At Blue Mountain in Palmerton, north of Allentown, the skiing season got started Dec. 1. It was one of the resort's earliest starts and already slopes have a machine-made base of 24 to 36 inches. At most other ski resorts, the rates are similar and are much the same as in the past. Rates are usually determined by the amount of time spent on the slopes. There are also junior rates and senior citizen discounts.
Most resorts also rent equipment for snowboarding and other snow activities.
At Jack Frost, they just opened a new motorsport course for snowmobiling, with snowmobiles available for rent. There is also a splatterball paint ball area, snowboarding and tubing. Snow tubing is great for people who don't ski. In Pennsylvania alone, there are more than 21 ski resorts, including northern locations, such as Alpine Mountain, Big Boulder, Eagle Rock Resort, Camelback, Shawnee Mountain, Jack Frost Mountain, Tanglewood Resort, Elk Mountain and Ski Sawmill Mountain Resort. Smack in the middle of the state is Tussey Mountain in Boalsburg near State College.