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Elks prices are $48 weekday and $58 weekend and holiday. $42 and $52 tickets are available at some communities recreation departments. Starting next Wednesday, students showing college IDs can get $20 lift tickets. You can also get coupons for $20 lift tickets on cases of Coors Light sold by most local distributors and should be available at the beer store located at exit 206 (the Elk exit) in the Convenient Mart gas station there. These Wild Wednesday savings are available every Wed into March. Lifts are slow, lines are short except on MLK and Presidents weekends for the most part. You obviously haven't skied Elk in a looong time. Their grooming has been rated in the top 10 in the East for the past several years. They really know how, and more importantly when to groom. And they have added several new high-tech groomers in the last several years. BUT keep thinking that way, the regulars would like to keep Elk just the way it is.

Two more trails opened, Iriquois, and Lenape. Guns blazing on all remaining unopened trails; Kickapoo, Tecumsah, Wyalusing, Lackawanna, Tuscorora, and Mohawk. All of them I expect to open this weekend. Top of mtn was covered in rhime ice, really beautiful. Snow was perfect again, no crowds. Light was pretty flat most of the day, although sun peeked out once in awhile. Beer was cold...

I expect the entire mtn to be open by then, with the exception of Lehigh and Upper Seneca. This has definitely been the best snow making weather I've ever experienced at Elk and they are truly blowing around the clock. We can hear the guns at all hours of the night from the cabin, located about a mile away, as the crows fly. We've learned how to minimize the crowds on busy weekends. We'll be sure to start at 8:30 and can get in about 10 runs until the crowds pick up around 10:30. We'll mainly ski the West (quad) side. If the quad gets too busy we'll ski off the double there, it's the fastest lift on the mtn. and doesn't stop as often as the quad. Around 11:00 we'll take a break then go out again around noon as most of the other people take a lunch break. When the crowds come out again around 1:30 we'll call it a day and assume our positions at the bar. We can usually get 15-20 runs in.

Herm and I got to TLCITW (the little cabin in the woods) around 9:30 Fri night, started a fire and settled in. Up around 7:00 Sat AM and cooked smoked deer sausage, eggs, and homefries. Got to the mtn around 9:15, pulled into our parking spot behind the lodge and walked the 80 steps into the lodge to boot up. On mtn around 9:30, no lift lines, mostly sunny and no wind. Started on the West side and flew down Whissihicken to the quad, perfect groomed conditions of packed powder. Worked our way East, down Chippewa, then Tioga to the Tioga Spur, Did Tunk next which had fresh soft powder, and was beginnning to bump up. Took the Susquehanna cut-off to Susquehanna and the West slope, then onto the uncrowded double to begin skiing the East side. Slalom was next, then Tuscorora to the Delaware Chute onto Delaware. Next was the full run down the Delaware to the bar. Our regular seats were occupied, but we got comfortable at the other end of the bar and had a couple of stiff ones (Citron and tonic for Herm and Yukon Jack for me). Shot the bull with our bar friends, then went back out for four more runs. Sun was shining brightly, and conditions were still perfect. Returned to TLCITW cranked up the fire again, warmed up some left-over baby-back ribs with some cheese and balogna and home-made dill pickles. Thought we'd go out to The Candlelight Inn for dinner but decided to just kick back in front of the fire and watch TV. Sunday was pretty well a repeat of Sat., except there were even fewer people there. Temp was 15 at 9:45 when we started, and again PP and perfect grooming describe the conditions of the slopes. Tunk was groomed overnight which surprised us as we thought they would start to let the bumps build up. Again we skied the entire mtn then hit the bar, this time we were able to claim our regular seats. The guns were blowing on Lenape, Wyalusing, Mohawk, and Iriquois. All four of them should open in the next day or two. That only leaves Kickapoo, Tecumsah, Lackawanna, and Tuscarora, that need to have the guns turned on. Lehigh and upper Seneca are natural snow trails and will need a good storm or two before they can open. Both terrain parks were open and looked to be in great shape (the rope tow was not working in the big park). We're Old Pharts so sorry, I can't tell you what features are set up other than a few jumps and different shaped rails etc. After the drinks we again headed back to TLCITW and watched the Eagles game until the third qtr, then thinking the game was hopeless we headed home. Listened to the end of the game on the radio and couldn't believe it! Just a typical weekend for us at TLCITW. Which is always another weekend in the paradise we call ELK!

Moe, I skied Wed. They were grooming Slalom. (it's open today) Blowing on Chippewa (I think, somewhere over there) Also blowing the big terrain park. Tunk was groomed, and with what little traffic it is getting, there were no moguls forming. Excellent PP conditions and nobody there. Thank G.. for all the trees planted at least there was a wind break going up the lift.

I plan on going up Fri night and skiing Sat and Sun. Reading between the lines, I think they are probably going to open Upper and Lower Tunkhannock, since they are opening Lackawanna Spur and Hiawatha. That would open up the Quad lift too. We'll see.

OOPS--yea Thurs is 12/9..I should have used my fingers to count

Thought I'd start a new topic. Buzzdog made the original announcement under the Elks Blowing topic and I made an update. So excuse the cross post. Here's the info again: Opening on Thursday 12/10 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Trails open East, West, Tioga, Susquehanna, and the Beginners slopes. Under the "conditions" page in their website they say more slopes may open. Check that page for updates. Three lifts open.

more info: 8:30am to 4:30pm East West Beginners Tioga and Susquehanna trails. Possibly more trails, check "conditions" for updates.

The guns are firing at Elk. Started last night. Temp was 28. This is an eyewitness report.

Got you beat..8 of the top 12, and 25 of the top whatever,(until the color change)

I have a friend who bought one about 10-15 years ago. I tried it out several times and it did give me an aerobic workout. Did it help skiing technique? I don't know, experience is a better teacher... The foot pads were set up very close together, today's technique is to have your feet further apart than the settings on his SE. Maybe the new models have different spacing. He'd probably sell his. If you are interested, I'll let him know.

A lot of SP holders have a home in "the village" and surrounding vacation homes. Never heard an official figure, only that there are over 1000 SP holders. Many people come up from Phila., and in the parking lot, I often see license plates from NJ, MD, and NY.

Today's mail brought this seasons' prices and improvements. Improvements: 1200 more trees planted on the mtn. Extensive lift work. (I don't know what that was) Another 10 tower-type snow guns. New roofs on the half-way house, workshop and kitchen. Complete new restaurant kitchen. (much needed, maybe now we'll be able to get wing and Yuengs) Season Pass Rates: prior to 10/11/10 prior to 12/1/10 after 12/1/10 Adult: $715 ($695 last year) $760 $825 19 and older Junior: $635 $690 $750 13-18 Child: $560 $620 $675 6-12 Senior Citizen: $560 $620 $675 65 and older ***other discounts apply with family purchases**** Big and Friendly Book: Adult: $510 $545 $590 Junior: $460 $490 $530 Child: $425 $450 $495 Senior Citizen: $425 $450 $495 ***other discounts apply with family purchases*** I did not check if the website is updated with the new rates. Check website for details on family SP and B&F applicable discounts. ONLY 88 MORE DAYS (hopefully Dec 8th opening)

Today's mail brought this seasons' prices and improvements. Improvements: 1200 more trees planted on the mtn. Extensive lift work. (I don't know what that was) Another 10 tower-type snow guns. New roofs on the half-way house, workshop and kitchen. Complete new restaurant kitchen. (much needed, maybe now we'll be able to get wing and Yuengs) Season Pass Rates: prior to 10/11/10 prior to 12/1/10 after 12/1/10 Adult: $715 ($695 last year) $760 $825 19 and older Junior: $635 $690 $750 13-18 Child: $560 $620 $675 6-12 Senior Citizen: $560 $620 $675 65 and older ***other discounts apply with family purchases**** Big and Friendly Book: Adult: $510 $545 $590 Junior: $460 $490 $530 Child: $425 $450 $495 Senior Citizen: $425 $450 $495 ***other discounts apply with family purchases*** I did not check if the website is updated with the new rates. Check website for details on family SP and B&F applicable discounts. ONLY 88 MORE DAYS (

At Elk last year it was $9.00 on East Pensboro twp tickets.

I didn't get my letter yet. It usually comes out mid Sept., just before the Octoberfest wknd. I didn't hear of any improvements either. I'll post when letter is received.

If it's on one of those Wild Wednesday days, I'll be able to get you a discount ticket without being a college student. Edit: ditto to you Toast, didn't see your reply until I responded to AH.

GSS, from reading your posts over the years, a typical weekend at Blue sounds like Presidents weekend at Elk. Most weekends at Elk are far less crowded. I've talked to many people who used to ski CB, Blue, etc. who now ski Elk to avoid the crowds. As I said previously look me up and I'll give you a tour.

If you have a college ID you can ski on Wed from early Jan to mid March for $15 or $20. The deal is called wild Wednesdays. There are several dates when Buckmans and other Philly ski shops have discount tiekets for certain dates available. Those days are also posted on Elks website. If any PASRs want a tour of the mtn on Wed or weekends during the season PM me and we'll show you around.

A SP is usually paid off in 13-15 weekend/holiday days. Our gang skis three days a week usually Wed. Sat. and Sundays. Weekdays you own the mtn., it's like your own private resort. Sat. is the busiest day of the weekend. Sundays a lot of the customers only buy a morning ticket and it's less crowded after lunch. Even on busy weekends, if you get there for early chairs, you can ski until 10:30-11:00 before a 7-10 minute line (excluding MLK and Presidents wknds). SP holders don't need to ride the Elk wagon, they can park in the top corner of the lower lot and ride the quad, to start the day (when the quad side is open). The other way to avoid the Elk wagon is to buy a parking pass which gets you into the top lot. The PP should be purchased during Octoberfest weekend and that is also the last day to get a SP at the lowest rate. Not having to stand in line to get a day pass is also a time saver. Elk also sells a "big and friendly" book, which can save you $$. If you don't think you'll be able to ski enough days to make a SP pay off. We did this for a few years, check out elkskier.com for details. Unfortunately, Elk doesn't update their rates until mid to late Sept usually, so the website info won't be exact until then, but you can get an idea anyway. This is the way we look at it--The first run costs us $695 (current SP cost) and the rest of the runs that season are FREE! Hope this helps. And if you decide on getting a pass, look us up in our reserved bar seats when it gets too crowded.All the bartenders know Stu, Herm, and Big Al.

Yes they do . They have the end of year employee party on Sunday. Announce employee of the year, eat up the perishible leftovers, and empty the open kegs (why waste it), etc. One lift is open until around noon, and management and suupervisors man the lifts, kitchens, and bar. By mid afternoon, the party usually adjorns to Chet's.......

Quote from Shawnee e-mail release: "The new Tomahawk Express Quad will transport 2,400 skiers/riders per hour." Hate to say this, but that works out to one chair unloading/loading every six seconds. Same capacity as a fixed grip quad, set up to load at six second intervals, which is common. 2400ppl ./. 60mins = 40ppl/min ./. 4ppl/chair = 10 unloadings/min = one every 6 secs. Just Saying......

Elk's Spring Carnival is the weekend of the 20th, we're guessing the last day of the season is going to be the following Sat 27th. Nothing official has been announced yet, and maybe we'll get lucky and they'll go an extra week. With Easter early this year, I can't see them going past April 3rd.