Gore Mountain Expert Skiing

If Gore’s expert skiing had a shortcoming, it would be a lack of sustained vertical. Unlike sister resort Whiteface whose black diamond runs last several thousand feet, the biggest vertical drop of a true steep run at Gore is under 1,000 ft. However, Gore lacks in sustained vertical, it more than makes up for in pitch. Its runs are steeper than anything at Whiteface outside its off-piste terrain in the Slides.

Northwoods Area Advanced & Expert Skiing

The Northwoods does not have any black diamond trails. It does, however, have a handful of advanced tree runs. The best of these is Twister Glades, which is amongst the longest gladed runs in the East.

Straightbrook Area Advanced & Expert Skiing

The Straightbrook Area has the highest concentration of Gore’s advanced terrain. Although the vertical drop is short (only 900′), the runs are plenty challenging.

The steepest of these runs is The Rumor, the steepest trail in the East according to the resort. It is an unrelentingly steep pitch that requires the ability to carve sharp, short radius turns into hardpack. When The Rumor isn’t hardpack (and it almost always is), it is a bump field. In either case, it is a monsterously difficult trail. A sign at the top proclaims”Falling will result in an uncontrollable slide to the bottom.” Well said.

Directly next to The Rumor is its sister trail – Lies. Lies is less steep than Rumor, but its double fall line pitch makes it a more interesting and, quite frankly, better trail. Just before the entrance to Lies is a small, almost hidden sign for Upper Darby. This double black diamond is rarely open because it has no snowmaking and is a rocky, steep chute. However, catch it early on a powder day and it’s fantastic because so few skiers find it.

On the other side of the Straightbrook Area are two more black diamond slopes – Hawkeye and Chatiemac. Hawkeye is an unremarkable black diamond run that cuts across the face of the mountain and down to the Straightbrook Quad. Chatiemac, on the other hand, is Gore’s best single black diamond run. It zigzags its way the entire 900′ with consistent pitch and narrow, fun turns. It’s classic New England skiing.

The Double Barrel “glade” (really just the old red gondola lift line) parallels The Rumor and it is quite steep. The entrance often requires a short drop in from one of the old gondola pilings.

Topridge Area Advanced & Expert Skiing

The trails of the Topridge Area face south meaning that the runs catch the early morning sunshine. They are best skied in the morning before they soften up too much. Of the two black diamond runs, we prefer Topridge to Uncas because of its steep final headwall.

High Peaks/Darkside Area Advanced & Expert Skiing

Even shorter than the Straightbrook Area, the “secret” steeps of the High Peaks Chair are an often-overlooked part of the Gore experience. Lower Steilhang is a narrow, winding trail with several rock faces and steep pitches. The several single black diamond runs next to it are less steep, but more skied. These runs are rarely groomed.

North Side Advanced & Expert Skiing

The North Side has no black trails, but is home to the Tahawus Glades. Beginning atop Burnt Ridge, these glades feature well-spaced trees and two very good steep pitches in the top section. Prior to the cutting of the Hedges trail, Tahawus Glades was the only way to get to the bottom of the North Side from the top of Burnt Ridge. Now that there is a cleared run, however, even fewer skiers venture into this outstanding gladed run.

Burnt Ridge Area Advanced & Expert Skiing

The Burnt Ridge is home to Gore’s longest black diamond run – Sagamore. Although the trail drops 1,300’+ from start to finish it has several dead flat stretches and is certainly not a Whiteface-style sustained steep run from top to bottom. The final pitch is the most interesting because of several small cliffs on the skier’s right. Just look for the orange poles to huck these small (3-5′ cliffs).

North Creek Ski Bowl Advanced & Expert Skiing

The North Creek Ski Bowl has one black diamond trail – 46er. Unfortunately, there is no snowmaking on 46-er so it is rarely open. When it is open, though it is a suberbly steep liftline steep. The tree skiing in the Ski Bowl is also excellent when natural snowfall allows.