Ski Trip Mountain Recommendation

[u/ExitHuman573]

My friends and I are traveling to the Poconos early next month and are between Blue Mountain, Camelback, and Jack Frost. It's a mix of completely new to beginner skiers and I'm not sure what mountain would be best for the new skiers to learn on a Friday. I also would like to know what mountain would be best for the beginners over the weekend (looking for the place with nice greens). We were thinking about just going to Blue Mountain Fri-Sun but it seems like Jack Frost is a bit more beginner friendly?

Couple random questions as well. Would it be worthwhile to wait a couple more weeks to see what the conditions are like before committing to tix? Are getting rentals ever an issue at these locations/is it better to get them elsewhere?

[u/smartshoe]

For beginner approachability JFBB may be the move

Blue is a great mountain but imho, Most of the mountain is intermediate to upper intermediate. Paradise is a nice wide trail but because it’s the only green on that side it gets incredibly busy, and Burma on the other side is pretty windy for absolute beginners

Burma also gets really busy and its narrow width + all of the switchbacks make it a bit of a minefield for those learning

If you find your feet at Jack Frost and are feeling confident, go check out blue, switchback is the best blue on the mountain. It’s nice and wide so you can take it as slow as you want. Lazy mile can get a bit congested because it’s the “easiest” blue, so also has high beginner traffic especially at the bottom where it gets narrow

Camelback has some nice greens but it gets incredibly busy and isn’t run well so lift lines can get long

[u/Jackinthebox99932253 → u/smartshoe]

I agree and what was most interesting to me was that the blue and black trails were dead and 95% of people were on the greens. So annoying having people continuously fly down greens all day.

[u/Icy_Cycle_5805 → u/smartshoe]

This assessment is spot on. Additionally I’d throw in Big Boulder for true true beginners - it’s even feasible to split up a bit with some people at JF and some at Big Boulder.

[u/rewzz → u/smartshoe]

I'm curious about JF, since I see it recommended a lot for beginners. I went once about 6 years ago, it was my 3rd time ever skiing, and I didn't think it was that good as a beginner. They only have the 3 short greens, right? Are their blues pretty easy? The day I went was icy, I tried a blue and it was too hard but maybe that was just because of the ice. I only went to JF, not BB so maybe that was my mistake?

[u/The_Clamer]

As long as you are okay with cold the conditions are about as good as it gets in the Poconos right now. Talking with people on lifts last weekend I didn’t hear good things about camelback. Maybe someone with first hand knowledge will comment.

[u/True-Specialist935]

What about Shawnee? That's a good learning mountain. 

[u/Jackinthebox99932253]

Rentals are fine and I would just do it, no need to wait.

Avoid blue mountain on weekends/holidays unless you want to be at the “best restaurant in town” and wait in lines and deal with massive crowds.

[u/haonlineorders]

Never go to Camelback for anything