About Somerset County, PA

1927 SouthRidge $274,000

4513 Nordic Way $192,500

1751 Greenfield $275,000

5136 Summit View $285,000

1504 Oliver Way $235,000

Build it and they will come. Make it free and they will come in GROVES. Arriving at the parking lot at 8:30 I saw something that you haven’t seen at this resort for a long time, a full parking lot on a Friday morning. Talking to several people unloading their equipment many haven’t been at this resort for several years and it is nice to see them back. Walking with the crowd to the lodge sunshine and temperatures in the 30’s greeted us, a perfect day for snow sports. The upper skier’s lodge has new carpet, fresh paint, new tables and chairs and the snack bar crew was busy getting ready to open. Over the last year just about everything at this resort has been refurbished and upgraded. I had a chance encounter with smiling VP of Resort Operations Scott Bender, who had his cell phone to one ear and talking with the parking staff to manage the hundreds of skiers and boarders on the way. He is going to be a busy man this weekend.

At 9:00 there were easily over 100 people in line for the free tickets. The slopes have a great base from the new snow making equipment and groomed smooth by the new groomers. The new triple and quad chairs are now moving and every chair is full. In a few moments the empty slopes will be marked with the first tracks of the season for Hidden Valley. I walked into the slopeside restaurant and although there were just a few people having coffee the smiling ladies at the grill looked a little anxious about the growing amount of visitors. I think by 11:30 getting a table here will be at a premium. As I worked my way back to my car an endless stream of skiers were walking to the lodge and the cars are now being directed to the overflow lots. I am sure this day will test the staff and systems in dealing with this big of a turnout, so I hope you are patient with them as to want to please all of you, especially the new and come back visitor. Take note, if you plan on skiing over the weekend come early and enjoy the day. It is truly a HAPPY DAY at HIDDEN VALLEY. Make sure you check out their web cam!!

12 Ridgeview $107,000

1929 South Ridge $267,500

8 Lake View $150,000

5107 Summit Drive $210,000

1145 Tanyard $145,000

SO the first successful joint venture offering season pass holders more bang for their buck goes to Hidden Valley and Wisp. Yes, we were hoping to see this type of offering with resorts in PA first but hey it's a start! Hidden Valley and Wisp are offering pass discounts that end October 31, 2008. To give you an idea of cost (posted on their sites) HV is offering an adult pass at $419 and Wisp is at $569.

Here's how it works. If you have a an "unlimited Season pass" at either resort you will receive "ONE complimentary full day NON-holiday lift ticket with a 50% discount off regularly priced lift tickets for additional visits to the other resort. Available Sunday through Friday (NO SATURDAYS)."

Let see how they stack up. Hidden Valley (according to their web site) has 700 vertical feet with 28 runs covering 140 skiable acres. That's all serviced by one quad, two triples, three doubles, two surface lifts, and four handled tows. Snowboarders are welcome on all runs and in the terrain park.

There are 80 new TechnoAlpin fan guns and 5 miles of water lines, a new Dopplemayer CTEC quad in place of the Blizzard and Lightning doubles, and two loading conveyors. The resort has two new Pisten Bully groomers and a Zaugg half pipe cutter, and also replaced the entire ski and snowboard rental inventory.

Wisp mountain resort offers 32 slopes and trails with a total of 132 skiable acres, including the Pro Terrain Park, Rail Park and Super Pipe, Whip Saw Terrain Trail, and new Terrain Gardens mini parks.

Wisp has 700 feet of vertical off a 3,115-foot summit, with terrain weighted slightly toward beginner (41 percent), with 28 percent intermediate and 31 percent advanced. You'll find two quad chairs, five triple chairs, three carpets, and four surface tows serve the trails. Their Ski Patrol has an awesome page on the site check it out!

Wisp is proud of its automatic snowmaking system that covers 90 percent of trails and relies on computer controls and weather stations around the mountain. Night skiing is offered on 90 percent of the terrain. Even though it's in Maryland it's just 45 miles from Hidden Valley. They also offer many more eateries and shops. Try it out and report back!

1214 Veech Lane $124,500

4508 Alpine Woods $220,000

1306 West Ridge $300,000