Mountain Creek Expert Skiing
Expert skiers have many black diamond and double black diamond trails, though few are steep enough to merit the rating.
Photo Credit: Mountain Creek
Three of Mountain Creek’s four peaks offer black diamond trails. However, true expert skiers will find most of the terrain to be lacking in challenge. While many NYC day resorts overclassify their terrain (perhaps in an effort to boost egos or keep beginners off the resorts steeper runs), Mountain Creek’s steeps are perhaps the most egregious example of terrain being marked black when it should be marked blue. We found ourselves quite literally poling down sections of some of the resort’s black trails – Jackson Hole it is not. That said, taking the black runs for what they are – middling difficulty blues – they are actually quite enjoyable.
The highest concetration of black diamond runs can be found at the resort’s most diminuitive summit – Bear Peak. Serviced by its own express quad, Bear Peak is a great place to take a few laps. Be advised, however, that with the closure of nearby Hidden Valley many of that hill’s racing programs have moved to Bear Peak. Trail closures for high school and junior races on Bear Peak are common, particularly in the evenings.
Moving to the Vernon Peak side of the resort, skiers will find a number of black diamond runs. Straightaway is the steepest of the rather unremarkable set of single blacks. The resort’s lone double black diamond – Pipeline – is rarely, if ever, open. When it is, it offers a pitch comparable to most Vermont single black diamonds. However, true expert skiers would be better off heading to the Catskills.