Belleayre Mountain, in
Catskill Park
The Catskill Park is in the Catskill Mountains in New York in the United States. It consists of of land inside a Blue Line in four counties: Delaware, Greene, Sullivan, and Ulster. As of 2005, or 41 percent of the land within, is owned by ...
,
New York,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
, is a
ski resort
A ski resort is a resort developed for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter sports. In Europe, most ski resorts are towns or villages in or adjacent to a ski area – a mountainous area with pistes (ski trails) and a ski lift system. In Nort ...
owned and operated by the
Olympic Regional Development Authority
The Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) is a New York State public benefit corporation, created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used after the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid, New York.
ORDA is the only state ...
or ORDA. It is the only Catskill resort that contains a
gondola
The gondola (, ; vec, góndoła ) is a traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat, well suited to the conditions of the Venetian lagoon. It is typically propelled by a gondolier, who uses a rowing oar, which is not fastened to the hull, ...
and attracts many new visitors from New York City.
Skier
Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow. Variations of purpose include basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IO ...
and
snowboarder
Snowboarding is a recreational and competitive activity that involves descending a snow-covered surface while standing on a snowboard that is almost always attached to a rider's feet. It features in the Winter Olympic Games and Winter Paralympic ...
visits have grown from 70,000 in 1995 to more than 175,000 in 2007.
History
During the 1800s,
Catskill and
Adirondack deforestation
Deforestation or forest clearance is the removal of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to non-forest use. Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land to farms, ranches, or urban use. The most concentrated ...
had created massive
siltation
Siltation, is water pollution caused by particulate Terrestrial ecoregion, terrestrial Clastic rock, clastic material, with a particle size dominated by silt or clay. It refers both to the increased concentration of suspended sediments and to the ...
of
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...
harbor and imperiled shipping up the
Hudson River
The Hudson River is a river that flows from north to south primarily through eastern New York. It originates in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York and flows southward through the Hudson Valley to the New York Harbor between N ...
. In 1855 New York became one of the first states to create
constitutionally-designated "Forever Wild" preserves to prevent
environmental
A biophysical environment is a biotic and abiotic surrounding of an organism or population, and consequently includes the factors that have an influence in their survival, development, and evolution. A biophysical environment can vary in scale f ...
and
economic
An economy is an area of the production, distribution and trade, as well as consumption of goods and services. In general, it is defined as a social domain that emphasize the practices, discourses, and material expressions associated with the ...
harms, to create a desperately needed
water supply
Water supply is the provision of water by public utilities, commercial organisations, community endeavors or by individuals, usually via a system of pumps and pipes. Public water supply systems are crucial to properly functioning societies. Thes ...
for New York City. In 1947, the people of New York passed a
constitutional amendment by
referendum
A referendum (plural: referendums or less commonly referenda) is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative. This may result in the adoption of a ...
to allow an intensive use
ski center within this protected forever wild region.
Belleayre Mountain, located off State Route 28, 2-1/2 hours from New York City, was declared "Forever Wild" by the New York State Forest Preserve in 1885. Early on, skiers would side-step or hike their way more than 3,000 feet to the top of the wooded trails. Skiing enthusiasts in the 1940s pressured politicians to develop Belleayre for families and extreme skiers alike.
In 1947, bills were introduced allowing the State of New York to create Belleayre Mountain.
Construction began in 1949, and Belleayre began its premier winter season with five trails, an electrically powered rope tow, New York’s first chairlift (A Roebling Single, later converted to a double), a summit lodge, a temporary base lodge with a cafeteria and dirt floors, and parking for 300. Belleayre was immediately popular among local residents and became a center for winter sports in the region and an economic catalyst for surrounding communities.
As business increased, Belleayre expanded its skiing terrain, adding 12 new trails, 3 lifts, and a new base lodge in the 1950s. Major expansions and technology and equipment upgrades continued in the following decades.
The 1970s included the addition of snowmaking technology.
In 1977, the Roebling Double Chairlift was replaced by a Double Chairlift from Hall. The Hall Double was called the Summit Double Chairlift.
In 1982, two double chairlifts sharing towers by
Doppelmayr were installed to service the lower green terrain, called Lift 1 and Lift 2.
In 1986, a
Riblet
The Riblet Tramway Company of Spokane, Washington, which operated from 1908 to 2003, was once the largest ski chairlift manufacturer in the world.
The company was founded by Byron Christian Riblet, who was born in Osage, Iowa, in 1865 and earned ...
Triple Chairlift with a mid-station was installed to service the top of the mountain from the Overlook and Sunset Lodges. This lift was used for summer sky rides until 2017.
In 1991, the current Deer Run trail and Cayuga were cut on the west side.
In 1999,
Garaventa installed two fixed-grip quad chairlifts with mid stations were installed that served the upper half of the mountain these two chairlifts were called Superchief and Tomahawk. The Superchief Quad was installed to replace the Hall Summit Double Chairlift. The Hall Summit Double was relocated to
Plattekill Mountain as the North Face Double Chairlift. The Tomahawk Quad was installed on the west side of Belleayre to serve the Belleayre summit. It served new terrain from the summit and terrain formerly accessible by a Roebling T-Bar.
In 2001, the Tomahawk parking lot along with the Dot Nebel opened on the west side of Belleayre. Which was able to provide the new area with easier access and increase skier visits to that area.
In 2006, the Superchief Fixed Grip Quad was upgraded to a Detachable High-Speed Quad by Doppelmayr/CTEC, and many parts were installed as the Ridge Quad at
Catamount Ski Area
Catamount Ski Area is a ski resort located on Mount Fray of the Taconic Mountains in Hillsdale, New York and South Egremont, Massachusetts. Catamount is one of three ski areas in the southern Berkshires; the others are Butternut in Great Barri ...
.
In November 2012, the resort was transferred from the
NYS DEC to the
Olympic Regional Development Authority
The Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) is a New York State public benefit corporation, created by the State of New York to manage the facilities used after the 1980 Olympic Winter Games at Lake Placid, New York.
ORDA is the only state ...
(ORDA). ORDA also operates
Gore Mountain and
Whiteface Mountain
Whiteface Mountain is the fifth-highest mountain in the U.S. state of New York, and one of the High Peaks of the Adirondack Mountains. Set apart from most of the other High Peaks, the summit offers a 360-degree view of the Adirondacks and clear ...
ski resorts.
During the 2017-2018 ski season, an eight-passenger
gondola
The gondola (, ; vec, góndoła ) is a traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat, well suited to the conditions of the Venetian lagoon. It is typically propelled by a gondolier, who uses a rowing oar, which is not fastened to the hull, ...
, named Catskill Thunder, began operation. It is the only gondola lift in The Catskills. And only one of 3 gondolas in NY state, all of them being on
ORDA mountains. This lift is the longest in the Catskills and revolutionized the future of Belleayre forever.
In the 2018-19 season, a new state-of-the-art medical building was constructed on the side of parking lot E on the old location of the Tee Pee Flats learning area. The building replaced an old and small facility at the top of the Lightning Quad. The new facility is also more accessible to the discovery lodge, where most people visit today due to the gondola.
During the 2019-2020 season, a new fixed-grip quad lift named Lightning replaced Lift 1 and Lift 2. This lift had a loading carpet, hockey puck footrests that are safer for children, and comfortable padding for the seats. Even though no problems were reported with the old lifts, the new lift was most likely installed to make it easier for beginners and to create a new bunny slope by shortening the liftline.
Trails
Belleayre contains an extensive trails system for
Alpine skiing and
Cross-country skiing. With many different trail ratings and elements that suit the needs of many skiers and snowboarders.
A few trails are rated differently between the trail map, snow report, website, and trail signs, these are marked with an *.
Alpline
Belleayre has 50 downhill alpine ski trails ranging from the easiest trails on the lower half of the mountain to more difficult trails that are mostly halfway up the upper half of the mountain, as well as on the sides. Most difficult and expert trails are mostly all on the upper half of the mountain past the halfway point.
Glade Trails
There are 6 glades at Belleayre, they run on natural snow and are only most difficult and expert rated. Belleayre has the most marked glades in the Catskills, usually, at least 2 are open every season.
Freestyle Terrain
There is 1 terrain park, 1 progression park, and 1 X-course on the mountain.
Cross country trails
Belleayre's cross-country ski trails are separated from the downhill slopes and has its own parking area. There is no fee for these trails and they run 100% on natural snow. Tracks are not regularly set and the trails are not maintained, groomed, or patrolled.
Hiking
Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...
,
snowshoeing, and
cross-country skiing are permitted on the trails. There are 5 cross-country trails at Belleayre Mountain totaling 9.2 kilometers.
Lifts
The chairlifts are mostly made by the
Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group
Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group is an international manufacturer of ropeways and people movers for ski areas, urban transport, amusement parks, and material handling systems. As of 2019, the group have produced over 15,000 installations in 96 countri ...
with Lift 7 as an exception that is made by
Riblet
The Riblet Tramway Company of Spokane, Washington, which operated from 1908 to 2003, was once the largest ski chairlift manufacturer in the world.
The company was founded by Byron Christian Riblet, who was born in Osage, Iowa, in 1865 and earned ...
. All the lifts are numbered from 1 to 8, and the carpet lifts are numbered from 3 to 5. All the upper chairlifts have been originally painted according to the trails it served. Being painted blue and sometimes black mostly between the mid stations. This is to help people be aware of what trails they are riding to and preventing people not being able to get down. This is now mostly abandoned with the Belleayre Express and Catskill Thunder not having a mid-station. The Tomahawk Quad was
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsNY_r5WsbY Discussed in the comments by a local.] repainted in the summer of 2017 to a full blue, using Belleayre's shade of Belleayre blue. Leaving Lift 7 as the only lift with the original painting pattern.
Note: the numbers are not all official, but follow the past and remaining numbering system.
Base Areas and Lodges
There are 3 base areas and 3 lodges at Belleayre.
References
{{Reflist
External links
Official Website
Ski areas and resorts in New York (state)
Catskill Park
Tourist attractions in Ulster County, New York
Shandaken, New York
Buildings and structures in Ulster County, New York