Snow Report: Where Can You Ski Thanksgiving Weekend?

Sunday River on Opening Day 2015. Photo by Shelley Bowen via Sunday River.

It’s Thanksgiving Week, and what better way to spend that special time of year than on the ski slopes of New England? Here’s your Snow Report for the long holiday weekend.

Sunday River Expands Opened Terrain

Sunday River is slated to open Barker Mountain, the South Ridge area, and Aurora Peak, all before the week’s end. Not all trails on the mountains will be open, but that’s a significant increase in skiable terrain in Newry, given the warm spell that has enveloped the region for months. Sunday River opened on October 19, but, like its big competitor in Vermont, Killington, has struggled to remain regularly open with the warm fall temperatures. Sunday River’s Demo Days promotion where people try out as many skis as they want for $10 is scheduled for this weekend. The $10 you put down to try out skis will be valued as a $50 credit if you choose to buy over Thanksgiving Weekend.

Wachusett, Jiminy Peak set to open this weekend
Two of the major ski areas in Massachusetts, Wachusett Mountain in Princeton and Jiminy Peak in Pittsfield, are scheduled to to open on Black Friday, weather permitting. The two resorts are hoping Mother Nature replicates the amazing season they experienced last year. Wachusett is featuring a comedy night at its lodge on Friday.

Sugarloaf is Open

The King of Spring is now open in the late fall.

The SuperQuad is running in Carrabassett Valley, but only serving three trails for the time being. The resort plans to be open through the holiday weekend, weather permitting. Demo Days at Sugarloaf are scheduled for next weekend. Work is ongoing on the new lifts at Sugarloaf, too.

Other Mountains Aiming to Open on Thanksgiving Weekend
In Vermont, Killington and Okemo already have their lifts turning, but Bromley, Jay Peak, Mount Snow, Smugglers Notch, Stowe, Stratton, and Sugarbush are not far behind, with hopes to be open by the weekend. Bretton Woods in New Hampshire is about to get a lot of company, as Cranmore, Loon, Mount Sunapee, Waterville Valley, and Wildcat all hope to be open by the weekend, weather permitting, of course.

Balsams Update

The expansion and reopening of the famed Balsams Resort in Dixville Notch has officially been delayed until next June, according to New Hampshire Pubic Radio. The developers of the project, Dixville Capital, led by ski magnate (or is it mogul?) Les Otten, told Coos County officials last week that they had to formally push back the start of the project again. The project has been delayed as the group seeks the proper permits and financing to move forward. Developers already obtained a lucrative loan from the New Hampshire Business Finance Authority for the mulit-million dollar project. When fully built out, the resort will radically change the landscape of the New England ski world.