east coast skiing - I'm doing it wrong
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Anonymous
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For the past two years I've tried to book local-ish ski trips over school breaks in the winter. Both years we've gone skiing, but both years it really hasn't been good conditions at all. What does everyone else do if you're skiing local-ish - wait for the snow, then decide to go at the last minute rather than planning it in advance?
Does anywhere sort of near here have better conditions generally, such as Snowshoe? I've never been there. Thanks! |
Anonymous
| It's always been a crap shoot for us. We go to wintergreen for local skiing and half the time it's snowed the weekend we go, the other time has been a total icy mess. |
Anonymous
| Tough around here...sometimes we'll drive to VT for a 4 day weekend. Usually between the natural and man-made the conditions are pretty good in the morning at least. We generally don't even bother around here anymore. |
Anonymous
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Conditions around here are hit or miss all season - one day it's 30 degrees and two days later it's 60, so consistency is tough.
What I typically do for MLK or President's Day is book rooms (Snowshoe or Wisp typically), and put the cancellation deadline on my calendar - and if conditions are not great by cancellation date, I cancel. I'm holding a lodge room right now for Wisp for President's Day - conditions should be fine if the cold keeps up. Snowshoe is the best but it's a solid five hour drive. Wisp is three hours and decent - not as good as Snowshoe, but better than Liberty or White Tail. Forget Christmas/New Year's - there's never enough snow or runs open to plan for that week. Good luck. |
Anonymous
| Snowshoe is pretty reliable in February. We waited this year to book and now can’t get anything decent st snowshoe in Feb though. |
Anonymous
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Snowshoe is the only local-ish place that approaches a true-ish ski resort and experience.
But even our reliable Utah ski resorts were light on snow this year. |
Anonymous
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Um, op, you're forgetting this is the mid-Atlantic. Your expectations are too high.
If you're really that concerned, book 7 springs or snowshoe where there are plenty of other things to do if skiing sucks. Also, Jan and Feb are the typical snowy months, not really during Christmas break. The resorts do their best making snow, but mother nature can be hit or miss. |
Anonymous
| Snowshoe is pretty good about letting you cancel after the "deadline" if conditions are no good. |
Anonymous
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Tremblant
Sunday River |
Anonymous
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Hi - OP here. Thanks for these ideas!
Probably the best idea, which who knows why I didn't consider previously, is canceling if the weather doesn't look good for skiing  And perhaps making a few reservations for different long weekends in advance, and hopefully one of them will pan out.
If anyone cares, we were probably "spoiled" by skiing one day at Seven Springs during winter break, because it was actually good conditions because they had just gotten a few inches of snow. But, we were staying with my grandmother in Pittsburgh for a few days anyway, so it was low pressure - if it was bad weather, we could easily cancel and have other things to do versus a whole weekend away at a ski resort that I had planned primarily for the purpose of skiing. Last year over Pres Day weekend it wasn't good weather for skiing, and neither was this past weekend for the FCPS break. |
Anonymous
We were at Frost this past weekend and it was fine. There was no snow on the ground but plenty on the trails. |
Anonymous
| Most places let you cancel your reservation - usually 10 or 14 days before so just keep checking the conditions and forecast as the time gets closer and go from there. |
Anonymous
| That's why we go out to Vail. We'd love to stay on the east coast but don't feel we have a choice. |
Anonymous
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Anonymous
| Wisp typically has the most snow. It's in a snow belt that gets high volumes and a deep base |