Snow Zone

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While Connecticut got the lion’s share of snow from this week’s nor’easter, most northern New England also picked hefty amounts of snow.

That means those heading up north for the Martin Luther King weekend will find prime conditions with most trails open. That’s a big change from a week ago when trail counts dipped below the 50 percent mark at some resorts. In fact, Mad River Glen in Vermont was closed about a week ago but has comeback after receiving nearly three feet of snow in the last six days.

Even more impressive is the 41 inches Killington in central Vermont got in the last five days.

After getting more than 40 inches of snow this week, This weekend, Killington plans to have more than 115 open trails and 21 lifts in operation.

This weekend there is also more snow in the forecast with light snow likely, daytime temperatures in the teens and 20s and light winds.

Stratton in southern Vermont is reporting 91 out of 92 trails open with 78 groomed. Stratton will celebrate the open terrain with fireworks Saturday night.

Okemo, also in Vermont, also expects to have 100 percent of its terrain for the weekend.

What’s also good is that it’s still early in the season with plenty of time to make plans to go skiing or snowboarding up north, but right here in Connecticut as well.

Or maybe up into Massachusetts where areas like Butternut, Catamount and Jiminy got nearly two feet of snow.

Jiminy got up to 32 inches of fluffy snow this week allowing it to open its 44 trails.

Because it’s a holiday weekend, ski areas will be charging higher prices for lift tickets; lower prices kick in on Tuesday.

While the MLK is a holiday period, it’s not as busy as Christmas/New Years or Presidents Week. And there are more specials than any other holiday time. Okemo is offering an online three-day ticket that can save $50 off the regular price.

It doesn’t get better than this in New England … get out and enjoy it …  I’m lovin’ this winter!

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It’s about time.

Connecticut ski areas got up to two feet of snow from this nor’easter. That hasn’t happened in years.

The totals:

Woodbury is reporting 25 inches. That should not only improve the skiing and snowboarding, but its snow tubing park.

Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall starts the day with 24 inches.

Ski Sundown in New Hartford checks in with 16 inches.

Mount Southington is planning a delayed opening after getting more than a foot.

Woodbury is reporting more than 18 inches. That should not only improve the skiing and snowboarding, but its snow tubing park.

Now it’s going to take a few hours for road conditions to improve.

By early afternoon, main roads should be in much better shape.

So if you got the day off and the kids are out of school, you can spend a few hours at a Connecticut ski area and take advantage of non-holiday midweek rates.

The best deal? $20 for a half-day ticket at Mohawk good for either 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

or 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The best bet might be Southington; it has a $25 ticket from 3 to 7 p.m. and its just off I-84′s exit 30.

At Ski Sundown the cheapest ticket costs $35 from 6 to 10 p.m.

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The snowfall accumulation forecasts are all over the map; 6-8 inches in Vermont, 10-15 inches in southwestern Connecticut, 12-16 around Boston and southern New Hampshire.

And for ski areas, if the forecast holds, the big winners should be Wachusett (outside Worchester, Mass.), southeastern New Hampshire areas like Ragged and most areas in Maine.

Southern Vermont areas like Mount Snow, Stratton and Okemo could pick up 8 inches.

And northern Vermont? Sorry, not this time.

Just in time for the busy Martin Luther King weekend.

A word of advice: if you have any plans to go skiing or snowboarding, make sure you check and see if a ski area is OPEN. Some areas, especially smaller areas, often close because of poor driving conditions that will keep most people home.

Also expect very windy conditions not only tomorrow, but Thursday as well as the monster storm heads up into the Maritime Provinces.

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What a great day to go out and enjoy winter! More than a foot of snow has fallen in some parts of Connecticut. And it was the nice, dry kind of snow that won’t break your pack while shoveling.

And the big winner with the highest accumulation? Mount Southington that reports a foot of fallen snow. Other Connecticut ski areas totals: Woodbury, 1o inches; between 5 and 6 beat Ski Sundown and Mohawk.

Even if you don’t ski, get out and enjoy the snow.

That sets the stage for good ski conditions across the East with mainly packed powder conditions. And an added bonus from this storm: not a lot of strong winds once it pulls away.

Most ski areas, however, have not yet hit the 100 percent mark for open trails. We needs some serious snow to achieve that.

VERMONT

Green Mountain State areas have been steadily picking up a few inches of snow every day or so. Areas with the most terrain open include Killington, Okemo, and Stratton.

Areas with limited snowmaking like Magic and Mad River Glen are struggling. Magic is down to five trails, but will likely expand terrain if they get the 8 inches forecasted.

MRG is in fact temporarily closed. Why?

Their dreary report this morning said:  ”While we picked up 2-3” of snow the other night and the mountain looks WAY better, the fact remains that it is pretty sketchy up there on the big hill. It’s a classic case of “dust on crust”, the snow we received was darn fluffy and merely covered a ton of ice and bare ground.  We certainly won’t be able to get the main mountain going until we get a fair amount of natural snow.”

Overall it’s definately worth the trip north at most Vermont areas.

The Vermont forecast is here.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Granite State areas have good coverage on most trails.  Areas with the most snowmaking power are in better shape including Mount Sunapee, Loon, Attitash, Bretton Woods and Waterville Valley.

BEST DEAL OF THE WEEKEND

Sunday at Mount Snow in southern Vermont when kids under 18, pay their age.  If a kid is 10, they get a lift ticket for only $10.

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Last Monday skiers and snowboarders enjoyed uncrowded slopes at Butternut in Great Barrington, Mass. Even sweeter are $25 midweek lift tickets.

It’s a new year and that also means people (who are fortunate to be working) have a full bank of vacation and personal days, not to mention those mental health days.

So why not take a day or a few days off and enjoy the pleasures of midweek skiing and snowboarding? Just look out your office window today and imagine how great it is on the slopes; bright sunshine, blue skies and perfect temperatures.

And then there are the added bonuses of no crowds, short liftlines and best of all: cheap lift ticket prices.

In Connecticut the best midweek rate going is at Mohawk Mountain where a half-day ticket (more than enough time for this small mountain) is only $20 bucks Mondays through Thursdays. Half-day sessions are 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.;  1 to 6 p.m.; or 4 to 10 p.m. Friday only has only one half-day session from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

At Mount Southington, the best deal is its $25 Sunset Ticket from 3 to 7 p.m,, but be warned most of the people there at that time are school kids trucked in by buses.

Just over the Connecticut border in Masschusetts, you can ski/ride for only $25 Mondays-Fridays at Butternut in Great Barrington. And at nearby Catamount, a Monday through Friday ticket is $27.

The lift line at Butternut's summit chair lift was less than a minute. The three other lifts has no lines throughout the day on Monday.

The best lift ticket prices at Jiminy Peak in northwestern Massachusetts are found by using e-coupons on specific dates, some on weekends. You just print them out and bring them to the ticket window. You can get an eight hour ticket for as low as $25 – a $34 savings.

For specific e-coupon dates click here.

At Okemo in Vermont, when skiers and riders purchase a lift ticket online, in advance, they can enjoy Okemo’s snow-covered slopes for just $39 on select Thursdays: Jan 6, 13, 20, 27. Note that one of those dates is tomorrow.

At Bromley also in Vermont, you can grab a midweek ticket for $44. There are many other deals found by clicking here.

At Mount Snow in southern Vermont, college students can only pay $29 this Thursday (Jan. 6) and next Thursday, Jan. 13. All they have to do is show a valid college ID.

The lowest ticket price of the season in Vermont goes to Mad River Glen with its Roll Back the Clock Day on Tuesday, Jan. 25. The price? Only $3.50.

At Magic Mountain in Londonderry, Vermont, a full day ticket is $39 on Mondays, Fridays and powder days.

Over in New Hampshire, there are several areas that offer 2-for-1 ticket deals. Areas include Bretton Woods, Cannon, Cranmore, Crotched, Mount Sunapee, Ragged and Waterville Valley.

For a complete list of Ski New Hampshire deals, click here.

By using these “two-fers” you can plan a mid-week winter getaway by visiting several areas, many a short distance from one another.

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Want to take your kids skiing or snowboarding but are a little short on cash?

Well here’s a deal for you … on Sunday at Mount Snow in southern Vermont, the price of a kid’s lift ticket is equal to their age. Meaning, a 13 year-old only pays $13 for a ticket.

The normal price of a junior lift ticket is $62.

The catch? The deal 0nly applies to kids 6-18. And, naturally, the parents have to pay the full price for a lift ticket, which is $79.

Meanwhile, Mount Snow is offering a contest where the winner gets a free $25,000 wedding.

The prize includes:

• Bridal Suite at the Grand Summit Hotel
• Groom’s lodging at the Grand Summit Hotel (on opposite side of hotel of course)
• Ceremony
• Grand Summit Hotel Ballroom for reception hall
• Cabot Cheese & Westminster Cracker appetizer station
• Duet plated entrée
• Commemorative wine glass favors from Catamount Glassware
• Floral Arrangements from Boyd Family Farm
• Wine provided by Honora Winery
• Photography by Ellen O’Connor
• Wedding Cake from Sticky Fingers Bakery
• Fireworks by Atlas Pyrovision

• Bridal Hair and Make Up by Mountain Styles Salon & Spa

• Limousine by Adventure Limo

• Hospitality baskets and petifores from the Vermont Country Deli
• Mini Honeymoon at the Attitash Grand Summit Hotel in New Hampshire.

Rules for entry are simple; tell Mount Snow why you deserve this amazing wedding. Accepted forms of entry are short videos or essays explaining your story.

The deadline for submissions is Monday (January 10).

Full details here.