5 minute read
Best Ticket to Ski Local
A roundup of excellent skiing opportunities at the Laurel Mountain resorts.
Article and photographs by Pat McCloskey
It’s interesting to hear people talk about skiing. They often say they only ski out West. So that means they ski one or two weeks per season and miss all the local opportunities in the Laurel Highlands. I like to ski out West, too, but I live in Western Pennsylvania and can’t head west all the time. I plan a few trips west and definitely ski locally more frequently.
Options in the Highlands are Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Champion, Laurel Mountain Resort near Ligonier, and Hidden Valley Resort on the next ridge over from Seven Springs. Currently the ski operations at Seven Springs and Hidden Valley are owned by Vail Resorts, and Laurel Mountain (on state property) is managed by Vail Resorts. All three areas are full-service ski areas and provide opportunities for lodging and off-season activities as well.
Lift Tickets and Rentals
Let’s talk about the particulars of lift tickets and rentals.
Skiing has definitely become a corporate enterprise with season pass options. However, the day ticket may becoming a thing of the past as managing companies prefer the pass purchases, making budgeting an easier process. With that in mind, here are the details if you decide to ski locally. All of this information is available on www.epicpass.com.
Pass Options
Full Epic Pass—includes peak dates and can be used at all Epic resorts, $969
Epic Local Pass—excludes peak dates, $719
Epic Day Pass—flexible days, 1 to 7 days at all resorts, excludes peak dates, $110 to $639 for one adult (ages 13+)
Northeast Value Pass—can be used at all three local resorts and selected Epic resorts in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions: unlimited access, $591; senior (65–79), $443; college (17–99), $415; teen (13–17), $443.
Day ticket—prices vary, with peak pricing at $63/day/adult (for 22 resorts, including the PA resorts)
Let’s Ski Local
Let’s talk about the vibe at each of the resorts.
Seven Springs
The resort contains more terrain than the others in the region with a full-service hotel. It’s also considered the premier skiing spot in the region, but it definitely caters to the single skier, a party crowd, and the more serious local skier groups. It’s often crowded on holiday weekends, and the best bet is to ski during the week. I grew up skiing at Seven Springs and still ski there because their snowmaking and grooming is often the most reliable in the region. Vail Resorts has done a good job with improvements, and they are continuing to work on lift improvements. The company is committed to the resort, and more improvements are likely over the next several years. Last season was the first for Vail Resorts, and the learning curve was steep.
Hidden Valley
Hidden Valley has the reputation of a family resort with good snowmaking and grooming. The emphasis is on learning and fun for families. They have a good ski school, and the smaller terrain selections cater to the first-timer as well as the intermediate family skier. It was a good place for our program for people with vision impairment back in the day, and Hidden Valley staff members were always supportive of the program and the adaptive skiing programs managed by Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital in Harmarville.
Laurel Mountain
This historic area was first created as a private club for the Ligonier elite back in the 1930s. It eventually became a state-run resort and is now managed by Vail. It retains the private club feel and most of the skiers know each other and enjoy the old-school atmosphere. Laurel also has the steepest run in Pennsylvania (Wildcat), and it’s definitely a challenge that will help you tune up for any western trips. I usually end up lapping Wildcat and even though the terrain selections are limited, with a few trails and Wildcat, it’s still a fun place to ski. Wildcat, the people who run the resort, and the people who ski there make the resort what it is. Laurel Mountain is my favorite place to ski locally.
For More
Visit the Epic Pass website for further details. The bottom line is, if you tell people that you ski only out West and don’t ski locally, you’re missing a good portion of the winter. Each region has its own flavor and, depending on what is important to you, the Laurel Highlands has three excellent options that fit most skiers’ needs and wants.
One final suggestion: If you’d like a ski lesson, all three resorts have ski schools that are PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America) member schools. Ask for a PSIA-certified professional when you book your lesson, and you will not be disappointed. Most certified professionals take their craft seriously. They’ll teach you something that you can take with you and use for the rest of the season. Ski locally for more opportunities and fun all season long.
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