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Pocono ski resorts gear up for season with pandemic in mind

In a time when outdoor and socially distant activities are preferred, ski resorts across the Pocono Mountains are ready to provide a safe, fun season. The overall guest experience will be different this year, as all resorts have made changes and additions for the 2020-2021 season. In addition to requiring masks, enforcing social distancing in lines, keeping parties together on lifts and adding Plexiglas, here is some of what guests can expect at each mountain this season:

Big Boulder & Jack Frost Mountain

• Pass holder reservations required to manage the number of guests on-mountain

• Epic Pass holders get priority access to reservation days, access to Vail Resorts around the country (on sale until Dec. 6)

• Quad chairlift is back in action, all nine lifts will be in operation

• Ski & Ride School classes max size of six

• Cashless transactions

• Tables inside lodge removed and not encouraging sit-down eating, bag drops in lodge

Blue Mountain Resort

• Rental/ticket sales exclusively online

• Ticket windows closed, replaced with outdoor redemption kiosks

• Adding food trucks, encouraging tailgating, implementing software for guests to order food online and take it to-go

• Adding 50 new fan guns and making snow-making 100% automated on Burma Road Trail

• No ski pant or jacket rentals this year (equipment rentals available)

Before traveling, call your destination for any changes. Masks are mandatory indoors and outdoors even if you are socially distant. Out-of-state visitors are required to get tested within 72 hours before entering Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania residents who travel to other states must follow the same rules when returning.

Shawnee Mountain

• New rental equipment - 500 new sets of skis and 700 new pairs of boots

• Adding private, family group lessons

• Adding outdoor, heated tent for guests who bring their own food

• Upgrades to overall snow-making system

• Introducing unique snowshoe race and weekly Uphill Ski Club (Wednesday mornings beginning Jan. 6)

• Online preferred for rental/ticket sales, mandatory for tubing

• Encouraging guests to get dressed at their vehicles

Camelback Mountain

• New chair lift, Sunbowl Quad, connecting Camelback Mountain Adventures with main base at Sullivan Lift

• New Camelback Ski & Ride Academy - with dedicated locations for each of its three instructional programs (SnowClub for kids, SnowPro Group for group lessons and SnowPro Private for private lessons), rentals, ticketing area and drop off to minimize contact

• Redesigned and expanded ski school for kids (SnowClub) at Mountain Adventures base camp with dedicated lodge and lift allowing for families to connect after lessons

• Sunbowl Trail redesigned and widened with upgraded snow-making system

• Adding food trucks, beer garden and heated, tented areas for outdoor dining

• Developing QR Code and adding outdoor kiosks for contactless ticket sales (online still preferred)

Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain

• Touchless payment - lift tickets will be purchased online and RFID picked up at on-site kiosk for direct to lift access

• Streamlined rentals - rental equipment will be purchased online with required rental information provided to shorten equipment fitting times

• Online tubing reservations - purchase online and pickup at kiosk. Limited quantities available for each session

• Forgot your goggles? The mountain accessory shop is now available at the ticket window

• Lesson reservations required

For the most up-to-date information regarding opening dates and snow conditions, visit the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau’s Snow Conditions page. Before hitting the mountain for skiing, snowboarding or snowtubing, check out the live cameras showing real-time action on your favorite slopes! Before heading out, review the best practices from the Ski Well, Be Well initiative.

Ski resorts across the Pocono Mountains are ready to provide a safe, fun season, keeping COVID-19 safety protocols in mind. POCONOMOUNTAINS.COM