Meet Our Staff - Ryan Guest Services

Ryan - Mount Peter Guest Services

Ryan

Guest Services

Employed since: 08/09 season

Ski or Snowboard? Both!

When did you start skiing / snowboarding? Ski-4  Board-12

Where did you learn to ski / ride? Ski- Orange County Park, Davos Ski Area  Board-Vernon Valley/Great Gorge

What’s your favorite run at Mount Peter? River Bottom, of course! (Terrain Park)

Any advice that would help me get on the mountain efficiently? Get to the Ski Area early, always early! 

Guest services entails both in the office and on the mountain assistance for visitors. Tell us something about your position we wouldn't know about: I have an ‘on the move’ open door policy to my 'office'! I’m always around to answer any questions you may have.

What’s your favorite Mount Peter memory? Mount Peter's 75^th year  Anniversary spring rally celebration! It was a great day all around but to cap it off with the torch light parade down the mountain... being a part of that was pretty special. 

There's Snow at Mount Peter!

Each week on our Facebook Page we have the "Tuesday Test." In a nutshell, we post a picture taken at Mount Peter and you try to tell us what/where you think it is.


Our last "test" on December 27 was a cropped picture of our shiny red PistenBully snow grooming machine. 


For those of you who are interested, we wanted to give you a little more detail about it because it's actually a pretty cool piece of equipment. Here's the whole image...

Our PistenBully is Awesome!

As a skier or rider at Mount Peter you likely won't see this machine out working. You can tell it does most of its work after hours by the large lights on the top and sides.


Youngsters compared to us (Mount Peter opened in 1936), PistenBulley started making snow grooming machines in 1969. The key features - low center of gravity, maneuverability and wide tracks - allow it to groom straight up the steepest terrain including Dynamite and Wild West.

Dynamite! - Photo from 12/26/2011

This machine and all our other snow making equipment is nothing without our dedicated Mountain Operations team. 


Like the PistenBully, you likely won't see many of them while you're skiing or snowboarding at Mount Peter. A snow makers "day" usually starts when the sun goes down and ends around sunrise. 


Mother Nature has been testing our patience so far this year. When you look out your window there's no snow on the ground. But rest assured, there is snow for skiing and snowboarding at Mount Peter in nearby Warwick, New York thanks to these hard working guys.


So, here's a shout out to our snow makers! Thanks for making the best snow in the region!

Meet Our Staff - Sam Cafe Manager

Sam

Café Manager

Mount Peter 

Employed since 2006

Ski or Snowboard? 

Ski AND Snowboard

When did you start skiing / snowboarding? 

I started skiing at age two.

Where did you learn to ski AND ride? 

Mount Peter

What’s your favorite run at Mount Peter? 

Outback

What’s your favorite food at the café? 

Pretzel

What’s your favorite Mount Peter memory? 

During my first year working in the café we lost our overnight cleaning crew. The customer service staff and café staff came together and worked nights after closing to keep the café running smoothly. It was fun to join forces, work together and make a success!

Tell us something people don’t know about the Café. 

All the tips we collect in the tip jar are donated to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

Ideas for Your First Time Skiing or Snowboarding

Warm and happy is the only way to enjoy your day skiing or snowboarding. A few simple things will help increase your comfort and maximize your time at Mount Peter. Read our posts What to Wear and What to Bring for suggestions to keep you comfortable for a day on the mountain. 

Some extras to pack for a ski or snowboard trip with kids.

It's important to dress right and bring the warm gear you need for a great day in the snow. Our post, Extra Stuff to Bring, outlines some extra things to tuck in your bag to help ensure everyone's day is enjoyable.

Check list for a day of skiing or snowboarding!

When you get up in the morning you want everything to flow smoothly into the car and onto the mountain for your day of fun. Every ounce of advance preparation will help you enjoy your day at Mount Peter that much more. Here are a few “night before” ideas that will help you get out the door with all the gear you need for fun!

The sign to our little piece of winter wonderland.

 Hitting the road for Mount Peter is a favorite past time for many skiers and snowboarders. For many, family time in the car (watching out the window, playing games, sharing anticipation of a day on the mountain) is part of the experience. Here are some Tips for the drive to Mount Peter!


We're located in Warwick, NY, just about an hour from the New York - New Jersey metro area. Here are driving directions. See you soon!

Hitting the Road for Mount Peter

Our sign on Route 17A. Turn right here onto Old Mt Peter Road.

Hitting the road for Mount Peter is a favorite past time for many skiers and snowboarders. For many, family time in the car (watching out the window, playing games, sharing anticipation of a day on the mountain) is part of the experience.

But, before you insert the key into the ignition or push that “start” button on the car, do a quick double check. Got everything for everybody and your day? If you need some ideas, check our blog for What toBring, What to Wear, Extra Stuff to Bring and The Night Before.

One tip is that a good breakfast serves as a strong base for a day outdoors in the snow. We’ve heard of a few different routines from friends. Consider these, and see what works for your family or group.

• A hearty breakfast at home before heading out the door
• A hearty breakfast on the road before getting to Mount Peter
• A light breakfast at home or on the road followed by a hot breakfast item at the Mount Peter Café

There are as many routines for family car trips as there are families so your questions here are different than others. But here are some thoughts…

• Do you have snacks?
• Do you have movies for the video player?
• Is the iPod cable here?
• Do we have the cell phone charger?
• Paper and pen for license plate game?  
• Remember the words for 100 bottles of pop on the wall? 

If you are coming to Mount Peter from Long Island,  New York City or north/central New Jersey you’ll likely be finishing up the drive on Route 17A. When you get to 17A you’re almost here and this is one of the prettiest parts of the drive. You’ll be driving though the Highlands area of New York.  Keep your eyes peeled and you might see squirrels, deer and chipmunks in the woods.

First you’ll drive through Sterling Forest State Park, climb Sterling Ridge and then descend to GreenwoodLake (where you find your first, and only, stop sign on 17A before Mount Peter). After Greenwood Lake you’ll climb up the west side of Mount Peter . You might notice a trail sign as you near the top - the Appalachian Trail crosses here.

The Appalachian Trail runs from Georgia to Maine!

Keep your eyes on the skies and you might see turkey vultures or birds of prey like red tail hawks and bald eagles soaring the breezes that flow up Mount Peter from the Warwick Valley.

Cresting the top of the mountain, you’re only a half mile away! Look to the right and you might see our lifts. Watch for the right hand turn that leads to the parking lot. 

Our sign that points you into our driveway!

When you see this sign you're entering our driveway! You've made it! See you soon!

The Night Before

When you get up in the morning you want everything to flow smoothly into the car and onto the mountain for your day of fun. Every ounce of advance preparation will help you enjoy your day at Mount Peter that much more. Here are a few “night before” ideas that will help…

Get to bed early. A day outdoors is tiring. A day outdoors in the winter is more tiring. A day outdoors skiing or snowboarding is even more tiring. In most cases, tired kids (and adults) have less patience so a good night’s rest is a good foundation for a day of winter-time fun. 

We like to set out the gear for each person in their own separate bag the night before. Items for the group go in a group bag. This way, you can look at each person’s gear bag to make sure they have all they need packed for the day. If each bag is packed and each bag is in the car then you know all the gear you need for the day is ready to go. 

If possible, we like to put gas in the car the night before so we don’t have to make a stop in the morning. Likewise, if you print driving directions, print your directions the night before (or earlier). Speaking of the car, make sure you are not overdressed for sitting in the car while driving to the mountain. You don’t want to be overheated or start the day with damp, sweaty garments. Some people we know even keep the heat in the car lower than normal to offset the warm clothing and idea that they will be outdoors all day (conversely, they crank it up for the ride home).

Charge or check the battery in all electronic devices you intend to bring (Yes, Mount Peter has wifi in the Main Lodge!). Also, look at the amount of memory you have for pictures and videos. It would be a shame to miss capturing those special moments because of memory or charge issues that could have been avoided.

So, car is gassed up, gear is all packed for each person and their electronics are in order. Early to bed and we’ll see you in the morning!

Extra Stuff to Bring

It's important to dress right and bring the warm gear you need for a great day in the snow. A few extra things tucked in your bag will help ensure everyone's day is enjoyable.

The cold weather often gets little noses running so put a few tissues in your coat pocket. On cloudless days, the sun reflects off the white snow and can cause sunburn. Winter, for many folks, means chapped lips. Don’t forget the lip balm. And, in a pinch, many lip balms have UV block so you could smear some on your nose and cheeks to prevent sun burn. BONUS - you might just get a kiss on the cheek or nose!

Don’t forget that wind makes the temperatures feel even colder. So be prepared with more layers on a windy day.

If you have young children, here’s a tip shared by our Mountain School - “Youngsters are often motivated by stickers or small goodies such as plastic animals, toy cars, etc. Tuck a few in your pocket to use as a reward or motivator.” A nice cup of hot cocoa has been encouraging kids at Mount Peter for the past 76 years. And, finally, don’t forget the (fully charged) camera and video camera for saving and sharing memories!

If you end up at Mount Peter missing some piece of winter gear, stop by our retail shop Pete's Closet. We have a range of key items - from gloves and hats to lip balm and hand warmers - to help your day go smoothly. Snow time!

What to Wear

This is actually a two part series, What to Bring and What to Wear. Put them together and you should be pretty well set up for your day…

Warm and happy is the only way to enjoy your day skiing or snowboarding. A few simple things will help increase your comfort and maximize your time at Mount Peter.

It is winter and you’re playing in the snow so some of these recommendations may sound obvious but….

If you have them (or can borrow them) water/wind resistant coat and snow pants are key items. Sweatshirts, jeans and sweat pants get wet from the snow making you or your kid cold and uncomfortable. Avoid cotton whenever possible. If you can’t get snow pants, a wind resistant shell will help keep snow from getting on your pants. As a last resort, make sure you wipe off any snow that sticks to your clothing. If it’s stuck there it will melt there making you wet and cold.

In a perfect situation, you’ll have long johns made of a wicking material (poly-pro, Under Armor, etc.) next to your skin with an insulating layer (wool, pile, etc.) over that covered by your jacket and pants. 

The conditions change throughout the day as the sun makes its way around Mount Peter so dressing in layers is a good idea. As the day warms up, you can remove some insulation to keep comfortable. Also, remember that wind makes the temperatures feel even colder. So be prepared with more layers on a windy day.

If you end up at Mount Peter missing some piece of winter gear, stop by our retail shop Pete's Closet. We have a range of basic items to help your day go smoothly. Time to ski and ride!

What to Bring

Warm and happy is the only way to enjoy your day skiing or snowboarding. A few simple things will help increase your comfort and maximize your time at Mount Peter. It may seem obvious but, it is winter and you’re playing in the snow. So…

Gloves or mittens and a hat or helmet are staple items. Unfortunately, the nice yarn mittens knitted by auntie are not the best for learning to ski or snowboard. Water resistant, nylon hand gear is best, keeping hands warm and dry. On colder days a “neck gaiter,” “balaclava” or “ski mask” covers most of the face and to keep you toasty.  

For parents who are not intending to ski or snowboard, we suggest you give it a try! But, if not, you should still dress for winter weather conditions. You may plan on watching from Sunrise Lodge, but you’ll likely spend a good deal of time outside talking to your kids, meeting them before/after lessons and helping them shuttle between lodges, meals, rentals and the car. Layered clothing and appropriate winter gear will help make YOU more comfortable (and happy).

If you end up at Mount Peter missing some piece of winter gear, stop by our retail shop Pete's Closet. We have a range of key items - from gloves and hats to lip balm and hand warmers - to help your day go smoothly. Now let’s go play!