tnt

I don't remember chute having bumps last year - I remember nightmare, and of course main street/barneys. Not that it matters. Many years ago - maybe 7 or 8? - I remember Blue had their bump competition on Challenge. Whole thing was completely bumped up - super nice...they had the area for the competition cordoned off, and they were nice and huge... I don't think they run the competition on challenge anymore, do they? I really think other mountains are missing the boat on not seeding a few runs with moguls. Where we are vertically challenged in PA, and lack consistent steeps, I think it's great to have some mogul trails open, even if they aren't too steep - in fact, maybe that's better, because it would encourage people to try them... Basically, it's the terrain park theory - you might not have a super tall mountain, but you can have some rails and jumps ljust like the big guys...same is true with moguls. takes commitment though. Can't just let moguls grow on their own on less steep terrain, and in thaw/freeze cycles, and without consistent new snow....

What is 'Cliff'? Also, just looked at blue trail map - what the heck is 'Pioneer Pass'?

And Tunk is worth like 3 barneys.... Blue is just so much closer though... Coffe, or beer....

elk....

I don't know about opening weekend, but the first day I was there, they seeded bumps. Now that I think about it, I rode the lift with the mogul instructor and I think he said they started seeded the second day they were open. Which i think is smart. I know my family often chooses blue over other places based on bumps.

So how many days or under freezing do you think it takes to open main street and vista?

I think I was there thanksgiving weekend - which was a week after opening, right? Main street, lazy mile, that park under the lifts, and both of the connector chutes were open with honest to god really nice snow. And also vista.

Even Mid december seems a little wishful.

Ok, that's true. So, we'll dome the new side country. To review: - Thin the woods - Add a traverse at top and bottom - Add snow guns (if the trees die, we have a soft for a half pipe next season) - Lights - Inflatable dome like that golf place in the pokes. Blue will have the ONLY all weather, Power Powder enhanced, hike-to side country with night skiing.

That's why my plan includes snow guns..... Just needs a catchy phrase..... 'Ski the new glades at Blue with Assisted Coverage (instead of man made snow...)'. 'Our glades feature Power Powder, for refills even on sunny days....' Something like that..... Oh, and also lights. No one has tree skiing at night.....This is gonna be big.

When you are a commuter like me and you're only having one, I don't mind $8 for a good beer. So, here's a cheaper expansion plan for Blue.....skier's right beyond paradise - where the new trail is going to be I think, thin the woods, add a flat - maybe even uphill! this is 'hike-to' terrain! - maybe one run 10 ft. wide bail out kind of trail down the mountain, there, then a horizontal flat traverse back to where paradise runs into the flat run out... Put some snow blowers in woods! Have man made snow in the trees! AND LIGHTS! North america's only hike-to side country with snow making and night skiing!

How is that restaurant at the upper lodge? Didn't set foot in it last year, but looked half decent. Good beer on tap. (Good beer on tap at that upstairs bar too....)

Nice pics. Looks great out there.

Nice! Have fun.

Yeah, it's kind of crazy. From Jersey, we get on 287, and don't see a traffic light till almost Montreal! (barring gas stops of course). One long highway drive for most of the 8-1/2 hours.....

....aaaaaand back from Canada. Great trip. Tremblant. First time for our family. Arrived Saturday in time for me and oldest daughter to grab a few runs - youngest was zonked from car ride and a cold. Wife stayed with her. Things were a little scratchy and frozen and I was really worried that our 5 days would be like that....but you know, it was blue bird and we were on vacation.... Sunday started the same but sun came out and by noon, things on the.....Solie? (I guess the french word for sun) lift were nice and soft. We found an awesome glade after a little hike up a hill, and had another nice section off some trail or other....point being, it was nice and soft over there. And good thing we hit those because the next day,. that lift closed for the season. And then it started snowing. They were expecting 1-3, they called it 4, it seemed like 5-6. Monday just got better and better and Tuesday was an absolute blast. Found another nice glade that was low angle and nicely spaced, so super fun for the kids, and the soft snow let them tackle the steep bump runs, so we were on the good stuff all day. Which was great - they get to push themselves and get a taste of some really great ungroomed, narrow and steep trails, trees, full on bump runs and what not. It was awesome. My kids are 12 and 15, and have been skiing since they were about 6, but we're in central jersey, so the real goods are hard to come by regularly. This trip really delivered. Last day we skied till about noon then headed home. It froze up overnight and was colder still (15-ish in April!) We found another great little glade section after a little hike, but it was a little scratchy....small complaint after two killer days. Be happy to name trails if anyone is interested in what I thought was good up there. Didn't find any stashes per se. I think everything we skied was on the map. It's a nice mountain. Top to bottom skiing, plenty of lifts, variety of every chair. North side had the best stuff, but found some great winding ungroomed stuff on the front side as well... The village is nice. Food is good not great, with a few clunkers in there as well. Hotel was trail side. Place was empty after Sunday. Only issue was the beer choices. Everything was Molson and Molson's 'craft' brand - forget the name....Kenny's? Something... Found a brew pub in the village with some better choices on the last night, but still, not much in the way of a god IPA....mostly varieties of lager and red ales.... All in all a great trip though. Hope to go back. Returning the kid's rentals today. Good season done.

have fun man... Why does jackson close so early? I guess people just get tired of skiing? Seems impossible....

As mentioned, the Matterhorn is a must-do apres spot. I'd also hit the Den at Stowe one day for a few. Usually have music on the weekends. Then, in town at the Top Notch Hotel and Spa there is a bar....forget the name....has good beer on tap and a great shuffle board table. Good times.

You're gonna have a blast. There was a ton of snow up there two weeks ago, so I would imagine everything is still open. I've skied Stowe a lot- tell me what you enjoy and I'll point you in the right direction. One that is really mandatory - Bruce Trail > Matterhorn. Park your car at the Matterhorn on your way in. Grab the free shuttle or hitch a ride to mountain. End of day, catch last chair on the Four Runner Quad. The Bruce trail is technically out of bounds, but everyone knows about it, and dozens ski it every day. You can ask anyone there for the trail head - it's rather ironically marked by a giant sign telling you not to ski in this direction any further.....anyway, PM me for more details if you want. Otherwise, really, ask anyone.... Bruce trail is one of the oldest - maybe THE oldest cut trails in america. It will lead you down to the cross country trails - follow signs to the road way....basicly just keep going straight. You'll have some pushing to do - maybe more than a little of the snow is slow. But you end up right next to the matterhorn. Have; Karma Citrus IPA Matterhorn Bowl Firecracker roll Wings. Also, the Bench replaced the Alehouse (which I don't think was that old....) and it has about 20 beers on tap including Hill Farmstead. Food was good not great. Fries were awesome. Beer was awesome.

What is PSIA? Anyway, I like Elk, but 've skied there exactly 1 day and it was after a big dump last year. The lifeline trail had some untracked powder and natural bumps, that bump trail had natural formed bumps that were actually the closest I;ve seen in PA to an ungroomed VT trail, there were two other un-groomed trails that were pretty good, and you know, the place had more of a mountain feel to me than blue. But again, it's easy to love a mountain if you hit the conditions right. In terms of getting that 'on the mountain' feeling, blue doesn't really deliver for me. I always feel a little bit like I'm skiing at the mall. There were a couple of uncrowded, snowy days this year that felt different, but I don't know...JF makes me feel more like I'm in the woods than blue. CB of course is the worst for this. Was there last year with youngest daughter and watched two russians taking belts from a whisky bottle in front of the waffle shack, fall down drunk at 2PM. Kind of kills the sense of outdoor adventure, you know.... Anyway - have to get some work done so I can blow out of work and catch up with friends at Stowe.....long drive ahead...

GW=global warming...

when did they have a half pipe? But yeah, they are doing a very nice job in a tough market. Hope GW doesn't squash the blue dream,...

I'd say it's; Elk Blue CB But I've never been to Montage or any western PA places other than 7 springs. within 2 hrs. of me, Blue has by far the best terrain. Just gets so crowded...

I remember a couple of days two years ago that were as crowded as this....at least it felt like it. Wow, were those lines long....

No. Tremblant will be last last days of march, first days of april.