OAK MOUNTAIN DELIVERS ON CHARM AND GREAT SKIING
I was supposed to head to Sugarbush in Vermont today with Pro Skier Darren White, but when he sent me a message this morning saying he wouldn’t be able to make it, I decided to head somewhere I’ve always wanted to go: Oak Mountain. It was definitely a spontaneous decision, but it was the right one. What I experienced was a charming Adirondack ski hill with some great skiing.
Dog hanging out at the base. The ticket office is on the right.
A map of the ski area.
Upper Ryan’s Run.
Oak Mountain is located in the Adirondacks, in Speculator, New York. The ski area immediately made an impression. The people in the ticket office were friendly. The skiers in the lodge were friendly. There was a cute dog just casually lying around the lodge and, at times, outside. The trees on the hill were dressed for winter, coated in ice from last week’s storm, with an inch or two of fresh snow on top. From the runs, you could see other mountains and a few lakes in the distance. It was idyllic.
Upper Devils.
I think this is Sacandaga.
Bunny Hill.
The mountain has about 650 ft. of vertical, serviced by a fixed grip quad. There’s also a couple of surface lifts lower down on the mountain, including a T-Bar. There are 22 runs, with 14 of them open today. The mountain wasn’t very busy and there was basically no line for the quad. Overall, I thought conditions were pretty good. The snow was mostly packed powder, though you could find a firm spot here and there.
A view at the summit.
The chili.
I don’t eat at ski areas very often, but when I do, chili is one of my go-to’s. I was feeling hungry this afternoon, so I decided I’d try the chili at Oak Mountain. It was really good and it was only $5 for a bowl. Not bad at all!
Upper Ryan’s Run.
I think this is The Thing.
Oak Mt. Run.
Crosscut.
While it may not be the biggest ski area, the runs did ski fairly long and some of them, such as Upper Ryan’s Run, The Thing and Oak Mt. Run, have a couple of steep areas. There’s also a narrow beginner run, named Crosscut, that winds through the forest, which I really enjoyed. It’s a mellow cruiser, but it was quiet and the forest was really pretty, with the snow on the trees. Oak Mountain does have a couple of glades, but they weren’t open. From what I could see on the lift, they look pretty fun. Next time.
Never Quit Skiing,
Lincoln