{"id":984,"date":"2026-02-02T15:34:45","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T15:34:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fredcosports.com\/?p=984"},"modified":"2026-02-02T15:35:25","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T15:35:25","slug":"go-west-young-man","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fredcosports.com\/index.php\/2026\/02\/02\/go-west-young-man\/","title":{"rendered":"GO WEST YOUNG MAN!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ theme_builder_area=”post_content” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″]

GO WEST YOUNG MAN!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Last year at this time, I wrote about skiing and snow conditions. I lamented how we hadn\u2019t had any truly cold winters or snow since 2021. The last really big winter was 2010 and the Snowpocalypse! We had 70 inches of snow that year, 44 in February alone.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Our average snowfall for this area is 21 inches per year. In the past 15 years, we have had 6 years slightly above average. That means that there were 9 below average. The best year in that time period was 2021 at 37.7 inches for the season. The worst year 2023 at 2 inches. This year, as of February 2026, we have 2 inches! Now before all you skeptics start shouting at me that we got more than that in December, you\u2019re right, but it was up in the mountains not down here in the valley. Sabillasville got 4 inches last December. Thurmont got 1.5 and the further south you went the higher the totals. For example, Silver Spring got 4 inches in December. Go figure!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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We just finished another January thaw with temps in the mid 50s in the middle of the month. It\u2019s awfully hard to get snow on the ground when that happens. However, all you need to ski is cold and we\u2019ve had plenty of that overall, especially at night. Snowmaking has been great at Roundtop, Liberty and Whitetail. They have 85% of their terrain open thanks to the snowmakers. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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But here\u2019s the rub. Ten years ago when Snotime owned those ski resorts, an all day lift ticket cost $32. You could also buy a 4 hour ticket at a reduced rate and they had something called advantage passes where you could ski all season for $20 a lift ticket. If you skied more than four times in a season, it made sense to pay the one time $99 advantage fee.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Now that Vail owns those three resorts, a one day adult lift ticket costs $99 and there are no discount rates. That\u2019s the same amount you paid for an entire season\u2019s advantage pass in 2016. In 2026, you can buy a season ticket for $833. That means you would have to ski at least 9 times to break even. That\u2019s a lot of cheddar for a family of four looking for a local daytrip outdoor excursion.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Truthfully, it\u2019s no longer the weather that is keeping me from hitting the slopes, it\u2019s the cost. You really have to ski yourself into condition. That means that, at best, I could ski four hours before calling it a day early on. Fortunately, I can get the senior pass (60+). But that still means that if I want to ski locally for four hours, I have to shell out $88 dollars. That\u2019s $22 per hour, 200% above minimum wage in Pennsylvania. Yikes!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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I could be headed for another ski-less year, not because of the weather, but the cost. Ski lift ticket prices locally have climbed like a snowboarder in a terrain park hitting his first ramp. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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The answer\u2026.roadtrip…go West young man! Wisp has a ski FREE midweek package which includes lodging and lift tickets Sunday through Thursday for $99 per person. Checkout Canaan Valley, where one of my all time favorites is Timberline in West Virginia. The mountain is 100% open! Weekday lift tickets at Timberline are $65 and there are some great local rentals and AirBnB\u2019s to choose from. Last time I was there with my family, we rented a really cozy log cabin only 10 minutes from the slopes. And Timberline has a bonus too. Next door is another ski lodge: White Grass where you feel like you time warped back into the 60s. Go there and strap on a pair of cross country skis and explore 20 miles of beautiful backwoods snow and trails near the historic Dolly Sods Wilderness park. Now that\u2019s old school! While you are there checkout the white bean chicken chili in the lodge. It\u2019s the best on the planet!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Hey, if you\u2019re going to open up your wallet this year to have some snow fun, why waste it on a day trip? <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Gas up the car and throw the family and gear in the back and let\u2019s go catch some air!<\/span><\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

GO WEST YOUNG MAN! Last year at this time, I wrote about skiing and snow conditions. I lamented how we hadn\u2019t had any truly cold winters or snow since 2021. The last really big winter was 2010 and the Snowpocalypse! We had 70 inches of snow that year, 44 in February alone. Our average snowfall […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\n

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