Skiers and snowboarders enjoy the fresh snow at Thunder Ridge Ski Area in Patterson. Feb. 9, 2017. Frank Becerra Jr./Lohud
Kendra Holze, and her daughter Skye, ride the chairlift as they enjoy the fresh fallen snow at Thunder Ridge Ski Area in Patterson Feb. 9, 2017.(Photo: Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News)Buy Photo
The snow was coming down sideways at the summit of Thunder Ridge late Thursdayafternoon as skiers and snowboarders came out in droves to play in the fresh powder that continued to pile up all day in Patterson.
It was a snow day for Lower Hudson Valley schools, so what better to do in a snowstorm than have your Mom or Dad drive up Route 22 to the regions lone surviving ski hill in northeast Putnam County for a day on the slopes.
By 3 p.m., teens and young adults were lining up to take advantage of twilight skiing, which lets you ski and ride for $30 from then until 9 p.m. under the lights.
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About a foot of light powder was there for the taking a rarity in a winter when Thunder Ridge has depended in large part on a steady diet of man-made snow from its upgraded snowmaking system.
Among the skiers were Kendra Holze, and her daughter, Skye, 4, of Patterson. Holze grew up skiing Thunder Ridge, and recalls thatFriday night skiing was a highlight of her high school years. Now shes teaching her daughter, who was all bundled up in pink as she made her turns down Lovers Lane, the meandering trail that winds off the top of the mountain.
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This is our 15th time skiing so far this year, said Holze. Sometimes well just pop up for an hour or so. Shes really learning.
Dr. David Johnston, of Ridgefield, Connecticut, declared a snow day in his medical practice, and brought his sons, Matthew, 13, and Gavin, 11, to New York for the powder day. Having skied earlier this year in the Berkshires and Vermont, Matthew shrugged when asked if hed had a good day on the hill. He wished the double chair had opened so he could ski Wildcat or Timber Wolf off the top.
But his younger brother was having a ball in the fresh snow. And their father said Thunder Ridge was a good choice because it was so close on a snowy day.
Skiers and snowboarders enjoy the fresh fallen snow at Thunder Ridge Ski Area in Patterson Feb. 9, 2017.(Photo: Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News)
But his younger brother was having a ball in the fresh snow. And their father said Thunder Ridge was a good choice because it was so close on a snowy day.
Its good enough for me, he said. Its better than hanging out at home, the price is right, and its nice not having it icy here.
With a vertical elevation of just 600 feet, Thunder Ridge runs dont take long. But theres fun to be had, especially its main run, called The Face, where the ski area regularly holds high school and regional ski races. On Wednesday, the trail was awash in powder, which was forming moguls along the side where it hadnt been groomed. By late afternoon, there were powder stashes down through the woods on Evergreen and the broad meadow where it merges with Santa Fe.
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Running the operation is Dean Ryder, president of Putnam County National Bank in Carmel, who grew up skiing here when it was called Birch Hill, and bought the ski area from a bank a few years ago after it had foreclosed on a previous owner. He was up in the cafeteria, on the phone, in his snow boots, blue blazer, tie and freshly pressed shirt, and a Thunder Ridge cap on his head.
He was crowing about his daughter, Casey, who was a ski team star at Carmel High and now coaches racers out at the Telluride ski resort in southwest Colorado.
Skiers and snowboarders enjoy the fresh fallen snow at Thunder Ridge Ski Area in Patterson Feb. 9, 2017.(Photo: Frank Becerra Jr./The Journal News)
He was also consulting with James Mazzocchi, who runs the ski areas snowmaking and grooming operation, about how to keep the trails in tiptop shape through the weekend.
Yet to open this year is the expert trail, Fools Delight, just to the right of the main lift. It has the areas steepest pitch, but needs a considerable amount of snow to safely open.
Its almost ready, said Mazzocchi. Just need a little more in the lip, before the drop-off.
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It's a powder day at Thunder Ridge - The Journal News | LoHud.com
