Thanksgiving Skiing in Pennsylvania?!

[thetrailboss]

Yes, you heard me right. Thanksgiving this year for me will be in lovely Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Well, I am jonesin to ski and am hoping to maybe sneak away from the significant other and her family for a few hours of skiing...if possible...and to try a completely different ski experience for me.

Are there any areas nearby? If so, which ones are likely to be open? Not open? And if worse comes to worst, what are the likely hiking options?

Thanks.

 

[Moe Ghoul]

Yes, you heard me right. Thanksgiving this year for me will be in lovely Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Well, I am jonesin to ski and am hoping to maybe sneak away from the significant other and her family for a few hours of skiing...if possible...and to try a completely different ski experience for me.

Are there any areas nearby? If so, which ones are likely to be open? Not open? And if worse comes to worst, what are the likely hiking options?

Thanks.

Ski Roundtop is the closest, ~15-20 min ride. Doubt they'll be open, check their website. Ski Liberty is farther south, 45-1 hr ride. Check out the Gingerbread Man bar/pub if its still open. I spent many weekends in Carlisle during college. Dated a coupla gals there.

http://www.skiroundtop.com/

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

The closest open skiing Thanksgiving weekend in PA would be Big Boulder(2 hours away) or Seven Springs(2-3 hours away)...The areas like Whitetail, Liberty, and Roundtop which are near Carlisle are in the MASH banana belt..Mid Atlantic Ski Hell..and usually don't open until mid December..it's even warmer there than the Poconos..

 

[Moe Ghoul]

Yes, you heard me right. Thanksgiving this year for me will be in lovely Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Well, I am jonesin to ski and am hoping to maybe sneak away from the significant other and her family for a few hours of skiing...if possible...and to try a completely different ski experience for me.

Are there any areas nearby? If so, which ones are likely to be open? Not open? And if worse comes to worst, what are the likely hiking options?

Thanks.

Not sure about hiking, but there's a lot of open space south of Carlisle. Gettysburg is about a 45 min ride on Rt. 15S. Pretty ride through apple orchard country and Gettysburg is worth a visit if you've never been there. Plenty of hiking to do in the Battlefield.

 

[Phillycore]

If you aren't into the park scene than Big Boulder is only worth the trip from Carlisle as an absolute last resort...

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Mapquest shows Carlisle to Big Boulder(Lake Harmony) as 2 hours and 16 minutes so I don't see it as an option..they will no doubt be open Thanksgiving weekend with the forecast..

 

[PA Ridge Racer]

If you aren't into the park scene than Big Boulder is only worth the trip from Carlisle as an absolute last resort...

Agreed...Though if they open the Boulder Park and Mutil-Weg trails as a free ski trail along with Freedom for the park people this year to separate the crowds it may be half decent for November skiing in Pennsy. They managed to get it open last year before T Giving and it was pretty fun. But it got old fairly quick. Wish they would open JF at the same time.

Trailboss....Unless BB is mostly open I don't know that the 2 hr drive to the Poconos is worth it. And if it's your first time skiing Pennsylvania, BB may not be the best representation of PA skiing. Our hills are small but BB is really small and park oriented (unless your into the park scene). Snowshoe may be open with decent coverage but you may be looking at 4-5 hours in the car.

 

[Phillycore]

Agreed...Though if they open the Boulder Park and Mutil-Weg trails as a free ski trail along with Freedom for the park people this year to separate the crowds it may be half decent for November skiing in Pennsy. They managed to get it open last year before T Giving and it was pretty fun. But it got old fairly quick. Wish they would open JF at the same time.

Trailboss....Unless BB is mostly open I don't know that the 2 hr drive to the Poconos is worth it. And if it's your first time skiing Pennsylvania, BB may not be the best representation of PA skiing. Our hills are small but BB is really small and park oriented (unless your into the park scene). Snowshoe may be open with decent coverage but you may be looking at 4-5 hours in the car.

Now if you live down here in Pa and BB is your only sub 3 hour option.... It can be better than a trip to Vt for a wrod...
It's like a snickers bar... it'll tide you over for a little bit, but it doesn't replace a meal...

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

skiing the Poconos is like (ucking a fat chick..

 

[Greg]

It's only like 5 hours to Huntah. They'll be open... :lol:

 

[ski9]

If you aren't into the park scene than Big Boulder is only worth the trip from Carlisle as an absolute last resort...

The small park would make a nice sledding hill for the little ones if it weren't for the 2000000 newbies apparently trying to run you over. Props to BB for making the effort and keeping it really cheap (I think it was either $10 or free if your wore some red/white/blue), but it wasn't worth a 35 minute drive for us last year.

But if temps permit, they have the second best guns in PA and love to use them...so they would be the best chance for November...

 

[bigbog]

...

Making Huntah shouldn't be difficult at all. Mapquest is accurate... Although I'm not sure at all about the trout fishing season regs for Letort Spring Run(Carlisle).and its nice browns, the Carlisle area is kind of a mecca for limestone stream wackos with flyrods..
...but agreed it's a little chilly for that ~2-3 hours...:lol:

 

[56fish]

http://www.hiddenvalleyresort.com/pdf/snowmaking.pdf
http://www.7springs.com/

I would bet they'll both be open. 10-day weather favors snowmaking. Both about 2.25 hours from Carlisle at the speed limit w/ decent weather (I drive that part of the turnpike on a regular basis). As to terrain - more than likely, a couple of blue groomers.
:beer:

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

For someone with a season pass at Sugarbush..it's going to be depressing skiing in PA

 

[Phillycore]

skiing the Poconos is like (ucking a fat chick..

Rumor has it that you do both quite often....

 

[thetrailboss]

For someone with a season pass at Sugarbush..it's going to be depressing skiing in PA

:lol:

I am thrilled though to be with the GF and her family. Seriously. She is a very nice gal and her family is great. It's all a compromise.

 

[Greg]

I am thrilled though to be with the GF and her family. Seriously. She is a very nice gal and her family is great. It's all a compromise.

And after you marry her, you'll move to PA to be closer to her family and you'll get a pass at Blue Mountain, the true mountain, and spend the rest of your days goose stompin' with GSS. MSY. Mad Steezy Yo!

:razz:

 

[thetrailboss]

And after you marry her, you'll move to PA to be closer to her family and you'll get a pass at Blue Mountain, the true mountain, and spend the rest of your days goose stompin' with GSS. MSY. Mad Steezy Yo!

:razz:

Well, not exactly. Her sister is a Professor in PA and is having everyone down. She was born in Vermont and raised in Maine. So if your theory is right, it will be a toss up between Sugarloaf and Sunday River or one of my Vermont mountains. :wink: And let's not get ahead of ourselves here....you're starting to sound like her. :wink:

 

[4aprice]

Trailboss:

Greg posted a weather forecast from accuweather for Sundown on another thread. While looking at it I changed the location to Tannersville Pa where Camelback is located and it was even better including 2 days of completely below freezing temps and some bouts of snow. They are not supposed to open until Dec 5th but with a forecast like that they could change their mind. They sit at a pretty good elevation, have an awesome snow making system and are willing to use it. I'm sure they will turn on the guns this coming week and know they would love to have a Thanksgiving opening just for the PR alone. Their site is Skicamelback.com, might be worth keeping an eye on.

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Rumor has it that you do both quite often....

No comment..but it is true..fat women sweat gravy..