EdBacon

Props to anyone doing the hero route but most days it is unskiable. I don't mean that as exaggeration, its just the solid icy underbelly of the River Shot snowpack, after all. The normal route is usually the only way down.

Yes. No season pass this year since I wasn't going to be out enough to make use of one.

I never had an epic pass. I used to have a peak pass though.

When I was there in Dec people weren't receiving their passes via mail and still picking up at the window. That coupled with only two ticket windows open created ridiculous lines.

Did they take the brush hog through there or what? I don't remember it being that clear last year. Or is there just that much snow?

Glad they're finally getting it together. I swore I wouldn't get an epic pass... but I might reconsider if things improve next year. If they pave the parking lots though I'm out.

So a lot of these areas are really small. In the 200-400 vertical feet range. They had a hard time being viable as the sport changed in the 80s and 90s and skiers were seeking longer runs and more challenging terrain. However, there are some areas that are exceptions. The oil crises in the 70s definitely sunk a lot of small ski areas and I think this is overlooked. However, occasionally you get a place that is just mismanaged. So mismanaged, in fact that the true story is almost hard to believe. Enter Ski Snowpeak, in Juniata County. A mountain that could have been PA's biggest if it hadn't suffered from some of the worst owners imaginable. Just imagine, for a minute, a ski area in PA with almost 1400 feet of vertical drop. On a mountain whose upper north facing slopes hold snow in the shade for weeks or even months after its gone in the valley below. With steep lines and old trails cut that rival some of the classics in New England. Yeah, Tuscarora Mountain in the vicinity of Thompsontown, PA has all of that. In the 1960s some enterprising ski enthusiasts bought up the lots on the north side of the mountain to assemble the land necessary to construct a ski area. The project would have been massive for its time, not just in PA but in the NE in general, spanning 1400 vertical feet. By the early 70s trails and liftlines had been cut for Tusquenita Mountain. Some of the old logging tracks, and possibly what would have been the upper mountain trails are still discernible in the woods today, and would have made for some of the best skiing in the state had they seen action. Narrow, twisting and steeply pitched. Even after all the rain and abuse the snowpack has received the upper mountain was still covered in 12-18 inches of dense crusty but totally edgeable snowpack. The mountain top even sports a couple of slide-like fields of about 100 vertical feet. Totally filled in and pitched at around 30-40 degrees. In short, the terrain on this mountain could have been epic had the project ever found the right individuals to see it through. The Tusquenita folks ultimately did not have the money to finish the ski area, and the lift lines and trails filled in. Until 1988 and Ski Snowpeak was born. Now you need to be introduced to John Hall Jr. Son of the trucking magnate from Camp Hill outside Harrisburg. The Halls were known to be somewhat eccentric, but Jr's claim to fame was that he served time for wire fraud and stealing $4million in bonds from his father's company. At some point he decided he wanted to own a ski area and to that end he tried raising money for a planned development in Montana to be called Ski Yellowstone. It was later accused of by the owners of Ski Roundtop on behalf of Ski Yellowstone that Hall had illegally funneled money to himself from the project. He managed to raise $2.3 million from a bank in West Virginia, but to get more he needed either collateral, or a demonstration that he could operate a ski area, or both. This interest brings us back to Tuscarora Mountain and the land assembled for Tusquenita. Now called Ski Snowpeak the area was finally being opened, but Hall only raised funds to build out half the mountain. Snowmaking, a lodge and a fixed grip quad chair were installed in time for the 1988/89 ski season, but issues with snowmaking, warm weather and incorrect components delivered for the lift held off the opening to March. For pretty much its entire short life Ski Snowpeak operated a bit like a dumpster fire. Since the area was never fully invested in, it was only built out halfway up the mountain. This meant the most challenging upper mountain terrain was never opened. The Halls were never interested in the area aside from its usefulness to push through the Ski Yellowstone project. They cut corners where they could, and the experience on the mountain suffered for it. By the early 90s it was apparent the Montana project was going nowhere. Ski Snowpeak, never properly capitalized and losing money now had no reason to exist as the owners were not interested in the PA resort apart from its usefulness in propping up their Western development interests. And so after only four years in operation, Snowpeak closed in 1993. A year later the lodge burned down. There was talk of reopening the area through the 90s but none ever materialized. John Hall Jr, the rest of the Ski Yellowstone group and Ski Roundtop entered a period of litigation. The mountain remained vacant, and eventually the land was split up and sold off. Unfortunately the prospect of ever skiing here again is probably never going to happen, even on an uphill, backcountry basis, although the mountain could certainly support it. While the trails, even the upper mountain stretches are clear enough for experienced skiers, navigating permissions from the numerous landowners is another challenge. When I visited this Saturday you really feel what could have been. You can see why those earlier skiers were attracted to the place even 50 years ago. But for now it remains just an idea. Snowfield at the top of Tuscarora Mtn. This is full of boulders but was still well filled in, although pretty icy in places. There's at least 16-18 inches of snow still at this elevation depending on wind and exposure. The mountain catches and holds snow incredibly well. Aerial view of the mountain in the late 70s. You can still see the trails and summit liftline cut by the Tusquenita Mtn group. Tuscarora Mtn from Thomspontown. One wonders what the economic prospects for this town would have been had the ski area been properly realized. You can still make out the trails and old switchbacks from this vantage. Trails in the woods on the upper stretch of the mountain. This was never opened by Ski Snowpeak. The land is adjacent to the Tuscarora Wild preserve. The trails snake in and out of public/private land here. Just a note: I would not recommend trying to ski here. At least not alone and not without a good excuse ready for why you've appeared in somebody's back yard with all your ski gear. Getting in was incredibly difficult. It requires bushwhacking up 1400 vertical feet and hiking down the ridge several miles from the preserve. A GPS was a must. The Tuscarora wild preserve is public land but there are no marked trails right now. The trails from the Tusquenita Mtn era are mostly open, but they end on private property.

South of the Mason Dixon line. Baltimore/DC actually used to host a couple of ski areas within an hours drive. These were small, but introduced skiing to a lot of folks in the 60s and 70s.

Most of the hill is pretty clear except for the steep part where the t-bar went up. That was pretty much full of briars and saplings.

Elevator looks good. Nice report. Sounds like things started to come together as the season went on up there, although all the snow will help with that.

Is there no Boulder Park this year? They (Vail) got rid of the BB Park social media accounts and their regular mountain account updates on practically nothing regarding conditions and park builds. Blue and BC have gone nuts on their parks this year. I haven't seen this level of activity around BC's parks in 15 years.

BB cuts a mini pipe every year. It's not full length, its like half length.

You too, man! It was nice to finally meet some the pasr crew.

It's like Vermont but without the drive.

Rock the Knob.

Planning on heading up again Saturday morning myself. Not long at all. Maybe 2 miles up.

Rad! So much stuff is open this year. Way to get at it!

One hour from NYC is Snow Bowl Ski Area. Opened in 1964 and closed in 1974 the area had a big three story lodge, tavern, two double chairs and snowmaking on 400 vertical feet. After the owners sold the area expansion plans were formed but warm winters and a fire that destroyed the lodge would result in the area's closure. Unique among lost areas is that Snow Bowl is still actively skied. Locals keep the liftlines and several trails open for gladed riding when conditions permit. If there is snow its a really fun place to bag turns.

Started from the Hamburg reservoir parking lot. Bunch of cars. Lots of folks walking their dogs and taking the AT up to Pulpit Rock and the Pinnacle. Hiked straight up the Lehigh Valley Amateur Astronomical Society/cell tower access road. Not a hard hike at all. There was a solid boot pack about two feet wide the whole way up. Go of the boot pack and you sunk in to your knees. The entire rest of the road surface was deep powder for long stretches. Saw one set of tracks from somebody else with the same idea, and one guy came ripping down from the far side of the reservoir on my hike up. Way to get at it. Strapped in at the observatory then started down. Was a sweet run. Passed a couple groups of folks coming up. I waved. The pitch is really easy. If it were a groomed trail it would be a green "easiest way down" the mountain sort of trail. Could really lay into any big turns but still felt great to float on down for 800 vertical feet. Ate some Trader Joes blueberry fig newton bars then got back to the car. Up and down, including some time taking in the view at Pulpit Rock totaled 2 hours. Not bad at all. So far this year I've bagged three powder days, all hike-to and avoided resorts in the process. Will definitely be doing more hiking for turns in the future as it feels great, is free and you have pow practically to yourself.

Platty is like the old hippie of the group. Blue Knob is your friend from high school who randomly shows up at your place halfway through a bottle of Jack telling you he got tickets to see Metallica... the next state over so you gotta drive him *now* dude but its gonna be epic, just trust him. That said, the Knob is a great place. I hope it holds on. Fun fact: it used to be a USAF radar station for missile defense.

Dreamcatcher glades are a blast. Cathedral brook is overrated.

Debating going up there next weekend. No crowds? Their website says they aren't requiring ticket reservations.

I dropped my pants in the parking lot at platty some years ago. Was in the spring after a big storm but the sun came out and it warmed up turned the parking lot to mud. Backside was covered in brown all day. Good times.

What's worse than "on your last legs"?

Salty is gonna crush it. I'm waiting for him to report how he ripped all the slides including a new one.