April is almost over, but the snowpack is still holding strong on some slopes and peaks in the East. Clouds moved in and made some ski areas forget about Spring skiing last weekend as temperatures fell below freezing and snow accumulated on some areas.
The Winter and ski season are still holding strong with only two closures in the past weekend. Okemo and Ste-Anne closed off the season with one last weekend of skiing.
The non-Spring friendly weather and not the snow was the reason why Quebec’s Mont Sutton and the more remote Mont Comi, Le Valinouet and Mont Miller didn’t open last weekend. The forecast didn’t cooperate with the sunny warm hopes of great Spring conditions for those areas. It definitely felt like Winter with new snow falling at most of the 9 ski areas spinning lifts. The interest of skiers, economics were probably a bigger factor into the decision-making process for Sutton, Le Valinouet and Comi to call it a season after the failure of one last real Spring skiing weather weekend.
Despite not opening last weekend and snow falling again in Murdochville, Mont Miller is still hoping to offer skiers an extra weekend this coming May weekend. For some of the remote Quebec ski areas, the problem is how many people will show up and buy lift tickets if we spin the lift?
Even if Winter weather is holding strong, the warm weather is moving and the end is near for many areas. This is the last week of midweek lift riding which is only offered at Sugarloaf and Killington. This weekend will also closeout the ski season at Sunday River, Sugarloaf, Wildcat, Sugarbush and possibly Mont Miller if they open.
The same 3 ski areas that made it past the first May weekend last Spring and looking into making it to Mothers’ Day or beyond. Jay closed on Mothers’ Day last May while Killington and MSS gave us an extra May weekend. After a strong push two seasons ago, Killington seems determined to renew with skiing into June for the first time since 2002.
Oh yeah, its the annual Ski Maynia at Sunday River this Saturday which means free skiing for everyone.
LIST OF 9 SKI AREAS TENTATIVELY OPEN THIS WEEKEND**
Open DAILY : 2
Wachusett MA – May 2 (Saturday only)**
Sunday River ME – May 2 (Saturday only)
Miller QC – May 3 (weekend only – tentative)*
Sugarloaf ME – May 3 (daily this week)
Wildcat NH – May 3 (Fri-Sun only – tentative)*
Sugarbush VT – May 3 (weekend only)
Jay VT – May 10 (weekend only – tentative)*
St-Sauveur QC – May 10 (weekend only)
Killington VT – June 1* tentative (daily until May 3)*
* Update April 30, 12:00pm : Nothing tentative. All confirmed for this weekend and June 1 for Killington. The big snowpack has some areas adding extra lifts from their initial plan (Killington, Sugarloaf) while Miller will have 100% of their terrain open. Oh yeah, Sunday River Ski Maynia skiing is always free. A beautiful weekend of Spring skiing, deep snowpack, sunny and warm weather. It will be the last of the season for 5 of them, only 3 will spins after the following weekend. There is always skiing at Tucks midweek.
** Update April 30, 10:30pm : After having stopped their lifts on April 12, Wachusett has just announced that they will be re-opening Saturday May 2 for their first May lift served skiing ever.
Go for it!!!
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Ski Mad World’s weekly Eastern Closing 2015 post:
Early Easter, late Spring : Eastern Closing Thread 2014-15 – Part 1
Melting…snow and list are melting : Eastern Closing Thread 2014-15 – Part 2
Falling temperatures, snow and options – Eastern Closing Thread 2015 – Week 3
Great thread!!