I Left Tahoe for My Old Home Mountain in Pennsylvania, It Was Lovely

Pulling my buff down, I shouted over the wind and chatter of fellow skiers at the top of Camelback Resort's Stevenson Express lift, "Want to ski 'Nile Mile' like the good ol' days?"

My brother and mom shook their heads with approval. I think I heard one of them shout back, "Yeah! Sounds like fun," but I had already begun to ski away in excitement.

Nile Mile is, just as its name implies, a mile-long trail at Camelback, my once-home resort in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains. It's on this trail that I first recall carving, or at least making a somewhat competent ski turn. I was somewhere around the age of 13.

15+ years later, and the same smile erupted on my face as I carved turns back and forth on Nile Mile's excellent pitch and snow surface.

The mountain recorded 1-2 inches of natural snow overnight, and the impressive snowmaking system was active throughout the prolonged stretch of cold temperatures over the entire Holiday season.

It was New Year's Day, and while I didn't wait more than 10 minutes for a chair, I assumed that the trails would be in rough shape due to the volume of skiers. I was wrong.

Nearly all of Camelback's 30+ open trails skied as well, if not better, than I could ever remember. Well, come to think of it, there was an 8+ inch powder day when I was 17 or 18, but you get the point.

Marjie's Delight is a Black Diamond-rated trail that's accessible by Camelback's new Black Bear 6 Express lift, which, in case anybody is wondering how my butt felt riding it, is the most comfortable chair you will ever sit on. But back to Marjie's.

Marjie's is one of the first steep trails I remember attempting as a kid. Now, steep is relative when you grow up in Delaware and ski in Pennsylvania, but bear with me.

Before I started skiing trees and steeps in Vermont, Utah, California, etc., Marjie's is where I first overcame a fear on skis. That might seem comical after you watch the video below, but again, I was probably eight or nine years old.

Cut me some slack. Skiing this trail was a big deal for me back in the day.

Tap or click to watch below. Keep reading for more.

Video: Majie's Delight, Camelback Mountain, PA

Family Time

A therapist once asked me, "What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of skiing?"

"My family," I blurted out almost subconsciously.

I grew up in a small town in Delaware, about a two-hour drive from the closest ski resort. I knew other kids who went skiing occasionally, but it wasn't until college that I had a consistent group of friends to ski with.

Until the age of 21, nearly 100% of my days on skis were spent with at least one member of my family. Even on ski school days, when I would ski with kids my own age, my brother, dad, mom, and I would meet afterwards, and take a few laps together.

It's what the Lorelli family did, and still does, whenever given the opportunity.

On this particular day at Camelback, my dad, for whom I attribute my deep passion for skiing, was unable to join due to a recent surgery. He was sorely missed, but dang did I enjoy spending time with my mom and brother.

My brother and I broke off for the odd lap or two, but for the majority of the day, we skied together as a family. Another smile erupted across my face as my mom made turns down the wide and smooth 'Meadows' run on the far skier's left of the mountain.

We decided to call it just after Camelback's lights were starting to come on. We had a two-hour drive back home and were all more than satisfied with the dozen or so laps we took throughout the afternoon.

My brother ended the day with a verbal jab at me that brought back memories of our teenage years.

"He probably did something similar 15 years ago," I thought and smiled to myself.

Nostalgia, I have learned, is one hell of a drug.

Lunch at Trail's End Pub & Grille

Camelback's food options were limited back in my grom days.

I didn't care because we usually packed lunch, or I would convince one of my parents to buy me a waffle from the ever-taunting waffle cabin, but as an adult, I am happy to report that Camelback has upgraded in a good way.

Located at the bottom of the Stevenson Express, the relatively new Trail's End Pub & Grille has a sports bar vibe with delicious ski lodge fare. Prices weren't outrageous, the seating was comfortable, the food was delicious, the beers were cold, and a dozen TVs were showing various football games. It was, if I can use some dramatic language to describe a restaurant, awesome.

I recommend getting the "The Comeback Clucker: Crispy chicken thigh, chipotle pepper sauce, pepper-jack, smashed avocado, cilantro lime slaw, garlic aioli, brioche bun".

It's as good as advertised.

Skiing Is The Best.

"Wait. You live here but are traveling to Philadelphia with skis? Not the other way around?"

The Southwest Airlines employee who was checking my bags was understandably confused. I can't imagine there are many people who leave Lake Tahoe to go skiing in Pennsylvania, but alas, I did, and I would do it again.

A week later, and I feel very grateful that I paid to haul my skis back east and that Camelback was there to make my family ski day happen.

Skiing is the best. Skiing with family is even better.