Longest ski season in the East and West!

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Bragging rights are earned in the ski biz by claiming the longest ski season. A serious commitment to snowmaking and man power are required to ski from Halloween to Memorial Day, Mother Nature's cold support helps too.

Killington has stepped up to the plate the past few seasons. This winter, Killington hosted the most skiing in New England, 199 days from October 24, 2013 to May 18, 2014. The Beast of the East had an even longer season the previous year, October 14, 2012- Memorial Day May 27, 2013.

For other late spring skiing resorts in the East, Jay Peak stayed open for Mother's Day skiing closing May 11, 2014. Sugarloaf closed May 4, Sunday River's last day of skiing was April 20 and Bretton Woods gave free skiing on Patriots day April 21. The good news for New England skiers and riders is that Killington, Sunday River, and now Jay Peak and Sugarloaf are all vying for longest ski season bragging rights. The winners - skiers!

2013-14 was a super cold and snowy winter for much of the North East. The Weather Channel exhausted its A-Z snowstorm names across the country starting with Atlas, to #26 Zephyr that dumped 43 inches of snow in Colorado May 10-13. That became rain that wiped out the East remaining skiing.

Still skiing out west is Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, Mt Hood Timberline and Mt Bachelor in Oregon, Mammoth in California, and Snowbird Utah. Aspen's Ajax will reopen for Memorial Day weekend skiing since they have so much snow.

After those last sweet spring corn snow turns, pack your snowboard and ski gear away properly, clean & dry, so you are ready to ski next October. Halloween skiing is just a few months away!

While you are waiting for next winter, check out our Family Ski Resort Vacation Guide and our latest Luxury Ski Vacation recommendations to plan your next ski vacation.

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Ski season continues through Easter & Patriots Day

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If you were prepping your taxes or raking your yard last weekend, you missed some of the best skiing all year. Sunshine, soft snow, spring parties and pond skimming, and then it snowed on Sunday in the higher elevation mountains. So have no fear, there is still more New England skiing on tap. 14 ski resorts are still spinning in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Last year  on Tax Day there were only 9 ski resorts remaining in the game.

Easter Sunday will be the grand finale for most, although given the quaintly of snow, a few ski areas have pledged to keep going beyond Patriots Day Monday April 21.

In Maine, Sugarloaf, Sunday River and Saddleback are all open and planning fun events for Easter Sunday.  Sugarloaf has East Coast Pond Skimming next Saturday, and $59 lift ticket for the remainder of the season.  Sunday River will have free skiing Patriots Day Monday April 21 as their season finale.

For New Hampshire ski areas, Bretton Woods is closed midweek, but will reopen for April 19-21 with special Patriots Day ticket prices of $17.76 on Monday April 21 including a bonus voucher for early season next winter.  Cannon and Loon are both 61% open this week through Easter weekend. Wildcat vows to keep going, but will close Tuesday April 15 given the forecast, reopening Wednesday with $40 midweek tickets.

In Vermont ski country, Jay Peak, Mount Snow, Smugglers Notch, Sugarbush, Stowe and Stratton are still skiing on more than 50% of their terrain. Stowe will host its 60th Easter Sunrise Service, and lift tickets through April 20 are just $49 - a steal for Stowe. Killington  is on ski day 174, and plans to keep going as late as snow allows, with Nor'Beaster Pond Skimming this Saturday and Easter services Sunday.

Be sure you know before you go, as conditions and operating hours change unexpectedly in spring. These are the bonus days of winter, especially when the snow softens to creamy corn and you shed layers and feel the sun shine in. Watch the forecast, as the right temperatures and clear skies make or break a spring ski day. 

See you on the slopes. As published on www.Boston.com/ski 

by Heather Burke www.familyskitrips.com  & www.luxuryskitrips.com 

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Thanksgiving Skiing!

Feels like winter. I don't know about you, but I am thinking Black Friday should be redubbed White Friday!

Cold temperatures and snow are sweeping across the nation, predicted to continue this Thanksgiving week. Mother Nature has obviously flipped the weather switch to winter. Skiers can give thanks this year as Turkey Day will be particularly chilly, and Black Friday more and more ski resort in the East & West are open for skiing and riding. 

18 New England ski resorts have already opened for skiing and riding this November, compared to only 9 at this time last season. Out west, Grand Targhee Wyoming is wide open with fresh snow, as is Wolf Creek Colorado. Big Sky Montana already has significant base and opens Thanksgiving day, ahead of schedule.

In New England, Killington has the most trails open (29), Sunday River and Sugarloaf in Minae are skiing on 21 and 22 trails each. New Hampshire's Bretton Woods, Loon, Waterville Valley, Wildcat are all open, Cranmore will reopen Friday. Vermont has the most ski resorts currently spinning lifts: Killington, Stowe, Okemo, Mount Snow, Stratton, Smugglers Notch and Sugarbush. Bromley and Jay Peak will re open Friday. Wachusett in Massachusetts is open, Jiminy Peak will reopen Friday.

Wouldn't you rather celebrate White Friday in the mountains on fresh snow and fresh air, than the BlackFriday rat race?! Burn calories from over stuffing yourself on Thanksgiving day.

Stay tuned for Black Friday lift ticket deals, call 'em White Sales, in your inbox in the next few days as ski resorts lure away from the shopping mall blow outs to their snowy alpine slopes!

Happy snowy Holidays!   See you on the slopes. Heather @ FamilySkiTrips & LuxurySkiTrips

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Skiing at 80 …

Read Heather's article about skiing at 80+. No we are not talking 80mph, though Klaus Obermeyer claims to ski his age every year in mph - and he's over 80. That just seems crazy. No, this is a ski story about a great guy Heather met on a windy lift ride at Wildcat...

Skiing at 80 …

For photos of that great ski day at Wildcat, see our Wildcat ski photo gallery

Happy trails...

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The Saddleback secret

We love discovering snowy places, ahead of the curve and the crowd...this special Maine resort begins with an S like the other big boys ..but it has something special...soft snowy glades, untracked cord late in the ski day...and an old school vibe...

Read Heather's review of the gem in the Rangeley Lake region...and go there now...the snow is good, and the sunsets from the Loon Lodge are lovely...

The Saddleback secret

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Skiing & St. Patrick's Day?

What do St Patrick's day and skiing have in common? Not much...but I love both...read my blog!

Deals a-plenty on St. Patrick's Day - The Ski Guru Blog

and wear green to select ski slopes on March 17 St Patty's and you could score a $17 lift ticket!

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