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The summer season may be unlike any other, but the spinning of chairlift bull wheels, the cascading wind wrapping around the speeding mountain biker, the calming view along the route aboard the Summit Express to Sugar’s peak and back, and the energy of Memorial Day and Independence Day have never been more welcome.

Plenty of sunshine to go around both east and west this week, but the west will see the most snow days. This week's SnoCast outlines the best conditions and best bets to hit the slopes through the weekend.

North Carolina’s Sugar Mountain will be replacing their original fixed-grip double chair, Easy Street, this summer with a detachable, high-speed quad. 

After an incredible November, more wintry conditions take us into December. We’ll kick it off with a cross-country storm system tracking low across the U.S.

While we’re waiting anxiously for the snow to fly, resorts across the Northeast are celebrating fall foliage season with fun, food, music and stunning views of the mountains. Here are SnoCountry.com’s top picks for Oktoberfests this year.

Mountaintop views of the total solar eclipse. (NASA)

On Aug. 21, the first solar eclipse to cross North America in 38 years will hit the Oregon coast about 9 a.m. PDT, then course over the mountains of Idaho and Wyoming before hitting the Midwest and finishing up across the North Carolina high country.

Many mountain resorts and towns throughout the east will be hosting a variety of events and activities Columbus Day Weekend Oct. 12-14. Here is a sampling.

Barbecue in the south is serious business and an inherent part of its culture. Sugar Mountain in North Carolina has bought into that concept and will offer its first barbecue boot camp, courtesy of the North Carolina BBQ Society, July 19-20.

It’s not exactly the same March Madness found each spring on Tobacco Road. But some North Carolina ski and ride resorts on the other side of the state aren’t playing any games with the discounts offered in March.

November and December is the time when ski area marketing and public relations types work overtime. The reason: Inconsistent fall weather, coupled with the start of the new season, brings out the most creativity. But, Mother Nature is taking over.

New employees at Sugar Mountain never expected to get ramped up so quickly for their new jobs. On Saturday, they were recruited at the resort’s job fair; snowmaking began on Sunday; the lifts will churn for the first day Wednesday (Oct. 31). 

Thanksgiving and the new ski and ride season is just a matter of weeks away. Sugar Mountain, N.C. is offering a “Thanksgiving Turkey Treat” of skiing at riding for less than $24 per day. But, you’ll need to act by Oct. 17 to get it.

Fall festivals at America’s ski resorts long have been the harbinger of the ski and snowboard season and vary widely in terms of offerings. Here’s a sampling.  

Love beer? Love wine? Love music? Put them all together at the Sugar Mountain, N.C. SugarBrew Summer Festival Aug. 4. General admission and parking are free.