October has arrived, and with it comes the annual #RaceToOpen between Colorado’s Loveland Ski Area and Arapahoe Basin, which has claimed the crown outright the past two years.

Jay Peak’s new synthetic-turf fields, ready for play this week, represent the final phase of the resort’s revitalization initiative that began a decade ago.

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.   

The Christmas-New Year’s break, MLK weekend and President’s week holiday time periods are a tough time to find deals to ski and ride, as it’s typically the busiest times at ski resorts and pricing is at a premium. But,Vermont's Magic Mountain has created a pass just for those skiers who focus more on the holidays to get their skiing in, or who may have bought a discounted restricted pass somewhere else and are blacked out from skiing their regular resort during the holidays.

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.

Those in the market for 2018-19 season passes at Vermont resorts still have time to save big, thanks to fall deadlines on some of the best deals in the business. 

The Audi FIS Ski World Cup returns to Vermont’s Killington Resort Thanksgiving weekend, and tickets go on sale Wednesday, September 5 at 9 a.m. EDT.

Looking to have a sweet powder stash or all that fresh corduroy to yourself? Vermont’s Pico Mountain, home to big mountain terrain with small mountain charm, is now offering a private mountain rental option on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the 2018-19 season.

Imagine eating a farm-to-table burger with local cheese and an artisan bread bun atop one of Vermont’s iconic Green Mountains, or a refreshing cocktail or craft brew on a deck overlooking the rolling fairways of Vermont’s many golf courses. Vermont’s resorts understand the important role that the culinary experience plays during a summer vacation, and offer visitors delectable and healthy meals sourced from local ingredients, served up with the atmosphere only Vermont can offer.

The sale of the lease and operating agreement of New Hampshire’s Mount Sunapee to Vail Resorts was discussed at a public information session Wednesday night at the resort's Sunapee Lodge. Many attendees of the meeting came for reassurances that the new owners of the lease would continue stewardship of the state park’s natural resources and protection of affordable outdoor recreation.

It’s just as fun to go up the mountain as it is to go down thanks to Vermont resort’s well maintained and sprawling trail networks. Thousands of acres of wilderness offer both challenging and meandering trails with beautiful views and the ability to choose between half-day hikes complete with summit dining, to overnight hikes and the opportunity to connect with Vermont’s iconic Long Trail system and the longest hiking foot path in the world, the Appalachian Trail.

Warm weather visitors to Vermont will find a plethora of activities at its mountain resorts to discover what the green mountain state is all about. From golf, mountain biking, and disc golf to expanded music, event and dining options make exploring Vermont the perfect summer getaway.

Vail Resorts launched another salvo in the battle to own the winter destination market and a larger slice of the ski marketplace with the purchase of Vermont’s Okemo Mountain Resort, Mount Sunapee in New Hampshire, Crested Butte in Colorado and Steven Pass in Washington Monday.

Vermont’s Killington Resort will spin the Superstar Express lift on Saturday, May 26 for one final day of skiing and snowboarding to close out the 2017-18 season. Plus, the Snowshed Express will be open for downhill mountain bike access all weekend.

Northern Vermont's Burke Mountain Resort might have been through some tumultuous times lately, but the thriving ski and riding, the new lift-served Burke Bike Park, and the opening of the 116-room Burke Hotel are victories for many in the Burke community who have worked hard to create a vibrant four-season resort at a mountain that is still recovering from April 2016 news that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission alleged investor fraud at EB-5 projects at Jay Peak and Burke.

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.

The Marmot Slingshot down jacket will keep you warm on the coldest day as will an Arc’teryx Sentinel shell with a down midlayer under it. (Karen Lorentz)

The fashions are colorful, the gear rocks, and both are more high-tech than ever — reasons they’ll make you more comfortable and happier on the slopes.

You can now add summer activities to your pass for the longest ski and ride season in the East. (Killington)

The Beast of the East is now making the venerable season pass a plural adventure, with possibly the first mountain resort four-season access pass to their year-round mountain playground for $99 a month.

Summertime favorites can be enjoyed on your bike all winter long. (Kingdom Trails/Facebook)

Fat bikes, dubbed the "Hummers of the two-wheelers' world" are proliferating with more than 150 cross country (XC) ski areas in North America that welcome fat bikes on their snow-covered trails.

Epic skiing and riding under the orange bubble chair at Okemo. (Okemo/Facebook)

Mount Sunapee, New Hampshire, Okemo, Vermont and Crested Butte, Colorado have entered into a multi-year season pass partnership with Vail Resorts and the Epic Pass, bringing the total number of Epic Pass mountain resorts to 64 in eight countries.