DCSki Newsroom

Ski areas across North America are testing snowmaking systems and watching for the cold needed to begin serious production, with Arapahoe Basin, Keystone, Loveland, Sunday River, and Killington preparing for the opening-day race. In the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast, high-elevation North Carolina resorts including Beech Mountain, Sugar Mountain, and Cataloochee could also take advantage of an early cold snap.

Seven Springs or Snowshoe? Both rank among the Mid-Atlantic’s biggest ski destinations, but the similarities begin to fade once you arrive. DCSki kicks off its new Mountain Matchup series by comparing what each resort does best — and which one might be the better choice for your next ski trip.

From Dick Barron’s snow reports at Seven Springs to Buddy Hauk’s welcoming presence at Whitetail, DCSki looks back at the resort leaders, instructors, patrollers, retailers, and other personalities who helped give Mid-Atlantic skiing its character. The feature also recalls the wider influence of figures including Herman Dupré, Sepp Kober, Ralph “Doc” DesRoches, and Ski Chalet founder Wilbur McBay.

Vail Resorts reported weaker fiscal 2026 results and a 12 percent decline in advance pass sales for the upcoming 2026-2027 season after a historically difficult winter in the western United States. The company, which operates eight Mid-Atlantic ski areas, expects a rebound with more normal weather while continuing investments such as a new fixed-grip quad at Seven Springs.

Night skiing has long been a defining part of the Mid-Atlantic ski experience, allowing school groups, working adults, and budget-minded skiers to hit the slopes after dark. DCSki looks at why available night-skiing hours have gradually decreased in recent years, and why skiing under the lights remains an important regional tradition.

With another Mid-Atlantic ski season approaching, DCSki offers a practical preseason checklist for skis, snowboards, bindings, boots, helmets, clothing, and other equipment. The feature also explains when to seek professional service, why aging bindings can become a problem, and where skiers and snowboarders can get gear tuned in the region.

Seven Springs Mountain Resort is auctioning retired Blitzen triple chairs from September 25-27, 2026, giving skiers a chance to own a piece of the lift’s 50-year history. Proceeds will benefit three local volunteer fire departments, as the resort prepares to replace the Blitzen with a new fixed-grip quad for the 2026-2027 season.

Masks, reservations, capacity limits, and parking-lot lunches made the 2020-2021 winter unlike any Mid-Atlantic ski season before it. Six years later, DCSki looks back at how resorts and skiers navigated the pandemic and how that period accelerated the shift toward advance ticket sales, mobile passes, online transactions, and other practices that remain with us today.

Skiers who buy season passes during the heat of summer receive lower prices and unlimited access once the lifts begin turning, but resorts begin benefiting months earlier. DCSki explores how advance sales help cover offseason expenses, reduce some of the uncertainty of a weather-dependent business, and secure customers’ commitments before winter arrives. Photo provided by Seven Springs Resort.

Fall brings a different kind of activity to Mid-Atlantic ski resorts, with Oktoberfests, foliage chairlift rides, mountain biking, live music, arts festivals, and even a celebration devoted to Bigfoot. DCSki rounds up some of the events worth checking out this fall as the mountains begin their gradual transition toward winter.