Catamount Ski Area:
One of only three ski areas to straddle two states (Heavenly Valley, CA and NV and Lookout Pass, ID and MT, being the others), Catamount lies in both Hillsdale, NY and South Ergemont, MA. Technically part of the part Taconic Range, Catamount is one of the oldest ski areas in the country, with it’s beginnings dating back to 1939.
The terrain is varied and good for all abilities although expert trails are somewhat limited. However, the mountain claims Catapult is the steepest trail in the Berkshires. It sits under the fixed grip Summit Quad and is a legitimate expert trail by any standard. Complimenting Catapult are The Glade and Alley Cat trails (Upper and Lower). These single black trails are undulating and have double fall lines in places that make for fun and interesting skiing.
The Catamount Chair, an SLI center pole double, sits in front of the main Berkshire Lodge and serves a number of nicely pitched intermediate trails as well as the main Terrain Park. Catamount is park friendly. In addition to the main Park, The Junior Jib Park, a Halfpipe and a Skier/Bordercross course are all located off of the Meadows Triple chair.
A second soft walled, temporary building, almost like a permanent tent, dubbed the Taconic Lodge, serves as the mountain’s 2nd or overflow lodge. It is located on the NYS side by the Summit Quad and is fully heated, with bathrooms and some limited food service options.
West of the main base lodge, on the MA side, is Catamount’s beginner slope serviced by a Magic Carpet lift as well as the Meadows Triple chair, which serves a pod of novice and easy intermediate trails, such as Upper Promenade, Mountain View, Holiday and Esplanade.
One of the closest 1000′ vertical ski areas to New York City, Catamount can get busy on weekends. The Meadows Triple, a slower fixed grip lift, is prone to developing some decent liftlines on busy days. However, there is rarely ever a liftline to the summit. If the Summit Quad develops a line, management will spin The Glades Double chair, which serves almost every trail off of the summit.
The current owners/management have a long history in the ski business. In addition to owning and operating Catamount for over 40 years, they previously managed three other NYS ski areas. In the 1960′s they developed Sterling Forest ski area (now Tuxedo Ridge). Prior to that, they also managed Fahnstock, a small ski area that was located in the NYS park of the same name and leased land from NYS to develop and and open the Silvermine Ski area, which was located in Harriman State Park. In addition, Catamount’s Bill Gilbert created and marketed the first fan snowmaking guns. The company he founded, SMI, continues to be a leader in airless snowgun manufacturing.
Catamount is a nice, friendly, family mountain with a rich history in the scenic Berkshire mountains. The terrain than most other ski areas in the vicinity and is definitely well worth the time to explore.
