According to Punxsutawney Phil, we have six more weeks winter, and we are LOVING that report. Rodents aside, the weather clearly looks like winter this week with heavy snow from the Rockies to New England. Here’s the scoop in this week’s SnoCast.

Boyne Resorts has announced its purchase of Shawnee Peak ski resort located in Bridgton, Maine.  Adding to the company’s portfolio of eleven North American resorts and attractions, Shawnee Peak joins Sugarloaf and Sunday River in Maine and Loon Mountain Resort in New Hampshire as its fourth resort in New England.  

Happy New Year! You’ll have plenty to celebrate in certain parts of the U.S. and Canada regarding this week’s weather forecast.

It’s all about the springtime vibes at Northeast mountain resorts right now, with parties galore to celebrate bluebird skies, long afternoons, soft corn snow, pond skims and beers on the deck.

The first week of March will feel more like *January* for many! With the colder air, could we see better snow chances? Scroll down for the details!

Whether you’re working during the day or just looking for a way to get out with the family, twilight skiing and riding offers a chance to hit the slopes, often with great deals and special offerings. Enjoy the newly groomed corduroy in the late afternoon, and don’t forget your clear lenses for your goggles to enjoy an evening under the stars.          

So you’ve got a friend – or perhaps a significant other –that you’d love to share your passion for the mountains with. You know that if that friend can have as great a time skiing or riding as you do, he or she will be hooked. Having a fun and successful first outing is key to making sure new skiers and riders will keep coming back for more, so SnoCountry.com picked some great destinations for making those learning days just the beginning of many wonderful days on snow.

Keeping it fun at Shawnee Peak. (Shawnee Peak/Facebook)

As a skier who taught two sons to ski and then had the youngest son and a grandson take their first lessons in children’s programs, I know there is no one best way or age for all children to learn a snowsport.

Lost Valley in Maine rejoicing recent cold and snow along with many others. (Lost Valley/Facebook)

An incredibly-powerful ocean storm will move close to the East coast Thursday and Friday while moisture returns to the Sierra for the first time in several weeks.

Don't fill up on leftovers; there's a second helping coming tonight to Sugarloaf. (Sugarloaf/Facebook)

Although they say there are no friends on a powder day, you can bet friends will be rejoicing at the snowfall jackpot that has hit Maine’s Sugarloaf, Sunday River and Shawnee Peak.

You might not expect to find a challenging little ski area nestled into the rocky coast of Maine, but the Camden Snow Bowl offers the best of both worlds for those who can’t decide between a seaside and mountain getaway. Camden is the only ski area in the country that features views of the Atlantic from its lifts and trails.

From Cochran’s to Pats Peak and Powderhouse Hill to Greek Peak, the East abounds with local, family-oriented ski hills, many of which sport a Cheers-like first-name basis.

With deep bases well into March, many skiers and boarders in the Mid Atlantic and Northeast are tuning their gear instead of storing it away for the summer.

The first major snowstorm of the 2013-14 winter season rolled through the Northeast this past weekend, dropping up to two feet of snow on ski areas from Pennsylvania through Maine. 

You’ve made it through the holiday spending season and even took a few days to enjoy the bountiful snow conditions at your favorite eastern winter resort. Now, however, funds might be a bit tight. Never worry.