mgguy

I know that part of the issue is NSP is looking at how to handle on hill incidents and protecting patrollers. That is a big concern. The mountain operations people are meeting regionally to discuss the issues in the upcoming season. You have to look at line control, lodges, rental lines, food lines. All things that could lead to limiting tickets sold and on hill users. Weekends look like the big issue to me. That is when the crowds show up. I don't think weekdays will be too much of an issue as the crowds are low to non-existent. Keep in mind that 98% of patrol is volunteers at most hills. To say this season will be an interesting challenge is an understatement right now.

PA: Blue Marsh, Sawmill, Montage, Doe/Bear, Jack Frost, Little Gap/Blue, Elk, Camel, Shawnee VT: Smuggs, Okemo, Snow, Stratton, Bromley, Sugarbush/Mt. Ellen Mass: Jimeny, Berkshire East Jackson Hole Would love to get back to Jackson, on the wish list Whistler/Blackcomb, Bamf (spelling?)

Check out the Flying Dutchman Ski Club (FDSC.org) latest newsletter, nice write up about 2 ski areas behind Kutztown and the people that built them. Other local areas included Hahn Mountain in Kempton and Sharp Mountain in Pottsville

Smuggs has always been a favorite of our family; wife's cousin was director of construction so we got some great deals. Last time there the only time my wife and son saw a trail on Madonna was to cross it to get to the woods on the other side. One of the best for sure. Please stay independant!

used to have the race team at the Creek, best thing that ever happened was that they left

My new stuff, some heated gloves for comfort, Sherpa Osprey 130cm skiboards, rockered. Something to make the Creek more fun, lol

Buckmans is terrible, in Reading ever since Pinnacle sold out the service is terrible. Arrogant know it alls thinking you are doing them a favor by shopping there.

Figure 7.5 hours to 8 hours depending on traffic and if you know shortcuts. That is from Fleetwood, below Allentown.

send this guy a thank you note when all of our lift tickets go up again next year- not just at BC but everywhere. Moron judge doesn't understand release of liabilty.

Just got back today from Smuggs; skied Friday and Saturday. The resort is 100% open- my son and wife spent about 60% of their time in the glades. Great coverage, no issues to be had! Lot's of untracked stuff in the trees yet. They were able to ski almost top to bottom by jumping from glade to glade. Lot's of bumps on FIS and on the Liftline runs. Harvey's was big soft bumps. No liftlines on Friday, maybe waited 5 minutes on Saturday on the Madonna lift, almost ski on at the Sterling lift. Was snowing all day Friday, had nice powdery conditions. Bluebird day yesterday, snow was firm on the trails. Conditions were first class! Thier website ski report appeared to be very accurate as far as coverage.

Never too early to start them, at 6.5 they should be fine, plenty of patience for lessons and attention span. We had the benefit that my wife was an instructer when younger and is a hell of a skier with more patience than I have! If you can get them out like you are saying they will do fine. At that age no fear and hardly any distance to fall!

don't waste money on lessons for little kids- we started our kids at 3 and an half, did the hold them between our legs for a while, then let them get started on thier own. They were at Bear Creek, stayed on the smaller trails. sure, we sacrificed a season to get them going, used old skis for them. After one year they were on their own, after 2 years could handle anything there, 3-4 years in skied at Sugarbush. If you really want to do kids lessons Bear Creek Kodiak kids is a good program, but if you expect the kids to get anything out of lessons (and lot's of your $$$) you need to get them on the hill twice a week for the whole season. I see too many people spend big bucks on lessons for kids, do it once or twice a year, and never go out besides that. Then they wonder why the didn't learn anything.

Blue became Blue because Little Gap made it sound like a small mt, always liked that name though. Doe only reminds me of real crummy lodge and facilities.

I don't know, in my opinion, why should I pay for some moron who is where they don't belong? My wife lived in VT and tells stories of skiing at Sugarbush and having people coming in from off trail asking if they were still at Mad River-- if you aren't qualified to be off trail, if you want to go into "uncharted terrain" don't expect me to pay for you to be saved. If you go back country you should expect to be responsible for yourself, be prepared, and if you need a helicopter or a team of people to bail you out, be prepared for the expense. My opinion FWIIW, probably not much!

Yeah, it was just ok today, yesterday by far was better, got skiiied off by around 3, ski patrol was busier than I can remember in a long time. Today was lot's of families and little ones. Wasn't as cold as I expected either. Monday should be pretty good day.

Assuming that your TR is for today, Saturday, I was on the first chair at 8:15 and the conditions were frozen cordurary and you could most definately set an edge. By 10 the snow was softening and the conditions were excellent. Skiers right of Sasquatch were as nice as they have been all season. Extreme was great up until at least 11:30. THe rest of the hill was great conditions; I can't speak to the parks as I wasn't in them. I didn't ask for cheese frys, but the pizza was pretty good.

The original question was which would be the best mt for intermediate trials, Sugarbush and Stowe would not be the best choice, by far Mt Snow for that particular question; while Sugarbush or Stowe may be bigger/more fun etc, for intermediate I would go to Snow, then maybe Stratton if you like crowds and the "Aspen wannabes", give me Bromley before Stratton.

A high speed/detachable type lift would mean the loading station would have to be in the parking lot due to the needed length of cable and engineering....

Thanks zzslope, enjoyed meeting you and paskiingsucks! I passed on the comments not only from you but also some other tourney participants, hopefully we can improve it next year! It is tough to pound stakes into baked hard ground that is full of stones though. I think you are on the money- a singles event to 15 would have been fun.

Just got back from VT- skied Smuggs on Saturday, Mt Snow on Monday. Call ahead to Mt Snow- they are tearing down a lift and as a result parts of the main face were inaccessable. Due to high winds we couldn't get to the top, only had 2 lifts open. The park on Carinthia was really in great shape, trees were still skiable but scratchy, sides of trails were really good. Snow on mountain was mostly granular, but all very skiable. Coverage was real good every where we were. Smuggs was simply great. We were in light snow all day, powder conditions, all glades open, mid winter conditions everywhere! Definately the further north you go the better the conditions should be.

If you have the right gear skiing in the rain can be a lot of fun, great soft snow, no crowd at all. Hot Seats keep your butt dry (a lot better than a trash bag!!), and good goretex, only problem is the goggles and vision. Some of my best days have been in the rain....

pm sent

Asbestos suit on.... who cares! Skiing is about fun! 30+ times per year at the same hill, need something to change it up!

Interested in buying used set of blades. Bear is home hill and looking for a new thing to have fun.

I would agree- I work at BC and we had 3 "Presidents Day" weekends in a row, where it was just nuts- to the point where we were putting cars where I have never seen them. Relatives that live in VT were jealous over the amount of snow we got- things weren't as busy there (N VT)as normal. All in all give me more snow and a long cold winter- more skiing! Snow in the city is what brings out the crowds, they seem to forget we can blow all of the snow we need- last year, with it cold all winter so the man-made stuff stayed without the snow in the city wasn't nearly as crowded.