We are planning a Mid-Atlantic Gathering in Western PA over the weekend of Feb 1 to 4, 2019. The Gathering will be centered around rustic and affordable Laurel Mountain Ski Area, where we plan to ski on Sat and Sun, Feb 2 and 3. For those who want to extend the weekend, we may ski Friday, Feb 1 and/or Monday, Feb 4 at Laurel Mtn, or Blue Knob (one hour east of Laurel Mtn), or Seven Springs ski area (45 minutes south of Laurel Mtn). For maximum flexibility we may wait until a week or two before the event to assess local conditions and firm up the exact roster of ski days and venues to be visited by the group, but Feb 2 and 3 are targeted for Laurel Mountain. One example of Laurel Mtn's affordability is that a three day lift ticket there for Fri, Sat and Sunday is only $104 adult, $98 child.
Several of us will be staying Fri, Sat and Sun night in a rustic cabin in Linn Run State Park near Ligonier, about a dozen miles from Laurel Mtn. We can host some après-ski activities/meals at this house, but we expect participants to identify their own overnight lodging. Other rustic cabins are also available, full kitchens but no bathrooms or indoor water, the shower house is nearby. Here are a few other suggestions: On the west side of the mountain, In Ligonier, the Ramada Inn. Located in Laughlintown a little closer to the mountain, is the Ligonier Country Inn. Here is an AirBnB option on the mountain less than a mile from the ski area, Laurel Mountain Cabin. Another AirBnB option between Ligonier and Laughlintown, one of several identical new constructions, is the Sunset Cottage. On the east side of the mountain in Jennerstown there is the Huddleson Court and the Laurel Manor Motel. Several other AirBnB and VRBO options are available. There are several motels in Somerset, PA or Donegal, PA each about a 30 minute drive to the mountain.
We have a few options for extending the weekend and skiing at two additional nearby ski areas depending on interest and conditions. A three day (Fri, Sat, Sun) lift ticket at Laurel Mtn is only $104 adult and $98 child, a Monday ticket at Seven Springs is $67, a Friday ticket at Blue Knob is $35.
We will post further details in this thread as the date approaches. Let us know if you have any questions.
Details on Laurel Mountain: this is a throwback kind of place and although not huge (760' vertical, 20 trails, numerous glades), it has great character, scenic groomers, a challenging steep run (groomed), and several terrific glades and mogul fields when Mother Nature cooperates. It is never crowded and often feels like your own private ski area with a mountaintop base lodge that has amazing views and an awesome pub. We are hoping that in early Feb there will be good ski conditions at Laurel Mtn, but the option of skiing nearby Seven Springs and their extensive snowmaking system will ensure a good variety of terrain to enjoy over the weekend. Laurel Mtn and Seven Springs also offer a joint three-day weekend Highlands Ticket that participants might want to consider among the various ticket options. If we have enough participants we will look into group discounts on lift tickets.
FYI, here are a couple of trip reports with photos on Laurel Mountain and nearby ski areas: http://www.dcski.com/articles/1507
http://www.dcski.com/articles/1554
Several of us will be staying Fri, Sat and Sun night in a rustic cabin in Linn Run State Park near Ligonier, about a dozen miles from Laurel Mtn. We can host some après-ski activities/meals at this house, but we expect participants to identify their own overnight lodging. Other rustic cabins are also available, full kitchens but no bathrooms or indoor water, the shower house is nearby. Here are a few other suggestions: On the west side of the mountain, In Ligonier, the Ramada Inn. Located in Laughlintown a little closer to the mountain, is the Ligonier Country Inn. Here is an AirBnB option on the mountain less than a mile from the ski area, Laurel Mountain Cabin. Another AirBnB option between Ligonier and Laughlintown, one of several identical new constructions, is the Sunset Cottage. On the east side of the mountain in Jennerstown there is the Huddleson Court and the Laurel Manor Motel. Several other AirBnB and VRBO options are available. There are several motels in Somerset, PA or Donegal, PA each about a 30 minute drive to the mountain.
We have a few options for extending the weekend and skiing at two additional nearby ski areas depending on interest and conditions. A three day (Fri, Sat, Sun) lift ticket at Laurel Mtn is only $104 adult and $98 child, a Monday ticket at Seven Springs is $67, a Friday ticket at Blue Knob is $35.
We will post further details in this thread as the date approaches. Let us know if you have any questions.
Details on Laurel Mountain: this is a throwback kind of place and although not huge (760' vertical, 20 trails, numerous glades), it has great character, scenic groomers, a challenging steep run (groomed), and several terrific glades and mogul fields when Mother Nature cooperates. It is never crowded and often feels like your own private ski area with a mountaintop base lodge that has amazing views and an awesome pub. We are hoping that in early Feb there will be good ski conditions at Laurel Mtn, but the option of skiing nearby Seven Springs and their extensive snowmaking system will ensure a good variety of terrain to enjoy over the weekend. Laurel Mtn and Seven Springs also offer a joint three-day weekend Highlands Ticket that participants might want to consider among the various ticket options. If we have enough participants we will look into group discounts on lift tickets.
FYI, here are a couple of trip reports with photos on Laurel Mountain and nearby ski areas: http://www.dcski.com/articles/1507
http://www.dcski.com/articles/1554
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. Small or larger, just skiing with other members is fun.
