By Kim Friel
Student Life Editor
Winter break is a time to relax, celebrate the holidays, and have fun with the winter climate. “Having fun” does not include driving dangerously on slick roads and shoveling out your family’s driveway, but it can include checking out the area’s top skiing, snowboarding, and snowtubing resorts. Here is a list of the best places to go, their rates, and how far away they are.
In Maryland:
WISP RESORT
“With a world renowned energy-efficient snowmaking system and over 100 inches of annual snowfall in Garrett County, Wisp’s 132 acres of ski terrain provide snowsport enthusiasts an incredible winter playground. Non-skiers and boarders won’t be left out; in fact, they’ll have as much trouble deciding what to do next with all that Wisp Resort and the Deep Creek Lake area have to offer: mountain coaster, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, fly fishing and more.” – www.wispresort.com
Wisp Resort is about a four hour travel time from Washington College and holds 32 trails on 110 acres of land for avid skiers and snowboarders. Beginning Jan. 2, Wisp Resort will name Tuesdays of the season “Student Day” and with proof of college ID, students can get lift tickets for $21 for a whole day of skiing (9 a.m. – 9 p.m.) or pick up a night lift ticket (5 – 9 p.m.) and for $15. Bear Claw Snow Tubing Park is open seven days a week with entry costing 15 per person during the day and $25 per person at night if you wish to tube when the sun goes down.
The park consists of ten tube shoots, provided intertubes, and two conveyor carpets to transport you to the top of the shoots. There is also a 50’x85’ oval ice skating rink at the resort with an admission of $12 for 90 minutes of lapping around the rink and skate rental. Beginners can pay $20-25 for ice time with a lesson included.
In Pennsylvania:
JACK FROST- BIG BOULDER SKI RESORT
“With modest plateaus and sporadic snowfall, Pennsylvania’s Pocono region hardly seemed the right place to follow on the heels of the emerging western and New England ski resorts of the 1940s. Nonetheless, Big Boulder established itself on a wing and a prayer. A new snowmaking system would combat the region’s common winter thaws to bring thousands of ready-minded skiers from three different major metropolitan areas. As Pennsylvania’s first commercial ski area, Big Boulder’s rise prompted the creation of nearby Jack Frost Ski Area in 1972. Though blessed with only 600 feet vertical drop, Jack Frost complements Big Boulder’s beginner and family reputation with steeper, upper-intermediate terrain. Frost and Boulder are separated by six miles, offer a reciprocal lift ticket, and are renowned for their impeccable snowmaking/grooming and posh vacation lodging. In fact, their snowmaking system was recently voted among the country’s best in a Ski Magazine poll.” – Ski and Snowboard America: Mid-Atlantic
Jack Frost-Big Boulder Ski Resort is a three hour drive from WC and has a combination of 48 trails, multiple terrain parks, snow tubing shoots and conveyor carpets on both sides of the mountain. The resort has a terrain park, Big Boulder PARK, which has been rated as one of the top five Terrain Parks on the East Coast of Canada and the United States by TransWorld Snowboarding. Lifts are a tad pricey, costing $44 during the week and $50 on the weekend, but JFBB also has a College Day/Night special on Wednesdays during the season, offering prices of $25 for a lift pass for the day and $15 for a lift pass for the hours of 3 – 9 p.m.
CAMELBACK SKI AREA:
“Camelback Mountain Resort has defined snowsports in the Pocono Mountains for nearly 50 years. With an unrivaled combination of skiable acres, snow making horsepower, High-Speed Detachable lifts and legendary service-Camelback Mountain has been families’ first choice for generations.” – www.GottaGoItSnows.com
Camelback is also about a three hour car ride from WC and offers 34 trails, 15 lifts, and twp half pipes in their terrain park. Snowtubing is also an activity that can be found at Camelback with 18 chutes, two conveyor carpets and rates at $25 everyday. Tickets during the week cost $45 for a day lift pass and $32 for a night lift pass (3 – 9 p.m.). On the weekends, lift prices jump up to $58 for the day and $38 for the night. There are no college specials at Camelback, but there is a Ladies Day BOGO for which every Wednesday during the season Camelback ladies can visit as a group and get two tickets for the price of one.
Don’t hibernate all winter break and hit the slopes for some fun with friends. Visit the ski resorts’ websites for more information.