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Br aGTTY MARTIN
Editot-
Bill Stenger sat in his newly-
constructed office and overlooked
the..wintery white slopes of Jack
Frosf, Mountain. It was opening day
at «The Big Two - Jack Frost and
Big Boulder - in the Poconos this
past Saturday and Stenger, market-
ing director for the two ski resorts,
found - himself both reflecting and
anticipating.
The Big Two Ski areas will fea-
ture-over $2 million in expansions
this year. The expansion program
has cresulted in improvements at
both Pocono resorts - improvements
which were about 90 percent in
opération this past weekend and
whieh will be, according to Stenger,
opéfating at full-speed ahead this
coming weekend.
Included in the renovations are
slope and lodge expansions, the
addition of a slope, extensive snow-
making, a brand new triple chair,
enlarged child care facilities,
expanded food service and dining
areas, and dramatic changes to
both landscaping and lodges.
Stenger, who has been employed
by The Big Two for 11 years,
explained that the most important
thing to officials at The Big Two is
thesatisfaction of their customers.
“We try to reach out to our
customers’ wants,” Stenger said,
while sitting comfortably in his new
office” atop the Jack Frost lodge.
“We ask our customers what they
want and how they feel we can
improve our ski areas.”
Stenger explained that customers
of both Jack Frost and Big Boulder
expressed the utmost satisfaction in
snow conditions, were very pleased
with the friendliness of staff mem-
bers, felt the slopes were okay and
the lift lines were not untolerable.
The biggest complaint of custom-
ers of The Big Two, Stenger found,
was overcrowding in the lodges.
“Our customers felt our lodges were
too crowded, especially on week-
ends,” he said, ‘and we didn’t offer
enough cafeteria services.”
Stenger, who feels the general
public is entitled to some diversity
in the food it consumes, spoke
proudly of how Jack Frost answered
that complaint. At Jack Frost, 500
new seats were added as was a new
cocktail lounge with a glass front
that overlooks the top of the moun-
tain. A New York style deli will be
featured as will a Mexican style
deli, a pizza shop and the regular
cafeteria. Also, a cafeteria and rest
rooms have been constructed at the
base of Jack Frost Mountain.
Through the $2 million expansion
program, Big Boulder boasts a
newly - renovated Glass House, a
brand new triple chair, an expanded
beginner area, and nightly skiing on
100 percent of the mountain.
The 5,000 square foot expansion to
the Glass House features an
expanded cocktail lounge of current
Alpine decor and architecture.
Reflective glass surrounds the bar
area with an all glass chandelier
and laminated beams with inset
lights overhead. An adjacent restau-
rant with similar accents and wait-
ress service will offer a deli-menu
slection with other special attrac-
tions.
The Snow Bunny Slope for begin-
ners at Big Boulder has been wid-
ened and leveled, offering a very
gradual run. A brand new triple
chair, which is slow-moving and
close to the group, is regulated to
accommodate first-time skiers and
is in place to service the expanded
area.
Stenger says the object of The Big
Two Ski Areas is to make skiing an
enjoyable experience for the whole
family without costing an arm and a
leg.
“A lot of times parents quit skiing
because of their kids,” Stenger said.
“They think skiing is too expensive
when you have to take the whole
family.
“There are more children‘age five
and under in this country now than
ever before,” he added. “Our chil-
dren’s programs have been insti-
tuted so that the entire family can
enjoy the sport.”
At both Jack Frost and Big Boul-
der; children seven years of age and
under ski free with rentals costing
just $5 for the entire day. A learn-to-
ski program at both ski areas is just
$10 and includes a lift ticket, rentals
and a lesson. Free child care is
offered at both areas for parents
who want to ski without their chil-
dren.
“We try to ease the financial and
emotional burden for parents who
want to ski,” Stenger said. ‘We try
to eliminate the excuses to make
skiing a meaningful family experi-
ence.” ;
Stenger looks at other area ski
resorts’ as healthy competition, but
is opposed to the use of federal tax
dollars to build a ski resort such as
is the case with Montage, the area’s
newest ski resort scheduled to open
this coming weekend.
“We finance $2 million worth of
renovations to our areas and we
have to pay 13 and 14 percent
interest just like the next guy,”
Stenger said. ‘‘Philosophically, I'm
opposed to Montage because we’re
paying the going rates and they’re
not. But, competition-wise, I have
no problem with them.”
Stenger said he is more concerned
with other forms of recreation than
he is with other ski areas since only
15 percent of the American has ever
tried skiing and there are only 19
million skiers in the entire country.
“We produce a good product
here,” he said. “And with a good
product, people will continue to
come here to ski. I'm more con-
cerned with the other types of recre-
ation. I'm more concerned with all
the people who are doing their
Christmas shopping at the Wyoming
Valley Mall today rather than being
out here on the slopes.”
Stenger feels not enough people
take advantage of the four seasons
Northeast Pennsylvania has to offer
and invites the public to visit the
renovations at both Jack Frost and
Big Boulder Ski Areas.
rrrr——
the newest ski resort,
Skiers of all ages look forward to
the holiday season not only as a
time for family gatherings and cele-
brations, but also the time of year
they can expect great skiing as well
as the latest ski-related gifts.
“The best way to give someone
skis, boots or poles for Christmas is
with a gift certificate at the local
Ski apparel also makes a wonder-_=.
ful gift, but again, fit and comfort
are very important. Make sure the-=-
ski shop has an exchange policy om
Here's all you'll need to know
Kids love to ski, too
Ir’s
e Confusion-free operation wit
Following are facts and figures on
ski resorts in our area. Montage
Mountain is scheduled to open this
Saturday while all other ski areas
have been opened since last week-
end.
JACK FROST MOUNTAIN
Jack Frost Mountain is located in
the Western Poconos just four miles
east of the intersection of Interstate
Route 80 and the Northeast Exten-
sion of the Pennsylvania Turnpike
on Route’ 940. It features six chair-
lifts, one J-Bar and has 19 slopes
with 100 percent snowmaking over
terrain varying from five novice
and eight intermediate areas.
Summit elevation is 2,000 feet with a
600 foot vertical drop. Adult week-
end or holiday tickets are $19 and
$17 on weekdays. New this year are
morning lift tickets, 8:30 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. for $14 during the week
and $15 on weekends. For up-to-the-
minute conditions, call 717-443-8425.
BIG BOULDER SKI AREA
Located in the Western Poconos,
just off the Blakeslee Exit of Inter-
state Route 80 at Route 903, Big
Boulder Ski Area has seven chairs,
one J-Bar and 12 slopes with 100
percent snowmaking over terrain
varying from novice to expert. It
has a summit elevation of 2,175 feet,
a verticle drop of 475 feet and offers
skiing seven days and seven night a
week. All slops are illuminated
including beginner, intermediate
and advanced terrain. Adult week-
end or holiday tickets are $19 and
$17 on weekdays. New this year are
morning lift tickets, 8:30 a.m. to
12:30 p.m. for $14 during the week
and $15 on weekends. For up-to-the-
minute conditions, call 717-722-0104.
(Lift tickets purchased at either
Jack Frost Mountain or Big Boulder
Ski Area are reciprocal and can
also be used at the other mountain
the same day.)
CAMELBACK
With a total of 24 slopes and
trails, 11 lifts and a vertical drop of
800 feet, Camelback is the largest of
the Pocono ski areas. Camelback
also has night skiing seven nights a
week. Other facilities include sev-
eral lounges, a complete ski shop
with rental equipment, a child-care
center and Camelfop, a top-of-the-
mountain lodge with food and bever-
age service. For more information
on Camelback, call 717-629-1661.
SHAWNEE
Six double chairlifts now service
Shawnee Mountain’s 700 foot verti-
cle drop. Seventeen slopes and trails
with 100 percent snowmaking on all
slopes and trails offers skiing vari-
ety from gentle beginner terrain to
advanced trails. Night skiing is
available at Shawnee from mid-
December through mid-March. The
Shawnee Mountain Ski School offers
all levels of ski instruction, begin-
ner’s packages and a special ‘Ski
Wee’ program for kids. For more
information on Shawnee Mountain,
call 717-421-7231.
ELK MOUNTAIN
Elk Mountain is located in Union-
dale and may be reached by taking
Exit 63 off Interstate Route 81 and
following the signs. The mountain
has a vertical drop of 1,000 feet and
features 17 slopes and trails and
five double chairs. Hours of opera-
tion are 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven
days a week with night skiing every
night from 4:30 to 10 p.m. Lift ticket
prices are $15 on weekdays and $18
on weekends. For snow conditions,
Corona 22-DK Heaters
comes with Battery operated Syphon
call 1-800-982-4331.
LITTLE GAP SKI AREA
Located in Palmerton, Pa., Little
Gap Ski Area features 10 slopes, two
chair lifts and one T-Bar. Sporting
an 801 foot verticle drop, Little Gap
may be reached from the Pennsyl-
vania Turnpike by taking Route 209
and following signs. Hours of opera-
tion are 9 am. to 10 p.m. on
weekdays and from 8 a.m. to 10
p.m. on weekends. Adult lift tickets
are sold for different time periods
and vary from $12 to $17.
MONTAGE MOUNTAIN
Montage Mountain, the area’s
newest ski area, is scheduled to
open this Saturday with nine slopes
and trails, three triple chair lifts
and one double lift. Reachable from
Exit 51 off Interstate Route 81,
Montage will be in operation from 9
a.m. to 10:30 p.m. during the week
and 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on
weekends and holidays with night
skiing offered seven nights a week.
The mountain features a vertical
drop of 1,000 feet and adult ticket
prices are $14 during the week, $18
on weekends and $9 for night skiing.
Shape up
before skiing
If your body shape doesn’t match
your ‘‘minds-eye’’ image, your
“ideal weight” fails to come close to
what the scale reveals, or you puff
climbing a flight of stairs, it is time
to shape up.
Experts admit ‘‘shaping up’ isn’t
easy. Too often the resolution to
take off pounds and shed excess
bulges results in a crash diet and
too rigorous an exercise program -
programs that. are not only danger-
ous but have little chance of contin-
ued success.
Penn State offers a study-at-home
course that explains the condition-
ing effect of exercise and how,
through exercise, sport, and recrea-
tion, it is possible to forestall rapid
deterioration of the body through
\
&
\ sale.
jackets and stretch pants.
find in the ski shop include updates
gloves and mittens lined with low-
ters and furry after-ski boots.
or sailboards;
are excellent gifts. Ski tuning kits, ©
the U.S. Ski Team raise training =
funds is to buy a stocking stuffer
item like a coffee mug, jacket
patch, lapel button or key ring
embossed with the U.S. Ski Team
logo. These items are usually found
on the counter near the cash regis-
ter in the ski shop.
The National Ski Areas Associa-
tion (NSAA) recommends giving the
never-ever skier a “certificate” for
a full day of skiing at a nearby
resort. ‘“The gift could include,
lesson with a trained instructor and
last run of the day,” suggests Kathe,
Dillmann, director of communica-
packages include the use of the ski =
lift to the top of the beginners’ ar
too.
tree with ski ornaments, including
hand-crafted tiny woolen ski hats
and ski figures!
a)
~
2
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