Blue Knob
By: Administrator
Updated: January 4, 2013
Blue Knob
1418 Overland Pass
Claysburg, PA 16625-9306
(814) 239-5111
http://www.blueknob.com
Directions
Trail Map (click to enlarge):
What's new this season:
- Renovations and remodeling of the lodge.
- New snowmaking equipment and a new groomer.
Joe's Resort Review:
I have to be
honest and fully disclose that this is my home mountain of which I am
an instructor. But even if it wasn't the closest mountain to my house,
I would still be frequenting this mountain . On The Snow magazine has
ranked the resort as having the best terrain in the Mid Atlantic region
for two years in a row.
The top down resort is best for hard core skiers who are looking for a
challenge and is often nicknamed the Mad River Glen of Pennsylvania. 80% of the slopes are intermediate or higher in difficulty. 20% of the
slopes are "beginner" but first timers should walk down the first steep
of Snow Drop to gain confidence. Novice's will love taking Mambo Alley
to Run Out for one of the longer continuous runs in the region for
skiers of that level. The vertical drop is 1072 feet means that you can
get a fair amount of ski runs in before hitting the chair back up.
Being the highest skiable, and second tallest mountain, in
Pennsylvania means that it often gets a low more snow and cold than the
valley spots and often has a lot more snow than you can perceive from
your backyard. This type of mountain can also bring challenges too. The
winds can be quite strong and the cold can take a real bite on
unprepared skiers. Do make sure you bring plenty of cold weather gear
for your trip. Blue Knob is rumored to be quite icy, and honestly, the
terrain and wind can make it prone to icy spots, but mostly later in
the day. Many who speak of Blue Knob being icy mainly frequent later in
the day. All resorts in the Mid-Atlantic will be prone to ice which is
why I always say that skiing is a morning sport. Anyone who hasn't given this resort a try at first tracks doesn't know what whey are missing.
New management has really made a lot of changes at the mountain,
including major improvement in snowmaking and an expansion of glade
territory. Chair pads have been added to Chair 1 and will make that
long trip up a lot more comfortable this year too. Speaking of the
chairs, this resort is also great for those who don't want to wait in
lift lines. Rarely is the wait long.
Joe's Favorite Slope:
Stembogen
ranks as my favorite by far. It offers everything from steeps, to
bumps, to hairpin turns. For those who like the challenge, I highly
suggest the bowl. Something you usually won't get in an eastern resort.
