Getaway Guide To Jack Frost Mountain

Looking for a mountain that comfortably contours itself for an entire family - Grannies included? Come-on along for a tour of Jack Frost Mountain in the Poconos. Skiers and riders here can easily find their own comfort and challenge levels from newbie to Alpine expert. This compact mountain has trails for cruisers to plungers. Where do we start? At the beginning, of course. – Jay Lloyd

Jack Frost is one of those unique "Upside-Down" mountains. That means the lodge and parking are at the summit, not the base. An advantage is that the first run of the day doesn't require a lift. Just step into skis and boards and push off. What's there?

THE MOUNTAIN

Jack Frost is carved with 20 trails and slopes plus a top to bottom Terrain Park. Ten lifts keep the traffic moving. Over 600 vertical feet provides everything from a "Powder Puff" slope for novice skiers and riders to the nose-dive steep "River Shot" with a dramatic view of the rushing Tobyhanna River, below. Finding your way around the mountain is easy. Looking down, the easiest runs and ski school slopes are on the left. They become increasingly more challenging as you move to the right. The black diamond steeps are on the East Mountain to the far right. "One Park" is a versatile terrain park with varying degrees of steepness, studded with jumps, boxes, rails and features straight down the center of the hill. Jack Frost was one of the first Pennsylvania Mountains to introduce glade skiing through the trees alongside designated trails.

TRAIL STRATEGY

The racing slope, "DeMatte's Demise" is a straight shot, varied steepness, intermediate trail that provides the rush of racing terrain. It's often closed for the racing program and so it's largely bypassed by skiers moving on to longer and wider runs. If you find it open, jump on. You won't have much company. Advanced skiers should head for "East Mountain" when the lifts open. You'll find the best conditions and fewer skiers and riders in the early hours.

DAY AND NIGHT

Jack Frost is a daytime mountain with hours running 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., midweek and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. But then the action moves a few miles away to companion area, BIG BOULDER MOUNTAIN for night action under the lights. Lift tickets are interchangeable between mountains.

SKI AND SNOWBOARD SCHOOL

The Jack Frost Ski School is fully staffed with professionally certified instructors in skiing, snowboarding and racing programs. The "Snow Monsters" program teaches children as young as 3 in a group setting. Private and group lessons for adults are available 7 days a week. The school also offers adaptive skiing lessons on weekends. Beginner packages are available that include lift tags, rental equipment and lessons. For the rundown on lesson plans and rates, slide over here: www.jfbb.com/adult-lessons.html.

SNOW TUBING

You'll see the tubing chutes as you arrive at the summit. Seven chutes are served by two tows. Tickets are available that include skiing and tubing. Sessions here run 3 hours. Slide this way to session times and rates: www.jfbb.com/snow-tubing.html

WHAT IT COSTS TO SKI AND RIDE

Adult lift tickets clock in at $48 midweek and $55 on weekends with discounts for children and seniors. Rental equipment is $35. Take a look at all the rates right here: jfbb.com/snow-passes-and-rentals.html

SIPS AND CHOMPS

A new full service restaurant is on the menu for the dawn of a new season at Jack Frost. In winter sports tradition, burgers and flatbreads will top the tempting treats - finger food that's perfect for that laid back lunch between runs or while relaxing after the lifts close with a nibble, a toddy and some acoustic music. It replaces the downstairs bar and eatery that has gone through several incarnations, but now seems set with ski fare. The neighboring cafeteria has long had a reputation for combining grab and go burgers and dogs with more substantial stews and soups to replace calories dropped in the snow. You'll also find the lodge lounge lined with pizza, pretzel, soft drink and other finger food nooks. But a long time favorite watering hole is upstairs at the E-2000 bar and lounge. The walls are lined with seats crafted from old lift chairs. There's a comfortable dance floor supported by weekend bands and one of the friendliest ski area bars in the state.

LODGING

The mountain has a slopeside village of vacation homes, many of them for rent by the day, week or weekend. With luck you can score a seasonal rental. I've stayed at Snow Ridge Village on numerous visits. The fireplace equipped homes to accommodate from 4 to 8 feature easy-to-use kitchens and a good inventory of cookware, dinnerware and utensils. Some of the homes let you ski right onto the slopes and back. Look for them and other nearby rental homes here: http://prr1.com/ Nearby hotels and apartment rentals include the Galleria at Split Rock Lodge with a swimming pool, water slide, movie theater, full service restaurant and bar. Split Rock Lodge, a favorite with generations of Pocono vacationers now has an indoor water park and an array of eateries and bars with weekend entertainment. www.splitrockresort.com/

GETTING THERE

Take the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike to the Pocono exit. Then follow Route 940 east for 4 miles to a traffic light. Make a left onto Jack Frost Mountain road and follow it to the lodge.

Think Snow!