The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) have announced they are accepting public comments for two associated actions related to proposed improvements at the Gore Mountain Intensive Use Ski Area.

The public comment period on the proposed changes ends July 13, 2018.

The hearings will be held on:

June 27, 2018 at 1 pm at DEC Headquarters, 625 Broadway, Albany, Room 129A.

June 28, 2018 at 7 pm at Tannery Pond Community Center, 228 Main Street, North Creek.

The APA, in consultation with the DEC, proposes to adopt two reclassification actions involving the Gore Mountain Intensive Use Area:

The reclassification of 38.7 acres of land near the summit of Gore from Intensive Use to Wilderness, to be added to the Siamese Ponds Wilderness Area. The forest cover is predominantly mountain spruce-fir forest and is part of the Adirondack Sub-Alpine Forest Bird Conservation Area, providing habitat favored by Bicknell’s thrush and other neotropical bird species. The proposed reclassification of these lands would help ensure a more restrictive management of these lands to protect this important habitat.

The reclassification of 29.0 acres of land from Wild Forest to Intensive Use to be added to the Gore Mountain Intensive Use Ski Area. This represents the minimum acreage necessary to facilitate construction of a new lift and trail connections with the Town of Johnsburg Ski Bowl, along with relocation of a portion of an existing cross-country ski trail.

DEC, subject to a conformance determination by APA, proposes to adopt a Unit Management Plan (UMP) amendment for these reclassified lands that would added to the Gore Mountain Intensive Use Area.

Proposed management activities on the lands include:

1.) Re-alignment of Lift 12 – The upper terminal of Lift 12 is currently located just inside the northern boundary of the Intensive Use Area, and just to the south of the 29.0-acre area proposed for reclassification. A re-alignment of the chairlift will leave the bottom terminal in place and move the upper terminal to a high point within the lands proposed for reclassification. This relocation will provide access to the new, proposed alpine ski trails.

2.) Construction of New Alpine Ski Trails – Trails 12-L, 12-M, and 12-IA are proposed for construction beginning at the new location of the upper terminal for Lift 12. Construction of these trails will add 0.6 miles of new alpine ski trails to the Gore Mountain Intensive Use Area. The alignment of proposed alpine ski Trail 12-IA has been modified from the conceptual proposal identified by the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA) in its May 2018 UMP amendment. Specifically, the realignment will provide a greater buffer between Trail 12-IA and Rabbit Pond to reduce potential noise and visual impacts on the pond from the new lift and trails.

3.) Reroute the existing Rabbit Pond Cross-Country Ski Trail – In order to accommodate the proposed alpine ski trails, and to maintain a desirable experience for cross-country skiers, a 600 feet +/- portion of the Rabbit Pond Ski Trail will be relocated on Vanderwhacker Mountain Wild Forest lands to separate it from the new downhill ski trails. This minor relocation will be planned and undertaken by ORDA in coordination with DEC and subject to APA consultation prior to the construction of the new trails.

To review the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and Unit Management Plan, click here.

Address all comments related to the proposed classification action to:

Kathy Regan, Deputy Director for Planning
NYS Adirondack Park Agency
P.O. Box 99
Ray Brook, NY 12977
Fax: 518-891-3938
Email – ClassificationComments@apa.ny.gov

Address all comments related to the proposed improvements to Gore Mountain Intensive Use Ski Area to:

Josh Clague
Forest Preserve Planner
NYSDEC
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233
Email – adirondackpark@dec.ny.gov

The APA and DEC will accept public comments until July 13, 2018.

Photo of Northwoods Gondola in summer courtesy Gore Mountain.