for us -- this isn't like Mountain Jam. We have no backup lots, due to SO much snow everywhere.

All in all, we're expecting 48 trails and 8 lifts today. Some lifts may open a bit late for obvious reasons. The main mountain face is running fine... but 7 feet is a lot of snow, folks. We're still digging out, and we will be for awhile. We're doing the best we can to operate to the best of our ability; due to the weather, the snow, the trees with weight on branches, the roads, we need to cooperate with many other entities that usually do not play a part in our operations.

We're trying to coordinate efforts with the county so that what happened yesterday does not happen today -- incredible traffic to the resort prevented emergency vehicles from being able to get here, which resulted in a temporary road closure. It's no longer snowing, and today is a new day.

Have fun & enjoy the powder. Thanks for your patience.

Saturday, February 27th, 2010....this day will be remembered for decades!!!

Good morning everyone....we had a little bit of a rough start this morning as we woke up to find the resort without power. But, Central Hudson worked fast and had us up and running in time to open. We all owe them some applause.

Another 10" tomorrow brings us up to just over 7 feet of snow since Tuesday evening. That's right...read that over....it did read 7 FEET! If you're sitting at home reading this and not on the mountain or in your car on the way....I have to ask....WHY ARE YOU NOT HERE? This is the biggest snow fall in that has hit Hunter Mountain since 1958.

The thru-way and the county roads are all in great condition. Everyone is here having a great time.

We've got 9 lifts ready for today and 52 trails....lots of fresh to find. Base temp is 31 degrees with a high of 34 today...white skies and some flurries....tomorrow is much the same. Amazing weather and epic conditions. You have to be here to believe what this looks like.

It's rare to see snowfall like this anywhere. Come and get it!

WESTWAY - Trail 44 - TO OPEN TOMORROW

Well folks, it's that time of year. Or, that time of decade. Or whatever the word is for half a century (if I wanted to sound smart I guess I'd look it up)...

We're opening Westway (otherwise known as "Trail 44") tomorrow. Actually, we might open it today, to be honest. But it's 1:30, and the West Side just opened, so no guarantees. Tomorrow IS a guarantee, though... 44 will be open!! Mother Nature has given us 65" of snow so far, and now we're giving you Westway.

That's all I've got for now. Our snowcats are gr-- I mean, plowing-- the parking lots. It's snowing like crazy. Still. I would expect at least another few inches, but our power & our internet are holding up, and we've got stuff running today. We've got a lot of people who braved the drive to come up today... from what I've heard, there is 0 snow at the bottom of the mountain. That's how weird this storm has been.

We hope to see you this weekend! Tomorrow is going to be GREAT!

60" of snow in 3 days in the Eastern Catskills...

We woke up this morning to over 30" of new snow from Thursday's storm. The plows are working as hard as they can and snowbanks are 6+ feet high on the roadsides. The roads are in surprisingly good shape considering the insane amount of snow we've received.

We've received 60" of new snow in the last three days, and according to most weather stations & outlets we'll receive another 4-8" or more today into tomorrow. Saturday things should cool out, and we'll be back to normal. Well, sort of. How far back to normal can you go when you get 5 feet+ of snow in three days?!

As for lifts & trails, we're not sure what we're running today yet, but I will post that info ASAP. We have NO electrical or power problems today; our internet is running fine as well, so I'm expecting at least 5 lifts to run...expect a few delayed starts due to cleaning the snow off. Right now our main issue is how many people can make it into work safely and in a timely manner... we've been digging for days!

We've got groomed & ungroomed trails, as well. Most of the double diamonds will be left mostly ungroomed; 1/2 the diamond trails will be groomed, and the other half ungroomed. The Milky Glades will be open-- everything on the main face will be open, the West Side will open once we get Z-Lift going.

Snowtubing will not be opening today, as far as we can see.

NEWS FLASH: It's snowing harder than ever here in Hunter.

The roads leading up to the mountain are clear...and on the mountain top...the plow trucks are keeping up with the falling snow. Believe me when I tell you that you will be amazed at the amount of snow here in Hunter. Epic conditions...deep powder....forget reporting in inches...now we're switching to feet. 4 FEET OF SNOW SINCE TUESDAY EVENING AND MORE TO COME. Tomorrow and the weekend shouldn't be missed by anyone.

This is the snow storm and conditions that we will talk about for decades.

With the mass amounts of snow our internet has been up and down. If you find our reservation system and/or eSki storefront inoperable please call these numbers for your reservations.

Slopeside lodging at the Kaatskill Mountain Club and Liftside Village:
800-486-8376 Ext 3011 and 3013 or direct at 518-263-5580

Group Ticket Sales and Bus Partner Reservations: 800-486-8376 Ext 2354

We will update the phone system every few hours starting tomorrow at 7am to keep you abreast of the conditions. For now...make plans to put the skis and boards on the roof rack...get your family and friends ready and head up for some unbelievable skiing and riding.

EPIC SNOWFALL YouTube vid - footage from Wednesday

Interweb returns / 30" this afternoon / Lift count for tomorrow

Aaaand we're back! That would be the Hunter Mountain interweb, which has been down all morning. So, here's the dilly. I made a sad attempt to snowshoe this morning, and ended up waist deep in powder. Not sure I would've gotten much farther with entire canoes on my feet. There is CRAZY snow, at least 3 feet, at the summit... if not more.

The Thursday storm seems to indicate the heaviest snow between 6am and 7pm (long time for heavy snow, huh?) We're slated to get 16-20". Keep in mind NOAA told us we'd get 4-8" last night, and we got 22". I can only imagine what their claimed 5-9" will bring us tomorrow!!

Some other blips of info:
1. Roads - the roads are awesome. Seriously. The county has taken amazing care of them, and I am impressed. I do drive a Subaru, but there are plenty people out and the roads were cleaned over and over all night last night... they will be in as good shape tomorrow.

2. Lifts - Lifts we plan to run for tomorrow (Thursday) are the Quad, B, C, GII, Z and Pony. Please be patient if they open a few moments late. There's a LOT of snow to clean out and we can only shovel so fast!!

3. Groomed/ungroomed - I took a ride up this morning, and I'll tell you that some of the areas do need some serious grooming. But the double diamonds have been left untouched, as well as at least 1/2 of our diamond trails. We know you guys love powder. We're just doing what we have to to make the unsafe areas safe.

4. If you think what we're telling you is a crazy propoganda ploy, I suggest you check our website, where I've uploaded a handful of new pics I took today into the flash roller. There's also a ton of info on Accuweather about what's going on, AND there's a new video en route to YouTube at youtube.com/huntermountain.

Snow total at 24...4 lifts today.

Just took a snow cat to the summit and back...there is a ridiculous amount of snow. Well over two feet at the summit. Photos coming whenever we get internet back. B, C, F, and the Pony are running today. Central Hudson is on its way and there are people rolling in constantly. Epic conditions here at Hunter and still snowing like mad. Get your powder skis and get out here!

Heading back out to take some more pics later in the afternoon!

22" of snow in Hunter Wednesday AM!

Good morning! I'm not able to update the top of our snow report page from my Blackberry so I'm updating y'all here. We received 22 inches of snow yesterday and overnight and from what I can see there is a lot more coming. The plows are working to clean up the parking lot and the roads are in surprisingly good shaper.

As of 7AM the power was out in Tannersville, which means email and web updates will be limited to what I can do on my Blackberry. Everything here is scheduled to run on time. 5-6 lifts and 51 trails today. Photos to come as soon as the Internet comes back!

It's a beautiful day here. And still snowing! We'll have an unbelievable weekend here...and for all you powder junkies...get up here!

Check back for another update in a few hours!

Crazy Snow RIght Here, Right Now... more to come!

We've been watching the weather for the past few days, and we've got some serious snow coming. The data coming in on our Accuweather Pro service is telling us 3-5 FEET of snow in the upper elevations of the Catskills and the Adirondacks. NYC could get 1-2 feet, as well as the Poconos and outlying areas. There is not one storm coming, but two or three... our buddy and weather guru Joe Bastardi is FREAKING OUT!

NOAA indicates 4-8 inches tonight, and 3-5 inches tomorrow (Wednesday), with more snow and lower temps rolling in on Thursday. There's also a map of predicted snowfall through Wednesday night (the first two of the handful of storms) available here.

What does this mean? Outrageous amounts of fresh powder, obviously!! We'll keep you updated on the snow totals as the snow comes in -- check back here and our Twitter feed for additional info blips. We've got a new video from this past weekend, as well, up on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/huntermountain!

VOTE FOR US! Snoweast Magazine's 2010 Reader Survey is available, and we hope you'll help us out by voting for Hunter Mountain! Visit the survey here!

This Week's Videos!

REVENGE OF THE WINTER MONSTER - 3-5 FEET OF SNOW COMING TO THE CATSKILLS... Starting... TONIGHT!

I wish I could show you guys our awesome Accuweather Pro video, but I was told it would get me in trouble. Joe Bastardi showed today that there is EPIC snow coming to the Catskills this week... 3 to 5 FEET in the Catskills & Adirondacks. 1-2 feet in the Poconos and surrounding areas.

The snow starts tonight... we'll keep you all apprised. Come get some! This is said to be the most epic storm in years, if not decades. I'll post (non-proprietary) news stories & forecasts as they come in!

Help us help our guest! Lost skis -- $200 reward!

We had a pair of skis taken from our base lodge area and are trying to help her get them back! There's a $200 reward... please e-mail me directly if you have any information, and I will forward it to her. Info below:

$200 REWARD
2009 Volkl Ledge Twin Tip Skis size 148 with Rossignol bindings were taken from Hunter Mtn on Saturday 2/13 outside Colonel Hall. They were in brand new condition used by my 12 year old son less then 1/2 dozen times. He is heart broken and if they are returned in decent condition I am willing to pay a reward of $200.

Again, please e-mail me directly with any pertinent information.

FREE - RECLAIM THE FAME RAIL JAM - SATURDAY

VICTORY IS OURS! 10" of fresh in HUNTER!!

I kind of feel like Stewie from Family Guy... but seriously, victory is mine. And ours. We have received a WHOPPING 10" of powder. I could hardly believe the accumulation until walking over a footbridge with 10" of snow narrowly stacked atop its wooden rails.

I've been updating Twitter, our snow reports, website and other stats all day long and for those of you who missed it, we posted a few pics here and there on the website -- but Hunter has been slammed with crazy white-out conditions all day and it's tough to get good pics when it's snowing so hard!!

We had an amazing day today, and Wednesday is going to be KILLER! High of 29, mostly cloudy, and flurries continuing throughout the week. We've got two days of sunshine coming this weekend and we hope you'll join us!!

25% OFF LIFT TICKETS, Children's Programs & Learn-To Packages Lodging Special!

There's never been a better time to come up for some great skiing and riding. We want to make this mid-winter vacation a little easier on your wallet...so check out this special offer from our slopeside ski-in/ski-out accommodations at the Kaatskill Mountain Club, Liftside Village and the Pinnacle Condominiums!

Reserve any slopeside accommodations at the Kaatskill Mountain Club Resort & Spa, Liftside Village or Pinnacle Condos and receive 25% off your pre-booked lift tickets, children’s programs or even a Learn-To package for the beginner in your group. Offer is valid for one night reservations, or multiple nights! This amazing offer is only valid on stays from February 15th - 21st, 2010. Only available on reservations made after February 15th, 2010.

This special offer will quickly fill the remainder of our rooms this week, so don't delay...call now to see if the date you need is available for your holiday fun on the slopes. The Kaatskill Mountain Club at Hunter Mountain...your Playcation Headquarters.

Call now to take advantage of this extraordinary offer - 800-HUNTERMTN or speak directly to our reservation staff by calling 518-263-5580. Visit the website at Kaatskillmtnclub.com!

Zipline Construction Underway... photo

While snowshoeing around the mountain on Saturday, I snapped a quick pic of some zipline construction going on in the woods near Hunter One. For those of you who haven't seen the zipline dudes working... they are! Check it out... along with the awesome Swiss army vehicle parked over by our ice bar!

Some random snowshoe info! Great day yesterday!

As I was working my way down a ravine yesterday, stepping over fallen tree branches in snowshoes (highly challenging I might add), it occurred to me that I should make everyone aware that there is snowshoeing available at Hunter Mountain! Snowshoeing is AWESOME, as it can be fast or slow, challenging or relaxed, walking or running, and there are endless opportunities throughout the Catskills for awesome snowshoe terrain.

While I did not see any other snowshoers yesterday in the Quad line or out and about, there are shoes available for rental and for purchase in our Sports & Expeditions Center... carry your snowshoes to the Quad and take the lift up! There are marked trails all over the place!

We went straight down the East Side, past the Rip Van Winkle statue and David's awesome industrial cactus (unfinished, photo to the left). Some beautiful views were had as well!

So, for more info on snowshoeing, check out the snowshoeing page at HunterMtn.com. You can also download a trail map here. Next weekend: Hunter Mountain Fire Tower!

Mardi Gras Party + Torchlight Parade, Fireworks & Rail Jam THIS SATURDAY!

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez... Let the Good Times Roll

Saturday, February 13th - Hunter Mountain is the place to be! Everyone knows our Apres Ski Bar Parties are epic...each and every weekend and are suitable for adults and families of all ages. Throw in our annual Mardi Gras Party complete with fireworks and torchlight parade and you've got the party of all parties during the 2010 ski season.

We've got thousands of strands of beads to give away all day long...and some Mardi Gras masks and hats for the evening.

We've also teamed up with our friends at Coors Light and will have some incredible prizes to give away all afternoon and evening. DJ DL will spin from the loft at the main bar starting at 1pm and roll on till 8pm. Captain Squeeze and the Zydeco Moshers, one of the hottest zydeco/cajun bands in the east start at 4pm and will be cranking out their own funky style (as they say...Nawlins' vibe). Get your dancing shoes on...these guys are as spicy as Jambalaya.

At 4pm is another one of our free Saturday Night Rail Jams...and this one has a special twist. It's a fun team competition that will not only test your skills on the rails and boxes but your agility while jibbing. Registration starts at 2pm at the top of the main stairs in the base lodge. You've got to be in it to win it!

We'll light up the sky again at 7pm with a grand fireworks show and torchlight parade.

Remember...the base lodge is BYOF (bring your own food) friendly after 4pm. That's right - we encourage you to bring a dish or two and set up your own party inside the base lodge and dance the night away. The sushi bar and Santini's Pizza will be open all night long too. **But please note that no outside alcohol is allowed within the base lodge**

The main bar specialty of the night...HURRICANES! What's a Hurricane? Just the best blend of vodka, gin, rum, amaretto and fruit juices...and we'll have them ready to pour all night long...because what's a Mardi Gras party without a Hurricane.

Want more fun? We've got a major film production studio on site to video the weekend's activities. That's right...Hunter Mountain may be the next site used for a new reality tv show...because well...that's how we roll.

So just as the winter holidays have become a distant memory and you've returned to serious work....our Mardi Gras party will put the bounce back in your step. The largest ski resort Mardi Gras party in the east is waiting for you at Hunter Mountain. So break out your green, gold and purple clothes or costume and repeat after me... Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez....Let The Good Times Roll.

The Ice Bar Returns for Presidents' Week!

Those of you who remember our awesome Ice Bar and outdoor BBQ surely remember how awesome it was. My buddy Martin Griff from the Trenton Times saw it during the January meeting of the Eastern Ski Writers' Association, and blogged about it here...

Well, it's back for Presidents' Week, and our snowmakers are cutting giant blocks out now. Stay tuned... there's more to come! It's no IceHotel, but it will be putting out some burgers & 'dogs during the holiday week!

Hunter Mountain Homies at WinterJam!

Some of our resident Hunter cuties are in NYC today for WinterJam 2010. Stop by and say hello to their smiling faces! :)


Some of our resident cuties are in NYC today for WinterJam 2010. Stop by and say hello!

Where's Andre?

Our Marketing Assistant and resident rock star Dre is hitting many many locations throughout the NY Metro Area...... and we want you to keep an eye out! If YOU see our decked out Hunter Mountain MINImobile and/or our wonderful marketing assistant, snap a photo, and send it to me, with the date and location. He'll be chillin' in the NYC area for the next two days, so keep those eyes peeled!

What's in it for you? A free lift ticket!

Tuesday eNewsletter

Good morning from Hunter Mountain! We are in the midst of the FDNY & East Coast Firefighters Races here! Check the website later on for photos!

We've got two new videos for you this week: our weekly video, and our bi-weekly terrain park video! Check them out on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/huntermountain! We have EPIC mid-season conditions. With luck, Mother Nature's cooperation & some help from our snowmakers, we're back up to 50 open trails... pretty amazing, considering last week's incredible 5 inches of rain! Don't believe it? See for yourself!

Presidents' Week will kick off with a Mardi Gras party on the 13th, complete with torchlight parade & fireworks! Get down with our DJ & the swinging New Orleans sounds of Captain Squeeze & the Zydeco Moshers!

If you missed the 50th Anniversary Bash....make sure you're at the Mardi Gras Party...last year's was epic! February 13th at the Main Bar!

We've got an awesome Presidents' Weekend discount:
Stay two nights at the slopeside ski-in/ski-out Kaatskill Mountain Club and receive an unbeatable 25% off your daily lift tickets, Children's Programs and Learn-To packages. The Kaatskill Mountain Club is the perfect playcation headquarters at Hunter Mountain. Enjoy the four-season heated outdoor pool, hot tubs, sauna, steamroom, luxurious rooms, and the delectable offerings at VanWinkle's Restaurant.

Offer is valid for reservations booked between January 25th - February 5th for stays from February 15th - February 21st. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discounts.

Special Lease Offer from Prestige MINI
Want a free lift ticket to Hunter Mountain? Drop by Prestige MINI, test drive one of these awesome rides and you'll get yourself a free lift ticket! If you haven't heard - we're giving away a bright red 2010 MINI on April 3rd, 2010! Pick up your entry at Prestige MINI, Rt 17 in Mahwah, NJ or here at Hunter Mountain.

Prestige MINI :: Official Vehicle Sponsor of Hunter Mountain

In case you haven't heard...

TAP New York tickets are on sale NOW!
Purchase tickets to our awesome New York State beer festival before it sells out! Saturday has sold out completely for the past few years - over 30 breweries, over 100 beers, plenty of vendors, live music & food... need I say more? Check it out at tapnewyork.com!

That's it for this week! Stay in touch with us by visiting HunterMtn.com and the Hunterblog! We'll be posting updates, surface conditions, videos and much more! Have a great weekend... make Hunter Mountain a part of it!

Quad down for maintenance Tuesday & Wednesday

Good morning! Just a quick note that the main quad (A-lift) will be down for maintenance today (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday).

Stay tuned for newsletter info... it'll be posted later in the day, along with some new videos!

RadXSports Video

Presidents Week Lodging Special!

We've got an awesome Presidents' Weekend discount:
Stay two nights at the slopeside ski-in/ski-out Kaatskill Mountain Club and receive an unbeatable 25% off your daily lift tickets, Children's Programs and Learn-To packages. The Kaatskill Mountain Club is the perfect playcation headquarters at Hunter Mountain. Enjoy the four-season heated outdoor pool, hot tubs, sauna, steamroom, luxurious rooms, and the delectable offerings at VanWinkle's Restaurant.

Offer is valid for reservations booked between January 25th - February 5th for stays from February 15th - February 21st. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discounts.

THREE NEW VIDEOS THIS WEEK!

We've got not one, not two, but THREE new videos this week!

• Weekly video, filmed on last Saturday, which offered us some of the most incredible weather of the season!
• Park video, which will give you an update as to what's going on in the terrain parks
• Snowtubing video ... our snowtubing operation is awesome, and hugely popular... we figured we'd let everyone know what's going on over in the snowtubing park!

Think Spring: Mountain Jam VI & TAP NY!

In case you haven't heard...

TAP New York tickets are on sale NOW!
Purchase tickets to our awesome New York State beer festival before it sells out! Saturday has sold out completely for the past few years - over 30 breweries, over 100 beers, plenty of vendors, live music & food... need I say more? Check it out at tapnewyork.com!

Mountain Jam is returning to Hunter Mountain... JUNE 4-6, 2010
Gov't Mule to headline 6th annual festival! Initial lineup also includes Michael Franti & Spearhead, Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi Band, The Avett Brothers, Les Claypool, Yonder Mountain String Band, Toots and the Maytals, Matsyahu, Dark Star Orchestra, Dave Mason & others! Plus Lettuce, Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights, Elmwood and The London Souls with MORE BANDS AND AN ADDITIONAL HEADLINER TO BE ANNOUNCED!

Tickets ON SALE NOW at MountainJam.com!

Hunter Mountain on WPIX11!

 

Hunter's Race Director to Ski 100,000 Verts to Fight Food Allergies

Hunter, NY - On Feb. 22, Hunter Mountain ski area's race director, Jim Catalano, is going to attempt to ski 100,000 vertical feet in one day at the New York State ski resort. One hundred percent of the money raised for this event will go directly to support the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network's efforts in food allergy awareness, advocacy, education, and research.

Two years ago, Catalano's son had eaten a bakery-purchased pizza dough that had something in it that caused him to go into anaphylaxis. Catalano and his wife had been aware of their son's severe allergies since he had reacted with hives and swelling to many foods that they introduced to him as an infant. Allergy testing revealed allergies to milk, peanuts, sesame, soy, berries, tree nuts and shellfish.

On the night that he had the dough, however, none of those ingredients were listed on the label, which referenced only flour, water and salt. This is when the Catalano family became aware of how trace amounts of foods, amounts that you can’t even see or smell, can make a severely allergic child have an anaphylactic reaction.

"This was the most frightening experience of our lives," Catalano recounts.

Through the Food Allergy and Anaphylactic Network’s (FAAN) website, Catalano learned that more than 12 million Americans have food allergies, including three million children. He and his wife also learned how to interpret the increasingly complex ingredient labels on foods, including how for example, casein, whey, etc. can be other words for milk.

The funds raised through Catalano's ski marathon on Feb. 22 will go directly to support the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network's efforts in food allergy awareness, advocacy, education, and research. "This is not a fundraiser for our son," he emphasizes. "This is a fundraiser for all people living with life-threatening allergies, in hopes of a cure."

To donate to Catalano's efforts, visit 100kforfoodallergies.blogspot.com.

Our Latest Videos!

Hunter Mountain Weekend Video Jan 16th - 18th 2010!!
RIDEHUNTER Hunter Mountain Park Vid No. 2 - January 17, 2010 - Day & Night!
Check out RideHunter.com for more park info, pictures, and videos!

Snowmaking started back up

Even though the skiing is still good we are going to improve the conditions to what we are use to at Hunter touching up spots all around the Mtn for the next few nights. -Bruce

Tuesday eBlast: MLK Weekend, New Videos, TAP New York & More!

Hello skiers and riders! Despite a cloudy morning, it has become a sunny and beautiful day today, and the good weather will continue throughout the weekend! If you missed last weekend's party, stay tuned for the sequel this weekend -- MLK fireworks on Saturday, complete with a DJ & live band (live music also at the Main Bar on Sunday!)

We've got two new videos... our weekly recap video is available here, and an awesome video from the snowmaking shop... Check it out here! Stay tuned for more videos every week at youtube.com/huntermountain!

Friday, January 22nd is another Customer Appreciation Day - you can pick up your $25 lift ticket voucher at any of the retail locations of the following retail locations (first come, first served!) -- Potter Bros, Ski Barn, Pelican, Paragon, Burton SoHo, Blades, Panda, Emilio's, Homage, Pedigree, SnoHau, D&Q, Buckman's and Brave New World.

We've got an awesome Burton women's program coming up in March - it's our third annual Burton Women's Learn to Ride Camp ! Join in three days of learning how to ride (March 12, 13 & 14) - price includes continental breakfast, training, lift tickets & rentals. Visit HunterMtn.com for more info!

Remember to save time & money with eSki! Sign onto eski.huntermtn.com to save money on lift tickets and pre-book your rental equipment ! You can also buy gift cards and many other items... it's never too late for a gift card. Redeemable from the Mountain Club Spa, to restaurants, in our retail shop and beyond, gift cards are available here.

Thinking of spring? TAP New York tickets are on sale NOW! Purchase tickets to our awesome New York State beer festival before it sells out! Saturday has sold out completely for the past few years - over 30 breweries, over 100 beers, plenty of vendors, live music & food... need I say more? Check it out at tapnewyork.com!

That's all for now... keep checking HunterMtn.com, as we are making some awesome changes to our photo galleries ! We hope to see you here this weekend... you won't be disappointed! Enjoy your week, weekend & holiday period and we'll see you soon!!

Get Lifted!

News Flash: Get Lifted Rail Jam this Saturday January 12th 4:30 to 6:30pm! Shred stick up for grabs!

Hunter Mountain Weekend Video Jan 9th - 11th 2010!!

From the Snowmakers...

Most awesome snowmaking video you'll ever see.

Tuesday eNewsletter!

Hello skiers and riders! We have had an amazing holiday week... thanks so much to all of you who shared in the winter fun here at Hunter! We've got a great weekend coming up -- actually, a string of great weekends -- and we hope you plan on joining us!

First, we've got not one but TWO (2) new videos -- one is our weekly wrap-up video, and we've got our first 09/10 terrain park video. New terrain park vids will be uploaded every other week, so keep an eye on our channel at YouTube.com/huntermountain!

It is ON at Hunter this weekend... our 50th Anniversary finale party kicks off on Saturday, after the groundbreaking for our new zipline project. The zipline groundbreaking starts at 2:30pm , followed by the Wall of Fame induction, followed by ESPN giveaways, bar promos, a DJ, live entertainment and Main Bar shenanigans. This includes fireworks!!

January is Learn A Snowsport Month! Bring your friends, family and take advantage of the great deals and incredible conditions this month! Here at Hunter, we have an entire Learning Center dedicated to enhancing the learning experience, with all of Hunter One providing some of the best learning terrain you'll ever find.

We've got on-demand first timers' group lessons on weekends and holidays (9am-2pm)... if you're renting, once you're set up, a staff member will greet you on the back deck, get you into a group, and off you go!

Here at Hunter, we've got one of the most streamlined, stress-free learning processess out there! Stop by and partake in a group lesson - you never have to worry about not getting into a lesson during busy times, and you don't need a reservation. Set yourself up to succeed right now, right here in our Learning Center!

We hope to see you this weekend as we celebrate the beginning of our 51st year open... and welcome New York Zipline Adventure Tours into the Hunter family. This is an exciting time for us and we hope you'll join us!

Snowmaking Update!

Here we go again!

Starting the guns up once again. Shut down during the day to give a reprieve to the skiers and boarders out there... it was cold and windy enough without us. The east side of the mountain was calm, and like a different part of the country, so we will concentrate tonight on the east side. Making snow on K27, East Side Drive and Milky Way, along with The Cliff and just about everything else that we can. With tomorrow's forecast, it looks like a great day sunshine, warmer temps and the winds dying down... so let's get out here and enjoy.

Snowmaking Update!

Snowmaking is shutting down for the day, but will start up again this evening. Here's the plan:

Well we are once again making snow to once again improve whats under your skis and boards with the weather coming in, it looks like we can cover the slopes with all that man-made powder we are used to here at Hunter. We will be moving all over the Mtn so we can cover as much terrain as quickly as possible so I wont list where we will be because we will be everywhere.

Hunter Mountain to provide base for North America’s longest & highest Ziplines & Canopy Tour

Groundbreaking ceremony January 9, 2010; operation slated to open in spring of 2010

Hunter, NY – Hunter Mountain has teamed up with New York Zipline Adventure Tours (NYZAT) to provide the longest and highest ziplines and canopy tour in North America. Construction of the ziplines, towers and canopy tour will begin immediately; a groundbreaking ceremony will be held on January 9, 2010 to correspond with the culmination of Hunter’s 50th Anniversary. The ziplines, canopy tour and adventure tower are scheduled to open in spring of 2010.

“Greene County was the ideal location for this project,” said Jay Bialsky, owner of NYZAT, which also operates similar ziplines in New Hampshire and Jamaica. “The Catskills combine beautiful terrain and easy access from the NY metro area.”

NYZAT will build three (3) separate tours on Hunter Mountain, from mild to wild, providing fun for all ages. The longest tandem ziplines, extending from the summit, will be over 3000’ long and nearly 600’ off the ground. The three individual courses will total almost 5 miles of ziplines, sky bridges and challenge elements.

Guests will be accompanied on tours of up to 2.5 hours by professionally trained guides. The facilities will operate year-round, utilizing Hunter’s chairlifts, terrain and base lodge. All design and construction meets or exceeds the latest safety standards as outlined by the Association for Challenge Course Technology (ACCT) and Professional Ropes Course Association (PRCA).

Mr. Bialsky also noted the support he received from Hunter Mountain, the Town and Village of Hunter, Greene County Economic Development, Tourism & Planning, Greene County Industrial Development Agency, New York State Office of Community Renewal and numerous other organizations.

“New York Zipline Adventure Tours will be the biggest attraction to hit Greene County since our ski resorts opened. There’s nothing like it anywhere near the NY metro area,” said Warren Hart, Director of Greene County Economic Development, Tourism & Planning.

Noting that the zipline is expected to attract 30,000 people during its first year and double that amount by its third year of operation, Mr. Hart added: “We expect the attraction to have tremendous spin-off benefits for the tourism industry here. People will be drawn to the zipline, then discover the many other recreational, cultural, lodging and dining opportunities in Greene County.”

NYZAT received a $200,000 low-interest Quantum Fund loan from Greene County, as well as a $200,000 grant from the New York State Office of Community Renewal. Dennis Lucas, Supervisor of the Town of Hunter, is the municipal sponsor of the grant, which is being administered by Greene County Economic Development, Tourism & Planning.

Division of Housing and Community Renewal Commissioner Deborah VanAmerogen said, “The Division of Housing and Community Renewal is pleased to be able to provide the final piece of critical financing to make NYZAT a reality at Hunter Mountain. This is another example of a strong private/public partnership yielding benefits for the local economy, providing another incentive for tourists to visit Greene County and more importantly creating twenty-nine (29) new, permanent tourism-related jobs for the residents of the Hudson Valley.

Hunter Mountain will assist in handling NYZAT’s marketing, public relations, communications and sales functions. The operation will be conducted out of Hunter’s base lodge.

“The new ziplines and canopy tour will provide another hugely popular and distinct reason to visit the Catskills,” explains Brian Czarnecki, Director of Marketing & Sales for Hunter Mountain. “We’re glad to have NYZAT join our team, and believe these adventure elements will be as exciting as anything we ever could have imagined. We’re elated to be able to offer such a distinct experience, available throughout the seasons at Hunter Mountain.”

“This project is a perfect example of the type of tourism investment needed to strengthen Greene County’s appeal as a four-season destination,” said Assemblyman Pete Lopez. “The innovation and creativity of the management at Hunter Mountain, together with the support of our state and local development agencies can only lead to more good things in the future. We must continue to promote similar partnerships with other businesses across Greene County.”

The groundbreaking ceremony will take place at 2:30pm at Hunter’s base lodge, in conjunction with Hunter Mountain’s 50th Anniversary finale. All members of the press are invited to attend. For further information, logos, photos or marketing materials, please contact Jessica Pezak at jpezak@huntermtn.com or via phone at 800-486-8376 x2339.