MAY
What do I mean by “May continue skiing”?
a) Ski area might open this weekend
b) Ski area might go beyond this weekend
c) Skiing into May
d) Lifts aren’t an end to all means.
e) All of the above
People always wonder; Where is their skiing in May? May skiing is greatly very possible even if you live in the East. Never in the last 11 years that I have kept track on the Eastern Closings has there hasn’t at least one ski area spinning their lift for the skiing public. Next weekend will not be the exception, currently 8 ski areas are planning to spin, but as it is always this time of the season, you can’t take it granted. Although we had a terrible snow year, the cold of the last week has slowed down the melting. Cold weather is supposed to continue for the next few days.
Frequency of number of ski areas spinning in May:
7 or more ski areas : 3 times
6 ski areas : 1 time
5 ski areas : 1 time
4 ski areas : 3 times
3 or less ski areas : 3 times.
Previous years:
Here was the status of what was happening at the same time in previous years:
Numbers from previous seasons: Total / Daily until May:
2016 : 8 7 / 1 MSS, Jay Killington, Sugarbush, Sugarloaf, Sunday River, Wildcat, Comi*
2015 : 9 / 2 Wachusett, Sunday River, Miller, Sugarloaf, Wildcat, Sugarbush, Jay, MSS, Killington
2014 : 6 / 3 Comi, MSS, Jay, Killington, Sugarbush, Sugarloaf
2013 : 4 / 2 MSS, Sugarbush, Sugarloaf, Killington
2012 : 1 / 0 MSS
2011 : 7 / 2 MSS, Miller, Jay, Sugarbush, Killington, Sugarloaf, Saddleback
2010 : 3 Jay, Sugarloaf & MSS
2009 : 5 Jay, Killington, Sugarbush, Sugarloaf & MSS
2008 : 4 Jay, Sugarbush, Sugarloaf & MSS
2007 : 4 Killington, Sugarbush, Wildcat & MSS
2006 : 2 Bretton Woods & Killington
We have the familiar actors in the May skiing skimming pool. A few ski areas closed last weekend (Stowe, Ste-Anne, Le Valinouet, Lac Vert and Val d’Irène), most of them had a closing fixed date and Val d’Irène even decided added an extra day passed that date. Some had enough coverage, especially in Eastern Quebec, could have continued their season, but there are other factors to take into account.
Ski areas that have spinning in May since 2006 including this coming weekend:
Mont St-Sauveur QC : 10 times (91%) – last 10 years in a row
Killington VT : 8 times (73%) – last 4 years
Sugarbush VT : 8 times (73%) – last 4 years
Sugarloaf ME : 8 times (64%) – 8 of the last 10 years
Jay VT : 7 times (73%) – last 3 years
Wildcat NH : 3 2 times (27 18%)*
Sunday River ME : 2 times (18%)– last 2 years
Comi QC : 2 times (18%)– 2 of the last 3 years
Miller QC : 2 times (18%)
Bretton Woods NH : 1 time (9%)
Wachusett MA : 1 time (9%)
Saddleback ME : 1 time (9%)
By Provinces/States:
Quebec : 10 times (91%)
Vermont : 10 times (91%)
Maine : 8 times (73%)
New Hampshire : 4 3 times (36 27%)*
Massachusetts : 1 time (9%)
Only Killington will be open daily to the public until May 1, after it’s going to be Friday and weekends only for the rest of the season. With the exception of St-Sauveur, Killington and Mont Comi, all remaining areas have clearly stated that next weekend will definitely be their last weekend of the season.
An important note to remember, this list can change at any moment. Even if there is snow, call ahead, some might not bothering spinning if the weather doesn’t compare with the notion of Spring skiing.
LIST OF 8 7 SKI AREAS TENTATIVELY OPEN THIS WEEKEND (only Killington open daily)*
Wildcat NH – May 1 (tentative weekend only)*
Sunday River ME – May 1 (tentative weekend only)**
Jay VT – May 1 (tentative weekend only)**
Sugarbush VT – May 1 (tentative weekend only)**
Sugarloaf ME – May 1 (tentative weekend only)**
Comi QC – May 1 (weekend only)
Killington VT – into May (daily until May 1 then Friday-Sunday only)
St-Sauveur QC – May 14 15 (weekends only)**
* Update: April 26: Wildcat is done for the season
** Update: April 28: All remaining have confirmed for the weekend.
If you include the Midwest, Lutsen is adding an extra weekend and is eyeing on May 1 also.
Ski Mad World’s weekly Eastern Closing 2016 posts:
Let’s move Past EASTer & Go Easterner – Eastern Closing Thread 2016 – Part 1
Freeze Frame – Eastern Closing Thread 2015-16 – semaine 2
Monday, Monday…Eastern Closing 2016 Update – Week 3
The best of Spring Skiing – Eastern Closing 2016 – Week 4