***SNOW UPDATES***

Updated Entry 04/05/06: The snow is falling again in the mountains of New England and some resorts have picked up substantial amounts. The new snow (more possible in the next 48 hours) should make this weekend a fantastic one for spring skiing. I am taking to opportunity to make my final charge of the season and suggest you do the same.

photo courtesy of Jay Peak, taken yesterday

SNOW TOTALS for the past 48 hours form Snow Country
Maine
Saddleback – a foot!
Sunday River – 5 to 10 inches
Sugarloaf ~ reggae fest this weekend! – 16 inches!
New Hampshire
Bretton Woods – 11 to 12 inches
Loon Mountain – 1 inches yesterday, no doubt more today yet to be reported.
Waterville Valley – 7 inches
Wildcat – 11 to 16 inches
Vermont
Jay Peak – 10 inches
Killington – 9 inches
Mount Snow – 5 inches
Okemo – 2 to 4 inches
Smuggler’s Notch – a half foot
Stowe – 6 to 8 inches
Stratton Mountain – 5 inches
Sugarbush – a half foot
This is your time, get out there and ski!
Killington Update: Outer Limits is still wall to wall snow. This coming weekend is the last for Bear Mountain. The area of the resort will close the lifts and lodge down for the season this Sunday. No doubt the place to be in Saturday, the Drop Kick Murphy’s are playing and there is an event Spring Loaded which features a $5,000 cash purse. Elsewhere around the resort: Superstar and the Canyon are still holding there own…
Jay Peak ~ Inside Track: They are having a 2 for 1 deal for this weekend (ski/ride this Saturday, April 8th and get a free ticket for Sunday, April 9th. Good on full Adult & Junior tickets ($58/$42) and Other Mountain Passholder rates ($38 Adult/$32 Junior). The word on the lifts is that Valhalla, Kitz Woods, Beaver Pond, and Andre’s Paradise are all looking good. For open trails Jet and Haynes are the picks. There may be a Pond Skimming event this weekend…
Sugarloaf weather update: If you are heading to Reggae Fest Jim Roemer’s ski blog has some good info up for the weekend, check it out on www.bestskiweather.com.
Hope you all get to visit the snow one last time this weekend. Season ending report to follow early next week.
Think Spring,
S.G.
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With snow pretty much out of the forecast we all mine as well think spring. The Guru loves skiing in sunshine and 55 degree temperatures. The next few weekends are always the best of the season. Any self respecting skier should be absolutely fired up to head north!
Think of spring skiing in New England as a time to reminisce, the season that was. Tell your tales from the past winter on the snow with friends on a deck, while enjoying a burger and a beer. Sleep in as the snow softens after a night of mischief out and about. It truly does not get any better…
The Beat Goes On: Thinking about golf and fishing? Stop! The skiing is fantastic right now and the New England Areas are still spinning the lifts. Honestly, the spring is a phenomenal time to hit the slopes. I can say with 100% confidence that we are currently experiencing the best conditions we have seen this season. This is because we are getting exactly what we should expect for spring.
Q: What is that we expect?
A: Fantastic soft bumps, corn snow, morning groomies, beers and burgers on the decks, exceptional entertainment and events, and Sunshine coupled with pleasantly warm temperatures!
As much as I loath the ‘base depth’ stat (worst in the industries reporting practices – how can it be quantified?) there is still huge amounts of snow at the areas the put efforts into manufacturing the said during December, January and February. Some even had the guns on well into March. Which mountains are these? Take a look at Snow Country and it will be evident. But, herein I will tell you about some of my favorites to hit up this April.
Killington, VT – The 26th Annual Mogul Challenge will be held this weekend, April 1st & 2nd. It is an Open competition; meaning anyone can enter and try to compete with some of the best bump skiers in the East, first come first serve (probably full by the time you read this). There are only two hundred slots and there is a registration fee. Check the Killington website events section for more details. The lot scene will be in need of patrols with loud “Slow Down” whistles. The competition will be fierce.
Besides playing host to one of the East’s largest events on the snow Killington offers tremendous skiing and riding longer than any other area in New England, sometimes even in June! Some of my picks are as follows. Stick to the skiers left on Superstar. (I should be easily spotted in the weekends ahead from the quad hugging the rope.) The Canyon (afternoon) also has great snow duration as the days grow warmer and longer, trails like East Fall are the first that snow is made on, way back when people were trying to plan a Halloween custom. Bear Mountain is also a safe haven if you want big, soft bumps. Get up there and enjoy. Oh yeah, they also have a little thing called Bourbon Street North (the access road and the night life it provides).
Stratton, VT – With their two large spring events in the rear view mirror the place will have a more laid back feel. Crowds will be sparse, yet friendly, and there is still a ton of snow to be had all over the mountain. Check their website for great deals on lodging packages. When I lived in VT near the area I used to hike it for a couple of runs each evening after work once the ski area closed. The Forest Service contract expires and the lifts stop spinning mid April, but Stratton holds snow well into May. There a ton of dinning and entertainment options you can explore both on and around the mountain as well as 11 miles down the road in Manchester. (If she likes shopping turn her loose on the outlets there while you shred.)
Sugarloaf, ME – The 18th annual Budweiser sponsored Reggae Fest takes place next weekend, April 6th – 9th. There is no doubt in my mind that there will be enormous, boisterous crowds as the steel drums are fired up. This is a celebration of spring skiing and reggae music like no other in the East. The resort always brings in quality acts. This year the line up of acts is impressive. Spiritual Rez on Thursday night and Jah Ni, Vibe Wise and Dub Station on Friday night. Saturday, Jah Ni and Vibewise along with Toussaint and the China Band will perform on The Beach in front of the Sugarloaf Base Lodge during the daylight hours. After dark things really get hopping with TruMystic, Toussaint and the China Band, Fear Nuttin, Westbound Train, and Pressure Cooker performing on stages in the Widowmaker Lounge and the King Pine Room.
For more information (show times & rates) check their website. PS ~ Must Have on your visit: The Cheeseburger Soup (Sunday’s only) at The Bag.
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Besides my recommendations above there are a ton of other good skiing options in the mountains of New England. Again, if you have been keeping up on the blog all season you know what my deal is (specifically snowmaking this year) and I will reiterate yet again, check Snow Country. The statistics to look at are percentages of open terrain and trail counts.
Currently, places like Jay Peak, Okemo, Stowe, Smuggler’s Notch and Sugarbush are still doing great in Vermont and should be in the weeks ahead. Sunday River and Saddleback are still going strong in Maine. New Hampshire is getting the job more than done at resorts like Attitash, Bretton Woods, Cannon, Loon, Sunapee, Waterville Valley and Wildcat. These are all viable choices for fun under the sun on the slopes in the weeks ahead. Some are offering great spring deals if you do a little research on your company’s time/dime via their websites.
More Events: Check these links to find out what else is happening at your favorite resorts for the rest of the season.
Ski Maine
Ski New Hampshire
Ski Vermont
Get out this weekend for some spring like conditions and bring the sun block. There is a rumor of a little rain, but do not let such dampen your skiing spirits. I am thinking it will be a miss. Tip = take the goggles and hat off on the lift to avoid the raccoon eyes.
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Great DEAL: Any old New England blowhard will be more than happy to tell you here in New England we see one REALLY good snow year every five seasons. The last one of these was 01/02. Remember? Well guess what? That will be five years ago this coming season (and we have not had a noteworthy one since), so my advice to you is to get on your edges early and start planning with friends.
ASC has already priced out there ALL FOR ONE PASSES for 06/07 and it is a great deal, again. Supplies are limited at the cut throat early bird rates. On sale now through May 2nd. The Bronze Pass starts at $365.
Q: What does one get you?
A: Killington, Mount Snow and Pico in Vermont; Sunday River and Sugarloaf/USA in Maine; and Attitash in New Hampshire. Combined, the resorts represent 676 trails, 101 lifts, 4296 acres, and 260 miles of skiing and riding across three states.
Visit the ASC ALL FOR ONE PASS website for more information and to purchase. Think about taking down a ski house next winter and getting yourself out of the city and on the slopes!
Stay tuned more to come next week!
If you love corn snow, do not hang em up.
S.G.