Ski season opens as ORDA touts easier access to mountain trails
Joyce Bassett
Nov. 15, 2019 Updated: Nov. 15, 2019 7:53 a.m.
Ski season opens as ORDA touts easier access to mountain...
1of8Skiers and snowboarders enjoy the conditions at West Mountain Ski Center on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019 in Glens Falls, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
2of8A skier gets some air at West Mountain Ski Center on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019 in Glens Falls, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
3of8Skiers enjoy the conditions at West Mountain Ski Center on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019 in Glens Falls, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
4of8A skier walks to the lodge at West Mountain Ski Center on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019 in Glens Falls, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
6of8A skier walks from the lodge at West Mountain Ski Center on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019 in Glens Falls, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
8of8Icicles are seen handing from a roof on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019 in Glens Falls, N.Y. (Lori Van Buren/Times Union)
As skiing and snowboard season opens Friday the state is touting new technology that will relieve congestion getting to the top of the mountain.
New this year will be radio-frequency identification "smart cards" allowing skiers to go directly to the lift. The "Ski 3 Card" has a chip signaling the gate to open, allowing entry and instant access.
The technology is expected to help reduce wait times and make getting on the mountain more efficient, according to a press release from the Olympic Regional Development Authority.
Related: Whiteface, Gore open for skiing Friday
The Ski 3 card can be loaded from home and will be functional at Belleayre, Gore and Whiteface mountains.
Whiteface Mountain, in Wilmington; and Gore Mountain, in North Creek opened for the season Friday. Belleayre Mountain Ski Resort in Highmount is expected to open for the season Nov. 29.
Trail Update:
Gore will be opening various trails accessible from their gondola and conveyor lifts with plans to open trails such as Foxlair, Wild Air and Bear Cub Run.
Whiteface will be in operation with Easy Street, Lower Valley and Fox trails serviced by the Facelift. Afterwards, stop into the Cloudspin Bar & Grill for food and drinks.
Trails and lifts are subject to change this weekend. Visit www.goremountain.com, www.whiteface.com and www.mtvanhoevenberg.com for the latest conditions.
Follow Joyce:
Joyce Bassett is a sports columnist for the Times Union, specializing in women's and girls in sports and golf. She is a contributor to the Times Union's Golf Blog and was the creator and main contributor to the Times Union's Youth Sports blog from 2007-2017.
Joyce worked at the Times Union from 1997-2020. She was executive news editor and was in charge of the night city desk operation. She also is a producer on timesunion.com, responsible for reader engagement, enhancing content and creating graphics.
Joyce worked as a reporter, features editor, page designer and art director at newspapers in Tampa, Fla., and Chicago before returning to the area to work at the Times Union in 1997. A Troy native, Joyce Bassett graduated in 1984 with a journalism degree from Temple University, Philadelphia.
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