A Guide To Big Boulder

Big Boulder Mountain
One South Lake Drive
Lake Harmony, PA
www.jfbb.com

A lazy family ski area in the Poconos has brilliantly morphed itself into an east coast player in the youthful high-energy world of snowboarding. Big Boulder in the western Pocono Mountains is challenging higher altitude mountains with sharply designed terrain park features and major competitions. Here's what you'll find.

Big Boulder is located near sister-mountain Jack Frost and the two share lift tickets. Buy one, get both. Jack Frost operates by day, Big Boulder goes day and night. The Boulder story goes back to the dawn of snowmaking in Pennsylvania, it was a pioneer ski area, that drew families from Philadelphia and New York. For decades, it had been considered tame, a place where youngsters could learn to ski, while mom and dad didn't have to blow out a lot of energy to keep up.

All that changed a few years ago when Boulder completely embraced the Snowboard culture that was suddenly captivating the world of youth. But snow surfing had great demands. It needed jumps, obstacles, pipes and pumping music. It also demanded constant change, new tables, rails, binks and bonks. It got that and more at Boulder.

Riders will share space with skiers on 15 slopes and trails, served by 7 lifts. Seven of the trails are studded with terrain parks that range from beginner-friendly to high-challenge. The major terrain parks here even rate their own web site, http://www.jfbb.com/parks where you can take video tours of each park and see just what's over that next jump.

Big Boulder adds to the fun with a chute filled snow tubing park just steps away from the slopes.