Are you ready to hit the slopes?
Somerset area ski resorts aren't waiting for Mother Nature to cover the slopes with snow as they have been making their own powder since the beginning of the month. So if you're ready to hit the slopes, check out the current conditions at the resorts
Hidden Valley Resort
Hidden Valley Resort, 1 Craighead Drive, Hidden Valley, welcomes guests with a comfortable, laid-back atmosphere and some of Pennsylvania’s very best terrain for beginner and never-ever skiers and snowboarders. The professional and patient ski and snowboard instructors at Hidden Valley are ready and eager to guide participants into winter sports.
It opened ski and snowboard operations for the 2023/24 winter season Dec. 22. Terrain and lift access will be: Rambler, Riviera, Continental, and Bobcat slopes, serviced by Sunrise or Sunset lift and Bobcat surface lift. Hidden Valley will begin the season with a holiday period operating schedule and return to regular season operating hours on Jan. 2.
Holiday Hours of Operation: Dec. 22 until Jan. 1: Dec. 24 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dec. 25 12-9 p.m.; Dec. 26-29 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Dec. 30-31 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Jan. 1 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
They fired up snowmaking Nov. 27. Hidden Valley invested in a new snowcat for improved grooming and new energy-efficient and strategic snowmaking improvements with the installation of four new Techno Alpin TR8 fan guns and new snowmaking valves. These enhancements will help the snowmaking team quickly and easily shift their snowmaking strategies based on weather patterns and needs.
For parking and arrival tips, visit www.hiddenvalleyresort.com.
New this season, the My Epic app with Mobile Pass and Mobile Lift Tickets is now available to download, allowing guests to use their phone as their ticket to the slopes.
Mobile Pass and Mobile Lift Tickets is a hands-free option for skiers and riders to use at all 36 of Vail Resorts’ owned and operated U.S. resorts for the 2023-24 season, with availability at Whistler Blackcomb to follow in future seasons. It allows guests to buy their pass or lift ticket online, activate it in the new My Epic app, put their phone in their pocket, and get scanned hands-free in the lift line using Bluetooth technology designed for low energy usage to minimize the impact on a phone’s battery life. This season, to ensure a smooth transition, the company will continue to provide physical cards for passes and lift tickets to all guests.
The My Epic app also offers a range of guest-favorite features, including interactive trail maps with GPS location tracking, and mountain and resort alerts, including operational information like grooming updates, terrain status, snow reports and conditions.
IG: @hvresortpa; Facebook: Hidden Valley Resort
Hidden Valley: Top Elevation – 2,875 feet; Vertical – 470 feet; Trails - 28; Lifts – 8
Seven Springs
Seven Springs Mountain Resort will open ski and snowboard operations Dec. 15-17. Skiing and snowboarding operations will be closed Monday-Thursday with plans to re-open Dec. 22. Anticipated opening weekend terrain: Wagner, Fawn Lane, Phillip’s Run, Cortina Trail, Lower Stowe, Upper Lost Boy, Arctic Blast and Santa’s Beard (no features), The Alley with features, and the Beginner Bowl. Anticipated opening weekend lift access: Polar Bear Express, Cortina, and North Face chairlifts and Beginner Bowl carpet.
Opening weekend ski and snowboard hours of operation:Friday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.Skiing and snowboarding operations will be closed Monday-Thursday with plans to re-open Dec. 22.Opening day activities: Opening day celebrations will include first chair banner break on the Polar Bear Express, a DJ near Emo’s Pit, complimentary hot chocolate, cookies, and Nature Valley granola bars (while supplies last).
Pennsylvania’s largest ski resort and the region’s premier ski and snowboard destination, Seven Springs Mountain Resort, 777 Waterwheel Drive, Seven Springs, is home to 33 slopes and trails on 285 skiable acres, an expansive slopeside hotel, numerous dining options, a full-service spa, snow tubing, and an array of family fun like bowling, mini golf, an arcade, and indoor pool.
No visit to Seven Springs would be complete without a stop at the Foggy Goggle, one of the East Coast’s top après ski bars. The legendary ski lounge boasts a variety of vintage arcade games, an outdoor deck with views of the slopes, several stages for multiple entertainment, and a vibe that can’t be beat. Helen’s Restaurant- Authentic culinary creations and a rustic atmosphere will take guests back to a simpler time in the heart of the resort’s original homestead. With its amazing views, Slopeside Restaurant- features a casual family-friendly atmosphere and robust menus that feature a fantastic variety for all palates.
At Seven Springs, investments were made in energy-efficient snowmaking to help open more terrain earlier in the season. Projects included new snowmaking pipe, seven new snowmaking stations, and 15 new HKD Viper snowmaking guns on Village Trail to help enable earlier opening of this terrain, 12 new energy-efficient HKD Impulse R5 snow gun towers on Tyrol Slope, two new Pisten Bully 400 snowcats to enhance the resort’s grooming fleet, and new lighting between Gunnar and North Face Slopes.
IG: @7springspa, Facebook: Seven Springs
Seven Springs: Top Elevation – 2,994 feet; Vertical – 750 feet; Trails – 33; Lifts –14
Laurel Mountain
Laurel Mountain, 374 Summit Ski Road, Boswell, opened ski and snowboard operations for the 2023/24 winter season Dec. 23. Terrain and Lift Service opened are:Tame Cat, Upper Broadway, Lower Broadway, Deer Path, and Ski Top, serviced by Laurel Lift. Laurel Mountain will begin the season with a holiday period operating schedule and return to regular season operating hours on Jan. 2.
Dec. 24 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Dec. 25 12-8 p.m.; Dec. 26-28 12-8 p.m.; Dec. 29 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Dec. 30 and Dec. 31 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Jan. 1 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Laurel Mountain provides an intimate skiing experience in a natural setting in the heart of Forbes State Forest. Challenging slopes and breathtaking views make this a favorite destination of ski enthusiasts and nature lovers. Lower Wildcat, Laurel’s signature slope and some of the steepest skiable terrain in the state, beckons thrill-seeking skiers and snowboarders from near and far. For parking and arrival tips, visit www.laurelmountainski.com.
In addition, all three western Pennsylvania resorts have upgraded their safety equipment including new state-of-the-art AEDs that feature versatile pads suitable for both adults and children, user-friendly bilingual instructions through audio and visual cues, as well as integrated cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS capabilities to provide comprehensive support to first responders.
IG: @laurelmtski, Facebook: Laurel Mountain Ski
Laurel Mountain: Top Elevation – 2,766 feet; Vertical – 761 feet; Trails – 20; Lifts – 2
Blue Knob
Blue Knob All Seasons Resort opened Dec. 2, for skiing and riding on limited terrain, weekends only until the conditions are suitable for continued snow making.
Blue Knob is located near Claysburg, adjacent to Blue Knob State Park. The resort is on Pennsylvania’s highest skiable mountain and operates in cooperation with PA DCNR. Blue Knob offers year-round recreation, including, skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, golf, swimming and a trail system for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, mountain biking, hiking and running.
On Dec. 8, Blue Knob will celebrate the kick-off of the resort’s 60th winter sports season. The resort, which began operations with buildings and facilities that were part of the “Claysburg Air Force Base,” launched the first ski season at the beginning of December 1963. The 60th Anniversary Kick-Off Party will be held in the Summit Lodge from 6:30-10 p.m. The event will feature a small fireworks display, a 60th anniversary cake, games and music by Felix & the Hurricanes from 7-10 p.m.
For those who have purchased season passes, pass photos will be taken from 6-8 p.m. in the Summit Lodge ticket area. Season passes will also be available for purchase, as well as gift certificates and Blue Knob’s “Blue Friday Holiday Specials.”
This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Are Somerset area ski resorts making snow yet?
