RidgeRacer

Okay maybe that didn't come out right. I figured that Elk's high ranking under the "weather" category could be due to the temps at Elk maybe not being as extreme (cold wise) as they are further north. Snowfall didn't occur to me. Yeah...I'd like to have that one back.

I think it's pretty cool that a local Mt. is being recognized among the big boys in the East, even though Ski Mags ratings have to be taken with a grain of salt. I've skied some of the finset cordouroy I've ever experienced and Elk so I can buy into the snow and grooming ratings. It's a bit warmer than New England so the weather rating doesn't surprise me. But at close to $700 for a season pass, the value rating is a bit confusing. Anyway props to Elk for cracking the top ten in these cateogries.

From the website... http://www.jfbb.com/whats-new.asp. Here are a few of the notable improvements for 07-08... - Jack Frost Glades - All New Boulder PARK Lodge and Hikeable Plaza - Fire Pits at Jack Frost & Big Boulder Regarding the glades, the trail map doesn't show anything new yet. I'm assuming that will be updated.

Honestly, as long as they keep Jack Frost a free skiing mountain, I'm good. They can do whatever they like at Boulder IMO. If it works, more power to them. It's just too small for me personally. For park riders it's the perfect size so why not? Yeah they should probably let freestyle skiers and snowboarders join all the comps but I can understand the Mike and Matts is a snowboard shop argument as well. I have no problem with Boulder using what they have to their advantage. Now if Jack Frost goes the same direction then I'll be looking elsewhere for a pass next season. Just my take.

I think you nailed it with the night skiing. Places like Wachusett and Sundown, who also have night skiing, are up there with our pass rates. The reason prices are more here may very well be the lights. If thats the case. I'm ok with paying more. As far as the Jackson Hole pass rate. Thats just insane.

Agreed, PA is so overpriced. Although that Whiteface pass is probably the best value out there. I think the Whiteface / Gore pass was the same price as my pass to JFBB I know the Mt Snow Classic was cheaper too. I don't get it.

While most of us have passes to one particular mt., we like to ski / ride at more than one area during the winter. Use this thread to post any special lift tiket discounts / deals that come up throughout the sesaon (local or otherwise) to help save another PASR some cash. I'll start with an obvious one... Ski at Blue Mt. on Sunday nights for $19 - Pretty nice deal IMO.

The best of the best in Pennsylvania, All of these trails in one place would be one great mountain... Blue Mt. - Challenge, Razors, Switchback, Main Street, Lazy Mile, Paradise Blue Knob - Stembogen Bowl, Extrovert, Bone Yard Glades, Mine Shaft Glades Roundtop - Gunbarrel Elk - Tunkhannok, Lower Tuscarora, Slalom Jack frost - East Mt. Sno - White Lightning, Boomer, Cannonball Camelback - Nile Mile, Pharoh, Cliffhanger Bear Creek - Terrain Park Denton - Avalanche

IMO - I'm not a park person but what Boulder did last year by expanding the park scene (the Park Logic thing aside) breathed new life into the place. Prior to last season Boulder opened up late and closed real early and the place was kind of forgotten about. I think they had no choice but to give Boulder some sort of niche that could bring business back to the place. And I never saw more hype surrounding Boulder than I did last year. It's perfect for a park set up so why not. I'm not saying all park is the way to go either because yes all park would probably do more harm than good, but park oriented, like Echo Mt., may just help the place survive. For me, as long as they leave JF remain a free skiing area, I'm happy.

signature trails ... update Blue Mt. - Challenge, Razors, Switchback, Main Street, Lazy Mile, Paradise Blue Knob - Stembogen Bowl Roundtop - Gunbarrel Elk - Tunkhannok, Lower Tuscarora Jack frost - East Mt. Sno - White Lightning, Boomer, Cannonball Camelback - Nile Mile, Pharoh, Cliffhanger Bear Creek - Terrain Park

I hope they're right http://www.farmersalmanac.com/weather/a/wh...n_2007_and_2008

Even if this is the case, I still think setting up some gates and a timer on one trail for a few hours a day likely during the weekend, having racers pay the 5 bucks or whatever and letting them have at it for a couple runs makes total sense. Blue just recently started running NASTAR I believe...not to mention all of the major resorts in the area do it as well.

Would anyone else like to see Nastar at JFBB?? I personlly would love to as I had a great time last season with it and I plan on doing more this season but would like to do it at JF. If enough of us want it and request it is there any chance we could make it happen?

Let me just say ...AZ is AWESOME... I do lurk there often. The photos, videos and TR's are really great. That being said MY only gripe is that it seems that ski areas south of Hunter are looked down upon there and there is a notion (and this is just my opinion) that PA ski areas are seen as 400 foot verticle mole hills. For a NEW ENGLAND forum, I wouldn't expect much PA chatter but I would bet Pennsy areas like Elk, Sno, Blue Knob, and East Mt at JF would put a smile on some of those guys faces as well. Yeah we do travel north for the bigger / better stuff and I probably will again this season but areas here give me that same feeling of as it does when I'm up in VT.

It'll give you the elevation at any point on the map where your curser is pointed.

According to google Earth - East Mt. is about 75 feet (approx) higher than the west side of the mt. The elevation is also lowest by the East Mt. lift at the bottom as well. So I would say yup, East Mt. gets you the full vert.

60,000 vert in one day at Frost

I thought it was pretty cool how he mentioned a few times that Peak Resorts is in the business of running ski areas and not the real estate business and that snowmaking is their priority. (Hopefully high speed lifts at JF will be as well )

Some pretty interestindg stuff. Mostly Mt. Snow related although there is one JFBB mention at the end. Some info regarding the use of fan guns as well. http://skiing.alpinezone.com/articles/chal...ort=peakresorts

There are a ton of really great people at Shawnee. Have fun in your first (of many I'm sure) season on snow!

This is what we have so far for Pennsylania's signature ski trails Blue Mt. - Challenge, Razors, Switchback, Main Street, Lazy Mile Blue Knob - Stembogen Bowl Roundtop - Gunbarrel Elk - Tunkhannok Jack frost - East Mt. Sno - White Lightning, Boomer, Cannonball Camelback - Nile Mile, Pharoh, Cliffhanger Bear Creek - Terrain Park

There are 2 "cliffs" that I know of...Little cliff Huck which is the small boulder thing on the runout toward the East Mt. lift. Then there's Risk It - which is what I believe Glen is describing

Another PA trail that gets a lot of press is Gunbarrel at Roundtop...supposed to be really steep up top, although short lived. I'll throw a little love to JF. East Mt. in general is a signature PA area due to it's terrain, tree skiing and views but if I had to choose one signature trail, I'd probably go with River Shot, great view of the Lehigh, steep and you can hit the Little Cliff Huck at the bottom. I'd say Risk It but it's barely open. Risk it is pretty scary IMHO.

By calling it "The Switchbacks", I meant Upper and Lower Swtichback. I was combining the two. It should only be one trail regardless.

We always hear about the Outer Limits, Goats and Ripcords of the world and even the non steeps like Great Eastern and Toll Road and for good reason. Which PA trails would you consider "signature" trails for Pennsylvania or just in general? I'll throw a few out there. Blue Mt. - The Switchbacks - Probably an odd choice but decent pitch the whole way down, winding and normally less traffic. There are few other trails in the area like it due to it's length and the way it winds you down before it merging with Lower Main St. Blue Knob - Upper Stembogen Bowl - Although I've never skied there. How many other bowls are there in PA? Elk - Tunkhannok - Steep headwall, edge to edge and nicely sized bumps with no escape route. Has an Outer Limits feel to it - definite leg burner. Sno Mt. - White Lightning - for obvious reasons, one of if not the steepest in the state and huge bumps That's all I can think of for now. Any more? (I really need to ski)