EdBacon

One hour from NYC is Snow Bowl Ski Area. Opened in 1964 and closed in 1974 the area had a big three story lodge, tavern, two double chairs and snowmaking on 400 vertical feet. After the owners sold the area expansion plans were formed but warm winters and a fire that destroyed the lodge would result in the area's closure. Unique among lost areas is that Snow Bowl is still actively skied. Locals keep the liftlines and several trails open for gladed riding when conditions permit. If there is snow its a really fun place to bag turns.

Started from the Hamburg reservoir parking lot. Bunch of cars. Lots of folks walking their dogs and taking the AT up to Pulpit Rock and the Pinnacle. Hiked straight up the Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical Society/cell tower access road. Not a hard hike at all. There was a solid boot pack about two feet wide the whole way up. Go of the boot pack and you sunk in to your knees. The entire rest of the road surface was deep powder for long stretches. Saw one set of tracks from somebody else with the same idea, and one guy came ripping down from the far side of the reservoir on my hike up. Way to get at it. Strapped in at the observatory then started down. Was a sweet run. Passed a couple groups of folks coming up. I waved. The pitch is really easy. If it were a groomed trail it would be a green "easiest way down" the mountain sort of trail. Could really lay into any big turns but still felt great to float on down for 800 vertical feet. Ate some Trader Joes blueberry fig newton bars then got back to the car. Up and down, including some time taking in the view at Pulpit Rock totaled 2 hours. Not bad at all. So far this year I've bagged three powder days, all hike-to and avoided resorts in the process. Will definitely be doing more hiking for turns in the future as it feels great, is free and you have pow practically to yourself.

Platty is like the old hippie of the group. Blue Knob is your friend from high school who randomly shows up at your place halfway through a bottle of Jack telling you he got tickets to see Metallica... the next state over so you gotta drive him *now* dude but its gonna be epic, just trust him. That said, the Knob is a great place. I hope it holds on. Fun fact: it used to be a USAF radar station for missile defense.

Dreamcatcher glades are a blast. Cathedral brook is overrated.

Debating going up there next weekend. No crowds? Their website says they aren't requiring ticket reservations.

I dropped my pants in the parking lot at platty some years ago. Was in the spring after a big storm but the sun came out and it warmed up turned the parking lot to mud. Backside was covered in brown all day. Good times.

What's worse than "on your last legs"?

Salty is gonna crush it. I'm waiting for him to report how he ripped all the slides including a new one.

Not if he's leaving tomorrow. Isn't this not stopping until Wednesday morning?

How the... heck are you gonna get up there in all this weather?

Out nearish Bear Creek. I figure by the time I can get out wherever I would want to go would be a madhouse or tickets are sold out. I might try hiking something instead.

How are the roads gonna be tmw? Dad says 2 feet on the ground in Berks Co.

Looks like you had fun skiing im gonna come.

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It's the mountains, it shouldn't feel too built up. I don't like going somewhere and feeling like im in a strip mall parking lot. I mean, I know that's an exaggeration to a certain extent. I'm kinda just joking around here. Jay Peak, for instance, has a paved lot and a whole indoor water park circus thing at the bottom too. But I have to say that you can definitely get a feel for a mountain by hanging out in the parking lot. If a place is loved you see that reflected in the community of skiers, and you can find that expressed when folks are out tailgating or otherwise having a fun time. If there's a party atmosphere in the parking lot, you know the mountain is a good time. If everyone shuffles in and out like they're on a schedule, then maybe not. Best lots, in my experience are at Smuggs and Plattekill. Belleayre used to have a good tailgating scene too. Not sure now though. Jack Frost has/had a good one as well. edit: I can't speak for Blue's lot I haven't been in a while like 6 years

Were they 16 year old? Maybe I know them.

They said on insta im coming or whatever is pow only. They opened it as a natural trail with like 10 inches of snow?

Was there like a week after they'd gotten two feet of snow and the woods were untouched around most of the place.

Feels like I'm at the grocery store or something.

I feel like it hits snowboarders worse than skiers. I see a lot of skiers got started at a young age by their parents, and they stick with it as it becomes a kind of family tradition. Most snowboarders got into it because it was the cool thing to do when we were younger, not because our parents took us with on trips. Some might have skier parents who decided to snowboard instead, but for a lot of kids once they grew up a little and got into other things, or moved or had kids or whatever it just dropped by like other things do. There's not the same "its a family thing" keeping it going.

Well check it out soon because the knob is one of those places that may not be with us for too much longer.

Go to the Knob.

Almost everyone I remember snowboarding with at BC back in the 2000s has since quit.

Bear Creek has been posting more park content than I've seen in at least ten years. New Parks at BC Insta handle and I've noticed a bunch of BB regulars have moved other there.

Does anyone send it off those boulders or is it all ice?