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Not all ski areas are created equally. There are the mammoth mountains such as Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada, which boasts an astounding 5,280 vertical feet and Snowmass in the Colorado Rockies’ Elk Mountain Range which features 4,406 feet of downhill excitement. On the other end of the spectrum are smaller mountains such as Four Lakes Ski and Snowboard Area in Lisle, Illinois with 100 vertical feet and Cloudmont Ski Area, Mentone, Alabama with 150 vertical feet.

Following milder weather that has brought mixed precipitation storms, a solid snow is on the way for many. This is the best-looking system in a little while!

Thanks to a stormy and snowy Thanksgiving week, we are in prime position for a great start to December!

As the years pass by, mountain visits can blur or even fade from memory. To make a trip stand out, try one of these memorable activities for après time, a day off, or a unique experience.

Alterra Mountain Company will invest $181 million across its 14 North American mountain destinations for the upcoming year, including new high-speed lifts at Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows and Winter Park, direct to lift access at Deer Valley Resort, an expansive renovation of the Bobbie Burns lodge at CMH Heli-Skiing & Summer Adventures, and an upgrade of Steamboat’s gondola.

Valentine’s Day is approaching, and luckily for us skiers and riders, it’s a holiday you can spend on the slopes. There’s no better way to enjoy quality time with your favorite person than a traditional double chair, the original love seat built for two. It’s probably too cold to keep your phone out, so enjoy some conversation, sitting close and dreaming of all the runs you’ll take together.

Friday January 11, 2019 was the snow sports industry’s first National Learn to Ski or Snowboard Day at resorts throughout the U.S. Many resorts offered special deals for newcomers to take beginner lessons from professional instructors as a way to celebrate the sports. 

Fresh powder can be found across much of the Northeast. (Stowe Mountain Resort)

The Northeast and Great Lakes regions are settled in a weather pattern that allows for more snowfall and cold temperatures. The West sees some snowfall return and possibly a pattern change.

Locally-owned and operated resort started with skiing and now offers much more.(Blue Mountain)

A milestone is quickly approaching for Pennsylvania's Blue Mountain Resort, as it celebrates its 40th anniversary Dec. 22, 2017. In an era where the number of ski resorts has dwindled, the locally-owned and operated business has thrived, consistently expanding its offerings.

Tremblant has new owner. (Tremblant/Facebook)

Consolidation in the winter resort industry continues as a partnership between a newly formed entity in Aspen and a private equity firm announced the pending purchase of Intrawest and its six ski and snowboard resorts.

Included in the deal, which is expected to be closed by next fall, are Steamboat, Winter Park, Snowshoe, Stratton, Mont Tremblant and Blue Mountain. They will join with Squaw Valley-Alpine Meadows, a property of partner KSL Capital Partnership, under the new corporate entity. Aspen SkiCo's Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Buttermilk and Aspen Highlands are not in the deal and will continue to operate independently.

Season tickets purchased for 2017-2018 at each resort will be honored, and the benefits of multi-resort passes Rocky Mountain Super Pass, the M.A.X. Pass and Mountain Collective will also continue through next season, according to a press release. No information has been given yet about consolidation of ticketing.

Skiers and snowboarders shouldn’t expect to see any major changes at any of the resorts this next season, as the deal won’t be signed and sealed until the third quarter of 2017. However, statements from Aspen Skiing Corp. and KSL Capital Partners indicate that the new corporation is ready to “help realize the collective potential of Intrawest’s portfolio of resorts.”

The deal comes as the latest in a trend toward consolidation in the ski and snowboard business. Vail Resorts expanded into the Eastern market with the recent purchase of Stowe, giving it a across-the-nation portfolio of resorts. Others owning multiple resorts include Boyne USA, Peak Resorts and Powdr Corp.

The Philadelphia Inquirer, a week before Thanksgiving Day, devoted two pages to a comprehensive story on where to ski in western U.S. and Canada. It merited a “Wish I had said that” note to Bob Ecker, of California and a fellow member of the Society of American Travel Writers.

Arguably one of the best snowsports resorts in the Great Lakes Region, Ontario’s Blue Mountain Resort attracts skiers and snowboarders from Ontario, Michigan, Ohio and eastern New York.  

The Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA) has announced its support in funding The Tuthill Corporation’s project to build a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Plant, also known at a Cogeneration Plant, in Palmerton.

It's sometimes known as the holy ground. Tuckerman Ravine in New Hampshire is the iconic backcountry experience in the East.

“Happy April,” exclaimed Gore Mountain’s Emily Stanton to SnoCountry.com. “We are open daily through Sunday (April 6). We’re asking people to visit our website or check ahead regarding the schedule for next week. We’ll have events throughout April.”

Martin Luther King weekend (Jan. 18-20) in Vermont will entice skiers and riders with diverse options. Then, on to the Super Bowl.

It’s time to talk about summer fun now that high school graduations are behind us in the east. There’s no shortage of it in the mountains no matter where you are located, and with ample rain the past few weeks, the landscape is verdant everywhere you look.

Father’s Day is Sunday, June 16. Let him know he’s appreciated by celebrating his day at a ski resort. Here’s a sampling of how resorts can make it fun and easy.

Ski resorts across Canada are planning a number of fun-filled events for every member of the family. Here is just a sampling.