Snow Zone

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Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont is one of the areas offering discounted tickets to Connecticut Ski Council members this winter. Photo courtesy Yukon Kornelius/Okemo Mountain Resort.

The preliminary list of dates for ski areas offering discounted lift tickets is out.

And again, it’s absolutely the BEST DEAL going!

We’re talking about more than 50 percent off  tickets at such prime Vermont areas as Stratton, Okemo, Sugarbush and Killington, many of them on weekends.

How cheap? How about $34 ticket for Mount Snow on Sunday, Dec. 16? Or 44 bucks at Okemo on Sunday, Jan. 6? Or $43 at Killington on Sunday, Feb. 10? A steal when you consider the walk-up-to the-window price can be in high $80s-range. Ouch!

And many of the discount days are arranged so you can plan an affordable ski trip around these dates. Ski one cheap area one or two days; move ontoa nearby resort for its discounted day.

All you have to do is have a Connecticut Ski Council membership card, be at the designated ski resort … on the designated day … at the designated ticket window … and get you cheap ticket.  Yes, it’s that easy.

So easy, I’m always amazed at people griping about the high cost of lift tickets when they can, with some planning and flexibility,  save hundreds of bucks this winter.

The list is brought to you by the good folks of  the Connecticut Ski Council, a group of clubs through the Nutmeg State made up of people like you who have a good time on, and off the slopes.

All you have to do to reap the benefits of these cheap lift tickets is join a ski club. It’s not a huge investment; dues can be as low $30.

That will not only give you the coveted membership card (that you need to show at the ticket window), but options for day bus trips, ski vacations, business/equipment discounts and the chance to meet some great people who love sliding down a mountain as much as you do.

But you need to take some time to find the best club for you. THE site for learning all about that is the Connecticut Ski Council’s website that provides direct link to individual clubs.

Many clubs allow you to simply download a membership form, send in a check and bang, you’re in. No required meeting attendance or baking cookies. Involvement in a club is up to you.

So drum roll please, click on Awarenessdays below to see the list of discounted tickets. After reading it, there’s a good chance you’ll be signing up soon to be a ski club member.

Awarenessdays

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Now that New England areas have finally picked up some deep, natural snow, what on earth are you waiting for?

March is shaping up to be the best month of the entire ski season. And it looks to get much better with more snow expected in interior New England.

The National Weather Service has posted a winter storm warning for Vermont and New Hampshire. It looks like Vermont areas like Killington, Okemo, Mount Snow and Stratton could pick up to a foot of snow.

This is wonderful news, especially after northern Vermont areas picked up more than four feet of snow in the last week. Stowe got up to 51 inches and Jay Peak, 52 inches.

Areas like Bolton, Mad River and Sugarbush got about 30 inches.

Even areas farther south like Killington got 17 inches in the last week. Incredible. Wonderful. About time.

Still giddy Jay Peak reports this morning: “The snow gods have been showering us with gifts, and today they pause to gather their strength.  The conditions are still powder/packed powder across every trail on the mountain and tonight we’re only getting more.  The forecast calls for 4-7″, at least.”

On Tuesday, a Snow Zone reader sent these photos from Jay. Thanks!

The White Mountains of New Hampshire are also sitting pretty with more than foot at some areas … with more on the way.

Snow conditions up north are excellent. Check them out.

We’ve got another solid month of excellent conditions. Even southern New England areas like the four in Connecticut and several in Massachusetts still have several weeks left… hopefully.

So if you haven’t done much skiing and snowboarding this season, this is absolutely the best time to go. Bases are at their deepest depths, all the holidays are over and crowds will be thinning. And, that means ski areas will start discounting tickets and offer some good deals on lodging packages.

They are doing this because it hasn’t been a great year for most. As the season heads to the home stretch, ski areas will be looking to get more people on their trails to improve the bottom line.

And that, my friends, can help you save lots of money.

The deals are already here ready for the taking.

CONNECTICUT

Ski Sundown in New Hartford has $30 lift tickets, every Thursday, till the end of the season.

Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall has a 4-hour ticket for just $20 Mondays through Friday.

Mount Southington has a $20 discount coupon good for skiing/riding this Saturday. That would bring an adult ticket down to $33 and a junior/senior one to $23. Get the coupon here.

MASSACHUSETTS

Skiing midweek at both Butternut in Great Barrington and Catamount remains one of the best deals going. Butternut charges $25 midweek; starting March 19, tickets will be $25 every day until the end of the season.

But Catamount has an even better deal if you buy midweek tickets online. The cost? Twenty dollars. You can buy them here.

Jiminy Peak has an e-coupon that lets you buy a $40 eight-hour lift ticket on Sunday, March 11. Get the coupon here.

VERMONT

Ski Vermont has a page of the latest deals. Many are popping up daily on individual ski resort websites. Here’s a few of them:

Four Killington lift tickets for $199. Ski/ride for $50 or less with the 4 Play Pass. Can be used any day till the end of the season. Details: Only one ticket per day can be used, pass is non-transferable and direct-to-lift, pass is valid for all ages. Once you’ve used four days, you can reload your card with more $49 lift tickets either on Killington’s E-Store or at any open ticket window. This is a great deal if you plan to ski/ride The Beast at least four times this season. The regular price for an adult lift ticket is $79 midweek, $86 on weekend days.

Start St. Patrick’s Day weekend early with $17 lift tickets on Friday, March 16 at Mount Snow, Vermont. Huge savings; the regular price is 75 bucks.

On Fridays at Bromley in southern Vermont, up to three kids can get a $15 lift ticket when an adult buys a $49 lift ticket.

Why walk up to the ticket window at Okemo on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and pay $79 when you can buy one online for only $49? A no brainer, but you have to buy them 48 hours in advance. Details here.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Granite State ski areas have some of the best deals in New England, including several 2-for-1 lift ticket packages. The folks at Ski New Hampshire get a big thumbs up for having one of the best deals page.

Check them out here.

And let’s not forget New York, there’s $25 lift tickets at Belleayre and a $58 Ladies Day package at Hunter Mountain. Still more details can be found at skiandrideny.

So again, what are earth are you waiting for?

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Here’s a lift ticket deal worth taking a day off next week.

To celebrate Leap Day – Feb. 29 – NEXT WEDNESDAY … Mount Snow in southern Vermont will be selling lift tickets for $29.

That’s a great deal when you consider the regular price of a weekday ticket is $75 for adults and $58 for youth (18 and under)  seniors (65 and up).

TO GET BUY THIS DISCOUNTED PASS, YOU MUST BUY THEM ONLINE, IN ADVANCE.

Monday is is the last day you can buy the $29 ticket.

The ticket is only good for next Wednesday.

Here are the full  details.

An even sweeter deal happens on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17 when lift tickets are only $17. Better yet, it’s on a Saturday!

This season, Snow is also offering the Vernal Eternal Spring Pass that offers unlimited skiing and riding, every day starting Sunday through the end of the ski season. The cost is $299.

The pass is available for purchase online starting Saturday.

This is your classic case of doing the math; figuring out how many times you expect to ski/ride at Snow before the season ends.

Last year, after an a very snowy winter, Mount Snow closed on April 17.

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This morning, WTNH New Channel 8 Meteorologist Gil Simmons was talking about the possibility of a major winter storm that COULD affect the Northeast Sunday. At this stage, Gil said it’s a “tough call” to forecast whether the storm would actually develop or whether most of the precipition would be offshore.

NBC Connecticut’s weather team is calling for just a “few snow showers.”

And the good old National Weather Service? A slight chance of snow Saturday night…chance of rain/show Sunday … and a chance of snow Sunday night.

My favorite snowstorm discussion (long, but very detailed) is on Mad River Glen’s Single Chair Weather Blog.

Yeah, I know it’s way too early to get excited, but with this winter you can only hope. No pray.

That’s because this storm – and any future ones – are extremely important to how long the ski season will last in the East. While snow bases remain deep at ski resorts (mainly thanks to snowmaking) it will not last with warm temperatures, foggy and rainy weather.

This was the scene Tuesday at Ski Sundown in New Hartford, Conn. The parking lot remains brown, but Sundown has 100 percent of its trails open.

And after Presidents Week, many resorts will ratchet down their snowmaking operation to reduce costs. Most northern areas are counting on a historically snowy March to keep the lifts turning.

Yes there’s still plenty of machine-made snow (and some natural snow) on most trails for the holiday crowds next week, but a big dump would make things of so sweet! Down here in the flatland of New England it’s hard to believe that there’s plenty of good skiing and riding conditions, even in Connecticut. One of the biggest problems ski areas have face is the lack of snow in people’s backyards; the old seeing is believing reality.

If we do get blessed by this Big Snow its timing will be perfect. Next week is Presidents Week when many kids and their families will go skiing and snowboarding. It’s also the last big money-making week of the ski season for resorts that have been hurting this year.

After next week, expect to see plenty of great deals pop up as we march in spring.

The first comes from Catamount in Massachusetts that is offering an online only midweek ticket for $20. That’s $9 less than what you would pay at the ticket window. The offer, however, is not valid next week (Feb. 20-24).

In Connecticut Ski Sundown (still 100 percent open) has $30 Thursdays. It’s an eight-hour ticket that starts once you buy it.  Every Thursday for the rest of the 2012 winter ski season INCLUDING NEXT THURSDAY.

In Vermont, many areas including Killington and Okemo in Vermont are offering discounted ski packages next week. The best way to find them is by trolling their web sites.

This is one Presidents Week where waiting to book at the last minute will result in big savings.

And hopefully, we’ll all be playing on some fresh snow!

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Don’t get to say this often:  POWDER ALERT IN CONNECTICUT

The National Weather Service forecast calls for up to 7 inches of dry, fluffy powder to fall in the state.

Snow is expected to end by mid-afternoon. Give the road crews a few hours and then head to one of Connecticut’s four ski areas for some sweet pow-pow

Night skiing and snowboarding goes on at all four areas tonight.

Even sweeter…lift tickets are cheaper.

Here are the details:

Mount Southington… Open until 10 p.m. tickets $33. It will have 13 of its 14 trails open tonight. Forecast: up to 6 inches of snow expected.

Ski Sundown in New Hartford … from 6 to 10 p.m. a night ticket costs $35. Up to 4 inches.

Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall … the cheapest … from 6 to 10  p.m. $26. Up to 4 inches expected.

Woodbury … from 6 to 10 p.m. $29. Area also has snow tubing. Up to 5 inches.

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Thanks to some fresh snow (and more still coming down), trail counts are increasing across Ski County.

Video was shot Thursday at Sugarbush in Vermont.

Up to 10 inches of snow fell across northern New England allowing most resorts to open up about half their trails. That’s a big improvement from a couple of weeks ago when some areas were struggling.

Big winners in the snow totals were New Hampshire areas like Wildcat, Attitash, Cranmore, Mount Sunapee and Gunstock with up to 9 inches.

Most Vermont areas received at least a half a foot.

More snow is falling today.

Check out these live cam at Sugarbush,

Areas that have massive snowmaking arsenals like Okemo, Mount Snow, Stratton and Killington in Vermont lead pack with open terrain. But if you look at Magic Mountain in central Vermont, there’s only five of 40 trails open despite the 7 inches it received Thursday. Why? You guessed it, an antiquated snowmaking system that has hurt this area for years.

Stratton opened five more trails today including Upper and Lower Liftline and Lower Kidderbrook, and Solstice Way ; Bolton in northern Vermont dropped the rope on seven more trails.

And something many have been waiting for … Outer Limits at Killington is now open. I’ll wait.

Mad River Glen in Vermont is absolutely giddy this morning.

Its report: “Finally it is GAME ON here at MRG and after what has been an interminable wait we are going to FINALLY re-open the main mountain today. We picked up 4-6″ of snow in part 1 of the storm and we are expecting another 6″ (the Single Chair Weather Blog says maybe as much as a foot) in part 2 which is expected to start later this morning and continue into the evening. It could be one of those amazing days when conditions just keep getting better and better, but be aware that temps are expected to fall precipitously throughout the day.”

In Massachusetts, Jiminy got just three inches, but that combined with their snowmaking will open up 85 percent of its trails this weekend.

Butternut in Great Barrington got 5 inches at the summit, allowing it to open all 22 of its trails, one of only three resorts in the East to achieve that. Catamount now has 25 of its 33 trails open.

Despite the rain, Connecticut areas will be in good shape this weekend.

Ski Sundown has all of its trails open. Mohawk has 13 of 25 open; Mount Southington 9 of 14; and Woodbury 10 of 15 trails. If you want to go skiing or snowboarding today here’s a $15 off coupon for Southington.

It’s the long Martin Luther King Jr. weekened, meaning resorts will be charging higher holiday rates. But don’t expect large crowds this weekend because of the combination of very cold temperatures (in the single digits Sunday) and the football playoffs.

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Next week is National Ski Safety Week, the time to remember the “Skier’s Responsibility Code.” You know that code that is often printed on napkins or cafeteria tray liners are ski resorts.

It includes: Always stay in control …  People ahead of you have the right of way… Stop in a safe place for you and others …  Whenever starting downhill or merging, look uphill and yield … Use devices to help prevent runaway equipment … Observe signs and warnings, and keep off closed trails … Know how to use the lifts safely.

But what about the other stupid things skiers and snowboarders do?

Not looking uphill before crossing a trail. Guilty of this one. I nearly bought the farm when I was broadsided by a skier on Killington’s Upper Cascade trail. I was on the High Traverse trail and, stupidly, didn’t look uphill before crossing. The skier who hit me flew over my head and flew about six feet. Fortunately, both of us were just bruised … for weeks.

Going down a tough, expert trail on the first run. Very guilty of this one, but learning. I’ve had friends curse me for doing this. Taking a few warm-up runs on blue cruisers, not only make sense, but is a good way to check your equipment … and your body.

Not putting the safety bar down on a chairlift. Have you ever gotten on a chair with a bunch of people and they pull the bar down? You wait and wait and finally do it yourself saying “coming down.”

I’m sorry I want that bar down; probably from that time in Utah when my ski hit a lift tower and I almost fell. Some lifts in Utah have no safety bars; in Vermont it’s state law.

Skiing and snowboarding buzzed. Back in the heady daze of the 1980s, it was common that someone would light up weed while riding in the gondola. Before that people would carry along “wine sacks” and sip the alcohol throughout the day. Some would finish the day by having a few drinks in Killington’s summit lodge bar and later ski down the mountain.

Yes, people still … indulge … but as with everything moderation is the key. Let’s be honest you not going to ski or snowboard at your best if you’re buzzed. And you’re more likely to do stupid things and endanger other people; not a good thing on slippery mountain.

Not drinking enough water. You need to stay hydrated in the moisture-sucking mountain environment. Ideally,  using something like CamelBak hydration pack that has extra insulation to prevent freezing. You’ll be amazed on how much energy you’ll have if properly hydrated. Even stupider … not cleaning the water container in your hydration pack at the end of the season.

Taking a shortcut through the trees. If you’re not a good tree skier or snowboarder why take chances? If you want to be one, take a lesson. Slamming into a tree off the trail in the woods can be a death sentence. And if you get lost, you can be charged the cost of rescuing you. Have you ever lost a ski in the woods and deep powder? Grabbing on branches to pull yourself out of deep snow? Not fun.

Then there’s what they cal lthe “Deep Snow Immersion Accident. “ This happens when a skier or rider falls into an area of deep unconsolidated snow and becomes immobilized and suffocates. Not good.

Not wearing a helmet. I was guilty of this until this season. Yes a helmet will not save you if you slam into a tree of lift tower, but a helmet can help prevent mild concussions and reduce the severity of head injuries.

Who wears a helmet?

According to the National Ski Areas Association 93 percent of children 9 years old or younger; 79 percent of kids between 10 and 14 wear ski/snowboard helmets; 73 percent of adults over the age of 65 wear ski/snowboard helmets.

Forty-eight percent between 18 and 24 wear helmets.

Helmets are much lighter and cooler looking than  they were years ago. Some helmets have embedded areas where you can put headphones. Others also have Bluetooth to hook into your phone.

Stopping in the middle of the trail. Stupid. You not only are going to get slammed, but are ruining the run for many skiers and snowboarders.

Eating too much during lunch. That huge burger, fries and dessert will taste good during lunch, but it will take you a few runs to regain your energy. I like to go for the soup and chili; just enough to fuel you up.

Buying full-price lift tickets. Blindly walking up to the ticket window and paying full price is very, very stupid. Before going to a ski resort check out their web site for price breaks. Okemo has one of the best areas on its Steals and Deals page.

Better yet, one of the best ways to save money on tickets is to join a ski club. You can save more than 50 percent off on lift tickets, on select days and resorts. How much? Check out the Connecticut Ski Council’s Awareness Days.

There’s plenty of other stupid things … like speeding through small villages … eating lunch exactly at noon … getting to a ski resort on a weekend day at 11 a.m. … not getting your gear together … rushing to make as many runs a day as possible … borrowing a friend’s ski equipment … crossing ski tips … tucking you ski pants into ski boots.

Guilty of all of those too, but learning.

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We’ve finally hit the mark – the coldest day of the season so far.

Ranging from -9.5 degrees on Mount Washington, to the single digit and teens in ski country. All we need now is some significant natural snow to get the winter in high gear.

Temperatures are expected to moderate across the East the next few days with an increasing change of light snow and snow showers.

That combined with great deals is the right combination for some good skiing and snowboarding in the days ahead.

One of the better deals is THIS  Sunday at Mount Snow in southern Vermont kids pay their age for a lift ticket. That means if a kid is 12, their lift ticket is only $12. The deal is for “kids” 18 and under. Snow warns: “For some ages, valid ID may be required for verification.” If you’ve been looking to take the kids skiing or snowboarding this is it!

On Thursday at Mount Snow, college students pay just $29 for a lift ticket on Thursday with a valid ID.

Hunter Mountain in New York is also giving college students a discount; $35 tickets through Friday and from Sunday to next Friday.

At Okemo in Vermont when skiers and riders pre-buy a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday lift ticket online in advance, they pay just $49. This offer is valid every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday through the month of January.

Also at Okemo, kids ski or ride for $1 when their family stays at an Okemo Mountain Resort managed property for at least two nights in January (excluding MLK weekend). In addition, if they book three nights, everyone stays the third night free.

Jiminy Peak in northeastern Mass. has just posted a number of e-coupon days through March that can greatly reduce the price of a lift ticket. Even better, some are on weekend day. Check them out here.

Despite the lack of a major snowfall, ski areas from New York State to Maine are steadily expanding terrain thanks to continued snowmaking. Both Okemo and Stowe in Vermont are nearly the 50 percent mark of having all its trails open. Sunday River in Maine leads the pack in that state with 53 of its 132 trails. Loon and Sunapee have half their trails open in New Hampshire.

In New York, Hunter’s got 31 of 55 trails open, Belleayre has 16 and the big mountain of Whiteface is reporting 35 of 86 open.

Massachusetts areas like Butternut, Catamount and Jiminy Peak are pushing to get 75 percent of their terrain open. And in Connecticut…Ski Sundown now has all 15 trails open.

So what are you waiting for?