Unlike Western North America, things haven’t come easy for Northeast ski resorts this fall.
While Massachusett’s Ski Ward was technically the first to have lift-serviced skiing and riding for the 2024-25 season, warm weather stopped ski areas from getting a groove until a couple of weeks ago. A cold stretch in the middle of November allowed a few mountains, like Killington, Sunday River, Sommet Saint Sauveur, Bretton Woods, and ORDA’s ski resorts (Belleayre, Gore, and Whiteface) to open. Sugarloaf followed by opening this past weekend. However, the up-and-down weather continued, resulting in many mountains moving back their opening dates.
This week appears to be the big break that will officially start ski season here. After a rainy Tuesday, cold temperatures on Wednesday evening and a snowstorm on Thursday have turned the tide.
This extra snow was just what Cannon Mountain needed, opening for the season today.
This snowfall, along with a week of cold temperatures ahead, has allowed the open mountains to get more terrain open, and various ski resorts that anticipated opening in November have announced their official opening dates.
These include Jay Peak (November 30th), Waterville Valley (November 30th), Okemo (December 1st), Hunter Mountain (December 1st), Stratton (December 1st), Mount Snow (December 3rd), Stowe (December 3rd), Sugarbush (December 4th), Blue Mountain (December 6th), Seven Springs (December 6th), and Magic Mountain (December 7th). Other ski resorts, including Loon, are hinting at an opening soon.
So here’s a message to fellow New Englanders: keep thinking of snow and cold weather.
Image/Video Credits: Sugarbush Resort, Stratton Mountain Resort, Magic Mountain, Cannon Mountain, Killington Resort
