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Entire State
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PA Ski Areas |
Got The Winter Blues?Well, get outside and enjoy the many
winter activities Pennsylvania has to offer. Snowtubing, snowmobiling, skating,
snowboarding, outdoor hot tubbing, skiing—downhill or cross-country; the choices are
yours, because it’s all here in PA.
PA’s
4.5 million acres of parks and forests offer 3,000 miles of snowmobile trails and hundreds
of miles of cross-country skiing. 73 of Pennsylvania’s state parks have almost 400
miles of cross-country ski trails. Downhill skiing is offered at numerous private ski
areas throughout the state. (Check out our list of PA Ski Areas.)
You don t have to wait for nature to make the white stuff. Many of our resorts have 100%
snowmaking capability to guarantee quality snow conditions all season long. Moreover, many
of the ski areas have better snowmaking methods than some in New England.
If
you’re a beginner, don’t worry, most resorts offer lessons for all ages. If you
do not own your own equipment, a good alternative is to rent from an area ski outlet and
transport it with you to the slopes. Rentals from area stores for a weekend generally cost
about the same as you would pay for a one-day rental from a resort. The quality of the
gear that you rent at local stores is usually better, and you end up paying less for it,
too. However, guests at some resorts can rent an assortment of differently shaped skis
with hourly or daily rental...for variety’s sake.
Most
of the ski areas in the state offer discounts for group vacations, weekday skiing, night
skiing, ski club memberships and ski packages. If skiing isn’t really "your
thing" there are numerous amenities at many of the resorts, which delight guests of
all ages including: lounges with nightly entertainment, game rooms, roller skating, roller
blading, indoor swimming, miniature golfing, child care, cafeterias, ice skating and
bowling. It is important to research which resorts have the amenities you require and are
best tailored to your personal style of skiing and skill level. Also, keep in mind that
lift tickets for night skiing are generally less expensive, and the slopes will usually be
less crowded. (That way you can plan other activities for the daytime and ski at night.)
There are elements of risk involved with
skiing that common sense and personal awareness can help reduce. Keep these in mind to
keep yourself and others safe: Always ski under control and in such a
manner you can stop or avoid other skiers or objects.
When
skiing downhill or overtaking another skier, you must avoid the skier below you. (People
ahead of you have the right of way.)
You
must not stop where you obstruct a trail or are not visible from above.
When
entering a trail or starting downhill, look uphill and yield to other skiers.
Always
use devices to help prevent runaway skis and equipment.
Observe
all posted signs and warnings. Keep off closed trails and out of closed areas.
Before
using any lift, you must have the knowledge and ability to load, ride and unload safely.
In
addition to taking precautions on slope, remember to properly prepare for an outing. That
means dressing in layers for warmth and making sure that equipment is safe.
Okay,
enough about the serious stuff...just get out there and enjoy yourself!
--- Sandra Lee
go to story archives.
Ski Trivia
There are 10.4 million skiers in the
United States. During the 1994-95 season, skiers spent approximately $8 billion in all
aspects of skiing, from buying real estate at resorts to lift tickets, shopping and
entertainment after skiing.
Pennsylvania is ranked as the
third-largest ski state in the east with an estimated 3 million skiers.
Seven Springs Mountain Resort (near
Pittsburgh) is the largest ski and year-round resort in the state. With more than 400,000
skiers visiting annually, the resort is one of the premiere ski areas in the mid-Atlantic
region.
Blue Mountain ski area, in the Poconos,
has the biggest vertical drop in the state of 1,082 feet and 20 trails.
Blue Knob Ski Resort, in the southwestern
region of the state, is Pennsylvania's highest skiable mountain (3,172 feet).
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