WARREN, Vt. (WCAX) – Ski resorts in our area are staffing up for the big storm which coincides with one of the busiest ski weekends on the calendar.
By all accounts, this has been one of the best ski seasons in recent memory across the Green Mountains. As resorts like Sugarbush slide into the holiday weekend, powder-hungry skiers and snowboarders are celebrating another foot of snow on the way.
“It’s been amazing, absolutely amazing,” said Sally Hess of Richmond.
Vermonters and visitors strapped in to shred a fresh layer of snow at Lincoln Peak on Friday, taking laps on several feet of snow which has many saying it’s the best conditions in years.
“I retired and moved to Vermont about 10 years ago and this is by far the best season I’ve experienced,” said Dan Towle of Huntington.
Sugarbush had a slow start to the year, but recorded six feet of snow in January– the second snowiest in the last 20 years. And so far, they have seen four feet in the first two weeks of February.
“The nice thing about this is when you get conditions like this is spreads people out,” said John Bleh of Sugarbush.
The continued and consistent snowfall allows thrillseekers to experience powder which some say is a rarity in the Northeast.
“It’s like ballroom dancing, that’s all I can say. You just float,” Hess said.
“It’s like riding on a cloud. It feels amazing,” said Cyrus Perkinson of Burlington.
While Vermonters are shredding the white, businesses off the slopes are raking in the green.
“It’s been absolutely insane,” said Brooke Downing, who owns BB’s Bagels.
Downing, 19, started her business in the fall. She now wakes up at 1:30 a.m. to make more than 700 bagels to keep up with hungry crowds flocking to the mountain.
“I never knew I was going to have to and then all of the sudden with the demand for all of the bagels I’m going to have to make,” she said.
And there’s more snow on the way, with up to a foot expected for the Presidents Day weekend.
If the snow continues and temperatures stay cold, it could build up a base for a long spring skiing season.
“I think you’re going to find that trails that close mid to early April may stay open longer given how deep the conditions are,” Bleh said.
A celebration of Mother Nature on the slopes.
