Belleayre Ski Center

Belleayre Mountain Ski Center, in Catskill Park, New York, United States, is a ski resort owned and operated by the Olympic Regional Development Authority or ORDA. Skier and snowboarder visits have grown from 70,000 in 1995 to more than 175,000 in 2007.

Belleayre Mountain Ski Center
Location	New York
Nearest major city	Kingston, New York
Coordinates	42°8′31.97″N 74°30′38.8″E
Vertical	427.9 m (1,403.9 ft)
Top elevation	1,045.2 m (3,429.1 ft)
Base elevation	617 m (2,024.3 ft)
Skiable area	0.7 km^2 (173.0 acres)
Runs	52
Longest run	3.66 km (2.3 mi)
Lift system	5 chairlifts; 3 carpet lifts
Lift capacity	10,980 skiers/hr
Terrain parks	3
Snowfall	358.14 cm (141.0 in)
Snowmaking	96% of terrain
Night skiing	no
Website	http://www.belleayre.com

History

During the 1800s, Catskill and Adirondack deforestation had created massive siltation of New York City harbor and imperiled shipping up the Hudson River. In 1855 New York became one of the first states to create constitutionally-designated "Forever Wild" preserves to prevent environmental and economic harms, to create a desperately needed water supply for New York City. In 1947, the people of New York passed a constitutional amendment by referendum to allow an intensive use ski center within this protected forever wild region.[1]

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 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 snow making 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, the two Double-Double chairlifts by Doppelmayr were installed to service the lower green terrain. In 1986, a Riblet Triple Chairlift was installed to service the top of the mountain from the Overlook and Longhouse Lodges. In 1999, the Superchief and Tomahawk Fixed Grip Quad Chairlifts made by Garaventa were installed. 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 and terrain formerly accessible by a Roebling T-Bar. In 2001, the Tomahawk parking lot along with the Dot Nebel trail opened on the west side of Belleayre. In 2006, the Superchief Fixed Grip Quad was upgraded to a Detachable High-Speed Quad by Doppelmayr/CTEC.

As of 2012, Belleayre has 55 trails, parks and glades and 8 lifts, including a High Speed Quad. It also has the Catskills' only Cat-access skiing. In November 2012, the resort was transferred from the NYS DEC to the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA). ORDA also operates Gore and Whiteface Mountain ski resorts.

During the 2017-2018 ski season, an eight-pack gondola, named Catskill Thunder, began operation. It Is at present the first and only gondola in the Catskill mountains or Lower New York. During the 2018-2019 season, a new fixed-speed quad lift named Lightning began operation

Trails and glades

Name of trail	Rating
Chinook
Dakota
Discovery Way
Easy In
Easy Out
Huron
Iroquois
Lower Deer Run
Mohican
Oneida
Running Bear
The Canyon Top
The Transfer Line

Name of trail	Rating
Algonquin
Ashokan
Belleayre Run
Cayuga
Cathedral Brook
Deer Run
Dot Nebel
Eagle Falls
Esopus
Expressway
Howe's Highway
Horseshoe Pass
Mohawk
Oneida
Onondaga
Peekamoose
Pepacton
Ridge Trail
Roaring Brook
Route 9
Seneca
The Canyon
Tomahawk Crossing
Tongora
Utsayantha
Wanatuska
Winnisook Bottom
Yahoo

Name of trail	Rating
Algonquin Top
Belleayre Run Top
Dot Nebel
Goat Path
Mohawk Top
Onteora
Peekamoose Top
Tuscarora
Wanatuska Top
Winnisook Top

Name of trail	Rating
Cathedral Brook
Onteora Top
Seneca Top
Tongora Top
Utsayantha
Yahoo Top
Chippewa Glade
Glen Glade
Belleayre Glades
Lift Line Glade
Winnisook Glade
Area 51 Park
Rail Park

Cross country trails

Belleayre Mountain cross country trails are separated from the downhill slopes. Cross-country trails have no trail use fee. Lessons for cross-country are available on weeken*There is one other magic carpet ds and holiday periods. There are 5 cross-country trails at Belleayre Mountain totaling 9.2 kilometers. Trail markings range from easy to difficult to accommodate all ability levels of cross-country skiers.

Name of trail	Rating	Length/Miles	Length/KM
A		1.5	2.4
AA		0.7	1.0
H		1.1	1.8
HH		1.5	2.3
J		1.5	2.5

Lifts

Lift Name	Type	Length	Vertical	Cap./Hour
Lightning	Quad Chairlift	3,512	447	1,997
Little Creek Magic Carpet	Carpet Lift	725	98	540
Carpet Lift 4	Carpet Lift	725	115	540
Catskill thunder	8 Pack gondola	13,067	1,339	2,000 (skiers)
Superchief 6	Detachable Quad	4,866	1,133	2,400
Triple Chair 7	Triple Chairlift	2,861	806	1,800
Tomahawk 8	Quad ChairLift	3,412	923	2,400

References

1. "History of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and Belleayre Mountain Ski Area" Archived April 3, 2007, at the Wayback Machine

External links

• Official Website