How to Ski in the Pocono Mountains
Skiing in the Poconos started in 1946 and his been popular ever since. Located in northeastern Pennsylvania, The Poconos are a part of the Appalachian mountain system and cover an area of 2,400 square miles. A popular vacation spot all year, winter sees the area descended upon by large numbers of visitors including urban residents of New York City, Philadelphia and Baltimore. Whether you prefer downhill or cross-country skiing, learning a bit more about area options may make your trip more enjoyable.
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Instructions
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Study the resorts in the Poconos area to determine which mountains are best suited for the type of skiing you prefer.
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Choose the mountain best suited for novice and beginning skiers. Visit the Big Boulder Ski Area as 40-percent of the runs are groomed with beginners and first time skiers in mind. Go to Ski Big Bear or Blue Mountain as an alternative. These resorts offer 33- and 30-percent of their runs for beginners.
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Choose the best mountain for intermediate skiers. Visit the Tanglwood Resort as 60-percent of the runs are geared towards intermediate skiers. Ski Alpine Mountain as a close second at 57-percent. Camelback Ski Area or Shawnee Mountain Ski Area are nice alternatives because about half of the trails are for intermediate skiers.
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Choose the best mountain for advanced skiers. Ski Jack Frost Mountain as 24-percent of their runs are groomed for the advanced skier.
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Choose the best mountain for expert skiers. Visit Camelback Ski Area as 24-percent of their runs are geared towards experts. Pick Blue Mountain Ski Area or Tanglewood as these resorts offer expert runs at 18- and 20-percent.
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Choose the best mountain if you're skiing with the family. Visit Ski Alpine Mountain, Ski Big Bear, Jack Frost Mountain or Shawnee Mountain Ski Area as these resorts offer the best combination of suitably groomed terrain and facilities.
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Learn which mountains are closest to your area. Visit Shawnee Mountain Ski Area if seeking the closest option to New York City, Blue Mountain Ski Area for Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington D.C. residents.
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Rent equipment in your home town if you don't own equipment to avoid lost time due to an overcrowded ski shop on the mountain. Rent equipment at the resort if convenience is a priority and cost is not a concern. Call shops well in advance in either case for details.
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Purchase lift tickets online to save a few dollars and avoid potentially long lines at resorts. Save additional dollars by skiing during the week as prices increase over the weekends. Contact resorts you plan on frequenting if you are planning to spend an extended period of time in the Poconos. Many resorts offer discounts for season long passes.
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Tips & Warnings
Night skiing is popular in the Poconos and many mountains partially or completely light their slopes.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit skiing goggles image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
