Ski2Live Live2Ski

$30 lift tickets at Hunter this weekend if you buy online in advance $29 lift tickets at Belleayre this weekend Wonder what they will be at Blue if they open They clear it pretty quick, but while the snow or ice is actually falling there's only so much they can do

Hunter is about 15 minutes closer than Belleayre for anyone getting to them by going north on the NYS Thruway. One exit further, but closer to the exit. In snowy/icy conditions they are more or less equal as the road from the Thruway to Hunter is more treacherous and needs to be taken slower at parts in bad conditions.

Understood, that's why I check.

Yeah, from Princeton area Hunter is only about 15 minutes further than Elk - which is why I so seldom get to Elk. You can make up that 30 minutes on the round trip drive pretty quickly on the high speed lifts, and there is more challenge and more than 50% more vertical.

Thanks for the heads up. Would have been considering taking the kids, who are still itching for more skiing after their day 8, if it has seemed suitable.

Fair enough, I forgot how far it is. It's comparable to Mt Snow, and both about 45 minutes short of Killington. I guess to be realistically day trippable beyond the Catskills we'd need to look at something in MA or CT.

Next weekend it seems that Belleayre, Hunter, Gore and possibly Blue will be open. Not aware of anything else that is day-trippable from central NJ. Anything I am missing?

Fun day with the kids at BB Saturday. There was talk at the mountain that they hope to reopen for a one day "May Day" special the first Saturday in May with discount tix (I believe past years have been $10). That would mean they were open for nearly 6 months in 7 calendar months. Wonder when the last time a PA hill pulled off that feat. I'm guessing if they do open it will be pretty limited. Anyone experience one of these days in past years and care to comment?

Thanks, wish I could meet many of you folks at the close out party for Blue, but to ski with kids it is hard to beat the $15 lifts and $15 rentals BB is offering for Saturday, and this should be ample challenge for them (so far they have been to Spring and Shawnee)

Called and spoke to guest services, they wlil be 100% open including non-park trails, Weather permitting I will take my girls out for their 8th day on skis, and last this season, on Saturday.

Thanks for the info about the triples. How much non-Park skiing is there still at BB?

Anyone know which chairlifts here are the triples? Is there a triple to the top? I need a triple or bigger lift to ski with two young girls.

Heading up to Elk Saturday. Anyone else going for closing day?

Odd they would not keep open until Sunday

Day 7 and lesson #6 for the kids on Saturday. They are finally bonafide skiers. 8 runs down Shawnee's 700 feet of vertical for both of them - the first time they did runs with more than 125 feet of vertical - and the last few runs were on blue terrain. Never believed we'd make it this far this season when I watched their first lesson in December. We are now able to ski a real slope as a trio without assistance. The girls are as proud of themselves as I am of them. I have no kind words for Shawnee's ski school office, but their instructor Claire (a man) was wonderful with the girls and felt they both had some real natural ability.

Got to come to the lift ticket window in a full costume. Don't have to ski in it. But it's cheaper to buy a costume than to buy a lift ticket. http://www.shawneemt.com/events-activities/costumecarnivalday.html

Should have said "anywhere in VT that is no further from PA" Whiteface is probably a bit closer than Killington. Nice to spend the time driving north rather than east, and to hit less traffic.

Yeah, if I want more than the Catckills offer, I am more likely to hit Gore or Whiteface than go to VT. By the time you get to Whiteface there is just as much challenge and snowfall as anywhere in VT, more vertical, ample territory, smaller lines, lower prices.

I was there 3/1 as well. It was nice where it was groomed. The trees were skiable but slick/crunchy surface. THe bumps were scraped too hard to be fun for me. River Shot has to be the most beautiful view from a PA ski trail, and might be better than any you get in the Catskills either.

Every time we go out they remind me of my statement that they will be better than me because they are starting younger We will make it out at least one more time this season as I already purchased a package at Shawnee that I haven't used. Weather permitting we'll do that March 8. Then I'll have to see how much longer the ski season lasts and maybe try for the 22nd or 23rd. Kids are only with me every other week.

Took the kids out for day 5 yesterday - first time with no lesson. One of them is now skiing independently, with my assistance limited to telling her to turn and occasionally helping her back to her feet. Exciting to see this progress.

Sure there are good reasons for them to do it. But given that they so rarely run it, I doubt it is a priority.

Can't imagine they would even feel a need to replace long haul if it broke, since it has been operating no more than 20% of the times I have been there. I'd like to see a high speed replace Phoebe Snow

Lesson #4 last sunday and one of my girls sailed down about 100' of vertical with no pauses, assists or spills. Woohoo!

Had a great time out at Montage in the fresh snow on the 18th myself (I would estimate 5-6"), though the access road was so treacherous I seriously doubted I was going to make it there. Took about 40 minutes from 81 to the mountain.