Diana S.
Yelp
I started learning to snowboard 2 weeks short of my 31st birthday in January 2023. I took snowboard lessons multiple times at Big SNOW & showed up weekly. By December 2023, I felt confident enough to snowboard Blue Mountain ALONE.
I came here once when I was 10 years old to learn to ski, but my dad didn't teach me anything at all. He pushed me down a Black Diamond & left me to fend for myself. It was thanks to the snowboarders that stopped & helped that I wanted to learn to snowboard. So it was really nice to come back and be able to give thanks, and just feel like things came full circle!
PARKING
There is an upper lot and a lower lot. Depending on the day, the time you come, you may either get a close parking spot to the entrance or not.
Parking is free unlike Camelback.
If you park in the upper lot, you have to take that into account when you're done with your day. Which is something I didn't plan for at the time. I haven't been back in many years, so by the time I was "done" I still had to finish the remainder of the slope. Take the chair lift up, then ride down the mountain partially, just to get back to the upper lot. Then I could be done. I was exhausted! As a skier, you may not have an issue, but snowboarding drains more energy. So definitely plan it in advance. Lower lot would probably be better, but upper lot has the best restaurants in the lodge I believe.
TICKETS & PASSES
You can buy them in person, but there's always a line. I bought mine online because it is cheaper, and it is easy to claim your pass at this kiosk outside if you do purchase it online.
FACTS
- Blue Mountain is known for having one of the largest snowmaking systems on the East Coast. The resort invests in the latest snowmaking technology each season. I read it online on their website. And it is a fact!
- Not just for winter riding, they also have summer activities too!
- Blue Mountain does not close at 4pm. They have night riding!
- My man, who works in the ski & snowboard industry, says they also have the best webcams for all their slopes and has never seen any mountain with cameras such as theirs.
- Their snow lasted the longest. There were places in NJ & NY already closed with no snow in early March 2024. They were going for awhile!
RIDE LIFE
Everyone I met was just so amazing. My man is from out of state, and him and his friends all loved Blue Mountain as well (during a separate trip)! It made me proud to be from PA.
Unfortunately, there's always going to be some bad eggs. I saw a fight break out between two guys over something small. I had a random dude throw an ice snowball into my ear, and when I barked back everything fell silent. If you want to hit on girls, maybe don't actually hit them with things? Just a thought.
REFRESHMENTS & BATHROOMS
Expensive. Not bad but not great. They have a lot of beers on tap. My nachos came out pretty quick, so I believe they're just reheating frozen food. The main bathrooms remind me of public school bathrooms. They're run down. The upper lot lodge on the second floor, those bathrooms were nice! They definitely have a lot of variety of refreshments but expensive!
QUICK TIPS
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- Be kind, everyone wants to have a good time.
- Things are going to be busy at the opening & end of the season.
- Lock up your board, gear, skis. Too many people leave it without locks but that's a sure fire way of getting your gear stolen. Why are you leaving things up to chance in this day and age?
OVERALL
I had an epic solo adventure snowboarding alone on this mountain! I definitely will continue to frequent the mountain with my boyfriend & newfound friends in the future.