Traditionally the Mid-A Gathering has been in late February and held at resorts in the Allegheny Mountains in PA and WV. It began at Seven Springs in 2005 and convened there for a few years before switching venues and alternating between Blue Knob PA and Timberline WV until around 2015. The past two seasons Jim Kenney and I hosted weekend gatherings at Laurel Mountain in February. Last season we were able to get the $41 group rate single day tickets at the ticket window by just by asking for the "Support Laurel Mountain" rate. Laurel can be great fun for a weekend if mother nature has been kind:
http://www.dcski.com/articles/1574 and https://www.pugski.com/threads/gathering-at-laurel-mountain-pa-feb-1-3-2019.13917
This season I will no doubt organize another Support Laurel Mountain discount weekend for the Support Laurel Mountain Group. I'm thinking after MLK Holiday but before Presidents. We can organize a Gathering around that weekend but absent natural snow and with only about 40 acres in snowmaking, one could spend a good bit of time in the Wildcat Lounge between skiing 2 different mile-long long intermediate cruisers on 760 vertical and a steep groomed expert drop of around 600 vertical feet. The saving grace in the event of "snowmaking only terrain" is nearby sister resort 7 Springs and 250 acres of snowmaking on 3 faces, 750 vertical and some of the best parks in the east. A weekend Highland Pass covering both resorts plus nearby Hidden Valley (3 resorts for a total of 79 slopes and trails, 9 parks on 465 acres) beginning 4 pm Friday through 9 pm Sunday will cost $169. Weekend passes for Laurel only 9 am Friday until Sunday close cost $107. There is no on-mountain lodging at Laurel but private home rentals are available just outside of Laurel's access road within a mile or two. Motels, cabins, and Airbnb options are available within a 20-minute drive. On mountain accommodations will probably be available at Seven Springs. It is about a 40-minute drive to Laurel.
Unfortunately, Timberline is no longer an option. Blue Knob found new owners before its infrastructure deteriorated to the condition of Timberline, unfortunately, there was a backlog of maintenance and snowmaking issues. They have not made snow on their signature expert trail, Extrovert for the past 3 years. Last season snowmaking failure prevented expert cruiser trail High Hopes to open with any consistency.
http://www.dcski.com/articles/1574 and https://www.pugski.com/threads/gathering-at-laurel-mountain-pa-feb-1-3-2019.13917
This season I will no doubt organize another Support Laurel Mountain discount weekend for the Support Laurel Mountain Group. I'm thinking after MLK Holiday but before Presidents. We can organize a Gathering around that weekend but absent natural snow and with only about 40 acres in snowmaking, one could spend a good bit of time in the Wildcat Lounge between skiing 2 different mile-long long intermediate cruisers on 760 vertical and a steep groomed expert drop of around 600 vertical feet. The saving grace in the event of "snowmaking only terrain" is nearby sister resort 7 Springs and 250 acres of snowmaking on 3 faces, 750 vertical and some of the best parks in the east. A weekend Highland Pass covering both resorts plus nearby Hidden Valley (3 resorts for a total of 79 slopes and trails, 9 parks on 465 acres) beginning 4 pm Friday through 9 pm Sunday will cost $169. Weekend passes for Laurel only 9 am Friday until Sunday close cost $107. There is no on-mountain lodging at Laurel but private home rentals are available just outside of Laurel's access road within a mile or two. Motels, cabins, and Airbnb options are available within a 20-minute drive. On mountain accommodations will probably be available at Seven Springs. It is about a 40-minute drive to Laurel.
Unfortunately, Timberline is no longer an option. Blue Knob found new owners before its infrastructure deteriorated to the condition of Timberline, unfortunately, there was a backlog of maintenance and snowmaking issues. They have not made snow on their signature expert trail, Extrovert for the past 3 years. Last season snowmaking failure prevented expert cruiser trail High Hopes to open with any consistency.