Too much snow can actually prove to be a problem for the ski industry.
While Sunday’s storm delivered the deep powder that Northeast Pennsylvania ski resorts spend all year wishing for, it also presented a logistical puzzle.
For regional mountain managers, the day became a study in contrasting philosophies. Some opted to close to ensure safety, while others deployed aggressive tactics — including booking hotel rooms for their own staff — to keep the lifts spinning through the whiteout.
“The safety of you, our team members, and local first responders is our top priority,” Nick Delich, Blue Mountain’s director of mountain operations, said in a video message to customers in which he announced the Palmerton resort would shut down Sunday and open Monday at noon.
Elk Mountain in Union Dale, Susquehanna County, also powered down the ski lifts and waited out the storm by closing at the height of it.
“It’s crazy to have a ski area and remain closed due to too much snow and cold temperatures” Elk Mountain General Manager Gregg Confer admitted on the resort’s Facebook page. “However, if we actually receive the snow that they are predicting, we will have problems with getting our staff here to open the resort.”
While those two ski resorts chose to close for business on Sunday, two other regional resorts took different approaches to remain open for skiers to get fresh tracks as the snow fell at inch-an-hour clips or faster throughout the day.
By booking hotel rooms for staff, officials at Montage Mountain in Scranton removed the worker commute that forced the other resorts to close.
Montage opened as planned Sunday but ended operations at 3 p.m. to prepare for business Monday as many schools and businesses closed.
“Bring your powder howls,” officials posted to visitors, referring to the enthusiastic yells some skiers let out when enjoying good snow.
Friends Caitlin Rudalavage and Lana Celli, both of Dunmore, ride the ski lift at Montage Mountain Resorts in Moosic Tuesday, January 27, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Skis rest on the bottom of the slopes at Montage Mountain Resorts in Moosic Tuesday, January 27, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Snowboarders make their way to the slopes at Montage Mountain Resorts in Moosic Tuesday, January 27, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Friends Caitlin Rudalavage and Lana Celli, both of Dunmore, ride the ski lift at Montage Mountain Resorts in Moosic Tuesday, January 27, 2026. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Jack Frost and Big Boulder in Kidder Twp., both owned by Vail Resorts, chose to shrink their footprint to stay operational. The resorts shifted available staff to Jack Frost as a tactical strategy to keep that resort operational. Both resorts opened Monday with about two feet of fresh powder on the slopes.
As thrilled as Blue Mountain operators were to see more than a foot of powdery snow, the resort does not have lodging. Delich did not want customers or staff to get stranded at the mountain or experience trouble on roadways state officials were urging people to avoid driving on, he said.
“We will not put our guests in that situation,” he said.
When Blue Mountain reopened Monday, the roads were safer to navigate and the ski conditions were excellent, resort officials said.
They therefore left a number of trails ungroomed so skiers could enjoy the fresh powder.
Whatever approach the resorts took on Sunday, the snowstorm set the stage for postcard-like scenes on the mountains early this week, with slopes full of skiers and several feet of pristine snow awaiting them.
TUESDAY’S SKI CONDITIONS
Blue Mountain: Base, 36-48 inches; Trails open, 40; Lifts operating, six; conditions, machine-groomed packed powder.
Elk Mountain: Base, 48-65 inches; Trails open, 27; Lifts operating, five; Conditions, machine-groomed packed powder.
Jack Frost and Big Boulder: Base, 42-51 inches ; Trails open, 33; Lifts operating, seven; Conditions, not available.
Camelback: Base, 16-60 inches; Trails open, 36; Lifts operating, seven; Conditions, powdery.
Montage: Base, not available; Trails open, 28; Lifts operating, six; Conditions, not available.