rummy

The conditions at Elk are Fantastic. 10 trails open from the top, 2 more will open for the weekend probably. Both parks are now open and the surface tow is open in the big park. Groomed packed powder on all slopes. Upper Tunk is now groomed after about a week of being allowed to bump up. Temps were a brisk 18* up top when we started yesterday, but no wind and breaking sunshine for a "10" day. As usual on weekdays there were no crowds. I only saw one bus this whole season during the days. I imagine there were more school groups during the evening sessions. I haven't skied weekends so no comment on buses then, although overall weekend crowds have been reported as light. The Yukon Jack's were smooth sipping and the beer was cold... Just Another Season in Paradise!!

Miller light drafts $5.00 (?). Blue moon draft $6.50. Bloody Mary $6.50..... I was drinking the Bloodies.... 6 runs from the top. Schuylkill to Lenape to quad; Tunk, lower Tunk to quad; Tioga to West slope to lodge lifts; Susquehanna, and Slalom to East slope to lodge lifts; And Always the last run of the day, ...Delaware to the BAR..... ( "OK let's do DeBar ")...

On mountain at 9:45. No crowds and temp of 28*. Guns blowing on Tuscarora and Whissahican. (They were blowing all night since about 9:00 pm New Years day). The guns were stopped when we left at 2:30pm. Skied all the open runs, except bunny slope and little foot terrain park. Conditions much better than expected. Mainly granular with no cookies or mashed potatoes. All trails were groomed. Upper Tunk had some firm, almost icy spots, skiers left, and the sketchiest, but still not terrible, conditions on entire mountain. Delaware had packed powder surface on upper mountain sections turning more granular toward bottom of trail. A couple of new things this year. Free Wi-Fi is finally available in the lodge, and credit cards are finally taken at the bar. Elk lost a lot of base since before Christmas, but is still in excellent condition all things considered. And .... The Beer is Cold.... Even though the prices increased. 😢😢

Utah is a great place to start your trips West. We've been to Utah 5 or 6 times. We usually do a VRBO and stay in the area between the Little and Big Canyons Cottonwood Canyons. We also rent a car or two and drive to one of the many mountains in the region, usually a different one every day. That being said, since there are going to only be the two of you, a hotel in Park City would work better for you. No need to rent a car if you are only going to ride Park City, there is excellent free bus transportation in PC, and you should easily be able to catch a bus from the airport to PC. You can also ride Wolf Mountain(?), Used to be PC West. I think Deer Valley still has a boarder ban... I could be very wrong however.... Again the PC public busses will be able to get you there no problem. My first trip West was to PC..... GO FOR IT!!!

Fake News. Elk opens Wednesday...

We were up over the weekend. They made snow on top of the 10" of natural, 24/7 from the day before Thanksgiving until sometime early Saturday morning. When we left Monday around noon, we stopped at the mtn to pick up a season pass. Very foggy, but from what we could see they had huge whales on the bunny slope, East and West Slopes. They were blowing on Susquehanna, Tioga, and Tunk too when we arrived Friday but we couldn't see them Monday because of the fog. Rumor mill said Elk is going to open Wednesday Dec 5th for the season... we'll see. The web cam on the website isn't working for me but I saw a face book post showing them blowing at the top of the East slope. They are really hurting for employees in every department... Damn Trump and his booming economy....

Nah that's Elk in the distance... ;-)

That Stihl backpack blower is what I use at TLCITW. So powerful it makes cleanup a breeze ;-)

+ 1. Good place for kids, with some real nice intermediate cruisers. Should have fun and base area is nice. Just remembered, that's where we saw three bare-assed naked employees celebrating their end of season . No pictures sorry. 2 female 1 male.

Should work. We have a 550 gallon tank and ended last season with ~~80 gallons left in tank, and occupied the cabin about 90 days during the winter season.. 70 of them skiing.

Heats definitely on. Ordered an oil tank delivery. Yay. Just paid a $1362. oil bill fill up at TLCITW. Firewood is stacked high and most long range forecasts are Cold and Snowy... Bring It!!

Heat molding FTW, like skiing in bedroom slippers(almost)...

You ought to try a ship cruising the Alaskan Inner Passage or around Hawaii with a few friends. You may change your mind. I'm planning on taking my kids and grand kids back to Alaska this coming summer.

I love how you speak for the majority of PASR. If i could make it this weekend, I'd consider heading up. Octoberfest at Elk sounds like a fun time. The Beer is Cold.... They always organise a road trip for you bicycle riders too, on Saturday.

55-65 minutes. Depending on how heavy your foot is... It's only 27 minutes from Clark's Summit at the end of NE Extension of the turnpike. And you live next door to the extension.... easy-peasy to get there GSS.

Chets is always #1, the Lift has a new sign ;-) (haven't been there in years). Candlelight is under new ownership, foods good, large selection. Arlos will probably have some entertainment and good sammies etc. There's a new place near Arlos called the Speakeasy, heard it's pretty good. The Stonebridge Inn and Restaurant is closed, looking for new ownership.The Beacon bar and grille on 171 near Union Dale may be the other you're thinking of. Going upscale, Oliveris at Crystal lake is quite an experience but make reservations and always get the chefs' choice.

The patches in the upper parking lot are extensive...

This weekend, Saturday and Sunday is Octoberfest at Elk. You're all cordially invited. Practice riding the Elk Wagon, and take an exceedingly slow ride to the mountain top and enjoy the scenery. The Beer is Cold.....

This weekend, Saturday and Sunday is Octoberfest at Elk. You've all cordially invited. Practice riding the Elk Wagon, and take an exceedingly slow ride to the mountain top and enjoy the scenery. The Beer is Cold.....

Many (30?) years ago I knew some guys from a local ski shop skied the culm banks during the summer. They had pictures and beat up skis in their shop to prove it. *culm banks are mini mountains of waste processed coal.

No

Coors Light cases, varies though depending on which beer brands are featured at the bar. Another suggestion bring some meat and it can be cooked over the round fire pit in the "half-way house" off the West slope... and don't forget the alcohol... Mid-week you can also park in the upper lot and avoid the "Elk Wagon" ride. Not possible on weekends and holiday weeks.

If the PASR crew makes the trip on a Wednesday in January or February I should be able to get discount coupons for $25 lift tickets. Has to be a Wednesday, and that was the fee other years.....

Oh yes, I'll be there..... and I don't stop and gawk at the scenery. One exception, my knees don't do bumps anymore.... And another, I usually take a trip to NH early January. Mohawk, Tuscarora, Iroquois and Lackawanna have been the last few trails to open the last several years. They concentrate on opening the West (quad) side first.

They usually open with 5, but that includes the beginners and the West slope (1/2 way up mtn). They've had most of the mountain open by that week too, all depends on the weather. One thing, when they open a trail it is wall to wall with excellent conditions.