Growing up in South Central Pennsylvania, I didn’t ski much. Once every other year, maybe. It wasn’t until I graduated from college that I bought some gear and an Epic Pass, which gave me access to three resorts within a 40-to 50-minute drive. Of the three, I spent most of my time at Roundtop Mountain Resort. As the name implies, the resort is located on a round peak that overlooks the Cumberland Valley and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. With six hundred feet of vertical spread across one hundred acres, it’s by no means large, but what it lacks in size it makes up for with snowmaking and night skiing across the entire mountain.
Roundtop is served by five lifts, including a J-Bar and two magic carpets, offering access to 21 runs. The mountain is divided into three distinct and well-organized areas. Starting from the skier’s left you have the beginners area, in the middle are the intermediate runs and parks, and the right side consists of the most advanced runs, including one of the steepest runs in the state: Upper Gunbarrel.
That first season I bought a pass I was able to get 80+ days/nights of skiing in with over half of them being at Roundtop. Whether I was lapping Minuteman opening day, side-stepping down icy moguls on Upper Gunbarrel, or falling on my back in the park, I was learning. Both to ski and love the sport itself. I’ve since moved to Montana, where the mountains are even bigger and snowier, but I still often reflect on that season. If it weren’t for the time I spent at Roundtop, I wouldn’t have the appreciation or love for skiing that I do today. I don’t think the transition to skiing out west would’ve been as easy either. My first few days at Big Sky the following season were intimidating to say the least.
That’s why hometown mountains like Roundtop are so crucial for the ski community. It’s a place to foster love for the sport, even for those of us who don’t grow up or live near a major destination resort. They also give us a chance to hone our skills so that when the time comes to visit somewhere like Big Sky, we are ready to make the transition from Upper Gunbarrel to Big Couloir.
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From what I have heard from my friends and family, Roundtop didn’t have much luck with the weather this past season. Currently, long-term forecasts, such as those from the Farmer’s Almanac, are calling for a snowy winter in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions (Suppose you’d like to read about the full forecast from the Farmer’s Almanac). Regardless of what the forecasts predict in your region, winter is coming for the northern hemisphere. So get your gear tuned up and buy your pass while it’s still on sale because it won’t be long till it’s time to return to our home mountain.
