I'm an intermediate snowboarder (very intermediate, only coming into my 2nd year) and expert skier. How is Timberline in comparison to HV and 7S or other resorts 'in the area'?

I don't really like 7S personally. Im mostly riding my board and the park doesnt interest me just yet unless they offer some small jumps. 7S is rather populated, even during the weekdays;however, I do venture there during the end of the season as it calms down alot.

Holiday Valley last year at the end of the season was pretty enjoyable; however, 1/3 of the place was operational even though they had significant amounts of snow left. I would have enjoyed checking out all their variations as, I grew up at 7S and really find it rather dull as it's pretty much the same with a few trails on all that land. Someone suggested I check it out while on the lift at 7s, the next week I booked at Holiday Valley and his comments that it was laid out much better were spot on; however, again had they been fully open I probably would have agreed 100% but just basing on what I could see and ride, I would say it was still worth the 4 hour trip.

Hidden Valley I like because although it is a VERY limited run, there is nice variation. I love their north summit, only wish it was open more. I chose to get a season pass here this year instead of 7S because of the variation, price, and more laid back way there..not to mention, even when very busy I only have to walk a very limited amount and I'm slopeside.

Snowshoe is, well snowshoe. I have fond memories of snowshoe when I was young. To me this was the 'big resort' that we vacationed at, although at the time the amount of slopes wasn't THAT much different than what I was used to however the snow was certainly better. Fast foward to today, and things have changed much. Not sure 100% for the better but the size is worth the visit, not to mention the usually earlier opening that the rest of the resorts.

Timberline, honestly I heard of it, checked out a trail map and thought, why I have more locally 45 mins from my house, but now I'm on this kick that I have to visit new places and try new things. Go figure. I'd love to checkout this place and wonder if it is worth it. Most likely I would day trip it from Pittsburgh rather than spend the money on staying until I know it's all good.

Timberline is best day trip from sw PA. Great old school ambiance. Trail, rather than slope-type layout. Good variety, snow, views. And, not having to navigate 2 more hours of Rt. 219 to Snowshoe makes Timberline well worth the trip.

Pros:

The best natural snow in the Mid Atlantic (Snowshoe may be tied.) Generally the least icy surface of any Mid A area.

Legit 1000 foot of vertical, with not too bad run-out on the bottom. (Runout depends upon what route you take.)

Less crowded than Wisp, 7 Springs, Snowshoe, Whitetail, etc. on weekends. Ghost town on weekdays.

Legit and often challenging glade skiing (official and unofficial) throughout the entire mountain.

By midseason, 2 or so challenging bump runs. Sometimes there are snowmaking whales. Good intermediate cruisers.

Con's:
Slowest lifts known to man. 13 minutes or so to ride to the top!

Run-down lodge. Poor food. Unpaved, barely graded parking lot.

Not exactly known for customer service, but that is more a reflection on ownership, rather than the people working there. It's difficult to get status information, etc.

Park features are below average. I'll let Tucker and a few others comment on that.

Sounds like Timberline would be a decent fit. But it would be a long day trip from Pittsburgh area. Consult Google Maps on that one.

What he said.... it's a very unique place, but a true skier's mountain. I'd say there are more upper level skiers/boarders here than on any other hill. (also more groups on weekends) Best time to go... anytime after a big dump, but don't be too late. All the local pow-pigs will beat you to the goods. I've been to most other mountains and t-line is my home mountain, even with the 3 hour drive every weekend. Why? Best snow, best vert, best glades, usually best bumps and whales, best friends. You don't go there for the anemities. It's all about the skiing.

They are all lying to you. It stinks, you wouldn't like it. Go to Canaan or maybe Winterplace instead...

opps! I forgot. We don't want more pigs there eating up our pow-pow...
Never mind what I said earlier

Hey... anybody know if all the guns are on 2 t-line? tucker? Chaga? Bruce?

just lookin out the window, but they are definetily blowin on base area, lower sally, mid down on white out...can't tell if they are blowing on upper lighting or upper sally, but that would be all they could do at one time...

Yeah for terrain park features t-line invests the least amount of money in the entire Mid-A (even Canaan has more rails and boxes--but Canaan's shapes are very poor). About 10 years ago they (We at the time) purchased 3 rails and 3 boxes for t-line and nothing has been purchased since. Hand Mainenance has always been top notch on snow features, but machine maintenance on large shapes was always last priority after grooming the pow down and viewed by mountain ops as a burden (somewhat rightfully since they only have 2 old machines)---until last season. Last season they were fortunate enough to luck into hireing a former Heavenly, CA park shaper to shape and maintain the parks. The shapes were outstanding all season...top notch resort quality from a guy who was shaping jumps for west coast magazine shoots. They even allowed him to change up the layout of the little park several times throughout the season. This year that fella has been made head groomer for the entire mountain and he has hired a former blowshoe employee who has 5 or so years experience grooming/shaping....hopefull they won't be too busy grooming the pow down and will have time to shape in the parks still. Last year I designed several new park features (boxes,rails) and we had fabrication priced out--nothing was purchased, but I am going to try to push again this season...it is really only a very small investment.

So for this season I would agree/disagree with John...way below average parks as far as quantity of features, but above average park as far as shape, layout, maintenance quality...oh yeah since we get snow up here and there is no one ever at t-line the shapes/landings are often hard pack snow, not ice.

...so addicted to Facebook...can't find the "Like Button"...but I like the post above^^^ So true.

to Tucker: Classic, but so true.