Elk Mountain Q

[koreshot]

I searched the forum on Elk info and there isn't all that much out there.

Any regulars or people with Elk experience want to comment on the mountain? I am most interested:

- Steepness/challenge
- Natural snow
- Low crowds

Grooming, on mountain food and lodging I don't care about. So what is people's experience.

I am trying to determine if its even worth it for me to try skiing at Elk as day trips. The furthest I would drive from my house for a day trip is Hunter. But Hunter is 3.5 hours away - a real stretch for a day trip. Elk is 2.5 hours away, 2 hours skiing instead of sitting in the car.

So when considering 2 hours less in the car, gas expense and cheaper lift tickets compared to Hunter, would Elk be worth checking out or is Hunter so above and beyond Elk that there is still no contest?

 

[JimG.]

I searched the forum on Elk info and there isn't all that much out there.

Any regulars or people with Elk experience want to comment on the mountain? I am most interested:

- Steepness/challenge
- Natural snow
- Low crowds

Grooming, on mountain food and lodging I don't care about. So what is people's experience.

I am trying to determine if its even worth it for me to try skiing at Elk as day trips. The furthest I would drive from my house for a day trip is Hunter. But Hunter is 3.5 hours away - a real stretch for a day trip. Elk is 2.5 hours away, 2 hours skiing instead of sitting in the car.

So when considering 2 hours less in the car, gas expense and cheaper lift tickets compared to Hunter, would Elk be worth checking out or is Hunter so above and beyond Elk that there is still no contest?

I'm a Hunter regular. I've been to Elk and thought it was pretty good. Best of the PA ski areas in my opinion but I haven't skied all of them. But it isn't Hunter by a long shot. Their snowmaking is OK; I don't know about natural snowfall but doubt it beats Hunter not that that says much. There are a few steep pitches but nothing like Clair's or 44 or Annapurna. They have a big night skiing program there and I think it gets crowded there at night. I was there during weekdays so I assume it does get some crowds on weekends.

Good for 5-10 day trips per season if it was closer to me than Hunter is. I'd still spend most of my time at Hunter.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Elk averages 70 inches per year of snowfall..their snowmaking and terrain park is lacking..lifts are slow..good moguls. Of course it's worth check out..

 

[koreshot]

Good to know about the crowds at night skiing. I wonder if it gets as bad as Blue Mountain at night and weekends. That place can get pretty insane.

I should have clarified that by "natural snow terrain" i meant runs that have snow made on them but aren't made flat and boring with groomers. I don't expect anything in the PA/NJ area to get enough natural snow to have strictly natural snow runs.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Good to know about the crowds at night skiing. I wonder if it gets as bad as Blue Mountain at night and weekends. That place can get pretty insane.

I should have clarified that by "natural snow terrain" i meant runs that have snow made on them but aren't made flat and boring with groomers. I don't expect anything in the PA/NJ area to get enough natural snow to have strictly natural snow runs.

Elk has a few runs that are strictly Natural snow...Elk is not 100 percent lit for night skiing like most PA mountains..I'm sure Elk isn't as crowded as Blue but they also don't have the lift capacity..The only nights Blue is crowded is Thursdays and Fridays typically..Monday-Wednesday nights are dead..

 

[JimG.]

Good to know about the crowds at night skiing. I wonder if it gets as bad as Blue Mountain at night and weekends. That place can get pretty insane.

I should have clarified that by "natural snow terrain" i meant runs that have snow made on them but aren't made flat and boring with groomers. I don't expect anything in the PA/NJ area to get enough natural snow to have strictly natural snow runs.

I totally understood you...the times I was there I remember a decent top to bottom bump run with its' own lift. Probably around 900' vertical or so. I spent alot of time on that trail. Other than that the place was groomed flat.

 

[millerm277]

Good to know about the crowds at night skiing. I wonder if it gets as bad as Blue Mountain at night and weekends. That place can get pretty insane.

Yeah, the fact that they can still have lines with a 6-pack and a HSQ out of the base is insane for the area's size....the new trail will help a bit though.

 

[trtaylor]

I think Jim summarized things well.

They usually let a couple trails bump up, Upper Tunkhannock (see below) and one of the blacks to the west, Wyalusing maybe? That one usually has a groomer width along the trees knocked down for a bailout area.

I'd say you should definitely plan to check it out this season.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Yeah, the fact that they can still have lines with a 6-pack and a HSQ out of the base is insane for the area's size....the new trail will help a bit though.

Blue mountain is popular because it's so close to the masses and they have an incredible snowmaking system and efficient lifts..I don't think the new trail will be open this season..

 

[millerm277]

Blue mountain is popular because it's so close to the masses and they have an incredible snowmaking system and efficient lifts..I don't think the new trail will be open this season..

It's supposed to be....and they usually keep their word on such things.

We are also cutting a new trail between Paradise and Razor’s Edge and will have it completed for the ’07-’08 season.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

It's supposed to be....and they usually keep their word on such things.

Did you drive up there last week to scout out the progress??? I did and nothing has been done..no clearing, no snowmaking, nothing...

Back in 05-06 they were saying the new trail was going in 06-07...then last season they said for this year...I'd be really surprised if it's open this season...Remember 2 seasons ago when they had posters talking about a new lodge and condos???? It's not happening..

 

[millerm277]

Did you drive up there last week to scout out the progress??? I did and nothing has been done..no clearing, no snowmaking, nothing...

They do have another two months at least to get it done, and that 6-pack was installed very quickly, and they did a lot of cutting last year, I don't think they have that much to go there.

Back in 05-06 they were saying the new trail was going in 06-07...then last season they said for this year...I'd be really surprised if it's open this season...Remember 2 seasons ago when they had posters talking about a new lodge and condos???? It's not happening..

I don't remember ever hearing it was going to happen for 06-07, but I could be wrong. They got the new snowguns installed in just a week or two last year as well, so we'll have to see.

 

[wintersyndrome]

Getting back to the topic, ELK is what it is, PA sking, though some old signs at the place advertise it as Vermont Skiing in PA. Ive been there after some huge dumps when almost everything was ski-able, so it was fun then, crowds up well on the weekends during the day, but nighttime is pretty good there, steepest pitch in most of PA (so i hear) don't get to PA that often, but I have a friend who lives in US-NY about 45 Min North. The place is great for a midweek day trip. Lifts are slow though. but since it is "1000' of vertical excitement" if it dumps there its fun to "get Kneedeep in it" (Quotes from their own marketing)

 

[koreshot]

Hmm... not getting the warm and fuzzies.

I guess I'll make a day trip up there this season and scope it out for myself. I am pretty bored with Blue Mountain - another 2 hours driving (round trip) is probably worth a change in scenery.

 

[PA Ridge Racer]

Koreshot....This write up here... http://www.skiernet.com/ski_pa.html from Skiernet.com may answer some of your questions (Sroll down to find the Elk write up). Here are a few excerpts from the write up ... (DISCLAIMER...these are not my opinions, I'm just the messenger!)

- "Elk is a New England ski area plopped down in northeast Pennsylvania. It is a serious ski area; anyone equidistant between Elk and Hunter would have to pick Elk."

- "Elk reigns supreme in Pennsy...and holds its own against a lot of New England resorts as well. In terms of snow conditions, Elk is consistently better than the majority of New England resorts. It's true. Wait until January, and check the snow reports. Elk catches the very end of many "lake effects" storms as they mutate across southern NY & northern PA. Once it gets that first dump of the season, you're good to go.

In my opinion, In terms of terrain, there is nothing that will scare anyone here and Hunter probably has steeper terrain. But what Elk has is LOTS of fun fairly to pretty steep sustained runs The East side is a bit steeper. It also has a few winding trails that go on a bit. They let 3 trails bump up for the duration of the season with Tunkhannok (the bump trail in post eight) being the hardest with no bail out lane. After a storm they do leave pretty much everything ungroomed for a few days. Crowd wise, I've been there during the busier times like the winter carnival and during presidents week and each time there was little to no wait for a lift. Mid-week, non holiday the place is yours along with the locals. Natural snow cant compare with places further north, but Elk gets more than any in the NE PA region. Like GSS said, a 70 is probably about average and of course a good year will see a bit more. The place is filled with great skiers and has a great vibe. Pine trees line the trails and there is NOTHING around. It's worth the ride for that alone IMO.

 

[JimG.]

Pine trees line the trails and there is NOTHING around. It's worth the ride for that alone IMO.

This is very true.

The best restaurant for miles turned out to be the hotel I stayed at.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I haven't been there since 1995..but I'm due for a return trip if they get a major dump

 

[PA Ridge Racer]

I haven't been there since 1995..but I'm due for a return trip if they get a major dump

You're overdue!!

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

You're overdue!!

Your job is to help organize an Alpine Zone day this winter and then myself and alot of people who are overdue for a visit at Elk can come. I think I'm about an hour and 45 minutes away going the speed limit..

 

[PA Ridge Racer]

lol...I just signed up here yesterday...I don't know if I'm qualified to set up Alpine Zone days yet. I'll be happy to though.