Pennsylvania's Seven Springs Mountain Resort was named the winner of Ski Area Management Magazine’s 2026 I AM a Snowmaker contest after public voting. The win is notable for Mid-Atlantic skiing and also reflects the resort’s long-standing ties to snowmaking history through Herman K. Dupré and the origins of HKD Snowmakers.
By M. Scott Smith | February 8, 2026 News
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
DCSki Columnist Robbie Allen continues his Going Further Afield series with a look at California's Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort, part of the Cali Pass, arguing that smaller alliances can offer compelling alternatives to Epic and Ikon. Drawing on the resort’s history, terrain layout, snow conditions, and lift infrastructure, Allen highlights both what makes Dodge Ridge appealing and where it still shows its age. Photo provided by Dodge Ridge.
By Robbie Allen | January 24, 2026 Further Afield
Seven Springs has been named a finalist in Ski Area Management Magazine’s 11th annual I AM a Snowmaker contest, which recognizes snowmaking teams and is decided by public voting. The nomination also highlights Seven Springs’ deep ties to snowmaking history, from its first system installed in 1960 to innovations led by Herman K. Dupré that helped lay the groundwork for what became HKD Snowmakers. Voting is open through February 2, with the winner announced February 3.
By M. Scott Smith | January 22, 2026 Feature Story
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
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
After an extended stretch of cold temperatures earlier this month, ski resorts across the Mid-Atlantic were able to make snow aggressively, building strong early-season base depths and opening expanding terrain. DCSki provides a comprehensive snapshot of current conditions across the region as resorts head into the end of December. Photo: Opening Day at Big Boulder, shot by Ella Muir.
By M. Scott Smith | December 18, 2025 News
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
