DCSki Newsroom

What if ski resorts could save some of their winter snow for the following fall? Using specialized insulating blankets, a growing number of ski areas are experimenting with snow farming. Colorado’s Snowmass recently preserved 85% of an experimental snow pile through a record-hot summer, then used some of it for an October terrain park. Research in Vermont suggests the technique can also work at lower elevations and in humid climates, raising intriguing possibilities for Mid-Atlantic resorts.

Killington Resort has fired up 165 snowguns across five trails, beginning significant snowmaking operations two weeks earlier than last year as it prepares for the upcoming ski season and November World Cup races.

In 1955, Pennsylvania’s Laurel Mountain installed an unusual lift that combined single-passenger chairs and conventional T-bars on the same cable. DCSki looks back at the practical problem the hybrid system solved, Laurel Mountain’s summit-based design and pioneering history, and the ski area’s later evolution.

DCSki’s Mountain Matchup series heads to West Virginia to compare neighboring Timberline Mountain and Canaan Valley Resort. From challenging terrain and high-speed lifts to family-friendly slopes and off-mountain amenities, we explore what sets these two popular ski areas apart.

Snowboarding participation in the United States rose approximately 9% to 10.6 million people during the 2025-2026 season, while alpine skiing held steady near 13.2 million, according to new research from Snowsports Industries America. The study also found that overall participation reached its highest level in six seasons, even as the number of days spent on the slopes declined.

NOAA’s updated 2026-2027 Winter Outlook favors warmer-than-average temperatures and above-normal precipitation across the Mid-Atlantic, reflecting the expected influence of a strong to very strong El Niño. The forecast could bring additional moisture to ski areas, but whether it falls as snow, rain, sleet, or freezing rain will depend on shorter-term temperature and storm patterns.

Tussey Mountain near State College, Pennsylvania, is pursuing a phased redevelopment that would expand its lodge, improve facilities for skiers, and support additional year-round activities. The proposal must first clear a regional land-use and sewer approval process involving six Centre County municipalities; construction schedules and project costs have not been announced.

Berkshire East Mountain Resort in Massachusetts is considering an 80-megawatt-hour battery designed to reduce the peak electricity costs associated with snowmaking. Supported by a $4.5 million state grant, the proposed 2028 project could offer a model for resorts elsewhere, although its costs, savings, and long-term performance have yet to be established.

As snowboarding grew in popularity, ski writers and the industry searched for an inclusive term covering everyone on the mountain. DCSki’s Editor reflects back on the proposed alternatives, from “snowsliders” to “snow riders,” and explains why “skiers and snowboarders” remains the clearest choice.

North Carolina’s revised ski safety law took effect October 1, 2026, adding criminal penalties for leaving collision scenes, pass misuse, skiing without a valid pass, and entering closed terrain. The law also creates supervision requirements for children under 14, reinforces skier responsibilities, expands legal protections for ski area operators, and exempts certain volunteers from state employment regulations.