TR: Blue Knob PA 1.25.14

[Droogie]

I had been watching the Blue Knob snow reports like a hawk lately. Things were a go for Saturday. Some logistics kept me from going for the whole weekend so I had to settle for a day trip. A LOOONG day trip. The forecast in Columbus was calling for 1-2 inches. BK was supposed to get I think 2-4 with snow each day for nearly a week. It was on and you all know that good conditions in this part of the country just don't last.



I got on the road solo at 4:33 AM. As you can see it was a bit snowy. Radar showed that it didn't extend to far east so I decided to follow-through with the plan.





I started to second guess myself several times when it was dumping hard. Radar indicated nothing, but somehow it just kept coming down in Ohio.





About an hour in I considered turning around, but then I thought what the heck am I going to do all day? My wife was having girls over and I had used my once-a-week pass to Perfect North on MLK day (TR coming). I decided that I would compromise and go to Seven Springs which is actually an 1:10 closer to Columbus. However, I hear nothing but bad things about that place so that was going to be my compromise. I would go to a new place and not be bored at home. However, the roads cleared and by the time I hit the PA turnpike I was hauling and I opted to blow past Seven Springs and go to BK as I planned. I made up a ton of time once I got on the Turnpike and only arrived an hour late. The pic below is Lower Route 66 a natural snow only run that rules when it is open. They still need a bit more snow.





The snow was awesome and the terrain at BK is the best within 10 hours of Columbus if you ask me when the snow is good. Timberline has great terrain, but the BK mid-load is the difference maker dumping you off to 700 vertical ft of the most concentrated system of legit expert terrain south of New York. They had had around 24 inches in the past week including 6 on Friday. During the day it snowed about 4 inches. It was fantastic! The run to the left is the East Wall glade. The stumps and sticks poking through told me poaching this one wasn't a great idea.





Extrovert was absolutely fantastic! This is their signature run. There was no ice on it and the new snow and man-made made for an awesome surface. I'm not sure how many times I lapped this one. If you are going to BK make sure this run is open if you like expert terrain.









Below is Laurel Run Glades. The run was closed but I poached it. There was really no base under the snow and I felt quite a bit of logs/rocks and got spun around. I didn't do it again.













BK is interesting. It is considerably higher than the surrounding terrain. I believe it is the second highest mountain in PA. As a result it was partly cloudy in the valley and snowing pretty hard on the mountain all day. When I left roads were fine, but kept getting worse. That 1-2 inches in Columbus ended up being like 6. Several times on the way home I had to go like 25 MPH because of visibility.



Then about 40 miles from home I came across this. I was the first car the state patrolman made stop. Luckily the wrecker pulled the car out of the ditch within about 10 minutes.





All in all I drove 11.5 hours, and ~590 miles to ski hard for 7 hours. It was a loooooong day! I had no idea the roads were going to be as bad as they were. I think the skiing was worth it, though if I had to do it over I would maybe just stay home. Those roads were pretty dangerous at times.



My wife and I are tossing around going back there for weekend pending the forecast.



BK is an awesome place. It is not perfect, but it has fantastic terrain. Get there.





Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[pagamony]

great report, and that is quite a trip, you are dedicated. i wonder if today's storm will fill in those extra runs, should be a fine weekend everywhere. i'll be stuck here in town.

[teledave]

[YT][/YT]



He said Blue Knob.

[Kelly K]

Nice TR I love hearing about these places in PA. Have you ever hit up White Tail? That place looks pretty good.

[ROYMERCER]

Good stuff !!!

[Droogie]

@Kelly K. 296380 wrote:Nice TR I love hearing about these places in PA. Have you ever hit up White Tail? That place looks pretty good.



I have not. It is a good bit further and only gets about 40 inches of natural snow per season.

[saxophoneguy]

I just got up to the DC area for an internship, and I've headed over to Whitetail (about 1.5 hours) for night skiing one night each of the past two weeks. They have a TON of snow, they're reporting 45-50" base, and they've basically been able to make snow whenever they want for the past two weeks. Luckily they haven't while people are skiing. Whitetail has a pretty good vertical, and a lot of trails that are just different enough to provide some variety. They also have a good bump run...that I'm terrible at...haha, gotta start somewhere!



A few weeks ago I did a night session at Liberty, which is owned by the same company. It's a little smaller, but I really liked it too. I can't imagine how busy either would be on a weekend so close to the DC/Baltimore areas, but they're great on a weeknight!

[WVULINK]

@saxophoneguy 296450 wrote:I just got up to the DC area for an internship, and I've headed over to Whitetail (about 1.5 hours) for night skiing one night each of the past two weeks. They have a TON of snow, they're reporting 45-50" base, and they've basically been able to make snow whenever they want for the past two weeks. Luckily they haven't while people are skiing. Whitetail has a pretty good vertical, and a lot of trails that are just different enough to provide some variety. They also have a good bump run...that I'm terrible at...haha, gotta start somewhere!



A few weeks ago I did a night session at Liberty, which is owned by the same company. It's a little smaller, but I really liked it too. I can't imagine how busy either would be on a weekend so close to the DC/Baltimore areas, but they're great on a weeknight!





My first time skiing was at Liberty and I grew up sking there or Whitetail. Whitetail was closest to my hometown (about 45 min away) but I spent more time at Liberty (1 hour away) due to prices and crowds.Its probably been at least 20 years since I have been back to either. I'd love to try them again now that my skill level has increased.I probably can do the blue trails now...lol.

[marzski]

@Droogie 296447 wrote:I have not. It is a good bit further and only gets about 40 inches of natural snow per season.



Given that you like Blue Knob, no point to keep driving to Whitetail. Whitetail is laid out well for people who are learning to ski. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced sections are pretty separate. There are a couple black runs, including the wide bump run that are challenging. But nothing like what can be found at BK when there is good snow.



I've heard that weekend lines at Whitetail are . . . well . . . typical for Mid-Atlantic.



The Whitetail lodge is very nicely set up. Lots of free cubby holes. Also free ski/board check. Snow making is 100%. My impression is that grooming is pretty good.



Whitetail total vertical about 935. Blue Knob vertical 1072. Massanutten vertical 825 for black runs on top, 1100 overall.

[downhillNC]

Do you find any Nob Goblins?