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How much further is Montage? The lower mountain with the good terrain does not get a lot of crowds.
I disagree strongly that Bear Creek has higher crowds than Blue. The terrain is not as good at Bear Creek, but way more people go to Blue.
Montage is now called Sno and is maybe 30-45 minutes further on. I haven't heard a lot of good things about Sno, although I've never been myself.
I guess this is to late for you, but I was at camelback friday. All open but one trail, but pretty grim snow quality. Heavy slush over ice.
Better than nothing, and we had zero waits at lift, so still a fun day. But I'd maybe try blue….probably get the same thing though.
Montage is now Montage again as of this year. The Sno (with those 2 dots on top of the o) owners went under. I was there yesterday - it was good with 3-4" of new snow and as I mentioned, there were little/no lines on the lower mountain lifts.
It's not somewhere I typically go though - I prefer Elk, given PA options, but I guessed that Montage might be less crowded than most PA places yesterday and had been to Elk already this season. Plus, it doesn't get much steeper than White Lightning in PA. I can't take the crowds at either Camelback or Blue - it's been years since I've been to either and I can't imagine a scenario that would bring me back. The other NE PA option I consider worthwhile is Jack Frost, but I haven't been there in awhile either.
The crowds are pretty bad at Camelback, but I don't mind putting up with it. They have decent terrain and better snow than Blue. Plus, the crowds generally stick to the west side of the mountain. Today I had Pharaoh almost all to myself.
Did the same thing... lapped that area in the morning with a few trips over to the other side. Had 16 or so runs in by 11 when the lift lines started to get bad. Cliff and pharaoh and even on the other side if you stick to the blacks they are pretty empty. Just quick runs.
I'm partial to camelback like you. Find it the best of the local hills and then it's hunter or elk for longer day trips.
Crowds are expected but was there by 8:00 and on the lifts as soon as they allowed me around 8:30... You can always do that and have two hours of quiet time before the masses come close to getting out.
I hadn't heard about the Montage/Sno thing. Probably explains why they were getting a bad rap. I liked Elk the one time I was there. I like Jack Frost as well. For a lower key mountain I'd probably choose Frost over Elk just because of proximity and the fact that they let you ski the trees there.
The crowds are pretty bad at Camelback, but I don't mind putting up with it. They have decent terrain and better snow than Blue. Plus, the crowds generally stick to the west side of the mountain. Today I had Pharaoh almost all to myself.
Re. Snow conditions - Look at a topo map or elevation stats. Camelback is higher up. (and faces due north) I've seen times when Camelback made snow when others couldn't. I prefer snow conditions to vertical.
Alex
Lake Hopatcong, NJ
I take the same stance. It's why I don't like Blue. Camelback's base is around the same elevation as Blue's summit. IMO the best snow is at Camelback, Frost, and Elk because they're on the plateau. I'll take the better conditions over the extra 200' of vert any day.
Blue's snow making can be pretty bad sometimes, but IMHO, Blue has better terrain. More top to bottom trail skiing, less of the "all trails lead to Baily's or Honeymoon" thing that CB has going on.
Biggest complaint re: CB though is, no bumps on the steeper trails, and that stupid signs about not bringing in your own food…really bothers me.
Having said that, family skiing at CB isn't at all a let down and I agree the conditions are more consistent.
Think you will see bumps on Asp soon. They were up before mother nature decided to misbehave. 15 routes down the mountain that don't involve Honeymoon, be glad to show you them sometime.
Alex
Lake Hopatcong, NJ