When will you start your ski season???

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Hey All,

When do you think you'll start your ski season? Will you earn turns with just a light frost? Is opening day with 1/2 of a trail open a given for you....or do you wait until the majority of the terrain is open? I like to hit as many opening days as possible..some ski seasons I hit opening day at 3+ different ski areas...usually opening day conditions are better than expected and it's still usually pretty warm in Novemeber so it's not too icy..

 

[Greg]

Maybe mid-November, more likely the Friday after Thanksgiving. After last year, I've decided to not burn much vacation time for early season.

 

[kcyanks1]

I'm happy to go skiing in November on 1 trail when the areas first open. But realistically, my season likely won't start before mid-December, unless I do something Thanksgiving weekend.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I don't like using my vacation time for early season skiing so most of my early season up North is on the weekends. A Friday-Sunday Thanksgiving weekend trip is a must for me. I prefer to use my vacation time for ski trips out west or take a whole week up at Stowe in early April..I want to go skiing in South America next summer but since my Dad is my boss..he said I can have extra time if I want that..

 

[hammer]

I usually shoot for the Friday after Thanksgiving if the weather cooperates. It's a holiday where I work so I don't have to burn vacation time.

 

[Kerovick]

Xmas, mid December if I'm really lucky.

 

[tjf67]

HMMM when the mountain opens???

 

[wa-loaf]

When Wachusett opens.

 

[SkiDork]

At least when it opens, if not hiking for turns earlier...

 

[RISkier]

We tentatively plan a trip for Thanksgiving weekend. Last year we didn't go cause conditions just didn't look worth the $ and the 4 hour drive. Plus we have pets for which we have to arrange either boarding or finding a pet sitter. We used to have a great pet sitter who we could call almost any time. She was a starving student who lived with her parents so it was kind of a break for her, she was very responsible and good with the animals, it was a win-win all around until she moved to California. Drat. But I digress. The other most likely first ski scenario is if Wachusett gets open, cause that's a pretty easy day trip.

 

[mishka]

if no early season opening and ski resorts opens around Thanksgiving will be going to Wachusett mountain on Monday November 26 even if one trail is open

 

[reefer]

As soon as possible. I have skied lift served in October at least three of the last seven years (Killington twice, Wildcat once). That will be nearly impossible to duplicate with Wildcat seemingly the only possibilty now, with the demise of early season Killington. I also try to open a couple hills up, definitely Mt. Snow opening day! Since I got back into skiing seven years ago, I haven't missed a Mt. Snow/Okemo double shot Saturday/Sunday Thanksgiving weekend, and last year those were the first days - barely. Each had one trail and downloading required, Okemo from the summit. Okemo because that Sunday has historically been their food drive. Bring a few cans of food and ski for $30.00. My tip of the day. Check the web site in October. Never seems to get crowded, especially early morning (pic below 11/25&26/06 - Snow/Okemo). Getting to the point however I am more willing to earn my turns. If it snows tomorrow I may go get some.....................

Two more months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[trtaylor]

Week after Thanksgiving, if weather cooperates.

 

[Hawkshot99]

Hopefully thanksgiving morning on my trip up the thruway, I will turn off and hit Hunter for a few hours. That was my plan last year but it was raining so I decided to wait. If not then, that weekend I will be out somewhere.

 

[mishka]

if no early season opening and ski resorts opens around Thanksgiving will be going to Wachusett mountain on Monday November 26 even if one trail is open

another possibility NEAS "ski express" http://www.skitrip.net/neas.htm have KILLINGTON November 17 and Sunday River for November 24

 

[Greg]

As soon as possible. I have skied lift served in October at least three of the last seven years (Killington twice, Wildcat once). That will be nearly impossible to duplicate with Wildcat seemingly the only possibilty now, with the demise of early season Killington. I also try to open a couple hills up, definitely Mt. Snow opening day! Since I got back into skiing seven years ago, I haven't missed a Mt. Snow/Okemo double shot Saturday/Sunday Thanksgiving weekend, and last year those were the first days - barely. Each had one trail and downloading required, Okemo from the summit. Okemo because that Sunday has historically been their food drive. Bring a few cans of food and ski for $30.00. My tip of the day. Check the web site in October. Never seems to get crowded, especially early morning (pic below 11/25&26/06 - Snow/Okemo). Getting to the point however I am more willing to earn my turns. If it snows tomorrow I may go get some.....................

Two more months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This pic of Chute is looking pretty good to me right now...

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Hopefully thanksgiving morning on my trip up the thruway, I will turn off and hit Hunter for a few hours. That was my plan last year but it was raining so I decided to wait. If not then, that weekend I will be out somewhere.

Last season was such a shitty start. On the day after Thanksgiving I drove up to Belleayre and met about a dozen PASRs and skied from 9-2:00PM on lower Oneita(sp?) then drove up to Rutland and skied Killington on Saturday and Sunday morning with the masses. I still managed a couple of uncrowded early high speed runs before there were thousands of people to avoid. It's funny but you'd expect most of the early season visitors to be advanced/expert skiers and that's not often the case.

 

[2knees]

then drove up to Rutland and skied Killington on Saturday and Sunday morning with the masses.

killington on thanksgiving weekend? You, sir, are nuts. I can honestly say, i'd rather do just about anything else.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

killington on thanksgiving weekend? You, sir, are nuts. I can honestly say, i'd rather do just about anything else.

I usually go to Okemo that weekend but they weren't top to bottom yet..Skiing is skiing though..even with 5,000 people

 

[hammer]

killington on thanksgiving weekend? You, sir, are nuts. I can honestly say, i'd rather do just about anything else.

After seeing pictures like this on riverc0il's site I don't think I'd ever go to Killington early season...