Pocono Mountain Skiing

[bauerb]

PA has a concept of Game Lands. I don't know the exact definition. GL is somewhere between Designated Wilderness/Forest and a State Park. I can tell you that GL are very popular for hunting of all kinds. the GL are also actively logged and subject to controlled burns. PA also does not allow motor vehicles in the GL and specifically lists "E Mountain Bikes" as not allowed( which of course is a hot topic: is a an e-bike a motorcycle or bicycle?)

another place that I have run at 1 time was Promised Land State Park. I think there is a pretty big snowmobile scene up there. Prob decent skiing given enough snow

[lowangle al]

First ski of 2023 and first time out with my new T4s. Very minimal snow but the grassy logging roads skied pretty good. The T4s felt good. My average speed was not any less than I was getting with leather boots but control was significantly better as expected. I got in almost seven miles and 700 vertical with less foot pain than in leather.

The micro turns we’re tighter than they were with leather boots.

[lowangle al]

Skiing is good right now with 8-10 inches of fresh snow since last night. It should be good tomorrow and maybe Thursday. Get it while you can.

These pics where from Sunday, before the big snow today.

This new snow was wind driven, so it was dense enough for good coverage in the trees yet soft enough on top it skied like butter. Too snowy for pics today.

[randoskier]

You have a whole lotta snow headed your way??

[bauerb]

my Ring camera shows a few inches of new snow around Camelback...and evidence of lots of wind. did it snow more than a couple of inches?

[Montana St Alum]

PA also does not allow motor vehicles in the GL and specifically lists "E Mountain Bikes" as not allowed( which of course is a hot topic: is a an e-bike a motorcycle or bicycle?)

E-bikes have motors.
Electric motors.
Vehicles with motors aren't allowed.
I think it's silly not to allow them, but they are in that category of motorized vehicles.
Those regs seem to be slowly easing around the country.

Here in Utah, if you're over 65 or handicapped, you can ride an E-bike on singletrack. In another few years, I expect it'll open to everyone.

[connyro]

PA also does not allow motor vehicles in the GL and specifically lists "E Mountain Bikes" as not allowed( which of course is a hot topic: is a an e-bike a motorcycle or bicycle?)

E-bikes have motors.
Electric motors.
Vehicles with motors aren't allowed.
I think it's silly not to allow them, but they are in that category of motorized vehicles.
Those regs seem to be slowly easing around the country.

Here in Utah, if you're over 65 or handicapped, you can ride an E-bike on singletrack. In another few years, I expect it'll open to everyone.

In Michigan, we have Cfr/cfa land where it allows public access onto privately owned land in the program for non-motorized access for hunting, fishing, or trapping. Landowners get a big tax break on the property in return. The idea of non-motorized limits public access to some degree (can only hike so far or carry so much in a day) and keeps cfa land from getting trampled and overrun. It's a good balance, especially when considering the landowners may post motorized vehicle access if they choose. So when you ski on cfa land in Michigan, make sure to bring a fishing line and hook!

[bauerb]

I am biased due to bad experiences encountering people on e-bikes on single track in New Jersey. I'll stop caring about those encounters at some point.

[Montana St Alum]

I am biased due to bad experiences encountering people on e-bikes on single track in New Jersey. I'll stop caring about those encounters at some point.

I don't own one. My wife hates being passed by young guys on e-bikes when she's riding. She figures if a 69 year old woman can pedal up to 10,000 feet under her own power, they can too. I'm pretty agnostic on the whole thing.

[mca80]

E-bikes are not bicycles, imo, though this can be debated, but they are motorized vehicles. Pretty cut and dry. Non-motorized trails are not for them. I biked a loop around the Adironadacks several times and also down the pacific coast, carrying all my camping gear for weeks, etc. Potatoes gave me power, not a motor.