Skiing questions for a first timer

[Anonymous]

I've been wanting to try to ski for years now, and we finally have the funds to pay for us to go to Whitetail (or any of the nearby resorts) for a day and get lessons. Christmas will be 47 degrees. Is that too hot to be able to learn to ski? None of us (two adults, kids ages 13-20) have ever gone skiing, so we don't know what to expect.

We were hoping to just go up for a day, take a lesson at 10am, and maybe ski for a few more hours and then come home for dinner. If we like it, we can always look to go back in February, when the weather is nicer, etc.

Does this make sense for a newbie, or will we have a crappy time because of the weather?

[Anonymous]

It depends on the snow. Skiing in warmer weather if there is a lot of good snow is great. But if you have mostly ice due to melt, then I don't think that's a great way to learn.

I would look into the resort and see what they are doing for snow. Are they generating it themselves? It's usually on the lower runs, where you would be taking lessons, so that could be fine.

See what the resorts say.

[Anonymous]

Yes, 47 is too warm. I would wait a few more weeks and pull the kids from school to go on a week day. Weekends and holidays at the local mountains are always too busy.

[Anonymous]

I like going when it is warm. It's fine as long as it was freezing temps overnight and they were blowing. The trails might be slushy but it's fine.

[Anonymous]

It’s too warm. Let the ground get very cold. Let the snow fall. This is a better chance to happen in end of January and early February.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think one lesson will get you to a place where you can enjoyably ski for the rest of the day.

[Anonymous]

Too warm particularly since it hasn't been cold enough to even make much snow.

[Anonymous]

High temps usually happen around 1 or 2pm. If you can take a 10:00 lesson, it *might* be 38-40 degrees which would be okay.

17:55 is also correct.

[Anonymous]

I would go to Timberline over Whitetail. You will get more out of it.

[Anonymous]

It’s fine as long as it’s not 50+ something or raining. The ski school policy is there’s still lesson during big rain or icy road condition, it won’t be any better, and it gets very crowded after Christmas, starting January is usually heavily packed, long lines at lift.

[Anonymous]

Whitetail’s main lift has been out of service, which will make it very crowded. They haven’t indicated a timetable for repairs. So I’d pick Liberty instead. The warm weather is okay for learning since you will mostly be on the bunny hill. Issue might be getting wet when you fall.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would go to Timberline over Whitetail. You will get more out of it.

For a brand new beginner, why?

For someone who has skied 3 or so days and is doing well, I agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would go to Timberline over Whitetail. You will get more out of it.

For a brand new beginner, why?

For someone who has skied 3 or so days and is doing well, I agree.

Less people and old salamander is probably the best trail for beginners in the mid Atlantic.

[Anonymous]

I tried to learn to ski as an adult. Hoo boy. Lower your expectations.

[Anonymous]

I think you need to dedicate at least a long weekend to this. You will probably want several longer lessons. I would look around for a learn to ski package that includes multiple lessons and equipment rental.