Return-Path: Received: from koz.garnet.cs.cmu.edu by K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU id aa22946; 22 Feb 93 12:04:54 EST Date: Mon, 22 Feb 93 12:04:18 EST From: David.Kosbie@KOZ.GARNET.CS.CMU.EDU To: bovik@K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU Subject: Skiing in Pennsylvania A while ago, I posted about skiing in Pennsylvania, and I got several helpful responses. After additional phone inquiries, here's the scoop: If you want good skiing, go elsewhere. Surprised? But, if you really must ski in PA, there are some acceptable options. The data I collected, and the full responses, are below. Thanks to Lynne Reder, David Greene, Anne Meixner, Joshua Raiff and Garrett Pelton. --dave [ This info is also en route to Dr. Bovik. ] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- "Lifts" only counts chair lifts (no tow-ropes, T-bars, etc) "Lift" and "Equip" charges are for a full-day, weekend ticket. Half-day and night skiing would differ, of course. The choices for "Real Skiing" are 2 of countless many. No editorials, please! Site Phone City Vert Lifts Expt Int Beg Lift Equip ---- ----- ---- ---- ----- ---- --- --- ---- ----- North Central PA Ski Sawmill 717-353-7521 Morris PA 500' ? 3 3 3 $19 $16 South Central PA Blue Knob 814-239-5111 Claysburg,PA 1072' 7 8 7 4 $30 $17 Ski Roundtop 717-432-9631 Dillsbrg,PA 600' 6 4 6 5 $31 $19 Ski Liberty 717-642-8282 Fairfield,PA 600' 7 4 5 4 $32 $21 White Tail 717-328-9400 Mercersbg,PA 935' 4 3 9 4 $38 $25 North Eastern PA (Poconos) Elk Mntn 717-679-2611 Uniondale,PA 1000' 5 6 6 7 $34 $19 Montage 717-969-7669 Scranton, PA 1000' 6 6 6 6 $33 $18 Jack Frost 717-443-8425 WhiteHaven,PA 600' 7 7 7 7 $35 $20 many others South Western PA 7 Springs 814-352-7777 SomersetCnty 750' 11 12 13 5 $33 $18 HiddenValley 814-443-6454 SomersetCnty 610' 6 4 6 6 $32 $16 Real Skiing Stowe 802-253-3000 Stowe, VT 2055' 10 <45-runs> $41 $20 Vail 303-476-5601 Vail, CO 3250' 24 <121-runs> $42 $16 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- I have heard the 7 Springs is the best skiing in the Mid-Atlantic regions--perhaps not saying much; however, when I went skiing there last Sunday, I rode up on a chair with a kid that had come with his entire ski group (school?) on a bus from DC, so I think that says something... -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ski Roundtop in Dillsburg, PA (just this side of Harrisburg ~3.5 hours) is not bad and certainly better than Liberty. I taught there when I came back to the states for my senior year of high school -- so it's a while It's bigger than Liberty but about 1/3 the size of 7-springs (probably about the size of 7-springs front area. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ski Liberty use to be one of the closest ski resorts to the Wash DC metroplian area, I think White Tail is closer now. Thus it tended to have bus loads of novice skiers and snot-nosed teenagers. Check out Blue Knob, which is off of the Turnpike, Bedford exit I think. There are alot more trees around, and it tends to be more challenging than 7 Springs. My family skiied at Wisp when I was growing up in MD and I always like it. But it has been awhile. If you want to drive a good 5 hours, check out SnowShoe in West Virginia. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- There's also a new place called "Whitetail" It in PA on 70 just before it goes into MD. I haven't been there, but I've heard fairly good things about it. I think it even has a greater vertical drop than 7-Springs. I'm not sure if it a good place from NJ (its about 90 min from Baltimore), but I think I have a brochure with a trail map etc if you're interested. I'll have to check though... -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- There is a resort outside of Carlisle called Blue Knob. It is higher than either seven springs or hidden valley but I have never been there so I don't know anymore. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- If you are either driving from NJ or having folks meet you at the ski place, than you should be looking into ski places in the Poconos region. Camelback is fairly big and there is also Jack Frost, Big Blouder and Blue Mountain (it used to be called Little Gap). There are also a couple of places further North in East PA Montage (in the city of Scranton) and Elk Mtn. I've skied both of the latter more recently than the Poconos regions. I don't think there is much difference tween 7 Springs and Jack Frost and Big Boulder. Camel Back is a bigger mountain and thus probably has some challenging slopes. I last skiied there nearly 10 years ago. Elk and Montage offer more challenging trails. Check out local ski shops for trail information. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-