BY ANDY JAMESON
Tired of missing midweek powder? Don’t like chairlifts? Prefer steep, challenging, uncrowded slopes? Hickory Ski Center may be for you. Stuck in your cubicle crying over photos of your friends ripping powder from a Wednesday storm? No need to shed a tear, because Hickory is only open Saturday-Sunday and certain holidays, midweek snow will be untouched come Saturday morning.
Living in the shadow of the more popular Gore Mountain, 35 minutes away, Hickory is one of New York’s hidden gems. Closed in 2005, but re-opened in 2010, Hickory preserves skiing similar to simpler times. Today, the mountain is run by a combination of employees and dedicated volunteers. Like other resurrected lost ski areas (think Magic Mountain Vermont), skiers are attracted to Hickory’s laid back vibe, unique natural terrain, and throwback feel.
When you ski Hickory, it doesn’t take long to notice this place is different: there are no chairlifts. Two Poma lifts and a T-bar pull you up 1,200 vertical feet. From the summit, you can access 220 acres of old school ski terrain, with steep and natural upper mountain trails. Meanwhile the lower mountain offers well-maintained beginner and intermediate terrain.
Hickory’s Trail Map: Note this is not the work of James Niehues
Jack Rabbit Run
If you’re into old school skiing, prefer natural snow, don’t particularly love high-speed detachable chairlifts, and are willing to sacrifice a few amenities for an experience more in-tune with nature, give Hickory Ski Center a try.
Mountain Stats:
Location: Warrensburg, NY
Chairlifts: 0
Surface lifts: 4 (2 Poma, 1 T-Bar, 1-Rope Tow)
Vertical Drop: 1,200ft
Stores in Shopping Village: 0
Trails: 18
Skiable Terrain: 220 Acres
Snowmaking: Limited
Adult Full Day Lift Ticket: $45
About the Small Ski Area: Few skiers have the privilege of learning in amazing places like Jackson Hole, Whistler, or Squaw Valley. Instead, most of us fell in love with the sport shredding a few hundred vertical feet at some small local hill. We came to these small hills because they offered easy access, low prices, and accessibility. Sadly, many of these small hills have either died or are struggling to survive. At Unofficial, we understand that these small hills are the life blood of our sport. Through this feature, we hope to raise awareness of these small ski areas, and if possible, direct a few readers their way.