Skiing in Greek Peak

Greek Peak ski area’s many faces and pods of terrain make this small Central New York resort feel bigger than it is. With three distinct peaks and backside terrain, Greek Peak offers a ski experience that has made it an attractive, less-expensive alternative to skiing in the Catskills or Adirondacks.

Greek Peak Ski Area Overview

Greek Peak’s ski terrain is laid out across a wide horseshoe-shaped basin. A small stream separates the base area from the chairlifts and it’s just a short walk from the parking lot or lodge to the lifts. Four chairlifts depart from the central base area and radiate out to each of three separate peaks.

The peak to the looker’s right has the bulk of Greek Peak’s skiable terrain. This area is serviced by two lifts – a new quad chair (Chair 1A) and a double lift (Chair 1). Here, skiers will find four parallel advanced slopes, which become progressively steeper until crescendoing at Olympian. The 40-degree pitch of Olympian’s headwall a test even for seasoned skiers. Also accessible on this face are several beginner trails and a wide intermediate slope (Elysian Fields), which is the first slope opened by the resort each season.

Greek Peak’s central peak is recessed farthest from the base area. The bottom terminus of the double chair which services this terrain is a few hundred yards uphill from the true bottom of the mountain. As a consequence, it is best to ski down to the bottom of the double chair from above rather than trying to access it by walking or poling up from below. At the summit, the short, but steep Atlas trail is the obvious choice as it is directly under the lift and provides access to the off-piste skiing in Aesop’s Glade.

On the looker’s left side of the base area is Greek Peak’s learning terrain. A gentle bunny hill – the aptly named Alpha Slope – is serviced by its own double chair (Chair 3). At the top of the double chair skiers can continue forward over a small rise to the base of another double chair (Chair 4). Chair 4 provides access to several steep mogul runs as well as beginner and intermediate terrain. The top terminus of Chair 4 is also the access point to the resort’s backside terrain – Greek Peak East.

Greek Peak East offers a handful of long cruisers that are unquestionably the resort’s most interesting intermediate trails. Arcadian Gate and Mars Hills are a welcome relief from some of the straighter blue runs on the front side. A few trees remain in the center of the trails, adding interest and providing a more New England feel. As both the base of Chair 4 and the entrance to Greek Peak East are somewhat hidden, the crowds tend to be smaller on this part of the mountain.

Greek Peak East is serviced by its own triple lift (Chair 5) and has a small parking lot at its base. Skiers with season passes and multi-day tickets can drive down the road slightly from the main base area to park right next to the chairlift. However, there is no ticket window at this base.

Beginner Skiing at Greek Peak

At Greek Peak, beginner skiers have the freedom to explore the entire resort. Greek Peak offers beginner runs from the top of each of its four peaks, with the longest run topping out at a mile and a half.

Greek Peak’s learn-to-ski terrain is located near the base lodge. A magic carpet lift services the Boardwalk trail for true first-timers, while Chair 3 services the Alpha Slope – Greek Peak’s main bunny slope.

Greek Peak’s three faces are connected by a series of gentle novice trails. From the top of the quad (Chair 1A), Karyatis Way winds its way down through a forest of pine and hardwoods before splitting into several green options at the base of the intermediate Elysian Fields run. The alternate green run from the top of the quad – Epicurus Way – connects the looker’s right peak with the center peak.

Chair 2’s main beginner run is Castor – a wide green slope perfect for improving technique. Novices have two options from the top of Chair 4. The first option, Marathon, brings skiers back to the center peak. The second, Mars Hill, takes skiers to the top of Chair 5 rising up from Greek Peak East. From there, the Poseidon trail returns skiers to the main base or the Crisaean Way trail brings skiers to the base of the triple.

Beginners will find that most of Greek Peak’s green trails serve more connectors than interesting runs in their own right. They tend to be flat and somewhat dull. The best of this undistinguished pack is the lone green run to Greek Peak East (Crisaean Way to Lower Arcadian Gate).

Intermediate Skiing at Greek Peak

Intermediate skiers will enjoy Greek Peak’s mainly open blue slopes. Each face of the mountain offers “more difficult” runs and several of Greek Peak’s black diamonds are suitable for advanced intermediate skiers.

Intermediate skiing at Greek Peak consists more of open slopes than narrow cruisers. Due in part to the resort’s limited vertical drop, most of the blue trails follow the fall line rather than having a series of switchbacks; there simply is not enough vertical or pitch to warrant cutting trails rather than slopes. The resort rightly saved its best sustained steep pitches for the four advanced trails off of the quad (Chair 1A).

The Elysian Fields/Stoic combination off of the quad provides a sustained advanced intermediate pitch for the entirety of its descent. The skier’s right portion of Elysian Fields is often allowed to become moguled and is not reached as easily by the snowguns on the skier’s left. As a result, when conditions are good the right side of Elysian Fields becomes a fantastic blue bump run – perfect for practising mogul technique.

We also love Upper Arcadian Gate from the top of Chair 4 heading down to Greek Peak East. The resort has left a handful of trees in the middle of the run which makes for fun high-speed turns through between these widely-spaced hardwoods.

However, the best intermediate trail at Greek Peak is also likely the shortest. Lower Atlas is easily missed. The entrance to the skier’s right of the beginner Pollux trail is small. Lower Atlas is a brief, but fun and narrow trail that ends near the base of Chair 4. It’s a short shot, but it is narrow and hugs the natural topography, making for a fun ride.

Advanced & Expert Skiing at Greek Peak

For a resort of Greek Peak’s size, it has remarkably good expert skiing. The double black diamond Olympian trail is one of the steepest runs in New York State.

Somewhat surprisingly for a resort which caters to a family market, Greek Peak has quite decent advanced skiing. The resort receives enough natural snowfall to allow for soft moguls to form in midwinter. Thankfully, Greek Peak does not groom down all of its mogul runs but permits a good number of trails to bump up.

The greatest concentration of advanced skiing is off of the quad (Chair 1A). Here, skiers will find Greek Peak’s signature expert run – Olympian. With a headwall whose pitch approaches 40 degrees, it’s fair to call Olympian steep. It is certainly the steepest trail in the region and amongst the steeper pitches in New York State. After the headwall, the trail flattens out before one final plunge ends in a low-angle runout to the base. Expert skiers will appreciate the fact that Greek Peak will only groom the top section infrequently; having a truly steep mogul run, certainly helps the resort attract families and groups with mixed-ability level skiers.

Directly next to the Olympian is the Odyssey. Odyssey is narrower than Olympian but not quite as steep. Unfortunately, it is often closed for ski racing. Odyssey serves as the home race course to the Cornell Alpine Ski Team and it is common to see collegiate racers running gates on the trail.

The last two advanced trails served by the quad are Iliad and Alcmene. Alcmene is a narrow liftline black diamond that follows the quad liftline. The Iliad is a wide slope under Chair 1. The resort often grooms only half of the Iliad trail, giving skiers the option of carving high-speed turns or trying their luck at the moguls. The groomed section is appropriate for strong intermediate skiers, who may struggle with the top pitch but will find the bottom 3/4 of the run to be decidedly blue.

Another great set of expert runs is found off Chair 4. Zeus – the liftline run – is short, but has a tremendous first pitch. Greek Peak’s newest double black diamond trail, Hercules, is the second steepest run and affords a great view of the Hope Lake Lodge on the way down. Hercules, however, is a wide trail and does not hold the snow particularly well. It tends to become icy and windswept when conditions are less favorable, but is a favorite in the spring. 

One advantage to skiing off Chair 4 is it allows for faster laps. Greek Peak’s lifts are notoriously slow, but Zeus and Hercules have very little runout. The shorter line length means more vertical.

Greek Peak also has several gladed expert and advanced runs.

Off-Piste & Backcountry Skiing at Greek Peak 

Greek Peak’s off-piste skiing is limited to three gladed runs. There is no backcountry skiing of any note available at or near the resort.

Although all of Greek Peak’s gladed trails are double black diamonds, these tree runs are generally suitable for advanced or even strong intermediate skiers. Greek Peak does an excellent job clearing underbrush and thinning out its glades, which helps make them skiable for much of the season with Greek Peak’s 120″+ of natural snowfall.

Aesop’s Glade

Greek Peak’s largest glade area, Aesop’s Glade holds the snow better than any trail on the mountain. Unlike Labyrinth and Also’s Glade which offer only two to three different cleared lines, Aesop’s Glade is a true tree-skiing area.

The glade is divided in two by a road. Be sure to watch out for this flat spot because popping out of the woods into the flat cat track can be a jarring compression. The upper section is challenging but mellows out below the cat track into a well-spaced glade suitable for advanced intermediates.

Labyrinth

Greek Peak’s newest glade, Labyrinth is sandwiched between the expert Zeus trail and the intermediate Trojan trail. It is perhaps Greek Peak’s most technical glade and although the pitch is not steep, it is often riddled with moguls and should is not suitable for those uncomfortable making tight turns.

Also’s Glade

Located on the back side of the mountain, Also’s Glade is accessible from the top of the triple chair serving Greek Peak East. It receives the most direct sunlight of any of Greek Peak’s glades. As a consequence, cover can be an issue in the spring or in leaner snow years, but the snow is softer in mid-winter.

The run parallels the intermediate Mars Hills trail and the two runs have similar grade. The glade has been cleared from a hardwood forest and it follows a set of twists and turns before popping out just above the final pitch of Mars Hills. The most difficult run on the backside is a combination of Also’s Glade and then a quick cutover at the exit of the glade to ski the moguls on Arethusa Way.

Greek Peak Mountain Restaurants

Greek Peak has a cafeteria and bar. Both are located in the base area, a short walk from the quad chairlift. A new sundeck overlooking the slopes is planned for winter 2014-2015.

Taverna Cafeteria

The Taverna cafeteria in Greek Peak’s main base lodge. It serves traditional ski food – hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza and hot chocolate.

Trax Pub & Grill

Trax Pub & Grill is Greek Peak’s newly remodelled base lodge bar. It features floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the slopes and flat-screen TVs. The wood-fired pizza is a popular choice as are the almost two dozen beers on tap.  The selection includes many local microbrews, including those from nearby Ithaca Beer Co., famous for its “Flower Power IPA.” Trax has indoor seating for 250 people and it’s a great place to watch the game. A new 7,000-square-foot outdoor heated deck overlooks the slopes.