Lifts come to a creaking halt...

I had been holding out hope that at least one ski area would step up and offer lift-serviced skiing this weekend, but it seems that despite plenty of cover at several areas, everyone has thrown in the towel. And yes, I've been asked why I haven't done the same... Really? Me, throw in the towel on my favorite season? Not likely, especially when I have the best fiancee in the world that doesn't want to stop either. So yeah, we'll be hoofing it this weekend!

Is this the last weekend??? :(

Early tomorrow morning, Julie and I will head north on our way to Sugarloaf for one last fling with lift-served skiing. With a surprise 8 inches of snow falling earlier this week and some nice mid-week temps, the Loaf is gonna go off this weekend. While both Sugarbush and Jay Peak in Vermont will both also open for the weekend, Sugarloaf hasn’t turned off their lifts thus far, making them the unofficial “King of Spring,” even after all that rain we got earlier this week. So while Sunday may mark the end of the lift-served season, there is still hope that someone will come out of left field and attempt another weekend opening. If not, we’ll just have to earn our turns.

Sugarloaf's still turning the lift...

I've been trying to avoid looking out the window this morning as the site is saddening. It's been raining for a couple of days and after a week of above normal temps, only one ski resort in the east remains open for daily operations. Sugarloaf, Maine has had to do some patchwork on the lower mountain to provide a groomed trail to the base of the SuperQuad, but has good cover on several trails fomr the top of the lift. Of course it you're looking for grooming, this is not the place... Except that until this Saturday it's the only place. While The Loaf will win the race for the last to be open continuously, Jay Peak and Sugarbush, both in Vermont, hope to open a trail or two each for the weekend. Again, as a note to any skier or rider, terrain will be un-groomed moguls and variable late season terrain for advanced skiers and riders only. If you do not fit into this category - while we still want you to be able to enjoy the sports - please wait until next season for your own safety. For all others, we'll see you out on the hill!

Who will be last? An update!

So about a week ago I discussed all the ski areas closing down as May approaches and I even posed a question to many friends regarding, which ski area will be the last to have lifts running in New England. While only a few have daily operations ongoing to date, there are several that plan to reopen this weekend and some have said they will go further. Actually, some haven't said anything while both Sugarloaf in Maine and Wildcat in New Hampshire have indicated that they will at least go for the first weekend in May. This of course bodes well for people like me, but I have to wonder if a Vermont area will make a last minute decision. With former "King of Spring Skiing," Killington, closing a couple days ago, I would say that the resort with the best skier base to make feasible attempt would be Sugarbush. Jay Peak, the region's snowfall anomaly, could probably make it with their snowpack, but the northern kingdom of Vermont is just too far for many to travel for limited operations. The guessing game goes on.