It was a tough Christmas for many northeast ski areas as a storm dropped 1-4” or more of drenching rainfall, forcing many ski areas to close, and essentially erasing the existing snow cover in the northeast.

You don’t have to jump on a plane to Vail, Aspen, Jackson Hole or Park City to ski this winter: New York is within driving distance of several destinations that promise almost as much allure.

Expanded drop off areas, more outdoor dining and touchless lift ticket sales are among the changes in store for the state’s Olympic Regional Development Authority’s Whiteface, Gore and Belleayre ski areas this winter.

Gore Mountain in North Creek; Whiteface in Lake Placid; and Belleayre Mountain Ski Center in Highmount, in central New York’s Ulster County. These three ski resorts all have one thing in common; all are operated by the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority.

Thanks to a stormy and snowy Thanksgiving week, we are in prime position for a great start to December!

It's time to enjoy spring weather in the mountains, and the outlook is great across SnoCountry.

Northeast skiers and riders don't have to hop a plane to reach some of the best terrain in the country, and they don't have to limit themselves to just one mountain. Multi-Mountain 2019-20 season passes are now on sale, and early birds get the best prices.

This winter, Hunter, Windham Mountain and Belleayre tout major improvements boosting the ski experience in the Catskills. Altogether, the biggest areas in the region invested $25 million in new lifts, convenient ticketing systems and improved snowmaking.

After a short blip in the weather last week, snowmaking temperatures and some quick-hitting storms have left the slopes of the Northeast covered in fun, fluffy powder. 

It’s a snow lover’s dream this week across the Northeast as several resorts will start turning lifts for the season, thanks to the combined forces of Mother Nature’s snowmaking temperatures and natural snowfall.

Skier slides down Loon in NH where all eyes are on a coastal storm. (Loon/Twitter)

Snow alert! A huge storm slams the West this week with locally up to five feet of snow. The East could be nice and snowy just in time for the weekend.

Loading the new Belleayre gondi. (Belleayre/Facebook)

Skiers and snowboarders loading Belleayre's new 60-cabin Catskill Thunder gondola can now make it from the lower mountain's Discovery Lodge to the summit in seven minutes. The eight-person cabin can move about 2,000 people per hour, at a maximum speed of 1,000 feet per minute.

Belleayre, Gore and Whiteface are the first Eastern resorts to partner with The Climate Reality Project I AM PRO SNOW Project. (Whiteface/Facebook)

On the heels of announcements for $28 million in investments at Whiteface, Gore and Belleayre, the three New York-owned ski resorts have pledged to be powered by 100 percent renewal energy by 2030, joining The Climate Reality Project I AM PRO SNOW 100% Committed campaign.

Belleayre Mountain is just hours from New York City. (Ryan Lennox)

On the heels of last months’ announcement that New York will be investing in Gore and Whiteface, the state now plans to invest an additional $8 million for upgrades at Belleayre Mountain.

Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort has partnered with solar energy developer Nexamp in constructing a 2.3 megawatt community solar facility located on 12 acres of the resort’s property. Once completed, the Jiminy Peak project will represent the largest community solar project of its kind in the Northeast.

The New York State Senate has approved a bill that would allow the creation of public-private partnership to boost the economic viability of properties in the Belleayre Mountain region. 

“Happy April,” exclaimed Gore Mountain’s Emily Stanton to SnoCountry.com. “We are open daily through Sunday (April 6). We’re asking people to visit our website or check ahead regarding the schedule for next week. We’ll have events throughout April.”