By Dick Butler         

Exposure, exposure, exposure. Winter resorts depend on it and our own local West Mountain has it in the form of visibility. From the Adirondack Northway, from Rt. 149, and from adjacent Corinth Road, this place is visible to all who pass nearby. Add the night lighted slopes, and in season, it is a natural white billboard advertising sliding on snow to motorists.

We need to take better advantage of this great modest sized area.

The positive side to the Adirondack Northway’s proximity is that it makes it especially easy to get to West Mountain. The negative side is that it makes it all too easy to bypass West on one’s way north and east. That’s at times a shame since when the snow is good, West can be a nice place to ski and ride. Its proximity to Glens Falls and the City of Saratoga Springs and the skiers, tubers and riders of both Saratoga and Warren Counties, makes West a great local ski area for learning, racing, and just having outdoor winter fun without driving for hours.

West Mountain is in the middle of its 43rd season of operation. Continuously owned by Mike Brandt since its opening in 1961, the mountain has survived, while many similarly sized ski areas nation wide have failed. Mike must be doing something right, perhaps with a bit of luck and favorable demographics thrown in.

Communications director, Rob Rajeski, tells me that if only they could tell every potential winter sports participant that just because there is no snow in their own backyard, it does not mean that there is no good skiing and riding available. West makes snow, a lot of snow. So much snow in fact that usually by mid January they stop making it and just groom it with their three machines. . It is common for the mountain to have three feet of man made base. Anything that nature should provide in addition, is a bonus.

This season there are three new snow-making guns and three new towers, and improvements to the computer ticketing operation. The computer system will make it more efficient and quicker to issue passes and tickets, especially during busy periods.

Near future plans include moving the successful tubing park venue to the Northeast side where it will be served by two cable lifts. The tubing chutes will then be longer. Plans also include more snowmaking on the NW side and two new cut trails.

Who isn’t looking for a bargain? Try 5 hours of skiing and riding for $12.00 between 5 and 10 PM on Mondays and Tuesdays during non-holiday periods.

Local areas like West are essential to ensure the continuation and ultimate prosperity of the winter sports industry.

At West you can also choose 2, 4 and 8-hour ticket increments on weekdays and 4 and 8-hour periods on weekends. Monday through Friday they are open 10 –10, and on weekends 8:30 – 6PM, with exceptions during Christmas, Martin Luther King weekend and Presidents’ week. Last season West opened on December 15th and closed March 28th. Most areas close not for lack of snow but for lack of business.

“West seldom has lift lines longer than five minutes”, states Rob. It’s close and relatively inexpensive. With a vertical drop of over 1,000 feet it’s hardly a small area.

Tubing at West has proven very popular. It takes little skill and no purchase of equipment is necessary, yet it provides a great introduction to the enjoyment of sliding on snow. For as little as $16 per person, ($8 for children 6 and under), you can have two hours of continuous tubing fun.

The backbone of West’s clientele consists of group programs for schools and municipalities. Currently there are some forty participating schools and a dozen or more towns and organizations taking advantage of all that West has to offer. These programs provide a base of future participants for winter sports and they are very affordable.

Local areas like West are essential to ensure the continuation and ultimate prosperity of the winter sports industry. They play a vital role by teaching new participants the skills required to enjoy winter.

West Mountain is yet another plus adding to the quality of life in our region. I’m asked many times throughout the season what are my favorite areas. My response is always the same; wherever the snow is good. You’ll be surprised how often the skiing and riding is good at our own local area, West Mountain.