Eventually every season makes way for the next. In the Adirondacks, the brilliance of autumn disappears as the days grow shorter. Soon the smell of snow is in the air and skiers and boarders begin dreaming of perfect turns and fluffy powder. I may be just now thinking of winter, but the good folks over at Gore Mountain have been thinking about winter all summer long.

Gore Mountain boasts the most skiable acreage in the East with 438 acres of trails and glades. One of those glades, Cirque, is the longest in the east. With all of these superlatives, it would be understandable if the Gore Mountain crew wanted to take a summer off and rest on their laurels, but that’s not their style. They’ve put in a lot of work while the rest of us have been swimming. Here’s a few of the major improvements:

New Trails

The Gore crew added three new trails to the mountain.

• • Forever Wild - Using the natural terrain and enhancing it with park elements, this will be a one-of-a-kind experience matching the fun of a terrain park with the excitement of tree skiing.

• • Hudson - One of the original trails in the North Creek Ski Bowl has been retooled into a long, narrow black diamond trail.

• • The Peace Pipe - A new traverse trail connects North Side of Gore to the Pipeline Traverse, making it easier for skiers and boarders to get to their favorite runs.

MORE GORE (Snow Guns)!

Snowmaking efforts are being expanded with the addition of high-efficiency tower guns on the Showcase and Wild Air trails. Even though Gore gets its fair share of natural snowfall - averaging 150 inches annually - the quicker Gore can get the trails covered, the better. East coasters know that snowmaking can make the difference between a good season and no season. Gore continues to invest in its snowmaking technology to insure that it says ahead of mother nature.

Moving Heaven & Earth (or just Earth)

The Headwaters trail is one of the most heavily trafficked trails on the mountain. Gore spent significant time moving the dirt around to smooth it out. While this may seem like an odd thing to do (aren’t bumps a good thing?), the result is that it will take less snowmaking to open the trail. Spring skiers will also reap the benefits as the trail will remain in better condition further into the spring.

The physical mountain itself is only part of the package. As every skier and boarder knows, the facilities at the bottom of the slopes play a big part of a great day at the mountain.

Be Our Guest

The Guest Services Office has a new home at the resort entrance. Gore Mountain hopes that this will enable them to greet and provide info to guests in a more efficient manner. For first-time visitors this will mean less time wandering around, and more time on the slopes!

Want to go skiing but have the tykes in tow? The Bear Cub Den Daycare has been relocated to the lower level of the Base Lodge, making it more convenient for parents and more fun for the kiddos.

Get Connected

There’s no point in taking that slomo video of your friend Jerry faceplanting in the terrain park if you can’t post it for the world to see. The complimentary wifi has been upgraded to make getting online easier than taking the perfect selfie.

Fun with the Sun

Gore Mountain has been working with Berrego Solar to meet its power needs. This means that more and more of the power required to spin lifts and blow snow will be coming from clean, renewable solar energy. Gore is dedicated to helping protect our winters while still providing a top-notch experience.

Truth be told: I’ve never been to Gore. I’ve always tried to squeeze in as much riding as possible every winter, but with work and family schedules I’ve had to stick close to home. Luckily for me, that means Whiteface Mountain. So you may be wondering why I’m writing about Gore if I’ve never been. That’s a valid question. I’ve heard a lot about Gore from my friends that travel more than I do. They talk about the glades, the snowfall, the fun. And I’ve always been jealous. AND THEN Gore decides to go and make things EVEN BETTER! I was literally - well, almost literally - drooling while reading about the improvements. I can’t wait for winter to get here so I can check out Gore for myself. Maybe I’ll tell you about it, but maybe you should check it out for yourself!

So there you have it. Gore Mountain was the perfect winter fun destination last year, and with these improvements, 2016 is going to be even better. So book a stay in Schroon Lake so you can be first in line on the next powder day. Better yet, a Gore Mountain ski and stay getaway!

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