There may not have been the blizzard many were expecting, but the steady stream of snow falling across Pennsylvania has produced terrific conditions for skiing.

The local ski resorts are taking advantage of the increased snow fall by crafting it into some of the best conditions they have seen all winter.

“The winter weather has been cooperating with the new snow fall,” Jim Tust, general manager of Shawnee Mountain said. “We have gotten fresh powder. The cold air has allowed for really good snow making. The mountain is 100 percent open. We are in full operation. It is in just beautiful condition.”

The hard work of the ski resorts in November and December have yielded ideal conditions as we enter February. All of the resorts including Shawnee Mountain, Jack Frost-Big Boulder, Camelback Mountain, Montage Mountain, and Alpine Mountain are fully operational. They have opened all their trails and are working in the fresh snow to create exceptional skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing.

“We are in prime condition here in the Poconos,” Mark Daubert, general manager of Jack Frost-Big Boulder said. “The weather has been great. We could not ask for anything better. We have an above average snow base. Mother Nature is doing the conditioning for us. We turn the snow over to gear things up and work our way across the mountain to mix in the natural snow.”

Whether or not there is snow on the ground in your area, there is plenty at the ski resorts. They have diligently increased their snow base substantially in the last several weeks. Montage Mountain boasts a snow base of 34-58”. Jack Frost-Big Boulder is operating with a 24-48” snow base and have groomed all trails. Camelback Mountain has a snow base of 52-60” of packed powder. Shawnee Mountain has a snow base between 36-48” of packed powder.

“We are getting rave reviews about conditions because of the fresh fallen snow,” Sarah Farrell, Director of Sales and Marketing at Montage Mountain said.  “We are 100 percent open with all of our trails, air boarding, and snow tubing, so we are rolling.”

With the cooperation of Mother Nature and the diligence of the ski resorts, there is significant excitement for President’s Day weekend. President’s Day weekend offers one of the best ski weekends of the year and the local resorts are preparing to make it as strong as possible.

“All the resorts are 100 percent open,” Brian Bosart of the Pocono Vacation Bureau said. “The conditions are very good. So there will be fun events going on for skiing, snowboarding, and tubing. Each of the resorts has President’s Day weekend events going leading into to President’s Day weekend and going through the holiday.”

For many of the ski resorts, the President’s Day weekend activities begin Friday, February 13th and extend through Monday.

They have a number of different options including family fun, music, games, and of course a variety of ski, snowboarding, and tubing activities.

“We have some really great things planned for Presidents’ Day weekend at Montage Mountain,” Farrell said. “On Friday, February 13th, we have our Find it Friday promotion kicking off the weekend. We hide a variety of things on the mountain, giving people chances to win throughout the day. We also have a Kids Carnival, family activities, mascot appearances, and fireworks throughout the weekend.”

In addition to a variety of activities, many of the ski resorts also offer packages and promotions for President’s Day weekend.

“Shawnee Mountain works with the lodging partners in the area,” Tust said. “We have some great overnight packages, so people can come for more than one day. It is a great time of the year to do a ski getaway or ski week. We have some discounted tickets offered through those lodging partners.”

It is a great time to get out on the trails. The ski conditions are continuing to improve with each falling flake of snow. The ski resorts are operating in high gear to produce a strong snow base and a great snow surface. Whether it is for a day or a getaway, President’s Day weekend is prime time to enjoy the slopes and events.

A father and son team, Kevin Fabiano and Kevin Jr., has bought Alpine Mountain Ski Resort and launched a multi-million dollar renovation of the area, estimated to reach $3 million in improvements by December 2014.

The Fabianos purchased the area from Appletree Resource Group, which had owned the area for about fi ve years. Previously, it had been owned by the Poalillo family for a quarter century. The area has operated for 58 years in all. This is the Fabianos’ fi rst foray into the resort business. However, they are not strangers to winter sports; Fabiano Sr. and his wife were both instructors at Alpine years ago. Fabiano had attempted to purchase the area once before, nearly a decade ago. In the recent past, he owned a string of English language training schools in China, and backed his son’s successful pizza restaurant business.

Now that father and son own the resort, they have hit the ground running. They closed on the area Saturday, Apr. 12, and crews began work Monday morning, Apr. 14. The main lodge and all outbuildings are getting a facelift, and the duo is changing confi gurations to some buildings. They are also regrading the parking area and rebuilding a bridge on the access road.

On-hill, they plan to strengthen the resort’s reputation as a learn-to area, and add a series of three progression parks. To support these efforts, both the parks and the beginner area will have dedicated lifts, including a new conveyor lift for never-evers.

Other improvements planned for next winter: an outdoor skating rink, snowshoeingand XC skiing, and sleigh rides. “We don’t expect these to be big activities, but we want to accommodate everyone in the family,” said Fabiano Sr. “We’re trying to build a more loyal, repeat fan base.”

Part of that effort involves making winter sports affordable. The cafeteria area will be mostly fast-food franchises in a sort of food court, and the resort will accommodate brown-baggers. “We want to make it a pleasurable place to come, but also very affordable,” Fabiano added.

 

 

Seven Springs Mountain Resort

Skiers and riders will see dynamic innovations on the Pennsylvania snow scene this season. Millions of dollars have been poured into resort improvements from parking lots to lodges, accommodations, lifts and summits. Web based technology will make buying discounted lift tickets as easy as clicking a mouse. Miles of hidden pipelines will fuel new automated snowmaking systems, and the latest in steep climbing groomers will put your skis and boards on ballroom conditions or challenging bumps. Take your pick. Now, let’s take the tour.

THE WEST

This season will see more terrain, enhanced snowmaking, innovative teaching and unique dining options at SEVEN SPRINGS MOUNTAIN RESORT. Advancing skiers will be feeling some wider turns on the intermediate Wagner slope with improved access at the top, doubling of the width on “Z” and some major re-grading. Expect trail covering snow squalls on Upper Phillips Run with the addition of new hydrants and 22 brand new Impulses now makers to get the park open, earlier. There’ll be a unique innovation at the Snow sports school this season. It’s called Terrain Based Teaching (also available at Hidden Valley). The approach uses sculpted zones to control a student’s speed and reduce fears and falls. Getting from Parking lots to lodge will be boosted with the addition of 5 new propane-fueled shuttles and look for an expansion of the ski lodge for new dining options.

Nearby sister resort, HIDDEN VALLEY has revamped the ski lodge, inside and out for more comfort between runs and to put a glow on the apres ski experience. On the mountain, glades have been cleared of overgrowth, new chairlift corrals have been planted at all the lifts and there’s a new drop-off stop at the top of the Sunrise – Sunset chair.

Look for enhanced snowmaking on Voyager that takes beginners and cruiser across the summit and connects with a gently graded descent to the base.

CENTRAL

Fledgling skiers and riders will have a lot more open space to spread their wings at LIBERTY MOUNTAIN near historic Gettysburg this season. The popular First Class Slope has been expanded.  That means more terrain at the top of the First Class Quad for ski school classes.

Youngsters are high on the Liberty priority list with a brand new Burton Riglet Park

for kids from 3 to 7. Additional parking has been added along with beefed up shuttle

service from lot to lodge.

Snow, snow and more snow will be blasting out of an upgraded snowmaking system at ROUNDTOP MOUNTAIN this season. Hundreds of feet of new piping will provide the water and air to fuel the brand new high efficiency snow guns for a virtual nightly blizzard on the Discovery Area, and the Powder Horn, Drummer Boy and Upper Gunbarrel slopes. Look for a smoother stroll from parking lot to base lodge with the installation of new paving and decorative lampposts. If you rent your boards and boots, there’ll be a shine on your gear this season. The entire snowboard rental fleet has been replaced with new Rossignols.

Over 2.5 million dollars have flowed into major enhancements at WHITETAIL RESORT near Mercersburg, much of it finding its way into a Star Trek technology snowmaking system. Slopes that will get the lion’s share of the new snow are the popular Upper and Lower Angel Drop trails. The Kid’s Mountain Camp gets a boost this winter with a 3,000 square foot expansion. New snow boards, boots and 1,000 new helmets have been added to the rental fleet while digital signs have been planted around the resort to keep skiers and riders posted on events and news they can use.