Pennsylvania's Camelback Resort has announced that it will run daily skiing and riding through April 12, 2026, then shift to weekend operations into the first weekend of May if conditions allow. The resort says the schedule would be its longest season on record, surpassing its previous latest closing date of April 9, 2009.
By M. Scott Smith | February 7, 2026 1 News
DCSki Columnist Robbie Allen continues his Going Further Afield series with a look at Bear Valley Mountain Resort, one of the most under-the-radar members of the Cali Pass, arguing that its high-elevation snow and low crowds make it a compelling alternative to Tahoe’s busier hills. Drawing on the resort’s terrain pods, lift network, steeps (including Grizzly Bowl and the village-facing lines), and its boom-and-bust village history, Allen explains why Bear Valley “skis bigger” than expected and stands out as a quiet value play—especially with Powder Alliance access.
By Robbie Allen | February 3, 2026 1 Further Afield
Seven Springs plans to replace the three-person fixed-grip Blitzen Lift with a new four-person fixed-grip chair for the 2026/27 season, pending approvals. The resort says the project would improve reliability and increase uphill capacity by 33%, reducing time in line and getting guests more time on snow.
By M. Scott Smith | December 27, 2025 1 News
In this Interview Series installment, we chat with Kevin Thomas to learn how he designed, built, and refined his own private rope-tow-served ski area in Pennsylvania. He breaks down how the lift works, what the steep terrain is like, and what it takes to keep the place skiable season to season—from trail work and simple grooming to day-to-day operations. Along the way, he reflects on the appeal of a stripped-down, back-to-basics approach after more than two decades of running his own ski hill.
By M. Scott Smith | January 16, 2026 2 Interview Series
A new category of "snowmaking in a box" equipment, led by systems like the Latitude 90, is designed to produce snow in conditions that would typically sideline traditional snowmaking. Massanutten is testing one on its tubing hill and Spring Mountain has installed two, offering early Mid-Atlantic examples of technology aimed at stabilizing operations during warm spells and fickle weather. While these systems are unlikely to replace conventional snowmaking across entire mountains, they could prove valuable as a targeted way to protect key terrain and revenue-critical periods when winter doesn't cooperate. Learn more in this feature story. Above: A Latitude 90 system was installed this year at Virginia's Massanutten Resort. (Photo by Massanutten Resort.)
By M. Scott Smith | December 27, 2025 2 Feature Story
Spencer Allen grew up joining his father, longtime DCSki Columnist Robbie Allen, on "Going Further Afield" adventures, developing an early appreciation for off-the-beaten-path mountains. Now in his twenties, he's traveling the world on his own, skiing everywhere from the Alps to Japan and Mauritania, and documenting his journeys through a creatively edited YouTube channel. In this interview, Spencer reflects on his skiing roots, recent global travels, and his evolving approach to storytelling.
By M. Scott Smith | December 8, 2025 2 Interview Series
Sustained cold temperatures have allowed Mid-Atlantic ski areas to ramp up snowmaking and begin opening for the 2025–26 winter season, with several resorts launching operations in the first week of December. Additional terrain and activities are expected to come online soon as snowmaking continues across the region. Above, an aerial view provided to DCSki by a skiing pilot shows snowmaking underway at Maryland's Wisp Resort on December 1.
By M. Scott Smith | December 4, 2025 4 Feature Story
When ski season ends, the call of the mountains doesn't fade -- it shifts seasons. Trading a tent for a cozy camper van, DCSki's Editor recently embarked on a scenic road trip from Maryland to Utah, capturing the beauty of the journey through photographs of national parks and wild landscapes.
By M. Scott Smith | June 2, 2025 9 Feature Story
As part of his Going Further Afield series, Robbie Allen explores Eagle Point Resort in Utah's Tushar Mountains -- a once-abandoned ski area reborn under skier Shane Gadbaw's ownership. With 650 acres of terrain, backcountry access, and $35 lift tickets, the resort offers a laid-back, uncrowded alternative to Utah's high-profile ski destinations.
By Robbie Allen | November 3, 2025 2 Further Afield
Positioned as an alternative to the mega passes, the Indy Pass -- good at small and mid-sized independent resorts -- is now back on sale, but only for a limited time. The Indy Pass now provides two lift tickets each at 271 resorts across 4 continents, including numerous areas in the Mid-Atlantic region.
By M. Scott Smith | August 28, 2025 2 News
Vail Resorts will introduce simplified "Friend Tickets" for the 2025-26 season, giving Epic Passholders six to ten discounted lift tickets -- each at 50% off -- to share with friends. The tickets can also be applied toward the purchase of a future Epic Pass, a move aimed at easing costs for newcomers and growing the sport's participant base.
By M. Scott Smith | August 12, 2025 1 News
DCSki Columnist John Sherwood had initially hoped for an adventurous 2024-2025 ski season across multiple destinations, including Europe and the American West, but shifting family plans and financial prudence led to a winter spent entirely at Timberline Mountain in West Virginia. Despite the change in plans, he enjoyed over 30 days of varied and satisfying skiing, appreciating the simplicity, affordability, and unpredictably dynamic conditions of a single-resort season.
By John Sherwood | May 28, 2025 3 Feature Story
