Champion, PA

This week's frigid weather is setting up an excellent kick off for the 22^nd WTAE-TV Winterfest. Beginning Saturday you'll find events and activities for kids of all ages. Spanning nine days (Feb 7 - 15) TV personalities, celebrities and folks young and old get together to enjoy all that old man winter and the snow makers have given us!

There is way more to do than just outside activities. Take for example the Craft Shows on the weekends, Salsa Dancing Lessons, Roller skating and Daily activities for the kids! Here's a schedule for you to see for yourself!

If you are able to sneak away during the week there are some awesome deals! Like Monday the 9^th there's a two hour tubing sessions for ONLY $4.00!! Tuesday offers a $15 Learn to Ski Day! Just a note of caution there's a footnote on both of these offerings that states "This schedule is subject to change." If you are coming up specifically for an event we recommend calling first. Even though you should be able to find something else to keep you busy while you're here!!

Make sure you tune in during news time on WTAE-TV, that's channel 4 in our house! Especially on the weekends as they have great personal interviews with Seven Springs staff who keep the resort humming! It's always fun to have a face (even though it may be covered in ski gear) to go along with the name! We'll tell you though that even with HD TV you can't tell how BLUE Dick Barrons eyes are!!

For more Winterfest information, please call (866) 703-7625. Let's us know about your experience!

Saturday, Jan 31 and Sunday Feb 1, offer all of you a chance to "free your heels!" Yes we know it's Superbowl weekend and we intend to be in front of the flat screen too!! Registration for Telepalooza starts at 8:00 in the Main Ski Lodge (look for the banner) and there's rental and share gear available for you to try telemark skiing. Plenty of time to give a whole new deminsion to the slopes, trails, and woods and be back in time for kick off!!!

Ten years ago after mastering skiing and boarding Wags took up Telemarking. He wanted to find a way to put the edge back on his snow time experience. His good friend Jim Kapp got him into the sport and they've spent many trips out West together skiing the back bowls and trees.

One of the benefits of telemarking is that it's great for skiing on the off piste. The free heel setup gives the skier much more freedom in making an approach for a back country line. Here in the groomed, it adds another challenge in balance and fitness to ski the free heel.

Thanks to the Appalachian Telemark Association (APA) for their efforts in making this their 7th annual event. You can sign up for one ($79) or two days ($99) of instruction, ski pass extra. There are PSIA Level III Certified Instructors just waiting to get you hooked! Garmont boots and Karhu skis are available to demo, and the swag (give aways) at the afternoon parties is worth the admission! Girls, if you're hesitant to start out with the guys there's also an all women's clinic offered both days! Don't be selfish, bring the kids along!! See you at registration!!

GO STEELERS!!

We've had some neighbors who ski as much as they can point out to us that for December the hours of operation, Monday through Thursday, BEGIN at 11AM. That means no one is on the slopes until 11AM.

Knowing that this is a change we wanted to make sure before you make the trip up you go directly to the Seven Springs site for verification! Let's make the best of our time on the mountain!!

3007 Swiss Mtn $115,000

I-11 SunRidge $400,000

Recorded sales transfers for the resorts are acquired electronically from records inputted at the Somerset County Court House, Office of the Recorder of Deeds. We review sales in Jefferson (Hidden Valley) and Middlecreek (Seven Springs) Townships on a weekly basis. The free county site contains a real estate search feature but is not as detailed as the paid site.

Prices do not reflect bill of sales and other out of settlement transfers. No monetary value is assigned to furnishings which are normally included in the majority of sales.

It's Kick Off weekend already and the snow makers have been working overtime! With the early cold snap you'll find the conditions awesome with 12 to 15 open slopes and trails! So says Wags who was on the slopes last Saturday! Keep in mind that Ski Magazine readers ranked Seven Springs NUMBER ONE for Mid-Atlantic Ski Resorts!

Here are a few pictures of what to expect when you get here will be posted this weekend! Eric Mauck, CEO of the resort shared what's new for winter enthusiasts this year.

Wagner RegradedThis created a beginners glade skiing area to skiers left. This was a massive project of moving dirt and clearing trees! It made this slope more skier friendly and opened up this normally congested area. Remember to watch the top 30 feet as most skiers make their first turn at the top of the slope and quickly carve through new snow making to the base. In other words it's slick so make sure your skis are tuned!

Snow Tubing lovers are rejoicing as a second magic carpet uphill lift is ready for this snow filled season! Twelve tubing chutes make this the largest facility around!

Customer convenience will soon leap into the 21^st century with "Buy on Line" and not stand in line ticket sales! Doesn't matter if you're looking for skiing, tubing, equipment, and or lessons all will soon be obtainable on line!

We're going to post info for the boarders out there separately! Look for it before Monday!