Conditions Report
Report from Sunday, March 17
For anyone who has ventured out skiing on the East Coast, I am sure they can attest that this season has not been the best for the region. Constantly swinging temperatures have left the season so unpredictable that at many times throughout the year, the season would go from looming at large to being inundated with snow. While this is not the most ideal case scenario, many people, including myself were in for the ride, and we were going to get our turns in rain or shine, hot or cold, powder or ice.
At this point, many ski areas throughout Pennsylvania have already closed shop for the season, yet Shawnee Mountain was still kicking around for one last weekend. At just over an hour and a half from Midtown Manhattan, the trip seemed worth it, even if the conditions were not ideal. Keep in mind for Indy Pass holders such as myself, I still had my two days at Shawnee this season, making it literally free. After closely monitoring the weather across multiple websites and social media pages in an attempt to scope out what the conditions may be like at a mountain I had never visited, I made the call the morning of that I had to go.
To make the drive out to Shawnee worthwhile, I thought it would be a great idea to bring my girlfriend, who is a beginner skier with only a couple of days on the slopes under her belt. With discounted lift tickets due to it being the last weekend of the season, spring conditions meaning no ice, and the slim possibility for lift lines, a day like today would really be ideal for her to have a great time on the slopes. Off we went, with Dunkin’ in hand, and by 10:30 a.m., we pulled up to Shawnee Mountain.
Quick Facts & History
- Date Opened: 1975
- Multi-Destination Pass: Indy Pass
- Number of Trails: 23
- Skiable Acres: 125
- Vertical Drop: 700 feet
- Base Elevation: 650 feet
- Summit Elevation: 1,350 feet
- Average Annual Snowfall: 50 inches
- Terrain Breakdown:
- Beginner: 30%
- Intermediate: 40%
- Advanced: 30%
- Number of Lifts: 11
- Night Skiing: Yes (on all trails)
- Other Activities:
- Snow Tubing
Upon arrival, I knew I made the right call. While by no means conditions were great, it was everything I had hoped for. The slopes were empty, the sun was shining, and the vibes were perfect for a final day out on the slopes. With only a sweater and sunglasses required, my girlfriend and I hit the slopes of the bunny hill, with the far slope at 10:45 a.m. still not having a single track down it.
The conditions and lack of crowds allowed for a great experience for learning to ski. There was plenty of room on the beginner slopes for my girlfriend to not only get more comfortable skiing but also not have to worry about running into other people who would usually be crowded around her. As her confidence was built, we ventured over to the High-Speed Quad and were able to do a couple of top to bottom runs on Pennsylvania. While an ever-narrowing white ribbon of snow posed as the only option down the hill, there was still plenty of room for her to link turns and work her way down to the bottom.
Following a nice lunch break on the completely empty patio overlooking the slopes, I had some fun on my own, taking some laps down Pennsylvania, the sole run outside of the beginner area that was open. While winter skiing is, of course, always the preferred conditions to experience out on the slopes, I will always enjoy a couple of spring days when you can boot around in a sweater with warm air brushing across your face. Dodging dirt patches and finding the odd kickers off the sides was plenty of fun, while pooling water at the bottom of the hill was another fun obstacle to either avoid or slash your way across.
Overall, my first time at Shawnee Mountain may not have offered the complete picture of what this resort is usually like, but I was still happy with what I was able to enjoy on the last day of the season. Being the closest mountain from NYC on the Indy Pass, I know I will be back here next year to get in my two days, and I hope that one of those will be to experience the mountain fully open!
Weather Outlook
With a rapidly thinning base, it would take consistent below-freezing temperatures and plenty of snow to save Shawnee from closing down for the season. That is the last thing that is forecasted for this coming week.
Additional Photos
