Trail Map Competition Winners!

We have 2 – well 2.5 winners. The .5 is an honorable mention and not actually allowed to win as he is the owners’ son.

All this came about because I’m obsessed with Platty’s hand-drawn map in the bar as well as James Niehues who has monopoly on the trail map market. He’s done 75% of the large resorts – and spends about “80% of his time on trees….”

Not to be outdrawn are our two winners Cynthia and John – who both could offer Niehues a tip or two on trees. John Stewart seems to be anticipating spring with his bold use of brown and green (colors unseen on the hill in February when his map was drawn). While Cynthia wins in the over-14 (aka “Adult”) category for her bold renaming of Blockbuster as “Netflix.” There’s 21st century thinking for you… And, we heartily agree with her sentiment about loving helmets particularly since her map notes exactly where she fell two years ago. Clearly a memorable fall. Nick Vajytay gets an honorable mention with his abstract lateral thinking in his map. His is a

cross between an info diagram Edward Tufte would approve of and Rem Koolhaas’s SMLXL (See below. And Nick, you have a future as a designer or architect. Keep it up) Our two winners each get a pair of lift tix to Platty for next season…

More lovely hand-drawn maps can be found thanks to the Hand Drawn Map Association – though I don’t think they’ve tackled trail maps yet….

Free Skiing

What two words ring better to a skiers ear? Fresh Powder? Possibly... But I'll take free and I've got two ways for you to get it too. 1) "Like" Plattyon FB and if they get 2000 fans by the end of the month, the mountain will do a free day for their fans. (As of posting time they only need 350 more fans...).

2) The Plattekill Trail Map Competition sponsored by our fine fair mountain and WITC... Entry forms are at Plattekill but if you don't happen to be there this weekend (and snow is forecast so why would you not?) you can also email them directly to me. Make sure to include your age and contact info. Best interpretation wins. And as you're pondering just what that might mean, we've posted these pics of Freefall (below – and, my personal fave trail) and Blockbuster above. Block, as many fans know, has 1000 feet straight vert – the most in the Cats.

Thanks to Macker, I can also tell you just how it got its name. The guy with the bulldozer who cut the trail said it was too steep, dangerous and so on. "There's no way anyone can ski that. They’ll break their block." Hence Blockbuster was born. Meanwhile Freefall got its name from Laszlo's mom who won the competition to name it before he'd even bought the mountain.

Southern Comfort

Does this look like Southern Comfort to you? Nah, bet you were thinking it was Sundown.. but shortly after the triple chair was installed Sundown had a different name. Southern Comfort. And a story behind it.

A Roxbury businessman, also a skier, also a fan of Plattekill was a bit over the edge on Southern Comfort – and fell and broke his leg, hence the name. North Face was originally Barney’s Bluff named for Plattekill’s original owners golden retriever, Barney, yes. And, Barney was quite a dog – and quite a drinker …. He’d also sit at the bar and lap up beer. Indeed.

Shredded Mozzerella has a far more recent name. For the shredders. It was the terrain park’s original location when it was first installed and the name? That we can thank Danielle for…

The stories about the trail names are all from Macker, the man in charge of mountain ops… Now it’s up to you to draw your version of Plattekill’s trails with or without their original names. Or, new names that you think fit. Oh, and yes, routes through the trees are all welcome too.

The prize is a pair of tickets to Plattekill this season or next. And there are two age groups. Under 14. Over 14. No cheating and lying about your ages, now.

Platte Trail Map Competition

Inspired by the awesome hand drawn trail map hanging in Platte's bar, Winter in the Catskills in conjunction with Plattekill are having a competition! Draw Your Own Trail Map. All you have to do is draw your version of Platte's terrain. Best interpretation wins. There are two age groups: Under 14 and Over 14. The prize for each category is a pair of lift tickets good this season or next.

So, you can find drawing supplies -- crayons and paper at Plattekill. Or else, do it at home and email it to me jenkabat@gmail.com. I also promise to post more inspiring stories about Platte's trails and how they got their names. Anyone know why North Face was originally called Barney's Bluff? Or the first name of Sundown...

The best entries will appear on WITC and also be framed and hung at Plattekill.