By Pat Turner Kavanaugh
Snow Chronicles Correspondent

HIGHMOUNT, N.Y. Many ski and snowboard facilities talk about their environmental programs.

Belleayre Mountain, operated by the State Department of Environmental Conservation here in the Catskills, takes its environmental role seriously. In fact, the resort was carved out of the heart of the Catskill Mountains, on land designated as "forever wild" forest preserve in 1885.

Yet it's only two and a half hours from the George Washington Bridge in northern Manhattan.

Bob Nesoff, a travel and ski writer from New Jersey, said Belleayre is "my favorite area for a quick one-day trip. It's the New York Thruway to exit 19 and then a straight run" to the mountain. "It's easy to reach, unlike some other ski areas.”

This is Belleayre's 55th year of operation. The mountain had the first chair lift in New York State. Initially, however, skiers made their turns -- quickly, one assumes -- on hiking trails. It took a constitutional amendment in 1949 to permit widening the trails.

The trail map, in fact, shows hiking trails for reference, although now they're not open to skiers.

Nesoff said, "For the average green and blue skier, there's a variety of terrain -- short, long, straight, twisty. The slopes are always well groomed."

Belleayre has snowmaking on 96 percent of its terrain, and 171 skiable acres, 41 slopes and trails. The longest run is 12,024 feet. There's one glade trail and six double black diamond trails.

Although possibly not as well known as its Catskill colleagues, Hunter and Windham, Belleayre actually has the tallest skiable peak in those mountains, the longest trail (Roaring Brook) and the only cat-served skiing.

Called "The Beast of Belleayre," it's an Army surplus tracked vehicle which takes skiers and riders from the top of the Superchief lift to the tree skiing area. Each ride costs $1. It's possible to hike there free, but easier to grab the Beast.

Overall, Belleayre claims 22 percent beginner, 58 percent intermediate and 20 percent expert.

The uphill capacity is 10,980 an hour on eight lifts, three of which are handle tows in the novice/beginner area. "I've never waited more than a couple of minutes in a lift line, even on a holiday weekend," Nesoff said. "They've tremendously upgraded their lifts. It's an excellent system."

The 41 trails and eight lifts and tows are recessed in the forest preserve where environmental awareness is the primary concerns and regulations are strictly adhered to, a statement from Belleayre notes.

Belleayre also has the "High Peaks Interpretive Trail," with strategically placed educational kiosks along the Cayuga and Deer Run trails. Deer Run is 7,000 feet of good cruising and wonderful views.

There are 9.2 kilometers of cross-country trails; cross-country ski instruction is available, along with lessons for alpine skiers and snowboarders.

Unusual are one-hour private clinics for telemark skiers. These cost $50.

Not unusual, but helpful, are women's seminars.

For those who like the white stuff under their snowboards, there's Area 51, Belleayre's terrain park, and a half-pipe on another slope. The half-pipe was widened this year to 55 feet and dedicated snowmaking added. Unfortunately rainy weather has prevented use of the half-pipe.

Overall, additions to the snowmaking system for the this season are described as "state-of-the-art" and "an environmental model throughout the industry."

Even the new pump house annex where fuel is stored is said to "ensure a continued environmentally secure system."

Nesoff said "Belleayre is phenomenal for families." He likes to take his grandchildren, who are 9, 7 and 5. "They're nuts over skiing. I attribute that to Belleayre."

"We usually stay at the lower lodge," the Discovery Lodge, which is where the green runs are focused.

At mid-mountain is the Overlook Lodge and up top, Sunset Lodge. Next to Overlook Lodge is Longhouse Lodge with space for ski clubs and other groups to meet.

For those who choose to spend the weekend or maybe a ski week Sunday through Friday, there's a lodging and tourism info service, available toll free at (800) 431-4555 or on line at www.catskillhighpeaks.com. There's also a booth in the Overlook Lodge to make housing arrangements.

And if you want to leave the driving to someone else, Pine Hill Trailways runs a bus at 7 a.m. each day from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City. For $62, you get transportation, a full-day lift ticket and a free beginner ski lesson.
Anyone's entitled to a free beginner ski clinic, in fact, with the purchase of a lift ticket.

And you can ski free on your birthday; there's a system to provide this to everyone, whether your birthday falls in winter or any other time of year.

Pat Turner Kavanaugh is a news reporter for the Newark (N.J.) Star-Ledger. She has reported on news of skiing for three decades.