DCSki Newsroom

DCSki surveys the early-season snowmaking and opening activity at ski areas across the United States, from Mt. Rose and Colorado to Killington and Sunday River. While resorts such as Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, and Wolf Creek have already welcomed skiers and snowboarders, Mid-Atlantic ski areas are still waiting for a stretch of sustained cold weather.

Colorado’s Snowmass ski resort has replaced the diesel generator serving its Elk Camp chairlift with a 900-kilowatt battery system, which provides backup power during outages and can also help the local utility manage peak demand. Aspen Snowmass says the installation is the world’s first battery-backed chairlift and will eliminate about 144 tons of annual carbon emissions from the former generator.

DCSki’s Resort Profiles have been updated for the 2026–2027 winter season, with refreshed information on 30 ski areas across five Mid-Atlantic states. A longstanding feature of DCSki, the Resort Guide brings together mountain statistics, trail maps, interactive resort mapping, weather forecasts, driving directions, and links to related news and Forum discussions. Recent enhancements include improved navigation, expanded filtering and comparison tools, and the new Resort Matcher, which helps skiers and snowboarders discover mountains based on their location, preferences, and desired amenities.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, halfpipes were prominent features at Mid-Atlantic ski resorts, with Whitetail, Liberty, Roundtop, Snowshoe, and others investing in specialized facilities for snowboarders. Over time, the snowmaking demands, maintenance requirements, and growing popularity of other terrain park features contributed to their decline. DCSki looks back at the region’s halfpipe history, including Whitetail’s once-impressive 475-foot facility, and examines Seven Springs’ decision to bring back a smaller, more accessible halfpipe in February 2026.

Poley Mountain, a small Canadian ski area with much in common with Mid-Atlantic resorts, is investing C$2.5 million to expand its snowmaking capacity. The resort’s careful financial planning raises a broader question: Do major snowmaking investments pay off? DCSki examines academic research on snowmaking economics, including studies that reach differing conclusions about the effects on skier visits, revenue, and profitability.

Colorado’s Winter Park Resort is trying a different approach to priority lift access, rewarding passholders who ski during November and early December with dedicated lift lanes and other benefits later in the season. DCSki examines the Rope Drop Club and the growing debate over paid and passholder priority lines at ski resorts.

Drawing on DCSki archives and National Ski Areas Association statistics, this feature traces how ski helmets went from a controversial choice among Mid-Atlantic skiers to nearly universal equipment. Forum debates, improved helmet design, rental availability, changing expectations, and increased awareness of head injuries all shaped the shift from 25 percent helmet use in 2002-2003 to 94 percent in 2025-2026.

DCSki looks back at three developments that have reshaped Mid-Atlantic skiing over the past 25 years: the rise of multi-resort passes and corporate ownership, major advances in snowmaking, and substantial investments in lifts, facilities, and year-round resort operations. Together, these changes have influenced where skiers go, how resorts manage unpredictable winters, and how mountains build businesses beyond the ski season.

High-speed detachable chairlifts have transformed the skiing experience, cutting uphill travel times and allowing skiers to spend more time on the slopes. Beginning with early installations at Beech Mountain and Whitetail, this chronological history traces nearly four decades of lift investments across the Mid-Atlantic and surrounding region. Along the way, it explores the arrival of six-passenger chairs, advances in lift technology, and the costs and maintenance considerations that explain why some resorts continue to favor traditional fixed-grip lifts.

DCSki Columnist Jim Kenney looks back on decades of ski road trips across North America, sharing stories of scenic drives, wrong turns, snowstorms, remote highways, memorable meals, unexpected discoveries, and the travel companion who helped make it all possible. From Utah and the Canadian Rockies to the Mid-Atlantic, these firsthand anecdotes reveal the rewards and risks of exploring ski country by car.