A Guide To Blue Mountain
BLUE MOUNTAIN
1660 Blue Mountain Drive
Danielsville, PA 18038
Blue Mountain Ski Area
GPS COORDINATES: N 40 48.653, W 75 31.251
Blue Mountain, just 17 miles north of Allentown is the closest major Pocono Mountain ski and snowboard resort to the Delaware Valley. It launched over three decades ago as a small teaching area with ½ dozen trails and 3 lifts. Today, this burgeoning resort sprawls over 162 skiable acres and holds 37 slopes and trails, including 4 terrain parks, served by a humming network of 7 lifts including a high-speed detachable quad and a high-speed chair that whisks 6 skiers and riders to the summit in a flash. For non-skiers and snowboarders in the crowd , 21 snowtubing chutes served by 3 lifts meander across the base of the mountain.
Entering the main lodge, a large rotunda is surrounded by ticket windows, rental shop and access to an open courtyard, bristling with ski racks and outdoor dining space. The courtyard leads directly to the slopes and a first run without having to take a lift. A warm-up on the easy cruising "Burma Road" puts over a mile of skiing and riding under your boards and ends at an array of lifts to take you to the summit of this 1,000 vertical foot mountain. From there, the trail access is spread out across the mountain top and descends on linked trails and slopes that vary from double diamond steeps to scenic cruising on the mile-and-a-quarter aptly named "Paradise."
Snowboarders can take their pick of terrain parks, featuring a mind spinning inventory of jumps, tabletops and rails along with a 400 foot half-pipe.
The Blue Mountain Snow Sports Learning Center will get new skiers and riders started on their first tracks or take advanced slider to the expert level. Beginners will find the dedicated slopes, protected from faster through traffic along with confidence building lifts and pitches.
The entire mountain is lighted for night skiing and riding until 10pm.
When the boards come off "Club 223" hosts a sociable crowd in a fireplace studded bar and lounge with live music on weekends. The neighboring cafeteria serves up hot meals or sandwiches, day and night in a warming environment.
Nearby hotels and B&B's offer discount ski packages that include lifts and lodging.
What it costs: All-day adult lift tickets go for $49 midweek, $57 on weekends and holidays. Youth tags (6-18) are $38 midweek, $40 on weekends and holidays.
Children under 5 are free and Seniors 65+ rate $10 discount on all tickets.
For daily specials, packages, tubing, Learning Center and Rental prices, check out: http://www.skibluemt.com/SkiBlue/tickets-and-passes/prices.aspx
Getting there: FROM PHILADELPHIA (75 miles). Route 476 North to Lehigh Valley Exit 56. After tollbooth, bear right and take Route 22 East approx. five miles to Route 145 North (MacArthur Road). Go approx. nine miles to traffic light at far end of long bridge. Turn right onto Blue Mountain Drive and go approx. three miles to traffic light in Cherryville. Go straight thru Cherryville approx. three miles to Danielsville, go straight thru Danielsville to entrance sign just past the top of the mountain.
By Jay Lloyd
