I'm slated to stay at the Holiday Inn in Lake Placid during the week of Adult Nationals 2004. I thought I'd booked the best one as far as walking to the Olympic Center is concerned (I'm trying to cut down on costs by skipping the rental car). Unfortunately, the members of another skating board I belong to are all complaining that the hill up to the hotel from the OC is too steep.

How hard is it to climb, really? I'm in great shape, and I figure it should be no problem for me. Right now, my greatest fear is that I'll be the only skater staying there because no one else wants to climb a hill. Should I book something easier?

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I have stayed at the Holiday Inn several times and the hill was no big deal. Seems funny to me that some folks consider themselves "athletes" but walk up a hill...no way.
If you don't need to park in the handicapped space, you can handle the hill. Besides,I saw you,Black Sheep, charge down two flights of stairs, down the hallway to the locker and back up the steps in less than 2 minutes (with skates on no less!) to grab your tape and then jump on the ice to skate in Utah last month. That hill is no match for you!

In three words: not that bad. I've climbed it in snow and ice and I still didn't think it was that bad. Just don't do what I do and try to speed-walk up it

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Shae-Lynn and Victor: We knew you were champions, and on 3/28/03 the whole WORLD found out! Thank you for twelve wonderful years!

I've been going to Lake Placid since the early '80s and have explored just about every hotel, motel, lodge and B&B in the area. I stayed at the Holiday Inn once. I don't like the hill at all and my experience with the hotel itself was such that, even if the hill disappeared, I would not stay there again.

My first choice is always the Golden Arrow (I have my reservation there already); second would be the Adirondack. The Howard Johnson's been renovated and is nice if you have a car. The Hilton and the Ramada are on a par but I only use them when I can't get closer. My experience with the Northwoods is limited, but I have budget-minded friends who stay there all the time and say it's fine if you don't spend a lot of time in your room.

But each to his/her own.

I love the Golden Arrow and feel it is the closest to the rink in walking time, however the hill is not bad at all. I stayed at Lyseks one year for camp and did the hill quite a few times each day and didn't find it hard.

It's a good warm up for skating.

I did that hill 2-3 times a day from the rink to Lysek's as well. It's not bad at all, winter may be different, but still, not that bad!

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Montreal, QC, Canada

We have stayed at the Holiday Inn plenty of times and I find the hill no problem at all.

In fact we were there for sectionals two weeks ago and we climbed the hill during and after a blizzard.

I will look for you at Adult nationals in April Black Sheep since I will be there as well since my club is host and I usually work the registration table and if I can pass one more test, I may even compete.

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Keeping School Figures Alive!!

Its not bad at all. If I can handle it, anyone can.

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"I will not be the girl stuck at home in the 'burbs...I will not be the girl who gets asked how it feels to be trotting along at the genius' heels! I will not be the girl who requires a man to get by." (The Last Five Years)

Thanks, everyone! Now I know I've made the right choice for me!

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I liked the hill, it's only bad if you keeping look up, lol. Its like almost there...okay still not there.... okay finally almost there, lol! Actaully raced up it a couple of times.... now thats burning, hehe! But it really isnt as bad as some people make it out to be. You'll be totally fine! Have fun in lake placid, I loved it is soooo beautiful!!
-Sarah

I stayed there last time. The hill was NOT fun at 5:00 in the morning with a foot of snow on the ground.........with my skates and dress bag. Once the snow melted it was fine. If I ever go again I plan to stay across the street, however.

I wager it won't be so bad in April, right??

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The last time AN was in Lake Placid, 2000 I think, we got about 2 feet of snow ..yes, in April. I think someone said that it was the most snow that they had gotten all year. I'm sure that is a rare occurence though.

I did make it absolutely beautiful, however. I have great pictures from that trip.

PattyP

The three Adult Nationals I have been to in Lake Placid have all involved driving up that mountain in a snow storm. By the end of the week - Spring!

D'OH!!!!!!!!!!!

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Heck - we welcomed you to AN this year in Ann Arbor with a snow storm - I don't doubt we'll see snow in Lake Placid next year .

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"The only place where success comes before work is in a dictionary." -- Vidal Sasson

"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway." -- Unknown

I thought that the Holiday Inn was the place to stay for Adult Nats., but I was wrong. I could have had a room for the same rate at the Golden Arrow--without having to walk up that stupid mound of snow--but no, they're all booked up. I blew it. I've asked them to put me on a waiting list, but I'm not too optimistic....

Any other recommendations??

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We were at Lake Placid for the sectionals a few weeks back. Yup, a foot of snow!! An unusual snow storm for so early in the season.

Being a weatherman and future resident of Lake Placid, you can get beauties for snow storms in mid April. Flip side it can also go into the upper 60s and low 70s.

For Adult nationals, we are staying across the street, on the off chance that I may be competing but also since I halp out at registration, I usually get to the Olympic Center early.

It will be fun to put some faces on the adult skaters that post here!!

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Keeping School Figures Alive!!

For the past Lake Placid Nationals, and this one we have rented a house for the week. One year we had so many of us that we rented two. If you're going to be there for the week, it's a great deal and very convenient.

I really like the idea of renting a house for AN...we stayed at the Holiday Inn the last time, but I like having a place to cook and a coffeepot (I am a caffeine-motivated skater.)

As my screen name suggests, I am both a mountain climber and a skater...and I thought the hill sucked at 6:30 a.m. in a foot of snow, and it sucked worse at 11:30 pm after half a bottle of wine!

Does anyone have suggestions for where to start looking if we'd like to rent a house this time?

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"Gravity is a harsh mistress." -- The Tick

Hi climbskate,
Look on-line at the Lake Placid rentals. It's great to have the kitchen and fireplace there for you.

I once stayed (in January) at a Bed & Breakfast up "that hill." It was really nice and comfortable. It's been some time, so I doubt I could find the name, but you may want to think about trying a B&B.

I've also stayed at the Hilton (great lounge, long walk) and the Holiday Inn. The Hill didn't bother me - but it is a workout on the way back.

Hahaha I've stayed at the Holiday Inn so many times I didn't even have to look at Lake Placid in parenthesis.

Like some of people have already said, the hill is not that bad. Just dont try to run up it!

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Lisa

Wont it be great? Someone else in '08!

LOL glad to hear I'm not the only person who's done that! I challenged my partner to a race and we both regretted it the next day. Luckily, we were done competing by that point. On the brighter side, I did beat him

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Shae-Lynn and Victor: We knew you were champions, and on 3/28/03 the whole WORLD found out! Thank you for twelve wonderful years!