While we find this claim to be somewhat dubious, it is a genuinely steep trail that requires the attention of even solid expert skiers. Montage alleges that White Lightning is the steepest trail in the East. Lower Fast Track is the easiest and White Lightning the most difficult. Working from looker’s left to right, the runs step up in difficulty. Served by the Phoebe Snow Quad, there are three main black diamond trails and three main double black diamond trails. ![]() All of Montage’s black diamond and double black diamond trails can be found on the lower mountain. Montage boasts some of the steepest skiing in the region. Blue skiers also have an incentive to progess onto these two runs because it will allow them to ski the full 1,000′ vertical drop. There is a sameness to the runs, however, that makes them somewhat boring to ski all day. Strong intermediates will find that two of the single black diamond runs (Lower Fast Track and Lower Runaway) are likely within their grasp. They are wide and a pleasure to carve when the snow is good. Montage’s dozen or so blue slopes run parallel to one another on the top 40% of the mountain. Montage Mountain Intermediate SkiingĪs discussed above, intermediate skiers at Montage are confined to the upper mountain. ![]() These three main green slopes comprise the entirety of Montage’s beginner offerings. There are no top-to-bottom green runs or even an interesting trail from the top of the mountain back to the midmountain area. However, more seasoned beginners will quickly tire of Montage’s small beginner area. A magic carpet provides first timers with an easy uphill lift and access to a short practice slope. The Shuttle chairlift services three main green runs (Highball, Mainline and Easy Street). Unlike many resorts, Montage’s beginner skiing is actually found at the top of the mountain. Annual snowfall averages around 60 inches per year. Montage does an excellent job maintaining the road to the lodge and 4WD is not necessary except during the worst of blizzards. In Montage’s favor, its expert runs (particularly White Lightning) are steeper than Elk and it’s limited upper mountain intermediate terrain offers wide slopes perfect for improving intermediates learning to carve. Skiers should be aware that the main lodge is located at midmountain. Moreover, Elk is slightly farther from New York City, which tends to lessen the crowds. Elk’s summit and base elevation are also about 1,000′ higher than Montage’s which ensures better snow conditions. Both resorts offer a 1,000 feet vertical drop, but Elk’s is skiable by skiers and snowboarders of every ability level, whereas Montage’s full vertical can only be skied by black diamond skiers. Given its proximity to Elk Mountain, comparisons are inevitable. This can lead to the slopes, and particularly the base lodge, being crowded on weekends and even some weeknights as Montage offers night skiing. Stuck on the upper mountain, these less skilled skiers have access to only around 400 feet of vertical. Montage is popular with school groups and busses make up a large percentage of the resort’s traffic. However, intermediate and beginner skiers can feel penned in and are unable to ski the resort’s full 1,000 feet drop. ![]() Experts enjoy this layout as it keeps the intermediate and beginner skiers on the upper mountian. The top portion of the mountain is home to all of the blue and green trails, while the decidedly steeper lower mountain is an expert’s playground. More than perhaps any ski area in the East, Montage is split into top and bottom sections. Trails like “Smoke,” “Highball,” and “Fast Track” all fit nicely into this theme. All of the trails and lifts are named after things in the railroad industry. A railroad motif, paying homage to Scranton’s heritage as “Steamtown USA,” pervades the ski area. New management has reverted to the “Montage Mountain” name and invested heavily in upgrading and modernizing what was becoming a tired resort. With a 1,000 feet vertical drop and excellent expert skiing by regional standards, Montage is a popular choice for both Scranton locals and skiers in the NY/NJ/PA region. Originally owned and operated by Lackawanna County, the ski operations were licensed to a private operator who ran the resort as “Sno Mountain” for a number of year before going bankrupt. Montage Mountain, just outside of Scranton, is one of the largest ski areas in the Poconos. With a 1,000 feet vertical drop and some of the steepest trails in Pennsylvania, it is a popular choice for expert skiers. Montage Mountain is the closest ski area to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre region.
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