Q&A with M. Scott Smith of DCSki.com

Mid-Atlantic resorts don’t have the scale or packed powder conditions that you’ll find out west. But skiing is skiing, and the local resorts work wonders with what they have. We have some of the best snowmaking in the world right in our backyard, and that can work wonders in lean snow years, like much of the west has faced this winter. Although I’ve skied a lot in Colorado, some of my best ski days have been right here at resorts like Whitetail.

WFY: I’ve tended to ski in the Poconos since I went to college near there for 2 winters and still have friends up that way. I’ve never skied in Western Pennsylvania, so I wonder if that’s better. I’ve tried to get an answer, but I don’t think many skiers have been both places. Do you have a preference?

DCSki: I’m not sure one area is better than another. Blue Knob, in western Pennsylvania, is known for having some tougher trails that expert skiers appreciate. Some of DCSki’s Columnists really appreciate Elk Mountain, which is pretty far north in PA, although I haven’t been there. For a lot of folks, mid-Atlantic skiing is about what’s most convenient. If you live near the Poconos, there might not be much motivation to ski further south. If you live near Seven Springs, you may not have much reason to drive to the Poconos.

WFY: Which ski areas would you recommend within driving distance for a day trip?

DCSki: My favorite local resort is Whitetail — it’s about an hour and a half away from DC and Baltimore. I appreciate its vertical (1,500 feet) and high-speed quad. On a weekday, you can find great conditions and have the place to yourself. Liberty and Roundtop are also very popular with DC natives, and Wintergreen provides some Shenandoah charm.

WFY: How far north do you have to go to get skiing comparable to out west?

DCSki: I’m not sure you can drive far enough north! New England has a lot of great ski areas (particularly in Vermont), but in most years, you can’t beat the consistently good conditions of Colorado. Since I don’t get to ski outside of this area much, I would rather ski out west than gamble on great New England conditions; it’s easier and quicker to fly to Denver than to drive to Vermont. Other DCSki contributors have a soft spot for New England skiing, but my heart is still out west.

WFY: Every year I see more and more helmets on the mountain. Do you have any recommendations for selecting a helmet?

DCSki: It’s been tremendous to see an uptick in the number of helmets worn, especially by children. I began encouraging helmet use years ago on DCSki, and quickly realized I would have to “eat my own dog food” by wearing a helmet myself — something I initially was hesitant to do. There was no reason to be hesitant; ski helmets are lightweight and keep your head warm, not to mention safe! There’s really no good reason not to wear a helmet. Having said that, you do want to get them properly fit — they come in many sizes and many have lots of adjustments you can make. It’s best to see a professional at a reputable ski shop. They won’t let you walk away with a bad helmet. The key is to make sure the helmet doesn’t flop around when you make sudden head movements — it should be pretty snug. But it should be comfortable to you, too — if it isn’t comfortable, you’ll be less likely to wear it.

WFY: I want to get my son on skis when he’s 4½. Are any of the resorts better for little kids than others?

DCSki: I have two young nieces and they rave about the Ski School at Roundtop Mountain Resort. I haven’t found a mid-Atlantic resort yet that doesn’t have an excellent program for kids. Most of the local ski schools are staffed by people who are passionate about skiing and snowboarding; they want to spread their joy to others. For most of them it’s not a “job.” So I don’t think you can go wrong. The best thing you can do is try to go on a weekday — weekends can be very crowded and that can be intimidating. Weekdays may not always be an option, but it’s great if you can swing it.

WFY: What is the best way to save on skiing in this area besides going during the middle of the week?

DCSki: Midweek is definitely the best solution — low crowds, lower prices, what’s not to like? But there are other ways to save. Each fall, I spend a lot of time hunting down deals. I catalog them in the DCSki Bargain Tracker.

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