Things are expected to get closer to "normal" at California ski and snowboard resorts this season, as do the four mountain resorts in the Golden Bear State that honor the Ikon Pass.

Brundage Mountain Resort is excited to share early details of a cohesive new plan for future improvements at the independently owned McCall, Idaho ski resort.

In first grade at St. Pius X School, Sister Thomas gave my class a free period each week to reflect upon our sins. Inspired by a library book about sea animals, I sometimes spent it daydreaming about riding a walrus, which I admired for its immensity and the fact it could swim faster than cars were allowed to drive in my neighborhood. It conjured a feeling that was equal parts ponderous and agile; atop a walrus, I would be nimble among obstacles, yet able to plow through anything unavoidable.

A trio of upper Midwest ski areas is planning to open the third weekend of the month joining Lutsen Mountains, which opens November 13, in getting the Heartland ski season underway.

After several dry seasons, many Lake Tahoe ski resorts rejoiced when they were hit with early snow that kicked off the ski season in October.

New Hampshire's Gunstock Resort could be one of the largest ski areas in the state under an expansion and development plan which the county-owned facility is getting ready to unveil in full later this year.

An early-season blizzard will unleash winds up to 55 miles per hour and several inches of snowfall for portions of the High Plains and Upper Midwest, leading to a cooler pattern in the East with a (likely) chance of scattered snow showers.

A quartet of Colorado resorts in the Epic Pass system is set to show off improvements as the 2021-2022 ski and snowboard season gains momentum.

Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest ski and snowboard destination in Eastern North America and part of POWDR, announced the entertainment lineup for the 2021 HomeLight Killington Cup. Taking place November 27 and November 28, the return of the Audi FIS Ski World Cup will bring the fastest women’s technical alpine skiers in the world ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics together with music, events, camaraderie and more. Tickets to the HomeLight Killington Cup are available at www.killington.com/worldcup.  

Following the challenging winter of 2020-2021 when ski areas implemented measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic - including limited seating capacity on chairlifts - this season's outdoor operations will look much like they did prior to the pandemic. Ski areas plan to return to full chair lift capacity for 2021-2022.

Purgatory Mountain officials say they will begin developing a new "low intermediate" section this summer, as the resort works to give its novice skiers and riders an on-mountain experience.

Lutsen Mountains, the Heartland's largest ski resort located along the shore of Lake Superior, is opening in less than two weeks with their First Tracks weekend, November 13-15. They will be open for skiing and riding weekends through Thanksgiving and early December, opening daily on December 11.

Locals and visitors to Utah who have an Ikon Pass hanging around their necks will get to check out some improvements and upgrades at five Utah resorts that honor the multi-mountain season pass.

We've gotten a taste of ski season across the U.S. and Canada this week with bursts of cold and snow. These bursts are exactly what the (ski) doctor ordered to get us that much closer to the slopes. Here's how the forecast shapes up this week. 

Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest ski and snowboard destination in Eastern North America, and part of POWDR, will kick off the 2021-22 winter season at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 5, 2021, becoming the first Eastern resort to open for skiing and snowboarding.  

This may be the best year to purchase a season pass to cross country ski at a nearby ski area. Such ski areas maintain and improve their trails. Why do ski areas need to charge for skiing?  Because they staff an operation, groom the trails, use fuel to groom, and keep buildings warm, maintain the upkeep of their facilities,  and so on.

Deer Mountain Ski Resort, aka Mystic Miner Ski Resort, which closed in 2017 after 50 years of operation, has been sold and is planning on reopening in December next year, according to an announcement by the new owners Keating Resources. The ski area was shut down amid bankruptcy proceedings four years ago.

Last season, Covid gave a jolt to the time-honored habits of skiers and riders, but the 2021-2022 season promises to be a bit less restrictive -- with exceptions.

Thanks to more than three feet of snow, California's Mammoth Mountain and Palisades Tahoe will open for the season on Friday, Oct. 29.

It was an active week with an atmospheric river event in the West and a fall nor'easter in the East. Flipping the calendar from October to November, find out who will get forecast tricks or treats.