TANNERSVILLE, Pa. – The Camelback Ski Area here in the Pocono Mountains may have only 800 feet of vertical, but it sure packs a lot of fun in that “banana belt” territory.

Camelback uses the slogan "something for everyone," and that's possible because all 33 trails are lighted for night use and 40 miles of pipe makes it possible to blow snow onto all 156 acres of terrain from 1500 snow guns. Think of that: 1500 snow guns!

And all that surface is served by 13 lifts, including two high-speed detachable quads.

There are many big numbers at Camelback.

For instance, the rental shop has 3,200 sets of skis -- 100 percent shaped -- plus 75 new pair of Salomon X Wing 700 high performance skis, and 1,100 new pair of Burton Progression snowboard boots and 900 Burton snowboards, 400 of those new this season.

Camelback is now a Burton LTR (Learn to Ride) Mountain.

Camelback has two terrain parks and two halfpipes, all lighted for nightime use. The terrain parks consist of over 25 rails including a new C box rail and a Rainbow Box rail into a Kicker, 4-5 hits and 22 X 16 foot Riding Wall.

New this season is a 13 foot walled halfpipe on Oak Grove, and the ski area has expanded the Rhodo Terrain Park by over 70 feet. There is expanded snowmaking in both parks, adding up to 12 new rails, and Camelback purchased a Zaugg halfpipe groomer.

The Halfpipe is groomed with a Zaugg groomer and Bombardier Halfpipe Grinder. Camelback will also be participating in the Burton Progressive Park program.

But with all this excitement, Camelback is also a place for families.

Babysitting is available for children from 12 months to age 4. Tiny tots, under 46 inches tall in boots, receive a free lift ticket, midweek or weekend/holidays, with a paying adult. And unlike many mountains, junior tickets extend up to age 18.

Sugar Bear is the full-day program for youngsters 4 to 7 years old, with a lift ticket, skis and boots, three hours of on-the-snow instruction, supervised play and lunch.

Ski Bear and Board Bear offer similar amenities for kids 8 to 12 years old. These are available on a first-come, first-served basis, but a limited number of slots can be reserved on the Camelback website no later than two days before the date selected.

At the height of the season Camelback has the Snow Cats program for intermediate to advanced skiers ages 8 through 16 on Saturdays and Sundays, with four hours of coaching.

Camelback boasts an extensive array of group lessons.

Midweek/non-holiday lessons at all levels are given at 10:15 and 2 p.m. and for beginners only at 6:15 p.m. Weekends and holidays that expands to 9 a.m., 10:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.

The rental shop has an express lane for anyone taking lessons, and the shop opens for everyone at 7:30 a.m.

And to add to the enjoyment, Camelback has 10 runs and four tows in its snowtubing park. Children 33 inches or taller may ride in family-sized tubes with an adult and single tubes are available to anyone 44 inches or taller.

To make all this as convenient as possible, snowtubing tickets cover three-hour slots which begin every hour. If you've skied or snowboarded at Camelback that day, and your ticket is still attached to your clothes, you can add three hours of tubing for $12, and if you've played on the snowtube and switch to skiing or riding the same day you get a $5 discount on your lift ticket.

Camelback has a NASTAR racing course, and an adult masters program including gate training, the Camelback Alpine Team for student athlete racers, and the Camelback Mountain School, a new freestyle based training program.

In addition, working with the Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports, Camelback has a full service adaptive ski program, open by appointment to guests with a wide range of disabilities, beginners to racers, age 4 and up.

To keep the fun going, Camelback runs special events. From a Pepsi Family Fun Day and later a Bacardi Promo on March 3; the Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge and a Corona Promo on March 10; and Pond Skimming and Retro Day, March 17. The weekend of the 10th and 11th is a Beach Party, and 17-18, Spring Fest.

This is, after all, snow's “banana belt.”

Pat Turner Kavanaugh is a reporter with the Newark, N.J., Star-Ledger and a past president of the Eastern Ski Writers Association.