Cross Country Skiing at Garnet Hill Lodge

Programs | Rates & Season Passes | Ski Shop | Lessons | Rentals | | Kids Programs | Trail Conditions & Weather Map | Gore Mountain Skiing |  Snow Shoeing  Trail Map

Current Ski News & Conditions

The days are getting warmer, the trees are blooming, and the birds are all back. Time to get around planning a few days in the dacks…

Cross-Country Skiing Programs

Kids! Program

Kids learn in a different way than adults, and at Garnet Hill Ski Center we excel at getting kids to have fun on skis and getting off to a great start. The Kids! program is offered on weekends and holidays, from 10:30 to 12:30 , for kids ages 5-12. We introduce skiing through group games and experiential learning. About half the lesson is used in this way, and the rest of the lesson includes a short ski tour. Our kids program is very popular and successful. Kids love it and so do parents! Click here for more info about our Kids program. Click here for more info about our Kids program.

Backcountry Skiing in the Adirondacks of NY

The Adirondack region near The Garnet Hill Ski Center offers some of the finest backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering trips found anywhere. The adjacent Siamese Ponds Wilderness Area contains almost 40 miles of mapped and marked trails. These routes offer day ski trips and multiple day winter wilderness adventures. In addition trails can be connected to frozen ponds, streams, and other winter only routes to provide an almost infinite variety of backcountry ski options. See Adirondack Ski Tours by Tony Goodwin for good route descriptions in the area.

Gore To Garnet Hill Backcountry Ski Adventure

For more adventurous and advanced skiers we offer an all day guided backcountry ski tour from Gore Mtn. back to the ski center. The trip usually begins with a shuttle bus ride up the back side of Gore Mtn.  Depending on snow and weather conditions the guide will choose from a variety or ski routes - sometimes skiing all day at the higher elevations on Gore and Pete Gay mountains. Usually the trip entails some high elevation skiing with a gradual descent into the lower forests and a wilderness tour around William Blake Pond ending at the ski shop.

These guided trips are usually run on the weekends, but are available at any time with reservations. Rugged backcountry equipment is usually required (available at the ski shop to rent). An additional "what to bring" list is available to participants. In addition skiers should be more than beginner skiers and be comfortable skiing on un-groomed backcountry ski trails. The trip lasts all day with a 9 AM departure and returning by 4:30 - 5:00 PM. Cost is $78/person and includes guide service and shuttle bus.

Ski School

At Garnet Hill Ski Center, we have a ski school staff that is dedicated to helping you start off on the right foot, improve your skiing, and help you to have more fun on skis. We offer a full range of lessons, from beginner through advanced, including all types of nordic skiing. Your satisfaction is guaranteed! Check out more about our Ski School Programs at Garnet Hill Cross Country Ski Center.

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2009-2010 Rates & Season Passes Download the complete rate card

Garnet Hill Cross-Country Skiing Trail Passes

Juniors 5-12 years, Youth 13-17 years, Seniors 65+

Cross-Country Skiing Season Passes 2009-2010  Download the complete rate card

Download a 2009 - 2010 Season Pass Order Form!

Juniors 5-12 yrs. old, Youth 13-17 yrs. old, Seniors 65+, Family is parents and children under 18 up to four on a family pass.
Purchase passes by mail to: Garnet Hill Lodge attn: ski shop, 13th Lake Road, North River, NY 12856. Make check payable to Garnet Hill Lodge. Passes may be purchased in person at the lodge, ski shop, over the phone with a credit card (Lodge 518-251-2444), or by Fax (518) 215-3089 E-Mail the ski shop

Garnet Hill Snowshoe Trail Passes 2009-2010

Ski Rental Rates 2009-2010 season    Download the complete rate card

Includes Skis, Boots, & Poles

Juniors 5-12 years, Youth 13-17 years
Skate or Metal Edge Ski (mountaineering) rentals Adults $3/day additional
Specialty skis for lesson use only..$6.00

Pulk Rentals

A pulk is a ski sled used to pull children around on the trails.
Hourly................$14
Full day..............$25

Specials at Garnet Hill Cross Country Ski Center    Download the complete rate card

Rentals, Trail Fee, & Group Lesson
Adult .................................$44
Youth and Senior............$42
Juniors..............................$30

Rental and Trail Fee
Adult.............................$31
Youth/Senior..............$29
Juniors........................$18

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Cross-Country Ski Shop

The ski shop is the center of activity at Garnet Hill's Cross-Country Ski Center.  In addition to housing the ski center, the Garnet Hill Ski School and rental shop, the ski shop building also features a spacious day skier lounge with rest rooms and changing rooms.

   
For more Information Call 518-251-2150 or 1-877-MTN-BIKE or E-mail the ski shop

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Garnet Hill Adirondack Cross-Country Ski Lessons & Ski School

All Ages and all abilities including beginner lessons, telemark and ski skating lessons.

Garnet Hill Ski Center's school is a member ski school of Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA). Our ski school and ski lessons are a great step toward enjoying the sport of cross country skiing more.Improved ski technique improves your fun. We recommend a beginner group lesson for all first time cross country skiers. The ski school is also available for intermediate and advanced lessons including ski skating, telemark and backcountry techniques, and racing techniques.

At Garnet Hill Ski Center, we have a ski school staff that is dedicated to helping you start off on the right foot, improve your skiing, and help you to have more fun on skis. We offer a full range of lessons, from beginner through advanced, including all types of nordic skiing. Your satisfaction is guaranteed!

It's been proven by athletes that the best way to master a new sport is by learning it right the first time. If you develop good habits from the start, it will save you a lot of "unlearning" later, and will allow you to progress more rapidly to higher levels.

Beginner lessons are offered as group, semi-private, or private lessons. Intermediate lessons and specialty lessons, such as skate skiing and telemark lessons, are available as semi-private or private lessons.

Private and semi-private lessons can be tailored to your needs, and can include lots of focus in one area (i.e. downhill), or can be a "trail" lesson, where we ski the trails, using the terrain to practice different skills.

Ski School Rates & Information:

Group beginner lesson: $18/person
Kids! Program: $18/child
Semi-private: $30 per person (for 2 or more people)
Private: $45/person

 Beginner Group lessons meet daily at 10AM and 2PM
 Private and Semi-private lessons are by appointment
Kids! Program is 10:30-noon, Saturday, Sunday and Holiday weeks

Beginner Lessons

Beginner lessons are for those who have never skied at all, for those who have done downhill skiing but never cross-country, or for those who have skied some, but know they could use instruction on the basics and develop good habits. The following is covered in a beginner lesson:

Ski and pole fit/construction
Getting comfortable on skis
Balancing on two skis
Basic body position for skiing
How to fall down/How to get up!
Double poling
Basics of diagonal stride: weight transfer, balancing on one ski, push off and proper poling
Uphill techniques: herringbone and sidestep
Downhill techniques: Straight run, half wedge (snowplow), full wedge (gliding and braking wedge)
Using tracks, trail etiquette

In many beginner lessons, we can also move on to the wedge turn, and occasionally step turns.

Intermediate Lessons

The intermediate lesson is a more individualized lesson. We will work on refining the skills covered in the beginner lesson, correcting bad habits, and addressing individual needs. The goal is to increase efficiency and improve dynamic balence. The following is covered:

Diagonal stride:

Better balence and body position for more glide
More dynamic weight transfer
Refined poling technique
Stronger, more dynamic kick (pushoff)
Refined timing, rhythm, and flow

Downhill:
Improved wedge, moving to steeper terrain
Introducing or refining wedge turns (striving for greater control on varied terrain)
Step turns (often skate turns also)
Double poling is refined
Double pole with kick is introduced
Smooth transitions from one technique to another

Advanced Lessons

In the advanced lesson, we get down to the nitty gritty of energy efficiency and improved balence and dynamics. This lesson is for the serious skier who wants to refine his/her techniques and strive for a new level of speed, comfort, and efficiency. The instructor makes a detailed and critical analysis of the skier and gives necessary feedback. Specific skills are addressed as needed, and include all aspects of diagonal stride, double pole, and downhill technique.

Skate Skiing

If you want to learn or are frustrated with your attempts at it, a lesson is highly recommended! There is a lot involved in this technique that looks so easy when you see the experts fly by you. We introduce many different drills to help you improve each aspect of the technique. A beginner lesson introduces:

Weight transfer and body alignment in skate position
No pole work on flat terrain, working on balance and push-off
The V-1 skate- poling rhythm and timing
Putting it all together! (balance, poling, pushoff, etc.)
Diagonal V skate
Step turns and skate turns
Brief demonstration of other skate maneuvers: V-2, V-2 alternate, marathon skate

An intermediate/advanced skate skiing lesson would include:

Refining the V-1 and diagonal V skate

Introduce the V-2 and V-2 alternate skate
Refining skate turns (at higher speed)
Transitions from one skate maneuver to another
Refining rhythm, flow, energy efficiency
Addressing downhill technique for higher speed skiing

The Telemark Lesson

This lesson introduces the basic telemark turn, and can be done with most regular nordic equipment, although waxable skis are highly recommended. We spend most of the lesson without poles, going through a gradual progression and a series of exercises that results in a complete telemark turn. Proper body position is stressed. If time permits, we try to link turns. Equipment, terrain, and snow conditions are discussed. Individual issues are addressed.

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Ski Equipment & Rental Information

The Ski Shop offers a wide selection of cross country ski equipment, clothing and accessories. In the ski department we feature skis by Fischer, Atomic, Asnes, and Karhu. We carry a number of boot-binding systems including Alpina boots and Rotefella NNN -II bindings, and NNN-BC boots and bindings. In addition we sell Salomon Profile system boots and bindings, and the tried and true 75mm boots and bindings.

Today cross country ski equipment comes in many sizes and shapes. Each class of cross country ski equipment fills a particular skiing "niche." Light weight racing skis for competition, light touring equipment for groomed and packed trails, touring width skis for off trail, and metal edged skis for backcountry and telemark skiing. The latest advances in ski equipment are in the new "compact" ski designs - skis are shorter, lighter, and easier to use. (Many designs will fit in the trunk of the car!). Most of the equipment we sell is available to rent and "Try before you buy". We will deduct up to two days rental fees from the price of new equipment.

Look in our Buyer's Guide for more complete descriptions and pricing of the cross country ski equipment and accessories we sell. (Cant see the pdf? Download the latest version of Adobe Reader here)

Kids under 5 Free skiing and Free Rentals!!

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Kids! Ski Program & Kids!

The Garnet Hill Kids! Ski Program is designed to teach cross country skiing to children through games, skills sessions, and by just having fun on skis. The basic direction of the program is an interaction of children together and with our staff to encourage learning basic cross country ski techniques. These techniques include diagonal stride, turning, stopping, how to fall and get up, and even skating technique. The Kids! Ski Program is taught 10:30AM - 12:30. Our ski school is also available for private children's ski lessons by appointment.

Snowshoeing in the Adirondacks

Snowshoeing has become quite popular in recent years, owing to exciting equipment advances, new trails, and a renewed spirit to get out and discover the outdoors in winter. Snowshoeing has been around for eons, and we have rented snowshoes here at Garnet Hill Ski Center for over 20 years.

The newest equipment advances give snowshoers a great advantage over the old "woodies". Most new style snowshoes are constructed with a very light weight aluminum or plastic frame with a light weight decking. In addition these newer shoes have a snow and ice "claw" that grips into the snow creating a no slip traction system that’s great for mountain ascents. Improved bindings round out the advances creating a very light easy to use snowshoe. Try them out! The Garnet Hill Ski Center rents and sells Atlas Snowshoes.

Snowshoers will also find a great new network of trails. Intertwined among our groomed ski trails are snowshoe and mountain bike trails. Combining with the wilderness trails in the area, snowshoers can enjoy a day or a week of winter adventure.  Picture at right is Balm of Gilead Summit View - a must do for any snowshoer at Garnet Hill!

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