Ski2Live Live2Ski

Can't hit more than one Epic Mt a day this year due to reservations policy (except JF and BB considered one). Liberty still doesn't have much of its best terrain open so glad I am hitting these two - though I still have never made it to Liberty.

I do have some Whitetail pix from my trip there on 3-17-19. These are mostly from the "Exhibition" bump run on the rear face. They were nice and soft that balmy day. Closing day of their season and we skied them to the last chair.

Got reservations for Roundtop Sat (my third trip there) and Whitetail Sun (my second trip there). Pretty perfect timing as both announced today that for the first time this Skison they are 100% open. Particularly psyched that they have Upper Gunbarrel open at Roundtop. I have never skied that before and the top of it has a 50° pitch - which is I believe the steepest on map headwall in PA (White Lightning headwall at Montage was regraded from 54° to 46° a while back). Had been planning to do Hunter this weekend, but with Temps as of a few days ago being forecast to go down as low as 10 below with high winds there this weekend (forecast has moderated with lows around 0 and highs in the teens now expected), I switched my reservations to these balmier south central PA resorts where it is expected to get into the 30s both days.

Still the steepest on map terrain in NEPA. You've just tried real skiing since then.

For me it is a toss up between CB and Blue. I'd take Blue weekdays (longer runs) and CB weekends/ holidays (easier to avoid lines). But I mostly ski weekends/holidays. I'd place Montage #3 (Northface is best terrain in NEPA and never a line - but a lot further for me, slow lifts and shorter runs - Long Haul gets you a longer run but lift ride is so long and you can't hit the best terrain) I'd place JF and Roundtop about tied for #4 Elk is the best in NEPA in terms of terrain and snow - but isn't even a factor as it is as far as Hunter and Belleayre for me.

I'd take the extra day at WF while driving that far and save Gore for a trip where I don't want to drive that far.

Planning to hit what I am this season calling "Hunter North" on Presidents Day - wahoo

New York Ski Blog

IMO it is the only NY ski mountain worth considering if you are coming from E.PA/NJ/NYC other than the ones you list, as any of the others are considerably further from us than considerably larger mountains. Also one of the best in MA - part of it is in New England

Never heard of Catamount?

No restrix on NY - but restrix on coming back to PA from NY No enforcement really

Vail has said plan for next year is no reservations. For all the complaints about the reservation system, I have gotten 15 days at Epic hills in so far - all on weekends and holidays - everyone at the hill I most wanted to ski on that day. And with the rebate they gave me due to last year's shortened season, that come out to only $40/day if the season ended today. I have also generally been able to switch resorts with no issue a few days in advance, at times with some persistence required. Just yesterday I noticed that the forecast for Sunday at Hunter is for a high of 3 and a low of neg 10 at summit (a balmy neg 7 at base) so I changed my reservation to Roundtop for Sat. Really the only complaint I have had so far is with the length of lines at Jack Frost 16 days ago when they had the East mountain still closed. But I have faced way worse lines at Blue (though lines are more worth it for runs twice as long).

I'd say Peak and then Epic pass pricing has driven down what Blue can charge as - apart from folks who live within ~an hour of Blue - they need to offer a price that is attractive compared to the price of a pass that includes NY and VT options in addition to a PA option (Western options less relevant since Covid has folks reluctant to fly). If I were Blue, I would wait to see Epic price point (and Ikon's if they add a PA option) before setting their price - which needs to be at least $200 less to be attractive.

I believe they were announced Feb 2 and on sale Feb 10

It was surprising last year that Blue let people get passes ahead of President's Day. Makes more sense after that chunk of change is banked.

Personally my first choice development would be for Ikon to add Camelback. I prefer CB to Blue (easier to avoid lift lines and more easily accessible from highway in snowy conditions) and would like to switch from Epic to Ikon to have a different selection of mountains open to me starting in a month or so. And more likely to happen as CB offered a deal on Ikon passes to their passholders last year. But I will see what the options are and make my call. Barring any new PA resorts joining Ikon or Epic, I think ORDA looks most appealing.

When we first got ours in March 2019 for 19-20 we were able to use it right away. I got 3 uses in March 2019, the first one being March 17. It was a nice change as we had 1 mountain passes (Blue) that season.

We are one week away from the day Blue announced their pass prices and on sale date (we are 15 days away from that) last year. And of course buying a different pass for next skison often opens up new ski options for the remainder of this one.

I know you are all still caught up in skiing and stuff, but we are only a few weeks away from "analyze the best pass options for next skison and consider picking one that will broaden your options for the rest of next year" season. I know you are all waiting with baited breath. Not really considering single mountain passes any more, but Ikon, Epic, ORDA, Indy are all contenders and who knows what new options could emerge.

I would expect if Blue did join Epic or Ikon it would likely do the following: 1. Increase crowds at Blue 2. Increase pass prices (I expect them to go up sharply anyway given increase in day prices) 2. End VIP lines - VIP is one of very few resorts may have them and mountains on Epic pass (don't know about Ikon) tend to homogenize operations. So if I were a Blue pass holder I would only be rooting for it if I hoped to do a substantial part of my skiing at places other than Blue. For myself I would be likely to next year get whichever of Ikon or Epic added Blue - as I prefer Blue to the current PA options on Epic (or the lack of any on Ikon).

I'm not saying it is likely, just that it is more likely than Vail purchasing Blue to have a 6th PA Hill which would only slightly strengthen the advantage they already have with mid-atlantic skiers. I expect Alterra is strongly looking at adding a PA Hill to make Ikon more competitive with Epic for folks for whom Windham is too far to day trip (i.e., residents of PA, Baltimore, DC, DE and NJ). I expect Camelback is their most likely partner as they already have done some cross promotion with Ikon (discounted Ikon pass was available with Camelback pass purchase last season).

I'd say Blue is much more likely to become an Ikon participant. Vail: - Already has 5 PA resorts - Does not seem to value any of those 5 that heavily based on how they have been operating them. - has reported cash flow issues this season, which make acquisitions less likely. I'm sure Alterra is also having cash flow issues, but their model does not involve purchasing every Ikon member mountain like Vail's does with Epic.

Thanks for the info. Saw people doing the "over the edge" and emerging unscathed today. No fresh snow but a solid base.

Gave a few looks over the edge. It looked awfully slick. I passed.

Crowds at JF weren't bad today and conditions are nice - including Happy Land. Elevator is open and folks were skiing it successfully.