Catskills, Berkshires & Poconos - Your Turn - It's About Time!

[skiersleft]

Some natural snow coming tonight to the Northeast, but this time the bullseye will not be the typical hot spots. No, it's not the Greens of Vermont or the Whites of New Hampshire. Not even the Dacks of New York. Nope, the bulls eye today tonight will be the smaller mountain ranges where many of us get our weekly fix - the Poconos of PA, the Catskills of NY and the Berkshires of MA. 4 to 8 inches expected. The Poconos might actually get the best of it. After the snow, the coldest air of the season is coming down with 120 hours of round the clock snowmaking probable at many resorts.

Expect a slew of openings this week so those of us who live flatlands can get some. Here's what I know for this weekend, and I encourage others to add information that's not included so that we can decide where to go!

Expected Openings in Catskills, Berkshires & Poconos (conditions permitting)

Catskills

Windham - Sat, Dec. 10
Hunter - Soon - this weekend possible (according to facebook)
Belleayre - Sat, Dec. 10
Plattekill - Sat, Dec. 10

Berkshires

Jiminy Peak - this weekend

Poconos

Don't have anything yet. Shawnee is shooting for the 17th.

 

[4aprice]

More important then the snow is the snowmaking window that may be about to open. I wouldn't think anything in the Poconos will be able to open before late next week. Hopefully this will kick start the season.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[BenedictGomez]

More important then the snow is the snowmaking window that may be about to open. I wouldn't think anything in the Poconos will be able to open before late next week.

Yeah, in the Cats it looks like they may have a nice 6 straight days where they can make snow for big stretches of those days, and judging from the webcams, the Catskills dont currently look that much better than the Poconos. So I think this should be a boon for everyone, 4 to 8 inches of white gold!

 

[4aprice]

Yeah, in the Cats it looks like they may have a nice 6 straight days where they can make snow for big stretches of those days, and judging from the webcams, the Catskills dont currently look that much better than the Poconos. So I think this should be a boon for everyone, 4 to 8 inches of white gold!

I was up in Vermont last weekend and they really aren't any better then the Pocono's right now. Just one of those years so far. Billski better get those Ullr sacrafices cranked up.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[MarkC]

NOAA is calling for 7 to 11 inches for the cats. http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Roxbury&state=NY&site=BGM&lat=42.2839&lon=-74.5653

 

[Cornhead]

If everything pans out, I may be headed to Platty on Satty. I have a couple buy one get one vouchers. If anyone wants to split the cost, half price lift ticket, $28, PM me. First come first served. I'll be there right at opening.

I doubt they'll have the double spinning, it wasn't last December after a foot. I had fun none the less. It's fun skiing in snow as opposed to on top of it!

 

[kingslug]

Looks like Hunter Sunday for me..wahoo!

 

[BenedictGomez]

Speaking of the Poconos, I just looked at a Blue Mountain trail map and was shocked to see all the double-black diamonds (it's been years since I've been, although I used to consider it the best of the Poconos back when I used to ski the poconos a lot growing up).

Used to be only lower challenger was double-black. What happened? I assume just a marketing ploy. Or did they do something to make those trails legitimately harder?

 

[marcski]

My 5 y.o. and I are hoping to make some turns at Platte on saturday if the lift is spinning.

 

[Anklebiter]

More important then the snow is the snowmaking window that may be about to open. I wouldn't think anything in the Poconos will be able to open before late next week. Hopefully this will kick start the season.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

I thought I read on Camelback's Facebook page that they are planning something this weekend.

 

[Anklebiter]

It's about time. I was really starting to wonder if it was ever going to get cold enough to make snow.

 

[Cornhead]

Plattekill is charging $30 from Saturday, tentative opening day, until the 24th. Great, I'll save my vouchers for later in the year. No double chair this weekend, I'm sure. Helps to be on a first name basis with ski patrol, as people were skiing the closed trails accessed by the double first time I was there. I thought about skiing down Blockbuster for my last run, but did not. It was tempting, foot of fresh, no base. Looked pretty sweet, had to be better than the Halloween snow. Hope to experience a "Powder DAIZE" this year. I love Plattekill, they do offer a lot of discount days. Do you have to sleep in your car to be one of the first 100 skiers at Platty? The season pass free weekend is pretty cool. I'll ski four days there, at least, for $86. Can't beat that with a stick. Hope they get dumped on tonight, and stays cold too.

Everyone at work looks at me funny when I complain about warm temperatures this time of year. I've been complaining a lot. Glad I caught Whiteface for their opener. Going to need a week of cold for the local hill to offer up a WROD, hopefully the 17th. Upcoming temperatures look seasonable for a change.

 

[Bene288]

I wonder how packed Belleayre will be on Sunday..

 

[spring_mountain_high]

. I love Plattekill, they do offer a lot of discount days. Do you have to sleep in your car to be one of the first 100 skiers at Platty?

.

me too...i got there about 8:45 one of the discount days and was like #98...just made it...the locals snatch up those $15 tickets pretty quickly

 

[Cornhead]

me too...i got there about 8:45 one of the discount days and was like #98...just made it...the locals snatch up those $15 tickets pretty quickly

I don't need to take that chance. I've got two buy one get ones from someone I work with. Plan on doing at least one of the season pass days. I might find a place to stay and do both. They got 7-8" last night, I'll be there first thing Saturday, can't wait.

So far cheap skiing this year:

4 lift tickets to Sugarbush $88
2 Platty vouchers, half price or better, 1 or 2 season pass days
1 Windham weekday pass, $19, Warren Miller
Elk Mountain Winterfest, they don't list the price, I think it was $20 last year.

It's nice having some cheap options when the local hill starts getting stale. I just wish gas wasn't so wacky right now.

 

[skiersleft]

Thursday AM Update:

CATSKILLS -

Hunter - 7" at the base, over 12" at the top. Snowmaking ongoing.

Windham - 4-6", snowmaking ongoing.

Beleayre - 6", snowmaking ongoing.

Plattekill - 7-8", snowmaking today.

BERKSHIRES -

Jiminy - 4" at the base, 8" at the top, snowmaking ongoing.

POCONOS

Shawnee - ? snow, seems that snowmaking has begun.

Elk - 3-5" snow, snowmaking begins now?

 

[4aprice]

Thursday AM Update:

CATSKILLS -

Hunter - 7" at the base, over 12" at the top. Snowmaking ongoing.

Windham - 4-6", snowmaking ongoing.

Beleayre - 6", snowmaking ongoing.

Plattekill - 7-8", snowmaking today.

BERKSHIRES -

Jiminy - 4" at the base, 8" at the top, snowmaking ongoing.

POCONOS

Shawnee - ? snow, seems that snowmaking has begun.

Elk - 3-5" snow, snowmaking begins now?

That's interesting that Shawnee has started snowmaking because according to the web cams Camelback has not.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[skiersleft]

That's interesting that Shawnee has started snowmaking because according to the web cams Camelback has not.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

I don't have confirmation about snowmaking at Shawnee, but one of their slideshow pictures shows snowmaking and their site states "making snow as temps permit". They also said on Facebook that snowmaking will resume Thursday, so I'm assuming - perhaps incorrectly - that they're making snow.

I'm also surprised that camelback has not started snowmaking. And I'm also wondering about Blue. But couldn't find any info about their status.

 

[4aprice]

I'm also surprised that camelback has not started snowmaking. And I'm also wondering about Blue. But couldn't find any info about their status.

The only reason they would not be is because of the wet bulb temp. I'm sure they will crank it up as soon as possible.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[skidbump]

I wonder how packed Belleayre will be on Sunday..

WROD ....All ski racers using general public as gates...snowboarder flying out of woods with out spotters..Havent u ever been there for opening weekend??