Ride Delaware ?

It would be sick if Boulder opened early that they offered a early/late season pass... Opening through Dec 15 and March 1st through closing... If they priced it at $150, I bet a bunch of people would get one...

Before I write this post, I want everyone to first realize that I am by no means bashing on Sno Mountain. In fact, I first skied (I am now a boarder) at Montage mountain when I was 7. However, I have been keeping a close eye on the events surrounding the mountain and wanted to know what your opinions were. We all know that Sno was bought several years ago and pledged to pour money into the faltering resort. This subsequently led to a desire for them to become year round so they could be"profitable." They poured money into snowmaking improvements, new trails, and a new lodge, but also faltered two years in a row in their desire to build a waterpark. I know that there were some construction issues, but there should be more progress than we are seeing right now. Additionally, they have not posted any information about mountain improvements this year. Does anyone have any inside information? Are their finances going to be able to hold up during these tough financial times? How badly has their desire to open a waterpark hurt their short-term winter operations? Secondly, I have not been back to snow in 15 years since I was first on skis. I would one day like to go back, but it is very difficult for me to justify when Elk is only a short drive down the road. Sno has not yet put their high speed lift in, and if I am going to ride on trails serviced by slow lifts why not go the extra mile? Elk may lack in snowmaking, but its trail layout is more spread out and their snow is always top notch. Can anyone who has been to both places make an argument that is NOT based on the price of the lift ticket? Lastly, why has Elk been able to profit all these years on more or less being strictly a winter operation when almost all others in the poconos (bar Blue) have begun to install waterparks? When will Elk begin hurting from the re-emergence of Sno mountain?

Im hoping that this colder winter actually occurs... If it is slightly colder during november this year, I wouldn't doubt that several mountains could open up with a couple trails after Thanksgiving... Not to mention, post thanksgiving skiing and riding would be a huge money maker because people don't have anything to do... I'm calling it now, 3-4 trails at Big Boulder at the least... If their lucky, Shawnee may even be able to squeeze the same 4 out they did 3-4 years ago... Hopefully they can keep the snow on the trails and not have to shut down for a week afterwards though lol... I heard that nearly 2,000 people showed up for that one day and that the lines were absolutely ridiculous...

I am Elk's biggest supporter, but it is dissappointing that they don't attempt an earlier opening in the season... I know your response will be their lack of snowmaking firepower, but I have been there on days where they are covering trails side to side with a foot of powder easy... I guess you could point to the lack of a big close-by market to attract early season skiers and riders, but seriously, Belleayre is kinda in the middle of nowhere and people flock there early season if not farther north... If you blow it, they will come... Its not like the weather isn't cold enough up there... They start blowing the same time as Blue or Camelback, and their temperatures are several degrees colder... Furthermore, most of their staff has been there for a long time and you would think they would be eager to get them actually working earlier... Seriously, I say give me a shot at running this place!!!