#jim-thorpe-pennsylvania

#jim-thorpe-pennsylvania

Fia Backström describes her experience of West Virginia as akin to being called by aliens, framing the region in a way that echoes a long history of it being seen as strange and backward.

The Black Lantern Inn was a familiar place where I ate with my kids, sometimes once a week. My room was well beyond my expectations for a last-minute booking: a king-sized bed, separate living area, jacuzzi bath, and many thoughtful details, including several back issues of Skiing History Magazine to flip through.

The 2025-26 winter saw extreme weather, with the eastern half experiencing consistent cold and heavy snowfall, while the western half endured record warmth and a lack of snowfall.

Vermont actually resembles California - not because of its beaches but due to its distinct regions. For example, Burlington correlates to the Bay Area. And in the Northeast Kingdom, where I grew up, we classified everything below White River Junction as 'Southern Vermont.' Down there, half the towns seem to channel Boston or New York City, kind of like Santa Barbara to L.A., which makes the Kingdom something like Humboldt County - rural and spectacular, with a recalcitrant outlaw streak.

For decades, he's lived in Homer City, a southwestern Pennsylvania town that was once home to the largest coal-fired power plant in the state. The plant, which shares its name with the town, closed nearly three years ago after years of financial distress. Dudash, 89, has lived in the shadow of its smokestacks-said to be the tallest in the country before they were demolished-for much of his life.

Mt. Baker Ski Area, Washington - 386 inches (as of March 11th). 34 inches so far in March. 7 inches in the last 24 hours. 179 inch snow base at Pan Dome.

Both avid and casual skiers know that winter requires preparation. If you want to ski as many days as possible, you must have a game plan. After all, skiing is an expensive sport, so budget is typically one of the top considerations. But before you book flights, hotels, and lift tickets, or decide if you want to invest in an Epic Pass or Ikon Pass, you'll need to identify which ski resorts you want to explore over the course of a few months.

Henry Crown was born as Henry Krinsky in Chicago in 1896 to Lithuanian immigrant parents. With just an eighth‑grade education, he and his brothers founded the Material Service Corporation in 1919, selling gravel, sand and building materials to the booming Midwest construction industry. By the late 1950s, Crown had used that business as a springboard into defense contracting, gaining controlling interest in General Dynamics in 1959.

Running between New York City and Pittsburgh, Amtrak's Pennsylvanian route shows travelers a side of Pennsylvania most who fly or drive miss. Passengers aboard the train weave past rivers, tree-lined hills, Amish Country, and historic rail towns that rarely get the spotlight. It's less about getting somewhere fast and more about watching the landscape change mile by mile, from urban neighborhoods to the rolling Allegheny Mountains, without ever leaving the seat.

After a mine cave-in revealed a rich vein of ore Bodie, California became a thriving town during the years of the California gold rush. It quickly exploded in size and at its pinnacle was home to around had around 2,000 structures and a population of 8,000 people. It went bust in 1881 and what buildings remain standing represents about 10% of its original structures.

Nestled in the Appalachian foothills near Mentone, Cloudmont Ski & Golf Resort is the southernmost ski area in the eastern United States. With a vertical drop of just 150 feet and two rope tows, Cloudmont runs on snowmaking and sheer stubbornness, opening for a few precious weeks or days each winter.

There's still nearly 2 months until the end of winter and the start of spring, but one Pennsylvania ski resort is already stating their intentions for what they hope will be their longest season in their history. A Mountain Update from Camelback Resort VP & General Manager Jason Bays discussed their plans for the spring. Right now, Camelback is planning to keep skiing and snowboarding going daily until April 12th, but it hopefully won't end there.

Whitetail Resort is located in Central Pennsylvania and is a legit hidden gem for skiers and snowboarders in the mid-Atlantic region. This ski resort gets seriously underestimated by many. I was travelling from one resort to another, and Whitetail was on the way to my next destination. I almost didn't go because I was on the road for two weeks straight, but I'm so glad I did-it's way better than I expected.

The Bridgeport Winter Trail System is a new winter recreation area in the region. Anyone hoping to explore scenic new routes and possibly take a dip underneath a natural thermal waterfall should add this groomed winter trail to their list.

Vail Mountain has recorded its lowest snowpack in 47 years, with just 67 inches of snow so far this season. It has been a tough season so far for many resorts located in the Rockies and out West. "We experienced one of the worst early-season snowfalls in the Western U.S. in over 30 years," Rob Katz, Chief Executive Officer, said in a press release. This has limited Vail Mountain and other resorts from opening new terrain and has decreased skier visits.

Special Olympics focuses on athletes with intellectual disabilities, emphasizing that they want the same opportunities as everyone else (friends, jobs, independence) without social barriers. The organization helps remove obstacles to let athletes thrive. SOPA is all about the athletes and their remarkable resilience under challenging conditions. One remarkable fact about the athletes with intellectual disabilities is that they want to seek normalcy, inclusion, and the same opportunities as anyone else. They are not looking for "special" treatment or lowered expectations from people.

Long before SkiMo earned Olympic status, athletes were honing their legs and lungs in the rugged terrain surrounding Aspen. The Elk Mountains have quietly served as a proving ground for Olympic-caliber talent, including U.S. SkiMo Team members Jessie Young and Cam Smith. Young, now a 2026 Olympian, won the Power of Four in 2024 and has called it her favorite race for its sustained effort and technical demands.

New Hampshire, like several states in New England, is home to a ton of abandoned and forgotten ski areas. Many of them have completely faded, recognizable only by the slight appearance of a trail or two. Others still have buildings, lift parts, and other lost equipment spread throughout the area. Mount Whittier in West Ossipee, New Hampshire, is one of those abandoned areas that still visible through buildings and gear. Avery Zucco explored the area, finding lift poles, buildings, gear, and much more.

According to this data, season-to-date skier visits were down 20.0% compared with the same period last year.