Al Neubert: Ski season has opened with a flourish

After a very warm October and first half of November, the weather turned decidedly winter-like over the past several weeks and with it came the start of the local ski season. Belleayre, in the southern Catskills near Pine Hill, opened with skiing and riding on Nov. 18, while Hunter, just to the north, made its debut on Nov. 19, followed by Windham on Nov. 21. There even have been natural snowfalls that amounted to a few inches in the Catskills and up to a foot in the northern mountains of Vermont and in New York’s Adirondack Mountains.

Shawnee Mountain, just north of the Delaware Water Gap in Pennsylvania, opened on Nov. 25 with its most terrain ever at the start of the season. Shawnee is an Indy Pass resort. Another local favorite, and an Indy Pass participant, Mohawk Mountain, in the Litchfield Hills of Connecticut, opened Nov. 26. Further north, Gore and Whiteface were open and for the first time ever, Whiteface was open from the summit, providing over 3,200 vertical feet of skiing and riding.

Killington, in central Vermont, hosted the Heroic Women’s World Cup, a part of the FIS World Cup tour, on Nov. 26-27. The Women’s giant slalom was held on Saturday with Laura Gut-Behrami of Switzerland taking the gold while American superstar, Mikaela Shiffrin, finished 13th. In the slalom on Sunday Shiffrin’s string of gold medals ended with a fifth-place finish. Wendy Holdener of Switzerland shared the gold with Anna Swenn Larson of Sweden.

Making my debut

I made my first turns of the season at Hunter. After about 72 hours of snowmaking, Hunter was able to open the Main line down the center of the face of the Colonel’s Chair, Minya Konka and Lower Crossover, as well and intermediate run, Belt Parkway, to The Battery and back to the base area. Mossy Brook, a green circle run from the top of the B quad chair, was open and the Hunter East beginner’s area was available with a chair and magic carpet lift. I took four runs off the B quad just to get my sea legs back and then rode the Kaatskill Flyer six pack to the summit for three runs before returning to B lift for one final run.

As is typical on the first day, I started cramping and my shins were getting sore from my boot tongues, a result of being in a skier’s stance that I was last in way back in April. Conditions were outstanding with packed powder and groomed surfaces and temperatures hovering in the mid 30s under Bluebird skies – I couldn’t ask for a better opening day to start my new season.

This season is already off to a much better start than last with many more ski areas opening by the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and with a lot more terrain. Even with more slopes and trails open, you have to recognize that conditions deteriorate quickly from skier and snowboarder pressure being concentrated on too little acreage. Typically by the early afternoon, slopes can turn into those dreaded “white ribbons of death.” On your first few times out, pace yourself and listen to your body. There’s a whole season in front of you and you don’t want to ruin it by getting injured now.

Let’s hope the early season conditions continue and that we get some decent natural snowfalls. I spoke with a number of ski area operators that all agreed that last season was among the five worst ever in the Northeast. There was a dearth of natural snow and except for a near record cold January, much of the time we experienced serious thaws and weekly rains, even at the most northerly ski resorts. March saw virtually no snow in the region while there were some substantial snowfalls in April, well after the season ended for most areas.

April pleasure

I actually had my best ski days starting with an April 1 visit to Greek Peak near Cortland. Greek Peak is an Indy Pass member resort and is surprisingly big with over 300 skiable acres. I found the terrain and layout very interesting and fun and look forward to heading back this season when most of the mountain is open. I skied Stratton, in southern Vermont, on April 5 on a day that started in the 20s and after a snowfall of several inches and managed to have my biggest vertical day of the season. Stratton had over 30 trails open with terrific coverage.

I followed that with an April 10 visit to Belleayre, in the southern Catskills. I skied the Gondola side of the resort and finished my day in heavy snow squalls. On April 20 I headed to Sugarbush, near Warren, Vermont, and had one of my best days of the season, following a seven-inch snowfall with temperatures never breaking freezing. I skied top-to-bottom from the summit of Lincoln Peak, a 2,400-foot vertical drop. I went to Killington on April 28 after it received five inches of snow and skied much of the terrain on Snowden Peak under Blue bird skies and temperatures never getting out of the 20s. It’s just a reminder that sometimes the best snow conditions can happen when you’re least thinking about skiing and snowboarding.

Think a great start to the season and happy skiing and riding!

You can contact me at asneubert@aol.com or you can visit my Instagram page at asneubert

Ski report

LEBANON, N.H. (AP) — Latest skiing conditions, as supplied by SnoCountry Mountain Reports. Conditions are subject to change due to weather, skier/rider traffic and other factors. Be aware of changing conditions. For more information go to www.snocountry.com

Mohawk Mountain — Wed Reopen 12/03 machine groomed 12 - 12 base Sat/Sun: 8:30a-4p; Open Sat/Sun.

Mt Southington — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Powder Ridge — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Ski Sundown — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Winding Trails XC — Wed Opening Soon for Snow Sports packed powder machine groomed 5 - 5 base 42 of 35 trails, 9 miles Mon-Fri: 9a-5p; Sat/Sun: 9a-5p.

Baker Mountain — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Big Squaw — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Bigrock Mountain — Plan to Open 12/17

Black Mtn — Plan to Open 12/26

Camden Snow Bowl — Plan to Open 12/26

Hermon Mountain — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Lost Valley — Plan to Open 12/17

Mt Abram — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Pleasant Mountain — Plan to Open 12/10 Mon: 9:30a-9pTue-Fri: 9:30a-8p; Sat: 8:30a-8p;Sun: 8:30a-4:30p.

Saddleback — Plan to Open 12/10

Sugarloaf — Wed 3:24p frozen granular machine groomed 3 - 7 base 20 of 162 trails 12% open, 10 miles, 128 acres, 5 of 13 lifts, sm Mon-Fri: 8:30a-3:50p Sat/Sun: 8:30a-3:50p.

Sunday River — Wed 7:37a machine groomed 12 - 20 base 20 of 135 trails 15% open, 11 miles, 132 acres, 5 of 18 lifts, sm Mon-Fri: 9a-4p Sat/Sun: 8a-4p.

Titcomb Mountain — Plan to Open 12/17

AMC Maine Wilderness Lodges — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Carters Bethel XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Carters Oxford XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Fort Kent Outdoor Center — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

NEOC XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Pineland Farms XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Quarry Road XC — Wed Opening Soon for Snow Sports loose granular machine groomed 6 - 30 base 20 of 23 trails, 7 miles Mon-Fri: 8a-9p; Sat/Sun: 8a-9p.

Rangeley Lakes XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Berkshire East — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Blue Hills Boston — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Bousquet — Wed Reopen 12/02 machine groomed 10 - 10 base Fri: 12p-9p Sat: 9a-9p;Sun: 9a-4:30p; Open Fri-Sun.

Bradford — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Catamount — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Jiminy Peak — Reopen 12/03 machine groomed 12 - 36 base Sat/Sun: 9a-4p Open Sat/Sun.

Nashoba Valley — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Otis Ridge — Plan to Open 12/10

Ski Butternut — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Ski Ward — Wed Reopen 12/02 machine groomed 12 - 48 base Fri: 12p-5p Sat/Sun: 12p-5p; Open Fri-Sun.

Wachusett — Wed 7:54a machine groomed 10 - 12 base 5 of 27 trails, 19% open 38 acres, 4 of 8 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-7p; Sat/Sun: 7:30a-7p; Nov 30: 9a-4p.

Canterbury Farm XC — Wed Opening Soon for Snow Sports machine groomed 4 - 7 base 10 of 12 trails, 6 miles Mon, Thu/Fri: 9a-5p; Sat/Sun: 9a-5p Open Thu-Mon.

Notchview Reservation XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports machine groomed Mon-Fri: 8a-4:30p; Sat/Sun: 8a-4:30p.

Weston Ski Track XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Arrowhead — Plan to Open 12/17

Attitash — Plan to Open 12/02

Black Mountain — Plan to Open 12/10 Mon-Fri: 9a-4p Sat/Sun: 8:30a-4p.

Bretton Woods — Wed 6:10a machine groomed 8 - 12 base 5 of 98 trails 5% open, 3 miles, 46 acres, 3 of 10 lifts, sm Mon-Fri: 9a-3:30p Sat/Sun: 9a-3:30p.

Cannon Mountain — Plan to Open 12/03

Cranmore — Reopen 12/03 machine groomed 14 - 21 base sm Mon-Fri: 9a-4p Sat: 8:30a-8p;Sun: 8:30a-4p.

Crotched Mountain — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Dartmouth Skiway — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Gunstock — Plan to Open 12/09

King Pine — Plan to Open 12/16

Loon Mountain — Wed 7:58a machine groomed 6 - 12 base 15 of 61 trails 26% open, 6 miles, 93 acres, 2 of 10 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 8a-4p.

McIntyre Ski Area — Plan to Open 12/10

Mount Sunapee — Wed 6:12a machine groomed 19 - 19 base 5 of 66 trails 8% open, 23 acres, 2 of 10 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 8a-4p.

Pats Peak — Plan to Open 12/02 Passholders Only

Ragged Mountain — Plan to Open 12/09

Waterville Valley — Plan to Open 12/10

Whaleback — Plan to Open 12/17

Wildcat — Wed 6:13a machine groomed 12 - 12 base 6 of 48 trails, 13% open 3 of 5 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-3:30p; Sat/Sun: 8:30a-3:30p.

Bear Notch Ski Touring — Wed Opening Soon for Snow Sports machine groomed 1 - 12 base 12 miles

Mon-Fri: 8a-4p

3/10/2022 Good News Cross Country Skiers Looking for surprisingly good after the melt down conditions? We have them!It has taken a lot of work (grooming then shoveling and then grooming again and again). The result intermittent showers we have created decent skiing. Come out and enjoy, before next weather event! We do it all for you. Our waterfall crossing intermittent showers still in. All trails open to snowshoers.; Sat/Sun: 8a-4p; Last Day: Mar 20.

Bretton Woods XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Dartmouth XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Dexters Inn XC — Closed for Snow Sports

Eastman XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports machine groomed Wed-Fri: 10a-5p; Sat/Sun: 9a-5p.

Franconia XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Great Glen Trails XC — Wed Opening Soon for Snow Sports packed powder machine groomed 8 - 16 base 10 of 36 trails, 9 miles Mon-Fri: 8:30a-4:30p Sat/Sun: 8:30a-4:30p.

Jackson XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

King Pine XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Nordic Skier XC — Wed Opening Soon for Snow Sports variable 2 - 8 base Mon-Fri: 9a-5p; Sat/Sun: 9a-5p.

Pine Hill XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Campgaw Mountain — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Mountain Creek — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

High Point XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Belleayre — Wed 4:04p 1 new machine groomed 6 - 24 base 21 of 63 trails 39% open, 9 miles, 68 acres, 2 of 8 lifts, sm Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 9a-4p.

Brantling Ski Slopes — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Buffalo Ski Club — Opening Soon for Snow Sports Wed-Fri: 2p-9p; Sat: 8a-8p;Sun: 8a-6p; Open Wed-Sun.

Cockaigne — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Dry Hill — Reopen 12/2 machine groomed 12 - 12 base Tue-Thu: 4p-9p Fri: 12p-10p; Sat: 10a-10p; /Sun: 10a-6p; Open Tue-Sun.

Four Seasons — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Gore Mountain — Wed 2:46p 1 new loose granular machine groomed 2 - 10 base 13 of 108 trails, 23% open, 7 miles, 84 acres, 5 of 14 lifts, sm Mon-Fri: 8:30a-4p Sat-Sun: 8:30a-4p.

Greek Peak — Wed Reopen 12/03 machine groomed 12 - 12 base Sat/Sun: 8:30a-4p; Open Sat/Sun.

Holiday Mountain — Opening Soon for Snow Sports Thu: 3p-9p;Fri: 12p-9p; Sat: 9a-9p;Sun: 9a-5p; Open Thu-Sun.

Holiday Valley — Wed 4:46p 9 new machine groomed 4 - 20 base 9 of 60 trails 15% open, 4 of 13 lifts, sm Fri: 9a-4:30p; Sat/Sun: 8:30a-4:30p.

HoliMont — Plan to Open 12/17

Hunter Mountain — Wed 5:28a machine groomed 20 - 20 base 14 of 67 trails 21% open, 5 of 13 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 8:30a-4p.

Kissing Bridge — Reopen TBA machine groomed

Labrador Mountain — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Maple Ski Ridge — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

McCauley — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Mount Peter — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Oak Mountain — Plan to Open 12/10

Peek n Peak — Plan to Open 12/09

Plattekill — Plan to Open 12/10

Royal Mountain — Plan to Open 12/10

Snow Ridge — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Song Mountain — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Swain — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Thunder Ridge — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Titus Mountain — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

West Mountain — Plan to Open 12/17

Whiteface — Wed 5:39a loose granular machine groomed 6 - 12 base 9 of 96 trails, 9% open 4 miles, 46 acres, 3 of 12 lifts, sm Mon-Fri: 8:30a-3:30p Sat/Sun: 8:30a-3:30p.

Willard Mountain — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Windham Mountain — Wed 8:54a loose granular machine groomed 6 - 24 base 7 of 54 trails 13% open, 47 acres, 1 of 11 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 8a-4p.

Woods Valley — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Fahnestock Winter Park XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Garnet Hill Lodge XC — Wed Opening Soon for Snow Sports spring snow machine groomed 7 - 12 base 41 of 34 trails, 22 miles Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 9a-4p.

Gore Mountain XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Mountain Trails XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Olympic Sports Complex XC — Wed 4:20p hard packed machine groomed 16 - 20 base 1 mile

Mon-Fri: 9a-4:30p; Sat/Sun: 9a-4:30p.

Osceola Tug Hill XC — Wed Opening Soon for Snow Sports powder machine groomed 18 - 19 base 19 of 19 trails, 17 miles Mon, Wed, Fri: 10a-4:30p Sat/Sun: 10a-4:30p; Feb 20-26: 10a-4:30p.

Pineridge XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Ski Osceola — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Bear Creek — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Blue Knob — Reopen TBA

Blue Mountain — Wed Reopen 12/03 machine groomed 18 - 36 base Sat/Sun: 8a-9p; Open Sat/Sun.

Camelback — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Elk Mountain — Plan to Open 12/14

Hidden Valley — Plan to Open 12/23

Jack Frost — Plan to Open 12/02

Liberty Mountain — Plan to Open 12/16

Montage Mountain — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Mount Pleasant — Plan to Open 12/17

Mystic Mountain at Nemacolin Woodlands — Plan to Open 12/23

Roundtop — Plan to Open 12/16

Seven Springs — Wed 6:15a machine groomed 12 - 20 base 10 of 33 trails 30% open, 3 of 14 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-9p; Sat/Sun: 8a-9p.

Shawnee Mountain — Wed Reopen 12/03 machine groomed 12 - 18 base Sat/Sun 9a-4p; Open Sat/Sun.

Ski Big Bear — Plan to Open 12/17

Ski Sawmill — Plan to Open 12/03

Spring Mountain — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Tussey Mountain — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Whitetail — Plan to Open 12/16

Crystal Lake XC — Wed Opening Soon for Snow Sports frozen granular 1 - 3 base 25 of 39 trails, 16 miles Tue-Fri: 9a-4:30p; Sat/Sun: 9a-4:30p Open Tue-Sun.

Yawgoo Valley — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Bromley Mountain — Wed Reopen 12/03 machine groomed 12 - 24 base Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 9a-4p.

Jay Peak — Wed Reopen 12/02 machine groomed 9 - 18 base sm M-F: 8:30a-4p Sat/Sun: 8a-4p.

Killington — Wed 3:55p 4 new machine groomed 12 - 12 base 16 of 155 trails 10% open, 8 miles, 63 acres, 4 of 22 lifts, sm Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 8a-4p.

Mad River Glen — Plan to Open 12/10

Magic Mountain — Plan to Open 12/15

Middlebury Snow Bowl — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Mount Snow — Wed 6:16a machine groomed 12 - 16 base 15 of 87 trails 17% open, 135 acres, 5 of 20 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 8a-4p.

Okemo Mountain — Wed 7:10a 2 new machine groomed 4 - 8 base 22 of 121 trails, 18% open, 8 miles, 126 acres, 6 of 20 lifts, sm Mon-Fri: 9a-4p Sat/Sun: 8a-4p.

Pico — Plan to Open 12/10 Mon/Thu/Fri: 9a-4p Sat/Sun: 8:30a-4p; Open Thu-Mon.

Saskadena Six — Plan to Open 12/14

Ski Quechee — Plan to Open 12/22 Smugglers Notch — Wed Reopen 12/03 machine groomed 18 - 28 base

Stowe — Wed 6:49a loose granular machine groomed 12 - 24 base 15 of 116 trails, 13% open 5 miles, 82 acres, 5 of 13 lifts, sm Mon-Fri: 8a-4p; Sat/Sun: 8a-4p.

Stratton Mountain — Wed 10:33a machine groomed 18 - 18 base 17 of 99 trails 17% open, 67 acres, 3 of 11 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 8:30a-4p.

Sugarbush — Wed 6:42a machine groomed 12 - 24 base 7 of 111 trails, 6% open 3 miles, 40 acres, 2 of 16 lifts, sm Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat-Sun: 9a-4p.

Blueberry Lake XC — Wed Opening Soon for Snow Sports machine groomed 10 - 22 base 11 of 11 trails, 21 miles Mon-Fri: 9a-4:30p; Sat/Sun: 9a-4:30p.

Bolton Valley XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Grafton Trails XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Okemo Nordic Center — Closed for Snow Sports

Rikert XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Smugglers Notch XC — Plan to Open 12/16

Timber Creek XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Viking Nordic XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Wild Wings XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Woodstock XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Cloudmont — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Wisp — Wed 7:14a machine groomed 24 - 24 base 8 of 34 trails, 24% open 4 of 10 lifts, sm Mon-Fri: 9a-4p; Sat/Sun: 9a-4p.

Appalachian Ski — Wed 8:06a machine groomed 33 - 68 base 8 of 12 trails 67% open, 4 of 6 lifts, sm Mon-Fri: 9a-10p; Sat/Sun: 9a-12a.

Beech Mountain — Wed 9:00a machine groomed 26 - 60 base 10 of 17 trails 59% open, 3 of 7 lifts, sm Mon-Fri: 9a-5p; Sat/Sun: 9a-5p.

Cataloochee — Wed 7:38a machine groomed 15 - 41 base 6 of 18 trails 33% open, 3 of 5 lifts, Mon-Fri: 9a-4:30p; Sat/Sun: 8:30a-10p.

Sapphire Valley — Plan to Open 12/17

Sugar Mountain — Wed 7:17a packed powder machine groomed 20 - 50 base 8 of 21 trails 38% open, 4 of 7 lifts, sm Mon-Fri: 9a-4:30p, 6p-10p; Sat/Sun: 9a-4:30p 6p-10p.

Wolf Ridge — Wed Reopen 12/02 loose granular 22 - 34 base Mon-Fri: 9a-10p; Sat: 9a-10p; Sun: 9a-4:30p.

Massanutten — Wed Reopen 12/09 machine groomed 16 - 16 base Sat/Sun: 9a-5p; Open Sat/Sun.

The Homestead — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Wintergreen — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

Canaan Valley — Plan to Open 12/17

Snowshoe Mountain — Wed 6:43a machine groomed 65 - 65 base 16 of 60 trails 27% open, 60 acres, 3 of 14 lifts, Mon-Thu: 12p-9p; Fri: 9a-9p Sat/Sun: 9a-9p.

Winterplace — Plan to Open 12/10

White Grass XC — Opening Soon for Snow Sports

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: recreational skiing alpine Al Neubert Belleayre Windham Killington