Massachusetts V. Pennsylvania Skiing

[highpeaksdrifter]

There are other areas here besides Blue and Denton which, oddly enough, seem to get the most press around here (for better or for worse). But, and this may come as a shock, there is actually some decent skiing to be had here...though few and far between it can be had (Elk, Sno, Frost and yes Blue) . Plus I'll definitely take having 6 areas with a 30 minute drive from home.

That's pretty good.

For those in the know which state has better ski areas?

 

[wa-loaf]

Yea, but how long is their drive to NH, VT and Maine?

The skiing in pretty spread out in MA. WA near Boston is the biggest in the area although Nashoba is pretty busy too. Several other 200- 300 footers along 495. Then Berkshire East and Jiminy being the biggies in western MA. Western MA probably having more and better options than eastern.

Never skied in PA, so I can't really make a comparison.

 

[powderman]

This isn't even a comparison, MA. There isn't anything in PA that's as good as BEast and MA recieves more natural snow than PA

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

Never skied in PA, so I can't really make a comparison.

Me either. When skiing Hunter I'd often find myself on a chairlift with people from PA who skied in the Poconos. These folks almost always had negative things to say about their home ski areas.

Now that I'm reading more from PA AZers, I'm thinking there are alot of places there that are kinda similar to Jiminy Peak.

I'm not planning a ski trip there, but I'd like to know more.

 

[2knees]

MA recieves more natural snow than PA

I would seriously doubt that. I'd be willing to bet there are parts of western pa that get alot more snow then anything in Mass.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

This isn't even a comparison, MA. There isn't anything in PA that's as good as BEast and MA recieves more natural snow than PA

I'm pretty sure Jiminy averages less then 100 inches a year. Once you get down that low it's really about how much snow you can make IMO. So if PA resorts average a little less then MA if they can blow it I don't see it as an issue.

 

[powderman]

I was thinking of Eastern PA when I said MA gets more snow than PA, though as I far as I can tell, Western PA and MA have similar snowfall. The snowiest place in PA which gets 120' (I think). BEast in MA gets 110'.

 

[trtaylor]

Elk Mountain only receives 60" of natural snow, on average. Don't know how to make the comparison to MA ski areas. It will be hard to find people who've skied both. Once you leave PA the first stop is the Catskills. From there most go straight on to Vermont or perhaps the Adirondacks.

 

[deadheadskier]

I've got limited experience in both places. Ward and Wachuset in Mass, and Seven Springs in PA. From what I know of the two states, I would have to imagine that Beast on a good day trumps anything PA has to offer. Seven Springs was in the snow belt and the year I skied there about five times, the 130 inches of snow they got was very wet and the 'mountain' simply didn't have anything steep enough to enjoy that snow. Actually, I shouldn't mock Seven Springs by putting mountain in quotes as it is 2900 feet in elevation, however the mountain valleys are so high that the peaks look like hills. The Poconos though lower in elevation are more impressive to look at than the Applachains in the west.

I will say that for the casual skier, Seven Springs as a resort destination would definitely trump anything in Mass and numerous places in Northern New England. If skiing wasn't what mattered most to me, I'd take Seven Springs over just about anything in New England except Killington and Stowe. The place PARTYS. It's an interesting set up. There's just one GIANT hotel at the base with all the restaurants, bars, shops, night clubs, bowling alley, bars, health club, spas, mini golf, bars etc inside it.

It really is a toss up as to what is a better skiing state. There are far more areas in PA, but on average the handful of decent ones in Mass trump the handful of decent ones in PA. PA also has the added advantage of having numerous areas close to metropolitan areas. As great as I hear Beast can be, it's a haul to get there and if I was traveling near there, I'd just assume go over the boarder into VT.

 

[chase]

I was thinking of Eastern PA when I said MA gets more snow than PA, though as I far as I can tell, Western PA and MA have similar snowfall. The snowiest place in PA which gets 120' (I think). BEast in MA gets 110'.

This post inspired me to sign up and stop lurking. Mountain view in Edinboro Pa averages about 165 inches a year. They get almost the same weather as buffalo. The catch is that Mountain View is 320 vertical feet with one t-bar. Mountain view did however produce Jeb and Matt Boyd two members of the psia demo team.

Oh and the ski area does not really measure snowfall but Edinboro University which is two miles away does. Here is a link.

http://users.edinboro.edu/kmoyer/eupweather/histsnowfall.html

As for terrain in PA I have heard that when blue knob has the snow its by far the best in the state. I have never been there myself.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Both states are places where people mainly ski to keep their skills sharp between ski trips,..and places where you can get a quick night session afterwork,,,

Not many people from PA travel to MASS to ski and vice versa..I would bet that the icy conditions in both states breeds some of the best racers...

No PA skier on a big trip to mighty Hunter Mountain is going to admit that their home mountain rocks except for me..they'll be too busy skeeting their pants looking at the scary steeps of K27...lol

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

This post inspired me to sign up and stop lurking. Mountain view in Edinboro Pa averages about 165 inches a year. They get almost the same weather as buffalo. The catch is that Mountain View is 320 vertical feet with one t-bar. Mountain view did however produce Jeb and Matt Boyd two members of the psia demo team.

Oh and the ski area does not really measure snowfall but Edinboro University which is two miles away does. Here is a link.

http://users.edinboro.edu/kmoyer/eupweather/histsnowfall.html

As for terrain in PA I have heard that when blue knob has the snow its by far the best in the state. I have never been there myself.

Welcome!!!

 

[powderman]

This post inspired me to sign up and stop lurking. Mountain view in Edinboro Pa averages about 165 inches a year. They get almost the same weather as buffalo. The catch is that Mountain View is 320 vertical feet with one t-bar. Mountain view did however produce Jeb and Matt Boyd two members of the psia demo team.

Oh and the ski area does not really measure snowfall but Edinboro University which is two miles away does. Here is a link.

http://users.edinboro.edu/kmoyer/eupweather/histsnowfall.html

As for terrain in PA I have heard that when blue knob has the snow its by far the best in the state. I have never been there myself.

Welcome chase!

Sorry about the inaccurate info, I read somewhere Mountain View only got 120' inches per year

 

[deadheadskier]

As for terrain in PA I have heard that when blue knob has the snow its by far the best in the state. I have never been there myself.

I have heard the same. Hear they have a legit 1000 vert with good steeps and quite a few glades. I guess the challenge with Blue Knob is location. It's basically right in the middle of the State off the turnpike. Folks in Philly can be almost in the Catskills by the time it would take to get there. Folks in Pittsburgh aren't willing to put in the extra 2-3 hours when they have 7 Springs less than an hour away. If for only not having much skier traffic, the knob might be a great place to ski on a powder day.

 

[chase]

Welcome chase!

Sorry about the inaccurate info, I read somewhere Mountain View only got 120' inches per year

I believe you. I grew up in Edinboro and was told as a child that the area received 120 inches a year. Many "official" sources still say that Edinboro averages 120 inches. In reality this is just some deflated number that the town made up, Edinboro wants to be known as a college town, not the snowiest place in pa.

 

[chase]

I have heard the same. Hear they have a legit 1000 vert with good steeps and quite a few glades. I guess the challenge with Blue Knob is location. It's basically right in the middle of the State off the turnpike. Folks in Philly can be almost in the Catskills by the time it would take to get there. Folks in Pittsburgh aren't willing to put in the extra 2-3 hours when they have 7 Springs less than an hour away. If for only not having much skier traffic, the knob might be a great place to ski on a powder day.

Thats how the story goes...

For the next four years I will be at Penn State which is about 1.5 hours away. I"m sure i'll get down there at least a few times and when i do i will be sure to post a report.

 

[Greg]

Welcome chase.

 

[pepperdawg]

Mass vs PA???

CT vs NJ...???

RI vs WV??

Nonsensicle thread.....

 

[Greg]

I might actually argue that Sundown is better for the skiing I like to do than anything in Mass aside from BEast on a powder day. So it looks like CT might even trump PA.

 

[drjeff]

Mass vs PA???

CT vs NJ...???

RI vs WV??

Nonsensicle thread.....

Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner!

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