Lost & Overlooked Ski Areas - Apple Hill, Pennsylvania

The latest in the lost and overlooked ski area series.

During a recent family trip back east, my cousin Carolyn and I visited the remnants of Apple Hill Ski Area near Allentown, Pennsylvania. Apple Hill operated from 1962-1978 with 200+ vertical feet of skiing, a few surface lifts, night skiing, snowmaking, and an A-frame base lodge.

This modest hill developed a loyal following in the 16 years its lifts spun, and what it lacked in extensive terrain it made up for with community magic. Online commenters recalled learning to ski on its icy, moguled slopes, with many going on to make skiing a lifelong passion.

This ghost ski area, like anything that has sat abandoned in the northeastern woods for almost half a century, is being reclaimed by nature. Curious skiers and explorers taking time to thrash through the overgrowth will find rusting lift towers, old light poles, fragments of a rope tow, and remnants of snowmaking equipment. The exurban chateaus at the top of the hill offer a stark but familiar commentary on the tensions between development, affordability, and disappearing third spaces.

Over Memorial Day weekend, Carolyn and I set out to see what remained.

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Lost & Overlooked Ski Areas - Sicily

Piano Battaglia

Find links to all the places in my Lost and Overlooked Ski Areas series.

The Sicilian landscape is dotted with beaches, citrus groves, and ancient ruins. The Mediterranean island, only 100 miles from Africa in its southern reaches, feels worlds away from the snowy Alps and rugged Apennines of mainland Italy.

But if you explore further, you'll find possibly as many as four ski areas, opportunities for backcountry skiing, and at least one groomed cross-country track tucked into Sicily's higher elevations.  

 

Other than Nebraska, Sicily might be the most random place I’ve encountered skiing. As an avid skier, traveler, and dreamer, I am drawn to stories that challenge my assumptions. So, when I discovered skiing in Sicily, I immediately wanted to know more. Not just about the slopes and the runs, but about the people who ski there and what skiing means to the community.

Unsurprisingly, as is the case with skiing in most out-of-the-way destinations, information was hard to track down. If you can tell me more about skiing in Sicily, I would love to hear from you. Please leave your thoughts in the comments section of this post (You can do so anonymously), or you can contact me directly using the Get in Touch feature on the homepage of this blog.

After seeing a Sicilian ski area up close and doing some research, I suspect that if you're seeking bluebird days and polished resorts, Sicily is not the destination for you. For more adventurous, curious folks, this Mediterranean island offers the chance to make turns on an active volcano, swoosh down mountains with views of the Ionian sea, and explore ancient beech forests on skis. 

Here’s what I know...

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Lost & Overlooked Ski Areas - Nebraska

I'm fascinated with defunct ski areas and the idea of skiing in obscure places. I started the Lost and Overlooked Ski Area series in 2018 but had not added to it in a while. Recently, I was thinking about my only cross-country car journey via Interstate 80 - the first time I realized there is indeed skiing in Nebraska. So, I do have more to add to the lost ski area story.

Here is what I know about skiing in the Cornhusker State. If readers know more or have stories to tell, please leave them in the comments section of this post. (Account not required, you can post anonymously.)

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Lost & Overlooked Ski Areas - Bear Paw

Here's the latest in the Lost & Overlooked Ski area series.

Montana has may places to ski. Beyond the well-known ski resorts, there are a number of smaller, less resorty ski areas such as Lost Trail and Discovery. With ample terrain, decent to great snow, and a downhome feel, they draw ski enthusiasts looking for something new. While I have explored many of the primary and secondary ski areas in Montana, before Thanksgiving, I didn’t realize Montana has another tier of even smaller ski areas to check out.

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Lost & Overlooked Ski Areas - Montenegro

Part two of the series

I didn't expect to find ski lifts in Montenegro. Between its mild climate, small population and developing economy, I didn't think they'd have the luxury . I have made three trips to Montenegro since 2013 and it has me captivated. When  I found out there was skiing there I longed to know more about the people who share one of my biggest passions. So far, I've found out little. Here's what I do know.

Lost & Overlooked Ski Areas - New Jersey

Intro to the series

Lost & Overlooked Ski Areas

Žabljak, Montenegro - what's the story?

Of all of the places to ski in the world, skiers often forget about the lesser known spots where people practice the sport; the small ski areas, where many of us learned to ski, the abandoned ski areas whose lifts have long stopped running, and the ski areas we pass in unexpected places.