Liberty Mountain

 Liberty does more to use its terrain than any other area I have visited.  The runs blend nicely into each other so one can use the entire vertical, and the landscaping makes the runs feel longer than they really are.  Each run has character and there is a nice progression in difficulty from one to the next.  

The snowsports school has a very thorough training program, with more representation among the PSIA staffs than any other area with its vertical.  Instructors have clinics available throughout the day, unless customer demand requires all instructors to teach.  The school technical staff shadows lessons and works to maintain quality and consistency among lessons.  The staff is large, but mostly part-time. There is an excellent chance that your instructor works full time as an attorney, doctor, dentist, or senior military officer.

Many customers come from DC and the suburbs, so there are many international guests, especially from embassies, consulates, IMF and the World Bank.  As a result the amenities are upscale for a small resort.

Lift lines on the front side of the hill can be long on crowded days, and one must take a lift up the front side in order to access the back of the mountain.  Lines on the back, where there is an outdoor eating and restrooms, but no lodge, are usually very short.

Snowmaking is excellent, and grooming has been better this season than in the recent past.  Grooming had deteriorated for a couple of years after the company had acquired Whitetail, and sent its best groomers there, but lately the groomers at Liberty seem to have gotten the knack of great grooming.  The man-made bumps on Lower Eastwind, a moderate blue slope, are excellent, and just about the right size for great challenge and practice.

Lodge food is reasonably priced for a ski area, with a cafeteria and pizzeria in the main lodge, as well as a separate tavern, which serves drinks and has table service for food.

Oct 8, 2009

Ski Liberty has been my home mountain for over 30 years.  If it hadn't been for the convenience of Ski Liberty (55 minutes door to door), I wouldn't be as passionate about skiing as I am.

The area although vertically challenged (~600 feet) takes pride in being well managed.  The first thing a guest notice is how well the facilities are maintained.  This includes buildings, grounds, terrain and snow making.  With this said, for some reason, the grooming can be hit or miss, which usually is a contention with most Liberty regulars.  However, I view it as a challenge which will help improve my skiing when I go ski bigger and more varied terrain elsewhere.

Thirty minutes are added to each daily lift ticket (whether 4 or 8 hours) at the time of purchase, so that guest do not feel rushed when preparing to get ready to ski.  For example, an 8 hour lift ticket purchased at 10:30 AM  would be valid until 7:00 PM.   As with  most ski areas which offer a choice between 4 and 8 hour tickets, the price differential between a 4 hour ticket and an 8 hour ticket is disappointing.  However, the flexible start time for each ticket although not unique to Liberty, is still quite welcomed and progressive for the industry.

Lift tickets, Advantage Cards and Season Passes are valid at Liberty, Roundtop and Whitetail.  I see very little advantage in purchasing a ticket at Liberty and then driving, for example, an hour or half an hour to ski at one of our sister areas, although I once did meet a skier who bought a ticket at Roundtop, skied there for two hours, drove to Liberty to ski another two hours and was going to finish up at Whitetail.  With this said, even if you stacked all three mountains one on top of the other, the total vertical would come out at just about 2000 feet.  In addition, Advantage Cards and Season Passes enjoy discounts at several other Eastern mountains. 

Shortness of the trails are offset by the varied ski terrain available.  There are steeps, bumps, a  terrain park and the ever favorite groomed runs.  Runs are interesting and rarely cut straight down the fall line, but not winding and meandering either.  Liberty lacks glade skiing, although, I've seen tracks winding into lightly treed areas when natural snow is deep. Note that deep natural snow doesn't happen but once every 10-15 years.  The area is well laid out, with the more advanced slopes located on the back side of the mountain.  The back side has it's own small refreshment counter with bathrooms so that it is not necessary to return to the main lodge until one is ready to leave.  Two fixed quads are situated on the back, thus providing for short lift lines even for weekend mornings.  However, after lunch, during the weekends, it can get packed.  A fixed quad from the front provides for transport to the back side as well as to terrain from the top to the front. Two runs with short steep pitches takes the advance skier down the front to the main lodge, while a long intermediate trail takes the less adventurous skiers to the front side bottom.

The beginner area is located on the front of the mountain, with it's own fixed quad and a magic carpet. Another fixed quad serving terrain for beginner/intermediates is also located on the front side.  A word to the wise, it can get windy and chilly on the front side, so dress appropriately.

By the way, a tubing park is also available to those interested or with small children.

I would not recommend distant skiers making a special trip to experience Liberty, but if one is in the vicinity, a day spent on the slopes here should bring a smile to your face.