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So can you really ski in PA?

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Gypsy_Skier
Posts: 2666 - Karma: 5,237
Looks like i might be joining UPenn next year as a transfer, but i i'm worried about what skiing is going to be like out there. I'm from the french Alps and haven't really ever skied anywhere else (no need to!). So is there any skiing around Philly? Or at least a park.

Thanks for the input! And if there are any NSers in Philly at Upenn or Drexel, let me know
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Jan 19 2015 3:58PM
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Jewschoolers
Posts: 1785 - Karma: 1,142
I'm pretty sure it's illegal there dude
Jan 19 2015 4:00PM
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gusestomp
Posts: 1377 - Karma: 746
I live like 1 1/2 hours from Philly and I would say there is not a lot of skiing close to UPenn. Closest resort is probably at least hours away.
Jan 19 2015 4:02PM
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UphillIce
Posts: 123 - Karma: 138
Philly is a pretty bad location for skiing. It's a good ride to anything and that stuff isn't really that good. I'm not sure about all of their park options though. I haven't been to a lot of the places save the ones that are reachable from DC (Ski Liberty, etc). You may have more luck going toward the Poconos.
Jan 19 2015 4:22PM
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UphillIce
Posts: 123 - Karma: 138
UphillIcePhilly is a pretty bad location for skiing. It's a good ride to anything and that stuff isn't really that good. I'm not sure about all of their park options though. I haven't been to a lot of the places save the ones that are reachable from DC (Ski Liberty, etc). You may have more luck going toward the Poconos.


I just checked on some of the places to the north: Bear Creek is about an hour and 20 minutes and supposedly has a decent park. I can't vouch for it though.
Jan 19 2015 4:27PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51584 - Karma: 161,684
UphillIceI just checked on some of the places to the north: Bear Creek is about an hour and 20 minutes and supposedly has a decent park. I can't vouch for it though.


TL worked there. not sure if he knows how things are looking there.


Also seems like I would find out how the skiing is before I moved somewhere. Pretty crazy that you're going from the alps to philly. I think blue mountain is only an hour 15 from philly. Not sure what else is around there.

Good luck though. There is definitely some skiing, it might not be super close but there are a few spots within 2 hours at least.
Jan 19 2015 4:46PM
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ilikefood
Posts: 391 - Karma: 769
If you are looking to ski anything out side the park you are going to be greatly underwhelmed by the terrain. I left Vancouver to go to school in Montreal and skiing out side of the park here is just not the same. Still fun for sure, but so different.
Jan 19 2015 4:49PM
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270on420out
Posts: 7507 - Karma: 51,054
A little far, but Big Boulder has the second best parks in PA.
Jan 19 2015 4:55PM
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kung_powpow
Posts: 1990 - Karma: 3,671
Yeah but it's super shitty
Jan 19 2015 4:58PM
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Hodor
Posts: 503 - Karma: 2,578
I grew up skiing in PA and as long as you don't mind hiking rails and hitting small jumps you should have fun. I live in Montana now and still have fun going back to PA and skiing when home. IMO Skiing is fun no matter where to do it.
Jan 19 2015 5:08PM
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Gypsy_Skier
Posts: 2666 - Karma: 5,237
theabortionatorTL worked there. not sure if he knows how things are looking there.


Also seems like I would find out how the skiing is before I moved somewhere. Pretty crazy that you're going from the alps to philly. I think blue mountain is only an hour 15 from philly. Not sure what else is around there.

Good luck though. There is definitely some skiing, it might not be super close but there are a few spots within 2 hours at least.


Yeah i know it's a little crazy. But when someone gives you the opportunity to go to an ivy league school a continent away, you take it. I guess it's not very NS of me to put school before skiing..

Still waiting for the official answer though. Otherwise i will be heading to either Western Washington U or u of Oregon which would be a totally different ball game. I hear skiing around northern WA is amazing
Jan 19 2015 5:15PM
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bermbuster49
Posts: 7445 - Karma: 90
Gypsy_SkierYeah i know it's a little crazy. But when someone gives you the opportunity to go to an ivy league school a continent away, you take it. I guess it's not very NS of me to put school before skiing..

Still waiting for the official answer though. Otherwise i will be heading to either Western Washington U or u of Oregon which would be a totally different ball game. I hear skiing around northern WA is amazing


Official answer? dude there is nothing good near philly. As someone else said Big boulder has probably the best parks in PA. Otherwise if you want to do any sort of real skiing you have to drive 6-7+ hours to upstate NY or VT
Jan 19 2015 9:44PM
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Tall_Paul
Posts: 958 - Karma: 57
YOOOO, I'm just a train ride away at St. Joe's. Philly is an awesome city, aside from the occasional bums and shady parts, the food and culture of the city itself is great. Always new, good places to eat and different events such as concerts, sports games, art festivals etc so you'll always have something to do on the weekends (it's hard to be bored here).

The downside is that there is little to no skiing in the area. The closest mountains are Blue Mountain in Palmerton, PA and Bear Creek which are both about an hour away. I've grown up riding these mountains and they're nothing like Outwest or Vermont but they make due! Blue's mountain is the biggest in PA with something like 39 runs and both of them have fun parks.

Jack Frost/Big Boulder is only about an 1 1/2 from Philly and has one of the best parks in PA and East Coast from what I've heard. /claim. I've skied all of these areas a bunch and they are fun, good places to ski that offer some cheap college discounts too.

If I were you I'd say go for it. UPenn is an awesome school academically and I'm sure you'll love Philly for what it's worth. As for the skiing, it's no French Alps but the machine packed granular snow is always more than welcoming.
Jan 19 2015 10:01PM
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ghosthop
Posts: 631 - Karma: 1,027
The skiing is not great, but it is there. +1 on Big Boulder if you ski park. Nothing quite like those ice bumps at Roundtop and Liberty, feel the burn for all 900 vertical feet.

That being said, Philly is an awesome city and Penn is a great school. If you can afford to go there for undergrad you can probably afford a plane ticket.
Jan 20 2015 1:08AM
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Gypsy_Skier
Posts: 2666 - Karma: 5,237
ghosthopThe skiing is not great, but it is there. +1 on Big Boulder if you ski park. Nothing quite like those ice bumps at Roundtop and Liberty, feel the burn for all 900 vertical feet.

That being said, Philly is an awesome city and Penn is a great school. If you can afford to go there for undergrad you can probably afford a plane ticket.


I actually don't have to pay tuition, it's a "scholarship" transfer for my senior year (year 3 of 3 here) and it wasn't easy to get, had to work my ass off. Thing is i love a nice 50ft jump and i'm worried i might never see one in philly (unless BigBoulder get's another Stept shoot going)
Jan 20 2015 2:53AM
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eheath
Posts: 61588 - Karma: 122,917
Gypsy_SkierI actually don't have to pay tuition, it's a "scholarship" transfer for my senior year (year 3 of 3 here) and it wasn't easy to get, had to work my ass off. Thing is i love a nice 50ft jump and i'm worried i might never see one in philly (unless BigBoulder get's another Stept shoot going)


Just go to school there for a year and move. Picking your final year of school based on the skiing around it is silly. Upenn has the bet academics out of all of the schools you listed and FREE bro give up a year of legit skiing for that no doubt.
Jan 20 2015 3:03AM
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,484
You get to transfer schools to another part of the world for FREE and all youre worried about is if there is good skiing nearby? Smh, some kids on this website are so fucked up
Jan 20 2015 6:17AM
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Gypsy_Skier
Posts: 2666 - Karma: 5,237
.Hugo.You get to transfer schools to another part of the world for FREE and all youre worried about is if there is good skiing nearby? Smh, some kids on this website are so fucked up


Yeah that's what happens when you worked your ass off at school for the last 10 years, good things come your way and you get to make fun choices in life. Sorry if that's "to fucked up" for you to understand
Jan 20 2015 10:55AM
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sbarlett
Posts: 882 - Karma: 4,255
Blue Mountain is decently close to Philly, but Big Boulder, roundtop have good parks. You won't be close to Seven Springs at all and thats the best
Jan 20 2015 11:03AM
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soccerzla7
Posts: 127 - Karma: 524
Aa others said you should take this opportunity and go to UPenn. It's an Ivy League school and if your only goin for a year it's absolutely worth it. Even if you don't get to ski much, it'll still be a cool experience for you. You'll be about an hour and a half from blue mountain which has a pretty good park set up this year. I am 15 minutes away from philly over in jersey and I have 20 days so far so it's possible if you make it happen
Jan 20 2015 11:09AM
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Justo8484
Posts: 3905 - Karma: 205
If you get in, go to Penn. I live right across the river from the school, been in philly for the past 10 years now, and I ski probably close to 40ish days a year every year. I grew up 10 minutes from blue mountain, and having skied pretty much everything in eastern PA, blue easily has the best terrain, overall. Boulder will usually have one or two jumps that'll be better than blue, and they might open a week or two earlier, but that's really about it. The scene at boulder has kinda died in the past few years since sean moved and brogan dropped off the map. It's not what it used to be. Blue's got a top to bottom park with a 3 jump line that's usually in the 20-30-40 range, so maybe not quite as big as you're hoping for, but they're consistently pretty good. You'll also get 10+ rails/jibs in that same run, and take a nice and comfy high speed 6 person chair back up for ~10 minute park laps. I make it from my front door to the parking lot in about an hour and 20. Coming from UPenn would be the same. Feel free to hit me up if you have any other questions about the skiing, or philly in general. I've spend a lot of time in the university city area.
Jan 20 2015 12:14PM
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JOTTO
Posts: 237 - Karma: 1,519
I just looked it up. You'll be 2 hours from Big Boulder (Awesome parks, some of the best on the east coast) which is pretty much the most worth driving to. I wouldn't really recommend anywhere else.
Jan 20 2015 1:56PM
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JOTTO
Posts: 237 - Karma: 1,519
I just looked it up. You'll be 2 hours from Big Boulder (Awesome parks, some of the best on the east coast) which is pretty much the most worth driving to. I wouldn't really recommend anywhere else.
Jan 20 2015 1:56PM
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Stinging_Roger
Posts: 298 - Karma: 1,504
I live just outside of Philly and ski Bear Creek since it is closest to me. My mom works at UPenn and I know the campus extremely well. If you've never visited, the school is unbelievable, both academics and campus wise. I would drop everything to be able to have the opportunity to go there (I'm still in high school). As for skiing, it's okay, but still fun. As I said, Bear is my home mountain. Friendly staff, friendly locals, and they've really stepped up their game with the park this year. However, we're still lacking snow so no large jumps. Let me know if you have any other questions
Jan 20 2015 3:44PM
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kshaughn
Posts: 509 - Karma: 4,548
Gypsy_SkierYeah that's what happens when you worked your ass off at school for the last 10 years, good things come your way and you get to make fun choices in life. Sorry if that's "to fucked up" for you to understand


I could be wrong, but I think what Hugo was saying is that it is 'fucked up' for you to have this big of concern about where you can ski when you get to go to an ivy league school for free. Don't pass up that opportunity, it's just a year and you can still do some skiing on the side.
Jan 20 2015 3:59PM
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123+ski
Posts: 2832 - Karma: 581
I go to Lafayette, UPenn was in our conference last year (USCSA). I'm assuming they are this year as well. There are competitions for freestyle (and racing obviously), and it is super relaxed, great way to get to the hill every weekend (by joining the team). Lafayette practices at blue on Tues/Thurs, I assume UPenn does something similar. No, it doesn't compare to even VT (where I grew up, west coast friends have higher standards), but it is still fun.

Also, before I went to college, my parents said I had 2 choices. 4 years of awesome skiing, or 4 years (looking like 5 now haha) of mediocre skiing, but with a good degree to get a good enough job to be able to afford to ski for a lifetime. I chose the latter, and I would advise you to do the same. UPenn is a great school, and you will have a lot of great opportunities available to you if you earn a degree there.
Jan 20 2015 4:00PM
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Justo8484
Posts: 3905 - Karma: 205
JOTTOI just looked it up. You'll be 2 hours from Big Boulder (Awesome parks, some of the best on the east coast) which is pretty much the most worth driving to. I wouldn't really recommend anywhere else.


Sorry, but if you had to look up how far boulder is from philly, you probably have nothing relevant to contribute here. If all you want to ski is park every day, boulder is fine, but if you value any sort of other varied terrain, it's got absolutely nothing to offer. Nothing in the greater pocono area, with the exception of some of the treeskiing at frost, can compare with the terrain at blue overall, and blue's park is, at least in my opinion, on par with what boulder's been putting out the past few years. Coincidence that people have left boulder to come work park crew at blue this year? Maybe, maybe not.
Jan 21 2015 10:47AM
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johnnyBuz
Posts: 1438 - Karma: 1,270
https://www.newschoolers.com/watch/622433.0/Huck-Yourself-Jumps
OP if you want jumps, big boulder is your best bet
Jan 21 2015 11:33AM
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shitpoop
Posts: 667 - Karma: 1,479
i consider a trip to big boulder a blessing.....only once a year. consider your self lucky and be grateful for what you have. take this oppurtunity. youll regret it.
Jan 21 2015 3:44PM
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,484
Gypsy_SkierYeah that's what happens when you worked your ass off at school for the last 10 years


All the more reason to choose the far superior school and get something out of all that hard work. Why do all that then go to an average school just because your spoiled ass cant go a year without skiing.
Jan 21 2015 3:51PM
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CTD
Posts: 6300 - Karma: 348
how has no one mentioned 7 springs? yeah its not close to phili, but it's got the streets! place is way legit and would definitely be worth the drive a few times a year.
Jan 21 2015 4:09PM
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a_pla5tic_bag
Posts: 9215 - Karma: 5,398
I once skied with a girl from Germany and she told me it was her first time skiing on the east coast of the US. I told her prepare to be disappointed.

What you will learn to do is ski on ice though.
Jan 21 2015 4:38PM
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dwee456
Posts: 1 - Karma: 10
i'm actually at penn right now. a good idea that you might wanna try is to join our ski team, we take weekend trips up to various mountains in new york or new england, and we have a week long trip during the winter out to cali for our annual race camp.
Jan 21 2015 7:50PM
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OGHolliday
Posts: 2390 - Karma: 2,430
Coming from the alps you'll definitely be disappointed with the snow and vertical. However, Blue Mountain and big boulder are within an hour from Philly and both have good parks, if you want to travel a bit further Seven Springs has a really sick urban style park. If you do end up going hmu, I go to Villanova and my friends and I go skiing pretty regularly.
Jan 21 2015 8:03PM
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Kooky_Lukey
Posts: 1002 - Karma: 1,966
Big Boulder Parks are just as good if not better than 7 Springs. Yes 7 springs has the urban park, but honestly it's nothing special. Trust me I got a season pass there every year growing up.

Everytime I went to Big Boulder their park was so much fun. They still had the big stuff if you wanted it, but they had so many fun medium features that I like the best.

If you've grown up skiing the alps, take a few days off of real skiing and ski the east. You and your buddies can still road trip it out west for a ski trip over break and you can get your fix there. But don't give up the opportunity to go to Penn just because of one year of skiing.
Jan 21 2015 8:21PM
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270on420out
Posts: 7507 - Karma: 51,054
.Hugo.All the more reason to choose the far superior school and get something out of all that hard work. Why do all that then go to an average school just because your spoiled ass cant go a year without skiing.


Believe it or not, some people actually value skiing a little more than others.
Jan 21 2015 10:02PM
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TOAST.
Posts: 7474 - Karma: 35,953
Justo8484Sorry, but if you had to look up how far boulder is from philly, you probably have nothing relevant to contribute here. If all you want to ski is park every day, boulder is fine, but if you value any sort of other varied terrain, it's got absolutely nothing to offer. Nothing in the greater pocono area, with the exception of some of the treeskiing at frost, can compare with the terrain at blue overall, and blue's park is, at least in my opinion, on par with what boulder's been putting out the past few years. Coincidence that people have left boulder to come work park crew at blue this year? Maybe, maybe not.


Havn't been to Blue for a couple years, but I always hear good things about it.

CTDhow has no one mentioned 7 springs? yeah its not close to phili, but it's got the streets! place is way legit and would definitely be worth the drive a few times a year.


Having Blue and Boulder a lot closer, I would say it is not worth the drive. At that distance you should just go to Vermont.
Jan 21 2015 11:51PM
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El.Guapo
Posts: 2139 - Karma: 3,173
Gypsy_SkierYeah i know it's a little crazy. But when someone gives you the opportunity to go to an ivy league school a continent away, you take it. I guess it's not very NS of me to put school before skiing..

Still waiting for the official answer though. Otherwise i will be heading to either Western Washington U or u of Oregon which would be a totally different ball game. I hear skiing around northern WA is amazing


well not his year it aint... its fucking shitballs
Jan 22 2015 12:02AM
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Microcosm
Posts: 4765 - Karma: 153
Yah I live in Philly now and after living in Burlington (Vermont for you international folk) for a few I can say I miss close access to great slopes.

Blue Mt is ~1.5 hours, maybe a bit more. Easy drive but their terrain/ park leaves a lot to be desired coming from up North. I'm definitely thinking about making moves in the future to get myself back into some true skiing territory.

Philly has a lot of sweet things going for it, but skiing is not one of them.
Jan 22 2015 12:17AM
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soulskier
Posts: 17806 - Karma: 3,841
I don't know, apparently PASKIINGSUCKS
Jan 22 2015 11:23AM
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Gypsy_Skier
Posts: 2666 - Karma: 5,237
Ok so i just got the green light for UPenn! So stoked, still can't believe it. Any NSers there now? Or in the Philly area? Definetly going to need some people to shred with out there
Jan 25 2015 11:23AM
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Microcosm
Posts: 4765 - Karma: 153
Gypsy_SkierOk so i just got the green light for UPenn! So stoked, still can't believe it. Any NSers there now? Or in the Philly area? Definetly going to need some people to shred with out there


Sick congrats. I'm in Philly, not sure about next year but perhaps
Jan 25 2015 9:54PM
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Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,014
the philly area has really good skiing within an hour and a half, which isnt a bad drive at all..

blue mountain is a big EC mountain with decent terrain, bear creek is only 45ish minutes from philly and has a good park for a small hill, and big boulder is big boulder and is sick as always
Jan 25 2015 9:57PM
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Nacho+
Posts: 3748 - Karma: 7,791
Alps to PA.... This is gonna be a shocker for you
Jan 26 2015 8:23AM
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gotti
Posts: 4269 - Karma: 4,550
transfer to harvard. theres a dope park 30 mins away, and skiing within sub 3 hours to a multitude of places
Jan 26 2015 8:39AM
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UrbanYeti
Posts: 107 - Karma: 530
Do the amish ski?
Jan 26 2015 10:29AM
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Justo8484
Posts: 3905 - Karma: 205
UrbanYetiDo the amish ski?


yup, they do. In dresses.

OP, congrats on getting into penn. The skiing community isn't super big here, but we do exist. I was at a bar with some friends yesterday afternoon grabbing a few beers before one friend had to fly out of town for work and we saw some dude randomly walking down the street in full ski gear. Boots, helmet, skis over his shoulder, the whole deal, in center city philly a few blocks from city hall.
Jan 26 2015 12:23PM
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flacotaco
Posts: 68 - Karma: 374
You will pull up to a resort and not even notice that it is there coming from Europe. The hills of southeastern PA have nothing on Europe so don't expect much at all. Most runs will take under 5 minutes if you are moving and the terrain is mainly park and ice. That being said, I have been in knee deep powder the past two years here... you never know what you will get.
Jan 26 2015 10:37PM
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Gypsy_Skier
Posts: 2666 - Karma: 5,237
jcos1232You will pull up to a resort and not even notice that it is there coming from Europe. The hills of southeastern PA have nothing on Europe so don't expect much at all. Most runs will take under 5 minutes if you are moving and the terrain is mainly park and ice. That being said, I have been in knee deep powder the past two years here... you never know what you will get.


I'm actually looking forward to skiing PA. From you guys have been telling me, i can only assume the park passes are going to be dirt cheap. I'm hoping night skiing is a thing there to, it's so rare here..
Jan 28 2015 6:33AM
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johnnyBuz
Posts: 1438 - Karma: 1,270
Gypsy_SkierI'm actually looking forward to skiing PA. From you guys have been telling me, i can only assume the park passes are going to be dirt cheap. I'm hoping night skiing is a thing there to, it's so rare here..


Night skiing is the shit. Throwing down under the lights with the lift watching - it doesn't get much better than that. Most places are open until 9 or 10pm.
Jan 28 2015 9:08AM
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TOAST.
Posts: 7474 - Karma: 35,953
johnnyBuzNight skiing is the shit. Throwing down under the lights with the lift watching - it doesn't get much better than that. Most places are open until 9 or 10pm.


Hate night skiing everything is so damn icy 90% of the time. I became spoiled by being able to ski during the day, and now only ski at night if I'm working.
Boulder probably isn't to bad since they open at 4pm so the good snow isn't scraped away.
Jan 28 2015 5:56PM
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