wow, now I get it. Didn't realize lower lodge, and didn't realize trail going over road. Looks cool! Thought the whole thing was up top, and the bridge was to eliminate crossing trails. This is neat! Looking forward to trying it out.
Agreed, not something I'm likely to lap, probably use once or twice per visit.
Come to think of it, the gondola will be an improved way to get to the top of Tomahawk from the Overlook Lodge. Instead of taking the 7 chair, then skiing a bunch of crossovers, and then riding the Tomahawk, it will be quicker to ski down through the novice area and ride the gondola to the same summit.
Come to think of it, the gondola will be an improved way to get to the top of Tomahawk from the Overlook Lodge. Instead of taking the 7 chair, then skiing a bunch of crossovers, and then riding the Tomahawk, it will be quicker to ski down through the novice area and ride the gondola to the same summit.
This makes sense.
You ski because even if you don't do it well, it's still a blast....
That Belleayre West lift, and it's two trails, are the only thing that excites me about this plan. I wonder if that would work better if they could extend a trail to the Gondola base.
I just did some scaling off Acme Mapper, and that lift shown at Highmount would be 2,500 feet long with a vertical of 840, a good steep ratio. The proposed lift between the Tomahawk and Highmount would be about 4,300 feet long with possibly 1,000 vertical feet. Typical of Belleayre, with a steep upper third and a long flat lower.
I guess not everyone is(was) happy about the expansion into Highmount. In old news:
When I visited Highmount in the fall of 2014 there were large signs across the street to Save the Mountain. The website of the same name .net is now a Home decoration/furniture site, which apparently the owner of is a neighbor. There's links to this from the 2015 post below.
I guess not everyone is(was) happy about the expansion into Highmount. In old news:
When I visited Highmount in the fall of 2014 there were large signs across the street to Save the Mountain. The website of the same name .net is now a Home decoration/furniture site, which apparently the owner of is a neighbor. There's links to this from the 2015 post below.
Well the Gondi makes a whole lot more sense when looking at the master plan and the West lift and Highmount. The implication is they have high confidence that expansion occurs.
Well the Gondi makes a whole lot more sense when looking at the master plan and the West lift and Highmount. The implication is they have high confidence that expansion occurs.
I agree. Puts one up in the middle of the complex. I still wonder how long the parking area up by the upper lodge remains. Without it you could have several ways back down to the base. The upper lodge could still function as a mid mountain lodge/bar. Maybe another lot over by the base of the proposed West lift or old Highmount could take care of parking issues. Its not like they have development outside of the lodge that needs access and parking. I look forward to revisiting Bell this year on Max as its been a while and I've always enjoyed the place..
Plus there won't be a reason to run it until they've made enough snow to open trails from the Tomahawk summit, and the return-to-base trail, which is called Lower Deer Run.
I’ve been following the webcam closely. From their FB page the gondy is undergoing load testing before it can be certified by the state for safe operation.
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I kinda doubt they’d be able to salvage that old Mueller double or the t-bar there, thought!
That Belleayre West lift, and it's two trails, are the only thing that excites me about this plan. I wonder if that would work better if they could extend a trail to the Gondola base.
I guess not everyone is(was) happy about the expansion into Highmount. In old news:
When I visited Highmount in the fall of 2014 there were large signs across the street to Save the Mountain. The website of the same name .net is now a Home decoration/furniture site, which apparently the owner of is a neighbor. There's links to this from the 2015 post below.
Right before permits were issued in 2015 the Catskill Heritage Alliance sued over the expansion.
http://www.watershedpost.com/2015/dec-issues-permits-belleayre-resort-and-belleayre-mountain-ski-center-
So I guess all these suits or threats of suits went nowhere?
The gondola is running today, though apparently not loading - looks fast!
http://www.belleayre.com/the-mountain/webcam-feed