If you live in Upstate New York, Gore Mountain is a day-tripper’s delight. If you live elsewhere in the east, Gore may be the best place you have never skied.

With 347 skiable acres spread over four peaks accessible by 11 lifts, there is a lot here to satisfy almost everyone, from the fussy expert to the family on holiday. The issue, as always, remains… will New York State and private interests come together to make Gore an appealing destination?

Located just 60 miles north of Albany and easily accessible on good roads, this ski area has made steady improvements in recent years, notably the connection to the nearby Hudson River that provides ample water for snowmaking; the development of Bear Mountain Peak which both expanded and improved the way the area skis; and the addition of the Northwoods Gondola, a quick comfortable ride up the hill that is especially welcome on brisk winter mornings in the Adirondacks. In short, the skiing is very good, featuring a wide variety or terrain supported by high capacity snowmaking and a solid lift system.

But terrain is only one element of a ski destination. Gore is one of three areas owned by New York State (Whiteface and Belleayre are the other two) and is located on land which, according to the State’s Constitution, cannot be developed by private interests. As a result, there is no commercial village, hotels, restaurants, or second homes on the Mountain. That leaves a gap when it comes to attracting the attention of destination skiers. The alternative it seems would be the nearby hamlet of North Creek, less than two miles from the Gore access road. But, with a couple of exceptions, this village located on the banks of the Hudson River, has very little in common with other ski towns throughout the country. There have been ambitious plans for local development on the drawing board for years. But currently, food, lodging, and nightlife near the area is limited and many multi day Gore visitors go a half hour or more to find accommodations in the Lake George region.

On the mountain, it is a different story. Skiers will find just about anything they want. The core is the Northwoods Gondola from the base area to the top of Bear Peak. From there skiers can fan out to an outstanding series of intermediate cruiser trails or link up with the Straightbrook Quad lift for more challenging terrain, including The Rumor, one of the steepest verticals of any lift serviced trail in the east. Gore trails and several recently added glades stretch over four peaks, and once free of the lift terminals, most skiers can find plenty of elbow room even on days when the base lodge is crowded. The new Northwoods Lodge at the area base serves as the acess point to a seperate learning area for children and adults.

Much of the Adirondacks remains under strict environmental standards by law and Gore Mountain management deserves kudos for its own efforts in that regard. In 2006, it was honored with its third Silver Eagle Award in recent years by the National Ski Areas Association, this one for Excellence in Visual Impact.