While many New England residents are begrudgingly stomping through snow on their way to work and impatiently awaiting the spring season, ski resorts and ski fans are celebrating the bombardment of fresh powder. The recent onslaught of snowstorms has blanketed New England resorts with impressive amounts of fresh snow, including 170 inches so far this season at Killington Resort in Vermont.
To put that in perspective, Killington’s slopes received 196 inches during the entirety of the 2013-2014 season. Consider that March typically brings in 55+ inches of snow for Killington, and it’s no surprise that this year’s snowfall projection is set to crush last year’s numbers. It should also be no surprise that resorts like Killington are preparing for an exceptionally popular spring skiing season.
Killington’s steady accrual of powder has helped foster some of the best snow conditions of the year — conditions that are likely to remain into April and May. The 2013-2014 season ended in May, but Killington, which strives to consistently maintain the longest ski seasons in the East, is pushing to keep its slopes open until June this year.
It sounds crazy but it’s not unheard of. Killington did stay open until June in 2002, a year that saw only 192 inches of snow, but more importantly, 63 inches after March 1. If Mother Nature were to throw down a few more dumps of snow, it would set Killington up for a record-breaking spring skiing season.
Killington isn’t the only one with these high hopes. Although Maine’s Sugarloaf weathered through inconsistent snow and rain in December, it has boasted outstanding results in 2015. January brought typical levels of snowfall but February was the real hero, bringing a dump of 4-6 feet of pure powder. If Sugarloaf continues to enjoy no thaws and no rain, it is likely that skiers and boarders will stay on the slopes late into the spring season.
Other notable snowfall recipients so far this year are Sugarbush with 190 inches, Stowe with 225 inches, and Jay Peak beating out the rest with 236 inches of snow.