Spotlight Slope Of The Week: Camelback—Pa.
So many mountains, so little time; we know it might be hard to choose where to go when you only have a few precious free days in the season. The Active Times staff would like to help you make the best of your time in the snow. In addition to our gear reviews, ranked lists and interviews with the experts, we've started this section to gather the most important information you'll want to know before booking a trip or heading out for a day on the slopes. Each week we will feature a new mountain, complete with statistics, snow conditions and plans for 2014. So, whether you're thinking about your next big trip or you're going last minute, check out the details on the top mountains here.
Location: Tannersville, Pa.
Chairlift pitch: "In 1963 Camelback Mountain Resort opened in the Pocono Mountains with 14 trails and three lifts serving 41,656 skiers. Today Camelback serves nearly 1,000,000 outdoor enthusiasts and visitors annually with 34 named trails, 16 lifts and 100% snowmaking. Beyond the slopes, Camelback Mountain is the largest snow tubing park in the U.S.A., features CBK Mountain Adventures with the only mountain coaster in Pennsylvania, the longest tandem Zip-Flyer in North America, and Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark – the largest waterpark in Pennsylvania. In early February, 2015 the new 453-suite Camelback Lodge & Indoor Waterpark will open featuring the largest indoor adventure waterpark in the Northeastern US, making Camelback Mountain Resort the most interactive resort in the U.S.A. Why would you go anywhere else?" —Erin Ruppenthal, a Camelback representative.
True-up Vertical Descent: 800 feet, according to both mountainvertical.com and skicamelback.com
Ski-able area: 166 acres
Ratios of difficulty (trail classification): 39 percent novice, 52 percent intermediate, 9 percent expert
Number of trails: 34, all outfitted with lighting for night skiing and boarding
Number of lifts: 16
Hours of operation: Hours vary, check here
Avg. annual snowfall: 21 inches, according to weatherdb.com. Due to the unreliability of the weather, Camelback has more than 1,200 snow making guns that can cover 100 percent of their terrain.
Adult lift ticket price on their website: $51 weekday, $63 weekend; save when you buy online
Deals and discounts: If you plan on heading to Camelback on a Sunday, they offer a coupon for $10 off your lift ticket when you like them on Facebook. Visit any other day and save when you buy online and the 2014/15 season passes are now on sale here.
Renovations: "Construction crews have been working since September at the base of Camelback Mountain on the construction of the all-new $163 million Camelback Lodge & Indoor Waterpark. Scheduled to open in February 2015, it will be the largest hotel and indoor waterpark ever constructed in the U.S. in a single phase.
The eight-story, 533,000 square-foot, 453-suite mountain-modern architectural style hotel will feature a nearly 170,000 square-foot indoor entertainment center comprised of an 82-degree, 125,000 square-foot, highly-themed, indoor adventure waterpark—the largest in the eastern U.S. There will be 30,000 square feet of dry play amusement including an arcade, game center, kids' club activity center, ropes course, mini-golf, laser tag and more. Guests can enjoy a 10,000 square-foot luxury spa and fitness center, four new restaurants, each with a unique menu and ambiance, including a ski-in ski-out bar and outdoor patio at the base of the mountain; 25,000 square feet of meeting and conference space will be available," said Erin Ruppenthal, a Camelback representative.
Events: Camelback is celebrating their 50th anniversary this season by giving back. A major event in their celebration is the all-night Relay for Life SnowTube-A-Thon, where there will be fireworks, live music, contests and breakfast.
If you're looking into races for the spring, Camelback is hosting the Civilian Military Combine in May. A test of both strength and endurance, this race benefits The Navy SEAL Foundation and The Travis Manion Foundation. Find all Camelback event details here.
Recommendations: If you're a big fan of breakfast all day (or great food in general), The Village Deli is a great spot. On-mountain dining options include everything from the Thirsty Camel to the Waffle Cabin, see all options here.
Note: Unless otherwise stated, the information above was found at the mountain's website.
