MID-ATLANTIC SKI RESORTS
 
 
Terrain
Challenge
Bumps
Value
Elbow Room
Lift Lines
True Vertical
Grooming
OVERALL
Last Visit
PA
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Big Boulder
 4
2
1 
3 
5 
5 
3 
9 
3 
'97 
Blue
 7
7 
7 
7 
8
7 
9 
8 
8 
'96 
Jack Frost
   5  
6 
6 
6 
4 
3 
5 
8 
6 
'95 
Montage
 8
8 
7 
8 
9 
9 
9 
8 
8 
'95 
Seven_Springs
  5 
5 
4 
4 
3 
2 
4 
8 
4 
'98 
Shawnee
 6
6 
4 
5 
7 
7 
7 
8 
6 
'98 
Whitetail
 6
5 
4 
5 
7 
7 
6 
8 
6 
'96 
Elk
 8
7 
7 
8 
9 
8 
9 
7 
8 
'91 
NJ/VA/WV
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Belle
 1
2 
3 
2 
4 
4 
1 
9 
2 
'94 
Vernon Valley
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
'83 
Massanutten
  6 
5 
4 
6 
6 
7 
9 
8 
7 
'99 
Wintergreen
  6 
4 
4 
5 
6 
7 
7 
7 
6 
'99 
Snowshoe
  8 
8 
7 
7 
6 
6/10 
10 
8 
9 
'99 
 

More Information on Above Ski Resorts

PENNSYLVANIA:

Big Boulder: Lots of better choices near this "boulder".  Not a true diamond on the mountain.

Blue (formerly Little Gap): Only about 1.5hr from Philly, over 1000' vertical, and a couple true diamonds with bumps makes Blue one of the better areas in PA.

Jack Frost: One of the more crowded Pocono ski resorts, especially on weekends.  The east side of the mountain has some relatively steep slopes, although most are short.

Montage: Near Scranton, PA, this is probably the best resort in PA.  Usually never crowded, fair lift ticket prices, over 1000' vertical,  and a couple so-called double diamonds with bumps put this resort at the top of the list in the Mid-Atlantic.

Seven Springs: For all the hype this place gets, it's not worth any of it.  Very crowded, slow lifts, small true vertical, and expensive lift tickets makes this one of the worst ski areas I have even been too.  The only positive is that it is spread over a couple "mountains" which spreads out the crowds somewhat.

Shawnee: Used to go here every week during high school, not because it was a great ski area, but because we used to get $15 lift tickets and it was only 1.5hr from my house.  Pretty much average in every category.

Whitetail: In south-central PA, not much else around there, best choice for that area.

Elk: Have not been here in years, mainly because they were the only resort without 100% snowmaking in PA.  But they have some steep slopes when they do have some snow.

NJ/VA/WV:

Belle "Bump": Located 15 minutes north of Trenton, NJ, this is was my winter job in high school, as a ski and snowboard instructor.  Fine for free skiing, but would not pay the $24 or so they charge for a lift ticket!  Oh, by the way, I think Belle has an amazing 150' vertical.

Vernon Valley/Great Gorge: Where I mainly learned to ski; don't remember a thing about the place though. :)

Massanutten: My "local" (205 mile drive) for the last 5 years.  Two diamond runs (more like upper blues) serviced by a quad chair with each over 1000' vertical is the reason I like this place.  Not much else to the place though.

Wintergreen: Not a bad place, but more expensive than Massanutten for less.  Has double diamond runs...yeah, right, does anyone actually believe they are double diamonds?!

Snowshoe/Silvercreek: The best resort in the mid-atlantic, hands down.  Some years gets incredible amounts of snowfall, i.e., '98-'99 year had a better base than any New England or Colorado resort.  The frontside gets really crowded and only has 750' vertical (ergo 3 for lift lines).  With the addition of Shay's Revenge and the high-speed quad on the Western Territory, some great bump skiing is possible without any crowds whatsoever.  Oh yeah, it's 1500' vertical of bumps. :)