tnt

Thanks.

So the mogul comp is this week - that's on Challenge, correct? We might be heading up there sunday with a kid or two, so we could enjoy those bumps, but if we don't make it, will they keep them up next week? Thinking about a night run mid week. Anyone have a guess when they will plow those suckers under?

I didn't even see a single feature yesterday. Which is fine by me, but yeah, they don't seem to be interested in park riders either. I wonder what the anti-tree logic is? I guess insurance. Has anyone ever cleared anything on their own in the summer? I guess there is no point if they are gonna yell in the winter...

Made a quick run to Elk - first time for me. I was curious about the travel time, it being a little farther than our regular day trip spots of JF, CB or Blue. It took about 2:30 from Princeton NJ. It was 3 hours from the front door to standing in the lift line, owing to the the truck ride from the parking lot, and the ensuing crush at the ticket window. So a little long for regular weekend spot unfortunately. But the snow was fantastic and the mountain was really nice. The runs were nice and long, and there isn't much run out, so it has a nice feel to it I think. Really enjoyed the fact that 5 or six trails were left ungroomed. For PA, that was a nice treat, to have such variety of bumped up trails. Especially true given he nice snow. Really enjoyed the Seneca run, and Tunk-a something > a little cut through the woods > a blue trail that was all bumped up as well. Only negative as far as the mountain goes was their adversity to tree skiing. Especially a disappointment given the ample opportunities to carve out some nice gladed areas. I found one area between Mohawk and Delaware that had some tracks, but it was too low angle to really get anything going. There were some nice hardwood areas on either side of the quad that would make great intermediate and advanced glades if they thinned them up and cleared them out, but as it is, they seem strongly adverse, and I saw no tracks, so I stayed out. Lines were long, but riding single kept the wait down to probably 5 minutes. Often less. Lifts of course were a little slow. Especially the quad. Seems like that stopped or slowed down every fourth chair. The double right next to it was a faster trip as a single. While the lines were long, I didn't think they were too bad given he holiday and recent snow. But boy, every regular I rode the lift with was just astonished at the crowds! Given that, seems to me the place must be pretty empty most weekends. Some one on the lift also told me they had to drive around for 20 minutes looking for a parking spot. They seemed to have filled their lot to capacity….Seems impossible. When CB or Blue approach those levels of cars, the mountain is pretty much un-skiable. At Elk, lots full, the mountain still had plenty of space. Reading the forum about the crowds at blue - and seeing the traffic at Tannersville for the after 3pm crowd at CB - it seems relative to the other choices, this was not very crowded at all. But speaking of parking, I really am shocked that they haven't figured out how to solve that hill. The amount of trucks and people they used to ferry folks up the hill is pretty incredible. I was going to walk, but I saw how fast the line for the shuttle moves, so I just hopped a ride. But boy, the money they spend doing that, I would think, would pay for a new road for a drop off spot in a few seasons. And how about a ticket window down near the quad? That would also really help cut down on the ticket lines at the lodge, which swell up really fast every time a shuttle unloads. As I was without the whole family, these things weren't a big deal. But I could see them detracting from the visit with the kids and friends. On the other hand, the mountain does offer a lot. LOng runs, ungroomed terrain and nice variety. So i do want to get the kids up there this spring if we can swing it. All in all, a great day, and I was glad to get a piece of the storm snow!

How did elk fair in the storm? Thinking about heading up sunday.

Back from a great day at JF. Groomed trails had excellent snow. After 2:30, ice a little on some headwalls. The untracked snow had pretty tough crust, so the only trees worth it were the ones with heavy tracks. And they were pretty good. Bumps on exhibition were fun. Icy in the troughs in the late pm. Pretty serious ice on the main headwall of the elevator, but nice snow and bumps on the uphill line. Happyland > Mark's way was the run of day I think. GSS, before you ask, Floyds was closed for racing in the AM and icy in the pm, and that risk it huck was untracked, so I didn't go for it. Great day all in all. Nice snow up there.

Yeah, we got a nice heavy, base building kind of snow here in central jersey. Hope they got this as well. Weather.com says they got about 4".

Cool- thanks.

BTW I was surprised that only a few tree sections were ski-able. Seems like a lot more tree sections were open recently, based on the postings here. Yesterday, Happyland - which I think was on Challenge, right? And a nice section above the elevator, were about all that had enough coverage. Which section is "risk it"?

Flyod's was nice. Preferred the run to the skiers left though. Had a little bumped up pitch with a route through the trees into elevator. Nice fun. Yeah, it's a shame there isn't just a little more vert there.

So, it's been 28 years since I last skied Jack Frost I think. Was a little worried that the 600 vert would be a let down, but really, had a great, great day yesterday with my youngest daughter and a bunch of friends and some of their kids on the mountain as well. Good snow, a few tree spots here and there, some bumps....and no lines. Found the elevation - I don't think that was a thing back in high school. I think, compared to blue and CB, what they lack in vert. they make up for with top to bottom runs, so you don't have the trail merges and cross traffic. I guess it reminds me of skiing the double side of blue, but with a little more variety. With a little more snow in the trees and I think you could really keep yourself busy. Also, appreciate that they don't seem to mind you packing in lunch, and the lodge was playing good music every time we were in there. Anyway, nice day. Glad to have this mountain back in our rotation.

I've got about 6-8 in my yard and it's still coming down strong. Blue isn't getting this?

Yeah, that thought crossed my mind as well.

Could be a good one coming up…. Trying to shift schedule to take Weds. off….

Just back from CB - had the place to ourselves. Snow was terrible, but had a good time anyway. Have work to make up tomorrow, but well worth it to ski onto the lift all day today. Hope everyone has a good weekend of skiing.

Did I hear that this year, you don't need a separate pass for the park areas?

Yeah, we're typically skiing 9-3 or something like that. I'm anxious to get back to JF, but skiing on a weekday is a rarity for me, so beating the typical CB crowd on a friday probably makes sense. Plus, conditions at both are probably marginal. The trees at JF are a draw for us, and probably not worth it this weekend.

Gonna head up for a day Friday I think. Probably camelback or JF (saving my daughters last PA Ski pass blue voucher for better conditions.) Help me decide between the two. CB - Friday should be less crowded, HS lifts, little closer to home JF - Haven't been for years, shouldn't be at all crowded, but slow lifts, and farther. Maybe I should do CB and save JF for a regular saturday run. Anyway - hope everyone gets some good turns in this weekend.

Thanks. Love how active this board is...

Might get some snow this weekend. Gonna be packed though, huh? MLK weekend, right? Thinking about trying JF on the bet it's less crowded.

Haven't been to JF in years. How crowded will it get on MLK weekend? I think we were at Blue last year and it was packed to the rafters. Will JF be similar do you reckon? Thanks in advance!

This weather blows. Only shot at setting out there is Saturday, and now I see rain. Crap.

Looks like snow at the end of the week.... Just back from Stratton. Caught 6" for the last day. Now maybe catching something for this weekend in the poconos...fun winter so far!

What happened to main strew? That was open.

Well, at least it's not politics….