VAIL SUCKS

[Newpylong]

Not to mention all of the old tower footings and boulders that are not ideal for the masses when things start to get sketchy by that late in the season.

 

[AdironRider]

Like superstar and the 1000 drunk people bombing around on bumps isn't?

 

[MidnightJester]

So as Epic has grown they seem to own a majority of Pennsylvania Ski resorts. Which are the better of Mountains in the PA grouping of Epic ski resorts?

 

[jimmywilson69]

So as Epic has grown they seem to own a majority of Pennsylvania Ski resorts. Which are the better of Mountains in the PA grouping of Epic ski resorts?

• I'm partial to Roundtop, but its 4 miles from house. I can't imagine driving more than hour to ski there. a few steep sections of trails to keep you interested, but otherwise unchallenging. Snowmaking and grooming team are some of the best in the state.
• Whitetail has the biggest vertical of all of the Vail properties. It faces east so the snow is meh a lot of the time. It is insufferably crowded on a weekend.
• Liberty is smaller than Roundtop and similar to Whitetail the "good trails" face east so the snow suffers. It is also really crowded on the weekends as its closest to Washington DC.
• When 7 Springs gets lake effect snow its a great place including tree skiing. The terrain is pretty boring. The original owner wanted to cut super wide trails to mimic "high alpine skiing in Europe" LOL and now as the climate has changed, they struggle to get it all covered. Was crowded pre-vail on the weekends and I suspect its still crowded now. It is probably the closest to what Vail wants in its a "true resort" with hotel and "resorty" amenities.
• Holiday Valley is near 7 Springs and has even less engaging terrain. Good family mountain.
• Laurel Mountain is in a state park but does offer the steepest or one of the steepest slopes in the state. Again if they get lake effect lots of good trees to ski. I can totally see Vail not renewing the lease when it is up next year...
• JackFrost is farther north so the snow can be better but the terrain is boring. Super crowded on the weekends
• Big Boulder has even less interesting terrain than Jack Frost and used to be mostly a terrain park.

 

[PAabe]

Laurel Mountain and Roundtop are in my opinion the best Vail areas but by no means the best overall in the state. Elk, Blue Knob, Blue Mountain, Montage, Camelback... better I think than all the PA Vail areas.

I just hope Vail and Ikon stay far far away from Elk as it doesn't really fit their mold at all

 

[deadheadskier]

I haven't even skied Elk, just driven by it. Stay away mfers!

 

[trackbiker]

Elk is the best in PA. The only thing I would change is add two high speed lifts and clear some glades and allow tree skiing.
I would hate for Vail to take it over!

 

[jimmywilson69]

Vail doesn't want any of the "non-Vail" properties that aren't already owned/ran by Altera.

Blue or Camelback would've been the next logical acquisitions, but then I would think that serious anti-trust conversations would be up for discussion if they bought those.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Elk is the best in PA. The only thing I would change is add two high speed lifts and clear some glades and allow tree skiing.
I would hate for Vail to take it over!

Elk Mountain's in the middle of nowhere, no threat of Vail or Alterra wanting it. Poconos mountains make sense as it gives them access to zillions of Philly skiers as well as western Jersey's large population. Elk Mountain gives them access to hillbillys and squirrels.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I've come to the conclusion that Vail's app sucks too. It seems completely random whether it's actually going to track me or not & I have a relatively new phone (S23). My wife has the same issue so I know it's not just me.

 

[chuckstah]

I've come to the conclusion that Vail's app sucks too. It seems completely random whether it's actually going to track me or not & I have a relatively new phone (S23). My wife has the same issue so I know it's not just me.

Completely useless. It somewhat works at the VT resorts, not at all in NH where I ski. I deleted it after 3-4 days.

 

[oldfartrider]

The Ap is good to look at the trail map also shows what trails are open, groomed and also shows wait times for lifts or lift holds. I’ve never used the ap to track anything that eats battery.

 

[jimmywilson69]

I'm definitely not letting the corporate BOZOs in CO have access to my phone and especially not my GPS info.

 

[kingslug]

Yup

 

[BenedictGomez]

Another Vail Resorts lift lawsuit incoming.

Family suing over 10-year-old's fall from ski lift at Park City

A family is suing the owners of Park City Mountain Resort over an incident in 2020 when a girl fell from a chairlift.

www.fox13now.com

 

[4aprice]

Elk Mountain's in the middle of nowhere, no threat of Vail or Alterra wanting it. Poconos mountains make sense as it gives them access to zillions of Philly skiers as well as western Jersey's large population. Elk Mountain gives them access to hillbillys and squirrels.

Elk has a lot of weird things about it. Owner is supposed to be quite unique. Their pass prices are way up there and I've never seen any deals on them. The parking there is horrible as even with lifts right there they make you take that Elk Mobile up to the lodge. Too bad its a nice mountain to ski but it's off my radar now.

 

[jaytrem]

Elk has a lot of weird things about it. Owner is supposed to be quite unique. Their pass prices are way up there and I've never seen any deals on them. The parking there is horrible as even with lifts right there they make you take that Elk Mobile up to the lodge. Too bad its a nice mountain to ski but it's off my radar now.

They did install a kiosk for lift ticket pickup between the parking lot and the lifts. So as long as you purchased online, there's no need for a trip up to the lodge. Only been there once. They had nice bumps on at least 3 trails, so I was happy. Tree skiing would be nice though.

 

[deadheadskier]

I get that tree skiing is a bit of a rare novelty in PA due to limited natural snow, but Elk probably is right there with Blue Knob for most snow in the state. So weird that they don't allow it, when all of their customers probably want it.

 

[trackbiker]

Elk has a lot of weird things about it. Owner is supposed to be quite unique. Their pass prices are way up there and I've never seen any deals on them. The parking there is horrible as even with lifts right there they make you take that Elk Mobile up to the lodge. Too bad its a nice mountain to ski but it's off my radar now.

I think their prices are in line with other ski areas. Elk weekend: $94, weekday: $78. Camelback weekend: $99, weekdays: $79 Plus $12.00 minimum for parking.
I'd rather take the Elk wagon than schlep from the lower parking lot at Camelback after paying a minimum of $12 to park. And if you get to Elk early on a weekday you can park in the upper lot, for free.
I don't remember Camelback having any tree skiing. Blue and Jack Frost have some but it's limited. The terrain at Elk is also better than the others.

 

[4aprice]

Elk doesn't have tree skiing last I knew. They will take your ticket. I wouldn't venture in the woods really anywhere in PA and only Plattekill or Belleayre south of Vermont anyways. I've got nothing against the place just that its not located great for me since the family sold the Pocono house. Its either the 45 min to CBK or 287/87 to VT/NH or down to Liberty International and out to Denver for me these days