Blue Mountain Resort PA Review: Best Snowboarding Experience on the East Coast?
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1660 Blue Mountain Dr, Palmerton, PA 18071
Rating: ♡♡♡♡♡ 5 out of 5 hearts
Website: https://www.skibluemt.com/
Credit: Blue Mountain
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 started a lifelong dream to learn to snowboard.
Two 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. Which I have learned is highly taboo, usually, especially more so for females. I understand the concern now, but I’ve been adventuring alone and on my own since I was three. Much to my mother’s dismay of course! No matter how many times she yelled or tried to discipline me, I couldn’t help but have an adventurous and curious mind. By some luck, I always came back home safe and sound.
Now, as an adult, I never take a risk that I know I’m incapable of handling. If I feel I’m not ready for something, I will not take that risk. Whether it’s as a professional or as a driver in a vehicle, I calculate everything. If I can’t do something, I will not do it, but if I can, and I know I can, and I am without any doubt, I will do it. And I always succeed. Sometimes the boundaries of our comfort zones need to be pushed incrementally to grow. We all learn differently, after all. The success of my content creation journey or the success of this website would not have happened if I had never taken risks. I was sure of myself and what I was capable of, and time and time again whenever I don’t doubt myself I always come out undefeated. Most of my success has come from going where everyone else isn't.
When you have a rock solid relationship with yourself, you will know fully what you are and aren’t capable of, AND you will have a healthy relationship and not take unnecessary risks that endanger your life or others.
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Therefore, when I came back, and rode alone, I rode easy greens and only went to the next slope or next level when I felt confident enough. I always approached each new slope with that same cautious mindset. Having fun but calculating everything, I took things slow, I got a feel for the steepness, and how the snow felt under my board. By the second time around, I felt more sureness, and only when I achieved the confidence I moved on to the next again.
I had a blast learning on my own, and I met some amazing people along the way! Some out there alone, some with friends, some with family, some I’ve stayed in touch with and some I parted ways with at the end of my session.
It has been a pleasure of mine to continuously come back to Blue Mountain with my boyfriend and the new lifelong friends I’ve acquired through this beautiful snowboarding community! We all love Blue Mountain with utmost sureness, it is about an hour and a half drive, whether you’re coming from the Philadelphia area or from Big SNOW.
In many ways than one, coming back and giving thanks to the start of my journey makes me realize everything truly happens for a reason. Everything has come full circle as it was meant to! I am still practicing my riding skills to take on the black diamond my dad pushed me onto. I am determined to conquer it on my snowboard, giving thanks at the bottom of the slope once more. And when that day comes, trust me, you’ll know!
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 open till early April 2024!
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 they are expensive!
Gift Shop
I’ve only ever visited the gift shop at the top lodge, and have never been to the lodge in the lower summit. I don’t even know if that one has a gift shop or not, but I wouldn’t see why not.
The gift shop was great, lots of selections to find and buy something, but the prices on the stickers were insane! The 3 inch stickers were a doable and understandable price, but the 4-5 inch stickers were exaggerated and unnecessary. As a scrapbooker and small artist turned sticker seller, I’m not in the market for large stickers. Most large stickers are very niche and for a niche group of people who buy them. Some of Blue Mountain’s best designs were in the large stickers, but I found a cute design in the three inch, paid, and went on my way.
I don’t normally purchase anything else at gift shops, but I love to have mountain-specific stickers or adventure-specific stickers on and in my scrapbook.
Quick Tips
Sitting on the VERY edge and side of the slope to catch my breath while i ride down Blue Mountain ALONE. NEVER EVER THE CENTER. Plus the view was exquisite!
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
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I had an epic solo adventure snowboarding alone on this mountain! Followed by a great couples trip and adventure! Blue Mountain is a great mountain, while it is, yes, expensive, I do believe it is worth every penny!
