Although the two areas are separated by a few miles they have many similarities. Both boast 100% snowmaking, both feature night skiing, both have 400-foot half pipes, both have tubing, and both have plenty of uphill capacity with nine lifts each.

The similarities end there. Jack Frost has twice as many trails as Big Boulder and 125 feet more vertical, although Big Boulder's actual summit is higher. Jack Frost is arguably steeper and has more black diamond and intermediate terrain, trail counts aside. But don't discount Big Boulder. It's a wonderful place to learn and improve and features a delightful beginners' area separate from the main slopes but handy to the lodge. Big Boulder also overlooks a lake, which adds a distinctive feel to the place. But the Poconos look pretty from the top of either mountain.

Big and varied terrain parks at both mountains complement the half pipes, and each mountain has lift-served tubing. Big Boulder's lodge is at the base of the mountain; the lodge at Jack Frost is at the top. Fortunately so is the beginner terrain.