Super Bowl Sunday can mean only one thing....snow tubing!  Well, maybe two things, but you get the idea.  Every year we have a family outing to Blue Mountain in Pennsylvania to have some fun and go snow tubing.  Now, why on Super Bowl Sunday you might ask.  I'll tell you why, because, historically speaking, when we've gone on Super Bowl Sunday the crowds have been almost non-existent.  We go first thing in the morning for a half day session, therefore we are all able to get home by lunchtime, which is plenty of time to take a shower, maybe a nap, and generally get ready for whatever plans you may have for the big game later in the day.

 

This event is a family event for the pack so all family members are welcome. The cost is $25 per person. It also looks like it’s a one price fits all so there is no cheaper rate for younger kids. Also, Kids must be taller than 36".  To pay for this outing by credit card please visit the pack's PayPal page and click on the Blue Mountain Snow Tubing button.

 

Full payment for the tickets needs to be made to the ticket office several days before the outing, therefore I’ll need a head count of who is coming, as well as payment, prior to ordering the tickets.  After I order the tickets I will then have the ticket office FedEx the tickets to me so I can receive and distribute them prior to Sunday.  If I don’t hear from someone prior to purchasing the tickets then I’ll assume your family won’t be attending.  If you decide to participate after the tickets are purchased you’ll still be able to attend, but you’ll have to go to the mountain and buy the tickets yourself (for regular price) when you get there.

 

This is a rain or shine event.  In other words, after we actually buy the tickets each family will be responsible for paying for their tickets even if they decide at the last minute not to go due to weather, etc.  If the weather looks truly bad enough for Super Bowl Sunday AND we have not yet bought the tickets, we may cancel this event. If we do then we will not reschedule it.

 

As far as the event, the mountain is about 1 – 1 ½ hours from here, depending on traffic, etc. The tubing area is all the way down the bottom of the hill at Blue Mountain.  If you turn into the first parking area (Summit Lodge) you’ll be at the ski area. When you get to the correct parking area (you’re looking for the Adventure Center) head all the way to the back since that’s where the tubing lodge is. The other building in that parking lot is one of the skiing lodges (Valley Lodge). The lodge at the base of the tubing area has bathrooms, lockers for storage, a rudimentary cafeteria with basic food, coffee, hot chocolate, tables, etc.

 

Dress warmly, and in layers. The temp can warm a lot as the day progresses. It can also be very bright if the sun is out so sunglasses, and even sunblock, might be a good idea. Consider some dry clothes for the ride home. Also, even though it’s winter remember to hydrate yourselves.

 

Get to the mountain as best as you see fit. Carpool, go it alone, caravan with other cars, whatever works. Unlike some other outings we do, there is no meeting, no uniforms, no formality, no pre-tubing pep talk. When you get to the mountain just head out for some fun. You will bump into other members of the pack throughout the day (hopefully not literally). The tickets are good until 11:00. Now, for all the years I’ve been there I’ve never been bounced out by the tubing police for overstaying my welcome by a little bit. I’m not saying to linger unnecessarily past the departure time, but use your good judgment on whether you want to push the time envelope.

 

ALL scouts are required to have signed liability forms for Blue Mountain prior to being let on the tubes. Here are the links to the forms. Print them, fill them out, and bring them with you to the mountain:

 

Snow Tubing Release Form

Snow Tubing Parent Liabilty Form

 

Below is a link which will have more information, directions, etc.

 

Blue Mountain Snow Tubing Information