Top Stories

Patience will pay off in the East when multiple shots of cold and snow bring a much-awaited weather pattern for area ski resorts.

A series of winter storms totaling 107 inches of snowfall, and consistent cold temperatures allowing near nonstop snowmaking, helped New Hampshire’s Cranmore register the longest ski season in its 81-year history.

Few things fire up a day of skiing and riding more than fresh-baked goods and a hot cup of joe – and the high country full of spots to pick up a doughnut, croissant, scone or more.

Last week’s snow and continued cold temperatures in the North Country seems like good news for skiers looking to take a few more turns this spring.

Yet only a few resorts have extended the season, with most areas still planning to shut down at their normal closing dates, some as soon as this weekend, representatives said.

Northeast skiers and riders don't have to hop a plane to reach some of the best terrain in the country, and they don't have to limit themselves to just one mountain. Multi-Mountain 2019-20 season passes are now on sale, and early birds get the best prices.

If you're looking for the best deal on New Hampshire season passes, now is the time to buy. Many ski areas are offering additional incentives when you purchase before this season ends.

Winter weather has no sign of letting up across the Western U.S. and Canada, neither for the Great Lakes region!

During the busy winter season, one of the best ways to reduce the stress and heighten the enjoyment of a ski vacation is to stay right on the slopes – at a ski-in ski-out lodge.

Valentine’s Day sweethearts across New England can celebrate the holiday of love with unique events at New Hampshire ski areas. Romantic celebrations will include chairlift speed dating, festive on-slope games, moonlit skiing, a couples ski race, and more.

New Hampshire’s Cranmore is celebrating the snowy start to winter by offering skiers and boarders what it calls “Snow Strudels” – homemade baked Austrian pastry dusted in powdered sugar and wrapped around bits of apple – if it snows six inches or more during the previous 24 hours.

 continue reading

Bring on a snowy 2019! If your resolution is to ski/ride more, you’re in the right place - read on for the snow jackpots in our forecast. 

As baby boomers were building families in the 1970s and 1980s, ski resorts were putting steel and concrete in the ground, expanding both lifts and terrain. The skiers and riders of today are benefiting from those infrastructure improvements. Lifts are faster, ticket-checking is RFID-enabled to speed up lines, and snowmaking and grooming have never been better or more energy-efficient.              

Now the focus is on affordability and on-hill experiences.   

Sunny spring tele turns at Cranmore. (Cranmore/Facebook)

Nothing like a consecutive string of nor'easters to put a smile on the faces of Northeast skiers and riders. Due to above average snowfall this season, resorts across the region have announced extended ski seasons.

Family time at Cranmore. (Cranmore)

As Cranmore celebrates its 80^th anniversary in the historic ski town of North Conway, New Hampshire, skiers and riders can also enjoy the perks of the present day, including everything from new onsite lodging to a vibrant economy that embraces skiing as the state’s official sport.

The liftee needs a place to live, too. (Vail Careers/Facebook)

So you want to be a ski bum? Get a job at a resort, find a place to live, and get a pass for free. All sounds cool -- except for the “cost of living” thing.

Guided family hikes take in Presidential Range views at Bretton Woods. (Bretton Woods)

New Hampshire’s mountainous playgrounds plan to celebrate with family-friendly events across the state Labor Day weekend.

Cooling off at Bromley. (Bromley/Facebook)

Over the next few months green is the color of travel savings at Jiminy Peak, Cranmore, and Bromley. Visitors can save some hard-earned green on summer package deals.

Pisten Bully representative Josh Nelson hands over keys to Cranmore's Ben Wilcox, Tyler Fairbank, Brian Fairbank, Rick Oaks, Glen Harmon and John Mersereau. (Cranmore/Facebook)

At a belated ceremony at New Hampshire’s Cranmore Mountain Resort, PistenBully New England Regional Sales Representative, Josh Nelson, handed over the keys to the first 600E+ in the East.

Thanks to a mix of natural and man-made snow, Sunday opens Nov. 23. (Sunday River)

A mild fall kept many Northeast skiers and riders fearing we might face another winter like last year, but the temps have dropped, snow has arrived and opening days are happening across the region.

A 2.3kW solar installation at Aspen Highlands ski patrol headquarters. (Aspen Skiing Company)

During the past couple of decades, a majority American ski and snowboard resorts have come to embrace that climate change is a reality – and a threat to their futures.

Evidence of resorts engaging the principles and practices that reduce fossil fuel use and carbon footprint can be found at many venues and in many ways. Low-energy snowmaking is spreading, as is on-mountain recycling, car pooling priority parking and biofuel use.

Here’s SnoCountry’s sampling of some of the green projects at U.S. resorts:

Sugarloaf. The northern Maine resort has gone all in to reduce its footprint, including revegetation to reduce erosion and composting at area restaurants that produces “black gold” soil used on the Sugarloaf Golf Course.

Cranmore. New Hampshire resort added its first electric/diesel groomer snowcat to supplement a fleet that has been burning biodiesel for a decade. New condo project will heat and cool with efficient electric pump systems.

Crystal Mountain. The Michigan resort got recognition for carbon-reducing LED lighting in parking lots, and its high-speed Crystal Clipper chair that runs solely on wind power credits.

Stevens Pass. All the lift cables at the Washington mountain are lubricated by non-petroleum castor oil, and management actively seeks out “green” vendors for its food and beverage services. Snowmobiles burn low-sulfur diesel, and operate as much as possible during off-hours.

Squaw Valley. Can’t buy bottled water at the California resort; instead, you can fill up water bottles at refill stations for free.

Aspen-Snowmass. The Colorado resort complex chose a political route in addition to e-efforts. Partnering with Protect Our Winters, all employees wear the organization’s patch, and resort officials lobby hard for local, regional and national climate change awareness and action.

The National Ski Areas Association lists 200 U.S. resorts that have signed on to its Sustainable Slopes program – and more than a dozen have received money for “green” projects through the program.