Blue Moutain Update?

[koreshot]

So I can think of at least one Blue Moutain fan boy that hangs out regularly on this site. And even though he lives 30 minutes away from the hill, I was hoping he could provide some inside info on Blue.

Specifically regarding their plans to start making snow. This weekend is looking halfway decent for night time snow making. Are they going for it? If they open Main Street and seed Barney's Bumps, I might be persuaded to drive up there midweek in early Dec. What is the normal sequence of terrain openings?

 

[millerm277]

Look at their Photo of the Day. Looks like snowmaking started at some point, and I'd guess they'll be firing up the guns again as soon as they can.

 

[TreeLine]

Drove by Blue on saturday, well from a distance, and it looks like they have started snowmaking up on top near where the burma/main st chair let off. To me it looked like it was just a test run of the system and Im sure absolutely nothing is left after yesterday/night. I've never skied Blue until the new year so not sure about their terrain opening schedule. I'm new to the area so just discovering pocono skiing for the first time and Blue so far has been the best. But what I've learned is that conditions are highly variable and I dont even consider skiing pocomos before jan. Save the money and invest in a weekend to vermont. Blue seems to be pretty committed to snowmaking so my guess is that if they get a cold snap they could likely open rather quickly. My impression is that they blow a lot of snow (have to, no real natural snow comes their way) but the overall product is more quantity than quality. Of course that statement is open for debate, it just seems to me that its very granular product.

 

[millerm277]

My impression is that they blow a lot of snow (have to, no real natural snow comes their way) but the overall product is more quantity than quality. Of course that statement is open for debate, it just seems to me that its very granular product.

I think the granular snow has more to do with the fact that most of Blue gets very little sun, so while it doesn't melt much, it doesn't soften up much either.

 

[RENO]

I checked their cam either Friday or Saturday and they were blowing snow. Camelback also. Looks like they should be able to blow snow at night the next several nights.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

So I can think of at least one Blue Moutain fan boy that hangs out regularly on this site. And even though he lives 30 minutes away from the hill, I was hoping he could provide some inside info on Blue.

Specifically regarding their plans to start making snow. This weekend is looking halfway decent for night time snow making. Are they going for it? If they open Main Street and seed Barney's Bumps, I might be persuaded to drive up there midweek in early Dec. What is the normal sequence of terrain openings?

I am a Blue mountain fanboy since I skied there 97 days last season.. I've heard December 7th is their target. I highly doubt there will be bumps for opening day..Probably Main Street, Midway, Vista, Easy Out, School Hill....if snowmaking conditions are really good..Lazy Mile...Tuts Lane, Shuttle, and homestretch are all posibilities and maybe the Falls..Oh yeah and an early season park on Come Around. Then they'll probably open Raceway, Burma road, Paradise, Challenge, Razors, Switchback, and tubing...

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Drove by Blue on saturday, well from a distance, and it looks like they have started snowmaking up on top near where the burma/main st chair let off. To me it looked like it was just a test run of the system and Im sure absolutely nothing is left after yesterday/night. I've never skied Blue until the new year so not sure about their terrain opening schedule. I'm new to the area so just discovering pocono skiing for the first time and Blue so far has been the best. But what I've learned is that conditions are highly variable and I dont even consider skiing pocomos before jan. Save the money and invest in a weekend to vermont. Blue seems to be pretty committed to snowmaking so my guess is that if they get a cold snap they could likely open rather quickly. My impression is that they blow a lot of snow (have to, no real natural snow comes their way) but the overall product is more quantity than quality. Of course that statement is open for debate, it just seems to me that its very granular product.

Early season Blue blows really dense snow..just like Okemo and Hunter to lay down a solid base..it can also lead to death cookies..later in the season they tend to blow lighter fluffier snow...I'm not picky about conditions..I'm happy to be skiing 17 miles away.

 

[koreshot]

Interesting. I used to visit Hunter all the time back in the day, but in the last 3 or 4 years I have been sticking to a once or twice a year frequency.

Recently, I have been noticing that finding bumps on Barneys is a total crap shoot. It seems out of nowhere, in mid season they decide to flatten the run, and not seed new ones. I don't get it. I am not a big bump skier, but I usually spend half my time on Barneys when there are bumps cause its pretty much the only challenging run on the mountain. Not counting the park. Razors and Challenge are usually a flat, icy joke with no worthwhile terrain features.

 

[millerm277]

Razors and Challenge are usually a flat, icy joke with no worthwhile terrain features.

There are huge terrain features on Challenge, think of Falls as a massive jump. (You can get some huge air off it if you try..)

Razor's feels about as difficult as Lazy Mile to me most of the time, I don't get how it's rated a double diamond, even by Blue's standards.

 

[koreshot]

There are huge terrain features on Challenge, think of Falls as a massive jump. (You can get some huge air off it if you try..)

On challenge I usually try to play in or around the trench where the snow guns are. I really haven't found any other noteworthy features. Maybe I'm missing something.

With regards to hitting the Falls at mach speeds for some air...I have done that a few times, but without someone down below scouting the landing, it is a little risky IMO. I witnessed a near colossal collision of someone taking off the lip and running into a parked skier in the middle of the Falls (luckily it was a graze type of scenario so no serious damage). I guess there are ways to do it sorta safely, but I would rather spend my time on barneys.

 

[millerm277]

On challenge I usually try to play in or around the trench where the snow guns are. I really haven't found any other noteworthy features. Maybe I'm missing something.

I was just referring to Falls as sort of being a large terrain feature. Other than that, there are occasionally some bumps on the top section, but they tend to be more annoying then fun.

With regards to hitting the Falls at mach speeds for some air...I have done that a few times, but without someone down below scouting the landing, it is a little risky IMO.

I'm not usually there when it's too crowded, but obviously, if you don't have someone go below and make sure there's no one in the way, it's not a good idea.

Paradise can be a bit fun, as you can typically pop in and out of the woods along most of it, and along the side of the guns there are often a bunch of small jumps.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Interesting. I used to visit Hunter all the time back in the day, but in the last 3 or 4 years I have been sticking to a once or twice a year frequency.

Recently, I have been noticing that finding bumps on Barneys is a total crap shoot. It seems out of nowhere, in mid season they decide to flatten the run, and not seed new ones. I don't get it. I am not a big bump skier, but I usually spend half my time on Barneys when there are bumps cause its pretty much the only challenging run on the mountain. Not counting the park. Razors and Challenge are usually a flat, icy joke with no worthwhile terrain features.

I ski Razors and Switchback the most for Mad Steezy speed and I love Airing out the falls but it's best to have a spotter and scope it out first if you're not there first thing or you might land on a bump. As for Barneys Bumps..last season I'd say there were bumps on Barneys 2/3 of the season and alot of those days they were ice bumps but I got at least a dozen sweet cor bump days where the snow was soft but also fast..I love corn faceshots in the bumps..Anyway it looks like Blue will be open in under 2 weeks..and for now Big Boulder has 3 runs open..I'll be at BB Friday afternoon..They open at 3:00PM on weekdays..

 

[RENO]

On their trail map it indicates that the new Blue trail would be ready for 07-08, but now they're delaying opening it and another Black trail until next season because they didn't have time to install snowmaking and lighting. I was hoping they would have the new Blue trail ready for this season. Oh well. They rarely get enough natural snow in the Poconos to be able to ski that trail, so we will have to wait till next season...

What’s New for 2007: Blue Mountain Ski Area
By M. Scott Smith, DCSki Editor

November 12, 2007 — Pennsylvania’s Blue Mountain Ski Area has increased snowmaking capacity between 15-20 percent by installing a stationary 1,250 horsepower compressor. Additional pumps will also increase water supply by 20%, transporting water more efficiently from the ponds to the slopes.

Blue Mountain has built a new building with restroom facilities and a party room at the snow tubing area. And, to celebrate the ski area’s 30th anniversary, a Retro Day is planned for March 15, 2008, where skiers will be encouraged to wear old clothing and old skis.

Looking ahead to the 2008-2009 winter season, Blue Mountain plans to unveil two new trails including a 1,000-foot long black diamond and a 2,500-foot long intermediate. The trails were graded this past summer, but will not open until snowmaking and lighting are installed during the summer of 2008.

 

[RENO]

I ski Razors and Switchback the most for Mad Steezy speed and I love Airing out the falls but it's best to have a spotter and scope it out first if you're not there first thing or you might land on a bump. As for Barneys Bumps..last season I'd say there were bumps on Barneys 2/3 of the season and alot of those days they were ice bumps but I got at least a dozen sweet cor bump days where the snow was soft but also fast..I love corn faceshots in the bumps..Anyway it looks like Blue will be open in under 2 weeks..and for now Big Boulder has 3 runs open..I'll be at BB Friday afternoon..They open at 3:00PM on weekdays..

Razors Edge is a great trail. I like doing laps on that, Challenge and Lazy Mile. They can blow a lot of snow on Razors with the computerized auto snowmaking. I would be there a lot also if I lived as close as you. It's about a 1 1/2 hr drive for me. Not too bad...

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I skied Blue 60 days in a row last season..when I was between ski trips...It's awesome that Blue opens at 7:30AM on the weekends..I can crank out 10 laps before 9:00AM...mad steezy yo..

 

[Paskier17]

Blue is by far my favorite in the poconos,n and I was up there this weekend and they had blown alot on the trails closest to the summit lodge... but that was before the rain so I don't know what it looks like anymore. I just can't wait for them to open because I haven't gotten a day in yet. Going up to Boulder on Friday, should have 6-10 trails.

 

[TreeLine]

I've only skied Blue at night, when the prices and crowds go down. Do they have big crowds during the weekend days? I ski on sunday nights at Blue - cheap and uncrowded. I agree that the bumps are more a nuisance at Blue - but thats prob mostly due to the lack of natural. Also with the paucity of true bump skiers, lines are often in disarray and bumps are often too spaced out with blue ice between from people snowplowin between bumps!! arrggg!!

The best thing about Blue is obviously the vertical for the area, anyone know what the layout is like for the new black diamond? Are they going to add some character to it as opposed to razors edge and challenge. Razors and Challenge are just so wide open that they lack any real thrill or challenge (pardon the pun). It would be nice to have a trail that took advantage of teh natural mountain terrain features instead of a perfectly graded wide straight trail, even if its steep. Razors and Challenge feel to me that they are somewhat steep so they can label them a double black but at the same time so unchallenging that anyone can easily ski them and then get their gratification for skiing a double black. Dont get me wrong, I enjoy Blue and its the best we've got in this area, so dont take this as a bash - just hoping for the best!!

 

[PA Ridge Racer]

Drove past Blue last night. The mt. was lit but I didn't see any snow guns on. I did see just a few patches of snow, nothing major.

Challenge and switchback are my 2 favorite trails at Blue. I like how switchback winds down the hill you can get decent speed on it and it's normally not as crowded as other slopes (lazy mile). It's a leg burner early in the season before I get my legs back. I prefer challenge to razors because it has more sustained pitch imo and it's not as wide. I hate barneys. I'm not big on bumps but I think I had an easier time skiing outer limits than barneys last season. Sidewinder is cut out beautifully with all of the winding turns but it's tough to cruise on with all of the terrain features. I don't know that I'll get back to blue this season...possibly if GSS hosts a AZ gathering there ....definitely next year when the new trails are open though.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Are you guys going to want me to copy and paste my daily detailed Blue trip reports over here in AlpineZone??? I write a couple paragraphs everytime I ski Blue over on www.paskiandride.com..they're mad steezy yo..

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I've only skied Blue at night, when the prices and crowds go down. Do they have big crowds during the weekend days? I ski on sunday nights at Blue - cheap and uncrowded. I agree that the bumps are more a nuisance at Blue - but thats prob mostly due to the lack of natural. Also with the paucity of true bump skiers, lines are often in disarray and bumps are often too spaced out with blue ice between from people snowplowin between bumps!! arrggg!!

The best thing about Blue is obviously the vertical for the area, anyone know what the layout is like for the new black diamond? Are they going to add some character to it as opposed to razors edge and challenge. Razors and Challenge are just so wide open that they lack any real thrill or challenge (pardon the pun). It would be nice to have a trail that took advantage of teh natural mountain terrain features instead of a perfectly graded wide straight trail, even if its steep. Razors and Challenge feel to me that they are somewhat steep so they can label them a double black but at the same time so unchallenging that anyone can easily ski them and then get their gratification for skiing a double black. Dont get me wrong, I enjoy Blue and its the best we've got in this area, so dont take this as a bash - just hoping for the best!!

Blue is crowded on fair weather midwinter weekends from about 9:30AM until about 3:30PM and then it clears out. I make sure to arrive around 7:15AM on weekends to get lots of empty runs and fresh cord..plus Razors closes for the racers from 8:00AM-10:00AM on weekends so I can usually get 4 runs on Razors before it's closed to the public. Some weekends when the weather is marginal and early and late season can be pretty empty. The best is when rain is in the forecast but it never materializes but hardly anybody shows up. Monday and Tuesday nights are really dead...Wednesday nights have a fair amount of school groups and Thursday and Friday nights have tons of school groups and sometime moderate liftlines. I'm lucky that I get out of work at noon on Fridays because I can ski in the afternoon before the school groups arrive. Challenge and Razors are double black based on the other trails at Blue..both would be easy Blues at Jackson Hole. I think Chute is often harder due to it's narrowness. I'm very fortunate to have Blue in my backyard. If it wasn't for Blue..I probably wouldn't have gone to college in VT or skibummed in Montana..I might be working on Wall Street right now working crazy hours and hardly skiing. The new run is going to be a black at the top turning into a Blue..it's right under the quad and isn't that steep but it has a narrow entrance. Switchback is a great trail with lots of twists and turns..Paradise is one of the fastest green trails ever..and Lazy Mile is a delight to ski..I think Blue has alot of charecter. During the St. Patricks day storm I skied right under the 6-pack and that was a hoot..and I hit some sweet woods between Switchback and Lazy Mile..Holla