kids encyclopedia robot

Plattekill Mountain facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Plattekill Mountain
Nearest city Roxbury, New York
Coordinates 42°17′25″N 74°39′13″W / 42.290251°N 74.653678°W / 42.290251; -74.653678
Vertical 1,100 feet (340 m)
Top elevation 3,500 ft (1,100 m)
Base elevation 2,400 ft (730 m)
Runs 38
Terrain parks 1
Snowfall 175 in (4.4 m)
Snowmaking 75%
Website http://plattekill.com/
Fullsizeoutput 41a
A snowy view from the North Face trail at Plattekill Mountain.

Plattekill Mountain is a cool place in Roxbury, New York, where you can ski and bike! It's a private resort, which means it's owned by a family, not a big company. This mountain is super fun with a big drop of 1,100 feet (about 335 meters) and 38 different trails for all skill levels.

The main building, called the lodge, is at 2,400 feet high. The very top of the mountain reaches 3,500 feet! Inside the lodge, you'll find a cafeteria for snacks, a pro shop for gear, and places to rent equipment. There's also a ski school if you want to learn or get better. You can even warm up by the fireplaces on each of its three levels.

To get up the mountain, there are two main ski lifts. For beginners, there are also special surface lifts in the learning area and at the snow tubing park.

The History of Plattekill Mountain

How Plattekill Mountain Started

For a long time, from the late 1950s to the early 1990s, the Hinkley family owned and ran Plattekill Mountain. During these 33 years, the ski center became known for having some of the steepest and most exciting trails in the area.

New Ownership and Improvements

After a few winters with not much snow, and a building project that didn't work out, the property was taken over by the Small Business Administration in 1992. But not for long!

In 1993, many people wanted to buy Plattekill Mountain. On April 30, 1993, a former instructor and lifelong skier named Mr. Lászlo Vajtay bought the mountain. He loved Plattekill and wanted to keep it going.

Over the years, many improvements have been made. The snowmaking machines are now more modern, and the equipment used to groom the trails is better. They even added a new ski lift, which was originally used at nearby Belleayre Mountain. This new lift replaced an older one that had been there since 1961.

Plattekill Mountain Today

Today, Plattekill Mountain is open all year round. In the winter, it's a popular ski area. In the summer, it's a great spot for weddings and mountain biking, with trails winding through the ski slopes.

Telemark skiing is also very popular here. This is a special type of skiing where your heel is not attached to the ski. Plattekill is one of the few places that offers both lessons and equipment rentals for this unique style of skiing.

Mountain Facts and Figures

  • Base of the mountain: 2,400 ft (730 m)
  • Top of the mountain (Summit): 3,500 ft (1,070 m)
  • How far you drop (Vertical drop): 1,100 ft (340 m)
  • Number of trails: 38
    • Beginner trails: 20%
    • Intermediate trails: 40%
    • Advanced trails: 20%
    • Expert trails: 20%

Trails and Glades

Plattekill Mountain has trails for everyone, from beginners to experts! Here's a look at some of them:

Name of Trail Rating
Upper Powder Puff Ski trail rating symbol-green circle.svg
Lower Powder Puff Ski trail rating symbol-green circle.svg
Crossover Ski trail rating symbol-green circle.svg
Beginner Learning Center Ski trail rating symbol-green circle.svg
Express Lane Ski trail rating symbol-green circle.svg
Overlook Ski trail rating symbol-green circle.svg
Name of Trail Rating
Sundown Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg
Bail Out Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg
Lower Ridge Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg
Lower Northface Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg
Gateway Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg
Shredded Mozzarella Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg
Lower Face Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg
Drop In Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg
Lower Twist Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg
Cat Track Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg
Just Do It Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg
I Think I Can Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg
Backdraft Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg
Switchback Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg
Buckle Up Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg
Horse Shoe Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg
Home Run Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg
Wing It Ski trail rating symbol-blue square.svg
Name of Trail Rating
Upper Ridge Run Ski trail rating symbol-black diamond.svg
Upper Twist Ski trail rating symbol-black diamond.svg
The Cliffs Ski trail rating symbol-black diamond.svg
Bumps Ski trail rating symbol-black diamond.svg
Upper Face Ski trail rating symbol-black diamond.svg
Lower Plunge Ski trail rating symbol-black diamond.svg
The Chute Ski trail rating symbol-black diamond.svg
Name of Trail Rating
Freefall Ski trail rating symbol-double black diamond.svg
Upper Northface Ski trail rating symbol-double black diamond.svg
Pipeline Ski trail rating symbol-double black diamond.svg
Upper Plunge Ski trail rating symbol-double black diamond.svg
Blockbuster Ski trail rating symbol-double black diamond.svg
Giant Slalom Ski trail rating symbol-double black diamond.svg
TERRAIN PARK on Lower Face Ski trail rating symbol-double black diamond.svg
kids search engine
Plattekill Mountain Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.