Snow Report: As a Storm Looms, Steals and Deals Appear

Sugarloaf fires up its snowguns. Photo via Sugarloaf

Guys! Guys! Guys! It’s there’s a snowstorm on the way

Ok, so we’re not getting a blizzard or anything fancy, but it’s still enough snow that it could help postpone the end of this, Our Miserable Ski Season, by at least a week or two. The forecast is showing the entire region receiving some level of snowfall this weekend. Unfortunately, it appears at press time that the bulk of the snow is likely to fall in southern New England, not the mountains of  New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont. Devoted eastern skier and NECN weatherman Tim Kelly thinks there’s a chance the storm hits central and western Maine snow areas with decent snowfall.

So, let’s face it: the ski season is probably over by the end of March so that means now is the time to key an eye for the best steals and deals you can find. Ski shops and resorts are looking to do three things right now: salvage what’s left of the season by getting people to the mountain, clear out this year’s equipment inventory, and lock in customers for next year. A recent survey of ski areas by Boston found several ski areas doing all three. If you’re looking to buy a season pass for next season, right now is the absolute best time to do that because it will only go up in price. So if you’re serious about skiing or even a casual participant in the sport, lock in the low rates now before they go up.

Wachusett Mountain 
One of two Massachusetts mountains scheduled to be open this weekend, Wachusett is in full end-of-year mode. The ski area just launched a sale of all the 2015/2016 demos in its MTNSIDE shop. It’s a first come, first serve, kind of deal. So get there before they’re all gone. Wachusett is expected to launch a special sale for 2016/2017 season passes sometime in the neat future.

Wildcat Mountain
Wildcat is offering $9 lift tickets for skiers and riders on April Fool’s Day.

Bolton Valley
Bolton is closing up shop this weekend. They are selling discounted season passes for next year through April 4. Passes for kids start at just $99.

Stowe
Stowe got five inches of snow on Friday morning, but they’re still maintaining their late season lift ticket deal of $79 per day. There are steals and deals galore in the Stowe shops, too. They plane to close in late April, but we’ll see if they make it. Plus, be sure to check out their Seize the Mountain deal.

Butternut
Butternut’s season may be over but they’re already gearing up for next year. Early bird specials for season passes at the western Massachusetts ski area start at $275, but you better hurry because the deal ends May 31st.

Waterville Valley
Waterville, in apparent attempt to one-up other mountains, is offering $1 lift tickets on April Fool’s Day. Additionally, the popular family resort is offering a $49 per person deal for a two-night stay in a one bedroom condo unit in their nearby mountain village. A three-bedroom condo is just $66 per person per night.

Ragged Mountain
This may be the best New Hampshire deal on offer: $249 for unlimited skiing. No catch, no restriction. Just $249 for unlimited skiing at Ragged Mountain. They have a ton of used equipment for sale at the mountain, too. Go check them out in Danbury.

Okemo
Okemo is offering unlimited skiing at its resort with the Skiesta Card for just $119. Cardholders can apply $99 of that purchase toward the price of a new or upgraded season pass if purchased prior to the early-bird deadline of April 30.

Sunday River
Starting after Saturday, March 19, college students will receive $39 tickets with proof of enrollment. All 2015/16 and 2016/17 New England Passholders can bring a friend for $55 per day.

Sunday River is planning to close May 1 with their annual Ski Maynia day, but during a recent trip to the mountain, multiple staffer suggested the real closing date is closer to the first weekend in April.

Multi-Mountain Passes

The Max Pass
This pass may be the best of all the passes available in New England. Holders of the Max Pass get five days of unlimited, unrestricted skiing at each of the following resorts in New England, Ontario, and Quebec: Sunday River, Sugarloaf, Killington, Stratton, Loon Mountain, Wachusett, Mount Tremlant, and Blue Mountain. If you’re a western skier your pass works the same way at: Big Sky, Brighton, Solitude, Copper Mountain, Steamboat, Winter Park, Aleyska, Crystal Mountain, Summit at Snoqualmie, Cypress Mountain, Mt. Bachelor, Boreal Mountain, and Lee Canyon. If you’re a New England Pass holder you can order it as an add-on. If you’re buying it as a stand alone pass it’s $599.

The Peak Pass
Frequent skiers of Attitash, Wildcat, Crotched, and Mount Snow will definitely want to give this early season pass deal a look. The seven-mountain Peak Pass offers unlimited skiing at all of the aforementioned mountains plus Hunter Mountain in New York and Jack Frost & Big Boulder in Pennsylvania for $599 if purchased before April 30. There are more affordable lower tiers of the pass available for a down payment of $99. Purchasers of the pass get unlimited skiing for the remainder of this season.

The White Mountain Super Pass
For $949, the White Mountain Super Pass gives you unlimited skiing at Waterville Valley Resort, Bretton Woods, Cannon, and Cranmore. Additional benefits include a 10 percent discount on purchased throughout the mountain and a $15-bring-a-friend discount on lift tickets. This deal runs through May 31. More affordable options are available.

New England Pass
Three of the largest ski resorts in New England, Sugarloaf, Sunday River, and Loon, are combining again to offer the New England Pass. For $1,049, passholders at the Boyne-owned resorts can ski all season with no restrictions. Additionally, holders of the Gold Pass are receive four discounted lift tickets plus 15 percent off purchases at the resorts. The Silver Pass option comes with a 13 day blackout dates but with a very appealing price tag of $709. The New England Pass does have a payment plan option.