Mount Snow in Vermont is offering $17 adult group clinics Monday – Thursday from opening day through Dec. 15. It also has a number of programs for kids, starting as early as 3. Mount Snow photo.
Got a buddy, family member or significant other who wants to learn how to ski or snowboard?
Well, here’s a few inexpensive … some free … ways to start sliding.
Normally, these packages can cost more than $100!
So if someone has been talking for years about learning to ski or snowboarding, turn them on to these great deals …
From now until Dec. 23, at Okemo in Vermont, pay $39 and you can learn how to enjoy winter sports from a professional instructor.
Okemo’s program for first-timers includes two two-hour group lesson sessions (10 a.m.-noon and 1:30-3:30 p.m.), rental equipment, a lower-mountain lift ticket and post-program offerings for season-long discounts on future lessons, rentals and lift tickets. Reservations are recommended.
Ski Vermont is offering a $29 package during the month of January that includes equipment, a a three-hour lesson and lower mountain lift ticket.
Registration for the $29 package starts Friday, Dec. 16.
Space is limited so it’s highly advisable to jump on this offer on Dec. 16.
Mount Snow, is offering $17 adult group clinics Monday – Thursday from opening day through Dec. 15 to celebrate the grand opening of lift #17, the Bluebird Express.
On Dec. 18 Mount Snow will be offering FREE adult snowboarding lessons as part of World Snowboarding Day.
For Ski Vermont’s Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, January 2 – January 31, first timers will pay just $29 for a learn to ski or ride package which includes equipment rental, lower mountain lift ticket and three-hour clinic.
During Mount Snow College Weeks, Jan. 2 – 6 and January 9 – 13, full time college students can brush up on their skills for FREE in a group ski or ride clinic when they present their college ID.
New Hampshire areas are offering FREE learn to ski/snowboard packages from Jan. 7-13, 2012.
First-time skiers and snowboarders receive a free learn to ski or snowboard lesson, free equipment rentals & a free beginner terrain lift ticket.
Participants must register with Ski NH to download a Learn to Ski & Ride Free coupon, then make a reservation with one of our participating resorts. Registration begins in mid-December and is first-come, first-served.
CONDITIONS UPDATE
Warm termperatures have put the 2011-12 ski season into a temporary backslide.
But by late Wednesday, snow guns were back.
At 6:07 p.m., Killington tweeted: “Our snowmakers are back in action! Guns are being fired up on the upper mountain right now.”
Stowe and Okemo were planning to resume snowmaking later tonight.
On Facebook, Stratton posted: “As we have said many times before, the only thing we can be certain of is how uncertain the weather will be. The good news is we do see a cooling trend heading our way, which could give us a small window of marginal snowmaking temperatures tonight. Our mountain operations team is ready and standing by. Do those snow dances everyone!”
The only areas open in New England include Killington, Stowe and Okemo in Vermont; Bretton Woods in New Hampshire; and Sugarloaf and Sunday River in Maine.
Sugarbush in Vermont got 9 inches of snow last night. It plans to start its season on Thanksgiving Day.
Thanks to some fresh snow … the real stuff, not machine made … Stowe in northern Vermont kicked off its season in style today.
Up to 7 inches fell last night allowing it to open Upper Lord, Lord, Upper Ridgeview, Ridgeview, North Slope, Lower North Slope and Centerline for a total of 2.6 miles and over 2,000 vertical feet of terrain.
Somebody at Killington in Vermont just can't wait to have their Thanksgiving turkey.
Even better…the snow is expected to continue most of the day!!!
Today is also the first day for Stowe’s new FourRunner quad lift.
Sugarbush in Vermont plans to open on Thanksgiving with 9 inches of new snow. Sugarbush owner Win Smith said on his blog today: “Unfortunately, warmer temperatures are coming back for several days starting tomorrow and we won’t have snowmaking temperatures again until midweek. We might not be able to remain open, but we will be taking every opportunity at both mountains to make snow and expand our trail count as rapidly as possible. The pattern after midweek is looking better.”
Killington in central Vermont is reporting 10 inches of fresh, natural snow on 14 trails. If you read between the lines, this is not your dry Utah-like “pow pow.”
Killington in its report today said: “We’re grateful for the new snow, but wanted to give you a heads up – we received heavy snow.”
New Hampshire areas Bretton Woods and Loon picked up between 6 and 8 inches.
After getting 15 inches of snow, Attitash has decided to open on Friday.
This was the scene this morning at Waterville Valley in New Hampshire where nearly a foot of snow has fallen. Waterville will open its 45th season on Friday.
Maine areas now open include Sunday River (that got a foot of snow) and Sugarloaf.
Okemo will kicking off its season on Thanksgiving Day.
DEAL ALERT!!!
And here’s some more good news … if you visit Okemo’s Facebook page, and become a fan, you can buy reduced lift ticket deals. How much for a single-day ticket? Just $49 that can be used from Dec. 1-23, including weekends. And there’s a $59 ticket that can be used in January (with the exception of MLK weekend Jan. 14-16).
This is a great deal when you consider a midweek ticket costs $77 and a weekend one $81.
To get the offer, go to the “fans only” section, click on the offer and type in the username and password seen on the offer. THE DEAL EXPIRES MONDAY, NOV. 28..
Stratton has pushed back its opening to this weekend. Here’s what they said on their Facebook page: ”We held out hope that the forecast would change in our favor, but opening any time before the weekend just isn’t in the cards. We’ll fire up the snowmaking system when the moment is right, and we’re anxious to get this season off to a good start. Keep checking Stratton.com for daily updates! The good news is winter is tantalizingly close – we can smell it on the air and we cannot wait to cover this place in snow!”
For Green Mountain snow conditions, visit Ski Vermont.
Mount Snow’s opening is delayed
Nonetheless, Mount Snow is excited over it’s new summit chairlift “The Bluebird Express.”
Up to 47 inches of fresh snow has fallen at the Bretton Woods ski resort in New Hampshire in the last seven days. More than three feet of the snow came from the weekend nor'easter.
The East finally lucked out with a major snowstorm that dumped nearly four feet of snow on some New England ski resorts.
And it could not have come at a better time for ski resorts – and the people who paid big bucks to go there this holiday week.
In just one day, The Big Snow put ski resorts in prime condition for the busy season with prime mid-winter conditions.
Several New Hampshire areas got pounded by the Blessed Blizzard. Just look at these Western-type snowfall numbers: Bretton Woods, 47 inches; Cannon, 39 inches; Wildcat, 34 inches.
In the Great State of Maine, it’s become the Great State of Winter with 45 inches of fresh snow at Sunday River; Saddleback got 38 inches; and Sugarloaf 34 inches.
Massachusetts areas also got a boost with up to two feet reported at Western Mass areas.
Even Connecticut ski areas got up to 18 inches (Woodbury’s claim) that puts them in perfect shape for the holiday week.
Southern and central Vermont resorts fared best with 25 reported by Okemo and 21 by Killington, Mount Snow and Bromley.
Another great thing about this snowstorm: it happened when most people were not working; schools were off, even state employees had a furlough day on Monday.
Sunday night most people hunkered down. And it’s very likely there will be some Blizzard Babies born in September.
ACCIDENT AT MAINE SKI RESORT
Meanwhile there was an chair lift accident Tuesday at Sugarloaf in Maine. Here’s the Associated Press report.
CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine (AP) — Officials at a Maine ski area report that there are about eight injuries in an accident on a chair lift.
Sugarloaf spokesman Ethan Austin told The Associated Press that Tuesday’s accident was “a big deal.” He says one of the ski lifts derailed and five chairs came down.
The resort says on its Facebook page that most of the injuries appear to be minor. Austin says the ski patrol is evacuating the lift. »A spokeswoman for Franklin Memorial Hospital about 45 minutes away in Farmington says at least two injured people are en route by ambulance.
Gray says it’s possible more injured people could arrive because it’s the closest hospital.
While it’s still early to tell exactly how much – if any – snow we’ll get from a weekend nor’easter, anticipation is building.
That’s because if we get a significant snowfall it will guarantee a White Christmas.
If the storm does not go out to sea, ski areas that would benefit include Wachusett in eastern Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire areas and up into Maine. Again, depending on the track of the storm areas in Vermont should not see a significant accumulation.
All of this, of course, is speculation.
But, if we do get some snow it will be a big boost to ski areas because a good part of their revenue comes from the Christmas-New Year’s break. It would be even better for Connecticut’s four areas.
CONDITIONS
Even if we only get flurries, ski resorts are in great shape thanks to days of ideal snowmaking weather.
Vermont areas had a good week. In the last 48 hours, Jay got up to 17 inches, Sugarbush 15 and Smugglers nearly a foot. Generally, Green Mountain areas have between a third to a half of their trails open.
New Hampshire areas are slightly behind in open terrain and would greatly benefit from a big snow dump. Best picks: Bretton Woods, Loon and Sunapee.
In southwestn Massachusetts, Butternut and Catamount are nearing the half-way point with open trails.
And all four Connecticut areas have their lifts turning. Best pick: Ski Sundown in New Hartford with nearly all trails open.
This weekend brings additional ski areas opening, some fresh natural snow and, unfortunately some rain Sunday.
So Saturday will be the pick of the weekend with sunny skies in southern New England. I don’t think crowds will be too bad since many people are in the midst of holiday shopping, etc. The biggest crowds are likely at Connecticut ski areas and Massachusetts areas like Butternut, Catamount and Jiminy.
The best advice: get there as soon as the lifts open, ski/snowboard half a day and head home. That’s a particularly a good plan if it’s you first time out this season.
Weather
All day Saturday looks good with temperatures in the 40s south, 30s north. On Sunday in the north, snow is expected in the morning before turning to mixed precip then rain. Before it ends, it could turn back to all snow. The rest of the week remains cold with an increasing chance of snow. So things do not look so bad.
Throughout the winter, you should check out Mad River Glen’s weather blogger Josh Fox. This guy is usually accurate with his forecast and does not overhype.
Connecticut
For the first time this season, all four Connecticut areas will be open.
Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall has been blowing snow all week. The Connecticut area opens its season on Saturday.
Ski Sundown in New Hartford opens today with runs on Canyon, Nor’easter, Exhibition, Temptor and Stinger. Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall and Mount Southington open on Saturday. Woodbury has been open for a few weeks.
Best deal: Mohawk where a full-day ticket is $30 and a half-day (go for this one) is $20. Lifts start turning at 8:30 a.m.
Massachusetts
Ski Butternut opens today; Catamount on Saturday. Catamont will be charging $40 for a weekend single-day ticket; Butternut $35. The areas join Jiminy Peak in having their lifts turning.
Vermont
Most Vermont areas are in great shape thanks to lake effect snows. Heaviest snowfalls were in the central and northern part of the state. Bolton Valley was the big winner with up to 48 inches in the last week. Stowe, Smugglers and Bolton Valley got three feet and Sugarbush and Killington about two feet. Southern Vermont got less than a foot.
With the exception Magic, Mad River Glen, Pico and Suicide Six of all Green Mountain State are open. Even though Mad River got between 18 and 30 inches, it still isn’t open because the snow was light, fluffy and often, wind driven; not the best kind to build up bases. MRG is shooting for a Dec. 16 opening.
Okemo opens the Jackson Gore and Solitude areas; 44 trails will be open this weekend. A ski demo is planned both days at the Gore.
New Hampshire
Bretton Woods got 22 inches this week allowing it to open a third of its trails. Along with BW, top picks this weekend are Loon, Cannon and Sunapee. Wildcat plans to open Saturday.
At Cannon on Saturday bring 4 non-perishable items to Guest Services and get a half price ticket for that day. Applies to full-day tickets only. Food collected benefits the Good Neighbor Food Pantry in Franconia, NH.
Best deal: At Sunapee on Sunday Ski or ride for $30 with the contribution of five non-perishable food items for local families & food shelters.
Do you really want to pay $89 for a lift ticket this season?
You will if you blindly walk up to the ticket window at Stowe, Vermont on a Saturday.
And you’ll have to fork over $79 if you do the same thing at Mount Snow in southern Vermont.
A snowboarder enjoys some fresh snow at, where else, Mount Snow in southern Vermont on Tuesday. Mount Snow is one of the 15 major New England ski resorts offering ticket discounts for Connecticut ski club members this season.
Today I’m going to give you THE best advice to save more than 50 percent off the price of ski lift tickets:
JOIN A SKI CLUB.
Now, don’t start worrying about attending meetings, hosting get togethers or baking cookies. How you want to interact with club members is up to you.
Usually, the only requirement for joining a ski club is paying the membership fee and signing the application.
The goal here is to get that all important membership card.
Why? Because that’s your ticket to getting big savings at SELECTED areas on SELECTED days.
First go to the Connecticut Ski Council web site and find a club to join. There’s more than 40 clubs across Connecticut in the council including ones in Trumbull, Fairfield, Stamford, Danbury, Norwalk, New Haven, Stratford, the Naugatuck Valley, at UConn, even Sikorsky.
Josh from Bolton Valley sent this photo today showing some of the 3.5 feet of snow that has fallen at the northern Vermont area. Bolton will be open Friday. It is also one of the areas that has discounted tickets for ski club members. In fact, ski club members can get a $15 lift ticket next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
You simply click on the details of a club to find out activities, discounts, trips and membership fees, etc.
For example, the NAVA Ski Club in the Naugatuck Valley has a membership fee of $45 for one person, $50 for a married couple. All you have to do is fill out the application, write a check, include a stamped, self-addressed envelope and your membership card is mailed to you. It’s that simple.
Now here’s the important part… the card entitles you to get steeply discounted lift tickets on 90 Connecticut Ski Council’s Awareness Days at 15 major Vermont and New Hampshire including Jay Peak, Killington, Mount Snow and Okemo.
All of the clubs’ web sites have the 2010-11 CSC Awareness Day calendar. Keep in mind that you have to be at those areas on those specific days to get the discount. And naturally, you have to have your membership card with you.
This is the calendar of where you need to be on a certain date to get huge savings all season long.
For example, if you have a ski club membership card, you can get a lift ticket at Killington in Vermont for only $35 this Saturday, Sunday or Monday. If you don’t have a card you’ll pay $65.
A look at the calendar mid-season shows the highest discounted ticket prices were $42 at Stowe and $41 at Killington where a regularly priced weekend one-day ticket costs $84.
The calendar also tells you which ticket window you need to pick up the discounted tickets. At Okemo, it’s at the Group Services Trailer and at Killington, the Snowshed base area.
Other perks offered by ski clubs include bus trips to resorts (in the East and out West), company/product discounts, multi-day/bulk tickets and, if you want, social get togethers. Some clubs also have ski lodges that offer affordable lodging in Ski Country. The council also has an active racing program.
All members share a common love of skiing or snowboarding, the snow, good times and outdoor (and sometimes indoor) fun. And with big savings, you can’t go wrong on this deal.
Bromley will be the latest Vermont ski area to open when it kicks off its season on Saturday. The return of cold temperatures will allow all New England ski areas to blow snow well into next week. This photo was taken on Monday before the heavy rain storm.
Wednesday’s miserable rainy and windy weather is now a memory.
It looks like we’ve finally turned a corner for a long stretch of cold temperatures that will allow ski resorts to bounce back and more to open.
Bromley in Vermont plans to open this Saturday. They will be charging midweek rates this weekend: $44 for Adults & Teens, $39 for Juniors.
In the next week, look for trail counts to increase rapidly as ski resorts turn on their snowmaking arsenals. There is also a good shot of picking up a few inches of snow throughout the week in northern New England.
The cold temperatures should allow all four Connecticut ski areas to make enough snow to open up next weekend. Mount Southington says it needs at least four nights of cold temperatures to get the season rolling. And that looks like that could happen this week.
Mohawk in Cornwall, however, is shooting for a “limited opening” on Saturday. Check out its new web site for an update.
In Massachusetts, Jiminy Peak plans to resume operations this weekend. They decided to close midweek “to capitalize on snowmaking time.”
Just over the Massachusetts border from Connecticut, Ski Butternut and Catamount expect to have their lifts turning next weekend.
Smuggler's Notch in northern Vermont started its season today. This shot was taken at the summit on the Rumrunner's trail.
Now we’re on a roll!
More Eastern ski resorts are open today after cold weather allowed them to fire up the snow guns. Stratton in southern Vermont, Smuggler’s Notch in northern Vermont and Jiminy Peak in northwestern Massachusetts have their lifts turning today.
In New Hampshire, add Waterville Valley, Cranmore and Pat’s Peak to the Granite State areas back in business. Other New Hampshire areas that were already open include Cannon, Bretton Woods and Loon.
Over in the Great State of Maine, Sugarloaf, Sunday River and Big Rock are back in the game.
Stratton Mountain opened at 8:30 a.m. today with snow flurries falling, temperatures in the teens and winds are blowing from the SW at 20-35 mph. They are offering top-to-bottom skiing/riding on 12 trails via 4 lifts with some delayed openings for additional grooming.
Trails include Black Bear, Old #8, The Chute, Polar Bear, Upper Grizzly Bear, Bear Bottom, Grizzly Access, Overpass, Village Walk, Runaway, Yodeler Express, and Suntanner. Surface conditions are machine groomed loose granular with a base depth of 24″.
There’s skiing and snowboarding on eight trails at Jiminy including West Way, North Glade and 360. Tickets cost $35 for adults, $25 juniors.
