No matter how much you hate the snow, you’ve got to admit that New England knows a thing or two about picturesque ski towns. Whether you’re planning on shredding some pow, cruising the bunny slopes, or just sipping hot drinks in a lodge, here are some of New England’s best ski towns.

This week brought more wild swings in the weather country-wide. The West has benefited greatly with building snow cover, and the East eyes the next weekend wintry wallop. Here’s the forecast in this week’s SnoCast.

Boyne Resorts has announced its purchase of Shawnee Peak ski resort located in Bridgton, Maine.  Adding to the company’s portfolio of eleven North American resorts and attractions, Shawnee Peak joins Sugarloaf and Sunday River in Maine and Loon Mountain Resort in New Hampshire as its fourth resort in New England.  

As the next major step in the Sunday River 2030 plan for enhancing the guest experience, Sunday River is scheduled to install the fastest 8-person chair in North America for the 2022-23 winter season. The Jordan 8, a new Doppelmayr D-Line chairlift that is among the most advanced in the world, features weather-blocking bubble covers and will access terrain on Jordan Bowl and beyond.

As pumpkin spice makes its seasonal comeback, classic fall events return to Sunday River’s calendar with Maine Brew Fest on September 18 and Fall Festival on October 9-10, featuring the 22nd Annual North American Wife Carrying Championship, the 7th Annual New England Cornhole Championship, and the Blue Mountain Arts and Craft Fair.

At many ski and snowboard resorts, October comes in September -- in the form of the lederhosen, dirndl, clogs, knee socks, and, of course, beer.

As Maine opens for summer tourism, Sunday River readies for a busy events season in the mountains, with classic and revitalized events returning to the calendar. Most notably, the resort recently opened registration for the 11th annual Tough Mountain Challenge: a muddy obstacle race slated for July 24, which was postponed last summer due to the pandemic. Special events and activities listed below will take place at the resort and the surrounding towns.

The Finance Authority of Maine has approved up to $135 million in bonds to construct a ski resort and conference center overlooking Moosehead Lake.

Golf Pass, part of NBC Sports, recently released its list of the top 25 best U.S. golf and ski resorts, and the Midwest is well represented with four resorts making the list. Two were among the top four.

For the handful of resorts throughout the Northeast that are still open, this weekend's Nor'Easter delivered mid-winter conditions with up to 20 inches of snow in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.

March came in like a lamb, and so it seems will go out the same way. A few shots of snow, plus mild temperatures will have you looking forward to soft and spring-like turns into April. Here’s what’s on tap in this week’s SnoCast.  

"People really wanted to ski," Sugarloaf spokesman Ethan Austin said. "They didn't want this to be one of the things the pandemic took away from them."

Spring break is upon us which, sadly, means the end is near. But it's still snowing and, with the right conditions, there should be plenty of powder to track up.

More skiers are embracing uphill travel, also called Alpine touring, at Maine ski resorts – and more ski areas are catering to those who opt to hike up instead of taking the chairlifts.

For the first winter in five years, skiers and snowboarders are once again hitting the slopes at Saddleback Ski Area. The mountain officially reopened in mid-December, and businesses in the area are already seeing a boost in revenue.

Now more than ever, people will require a real sense of seclusion while on their ski vacations. Gone for the time being are the après ski parties, the socializing in the lodge during a quick break for lunch and eight-passenger gondola rides. These have been temporarily replaced with such wellness guidelines as chair lift rides consisting of family members only, food trucks as opposed to eating in the lodge and private ski instruction instead of group lessons.

Waterville Valley Resort in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, and Saddleback Mountain in Rangeley, Maine will join the Indy Pass through the end of the current 2020-21 season and for the 2021-22 season. Both resorts will provide two days of skiing and riding to all Indy Pass holders during both seasons and there are no blackout dates for the remainder of the current season. Waterville Valley visits will be no charge; and for the current season, Saddleback will be $10 per visit.

While the northeast watches the forecast closely for a weekend nor'easter, the West soaks in the sunshine and bluebird days. Watch and read this week's SnoCast as we highlight where to find the best conditions. 

Maine’s ski areas are getting ready for a winter managing both guests and a pandemic.

Sunday River and Sugarloaf ski resorts are debuting a new pass for this upcoming ski season. Dubbed the “Maine Pass,” the pass offers varying levels of season-long access to the slopes, as well as Maine Four-Day ticket packs, which are available to all.