Montage, PA: 2/23/25 on the Indy Pass

[tirolski]

My first time at Montage today was fun. It marked my first skiing in Pennsylvania and the furthest south I've skied in the East... It's not a place that makes much sense for me to drive to just to ski, but I'd gladly do it again if it can be "on the way" somewhere like it was today.

Do ya think it’ll still have enough snow to be skiable in early April? Might drive from The Cuse to Augusta to patronize a practice round. I’ve yet to ski Pa. but was born there. Seen Montage dressed in white from the road several times and wondered about it. Could be a good place to stretch the legs for a bit if possible.

 

[Jim]

Seems to me they should make it into April unless March is super warm and wet. The snow on many of the trails is pretty deep.

 

[gorgonzola]

Funny I almost went Sunday to burn an Indy day but decided to stay close to home. Its a fun place for a change of scenery and some interesting sites for some of you lift lookers. Still planning on a day or two there before the season ends

 

[PA Ice]

Great report @Brownski. I haven’t been to Montage since the late 1990s. It was the year before White Lightning was opened. The trail was cut but didn’t have snowmaking on it. I often bypassed Montage for Elk if I am traveling that far from the Philly burbs. Since Elk stands alone in PA, at least in eastern PA, for challenge and terrain. Montage competes well with smaller hills in the Poconos (Jack Frost, Big Boulder, Shawnee and Ski Big Bear). The current owner, the fourth since the area was built and opened in the 1980s, has done a great job managing and being profitable with the ski and off season activities. The members of NYSKIBlog have piqued my interest to re-visit this underrated hill. Since March is right around the corner it is time to consider my 2025-2026 pass purchases and whether I should consider the Indy Pass.

 

[Brownski]

it is time to consider my 2025-2026 pass purchases and whether I should consider the Indy Pass.

Think about it. Indy Pass sales are limited so get on that wait list if you want one. Hard to beat at $349

 

[MarzNC]

Since March is right around the corner it is time to consider my 2025-2026 pass purchases and whether I should consider the Indy Pass.

Need to get on the Wait List this week to have any chance of buying an Indy pass for next season. Public sales start March 1. No guarantee there will be sales again, and no way to predict when that might happen.

Can get a refund later in the year if Indy doesn't have 250 locations or if your "favorite" resort is not on the list.

 

[ciscokid]

Thought $40 INCLUDING rentals was too good to be true. That’s amazing!
IF the crowds were the same what area would you consider better? Camelback or Montage?

 

[MarzNC]

IF the crowds were the same what area would you consider better? Camelback or Montage?

Haven't skied Camelback but have stopped by the base during the green season to get a feel for the place. My sense is that Camelback is a "ski resort" while Montage is a "ski area." Montage theoretically has more vertical, but that only makes a difference for a couple of routes that go from top-to-bottom.

Looking at SteepSeeker for the two places, I would guess an advanced skier would enjoy Montage more. Midweek a beginner might like Camelback more. On a weekend, an advanced beginner who is comfortable on the blues above the base lodge might be happier at Montage. Reasonably long runs with no advanced skiers buzzing by at a fast clip. Being able to get away from the intermediates/beginners at Montage by staying on the lower mountain is what makes it popular with advanced skiers on weekends.

I have a few friends who live in Philly and have season passes to Montage who are weekend warriors. One grew up skiing Montage. None of them have kids.