Best Deals for the Upcoming Ski Season

Don't look weekends on the slopes of Belleayre for Peter Koch, a retired botany professor from Woodstock, New York.  You won't find him there because the $326 unlimited pass only allows skiing weekdays.  "Why ski on weekends when it's expensive and crowded?" he said.  

In a recessionary economy, skiers can obtain deals including season passes, packages and discounts.  Here's a rundown of the best deals and major changes skiers can expect this season in selected ski slopes in the Northeast, which open around mid-November:

Belleayre Mountain, High Mount, NY

Since Belleayre Mountain is state-owned, it can keep its prices down.  To lure skiers, Belleayre's specials include Wednesday lift tickets for $20 and $25 on Friday and a $326 weekday pass (includes weekends before December 15 and after March 15).  One ski blogger noted, "Belleayre has everything a beginner could want: multiple trails with long easy grades and accessible with chairlift." Indeed half of its 52 trails target beginners.  Ask about senior, union, and AAA discounts.

Catamount Ski Resort, Hillsdale, NY or South Egremont, MA

Straddling the border between New York and Massachusetts in the Berkshires, Catamount Ski's "ticket booth is located in Massachusetts and everything west is New York," said owner Don Edwards.  Indeed Catamount is one of the smallest slopes in the Northeast covering 120 acres with 35 trails.  One ski blogger wrote, "You don't go to Catamount for glitz or glamour or vertical drops."

Catamount specializes in value including weekday $27 lift tickets, which jump to $59 weekends.  Night skiing Wednesday to Saturday until 10 p.m. is another draw.  Its snowboarding and snow tubing also appeal to teenagers.

Hunter Mountain, Hunter, NY

When Hunter Mountain first opened it attracted mostly expert skiers but now also appeals to intermediate and beginners.  Hunter Mountain offers 55 trails, 11 lifts and a summit elevation of 3,200 feet.  

But ski bloggers complain about the long lines on weekends.  Its new chair lift, accommodating six passengers at a time, should speed the lines.  Besides skiing, Hunter offers snow tubing, a spa at the nearby Catskill Mountain Club, plenty of restaurants and nightlife.

Best deals are the $45 Big Lift card, which offers 25 percent off the $65 weekend prices and 50 percent off the $46 midweek price (and a free lift ticket if purchased before Nov. 1)  and the unlimited Monday to Friday $349 weekday pass and Adult gold pass for skiing anytime for $799 (price rises $100 after Oct. 17).

Jiminy Peak, Hancock, MA

Located in the northern Berkshires near Pittsfield, MA about 150 miles from White Plains, Jiminy Peak in 2010 enhanced its terrain park, which targets tweens and teenagers and offers skiing, snowboarding, wall rides and instruction.  Its $45 value card saves $15 off the $59 lift ticket any day (including weekends) and $15 off group instruction.  Night skiing is available 7 days until 10 p.m.  Check out its website for occasional e-coupon deals.

Mount Snow, West Dover, VT

Some skiers prefer the denser snow and wide expanse of Mount Snow's 588 acres in Southern Vermont, located about 190 miles from White Plains.  In 2010 it consolidated its 104 trails into 80 trails to make it easier for families to keep track of their kids and create simpler paths.  Weekday passes at Mount Snow cost $549 before Oct. 11 ($649 later); nearly double the price of many New York slopes.  

Other deals include a two-for-one Bring a Friend promotion, a full day's lift ticket and beginner's package free for a friend; and the five-night and five lift ticket College Package, costing about $300 total based on four people in a room at Snow Lake Lodge including service charge and taxes.

Thunder Ridge, Patterson, NY

If proximity is a major factor, then Thunder Ridge, located in Patterson in Putnam Country and only about 40 minutes from White Plains, may be the ski slope of choice.  Compared to Mount Snow and Hunter, Thunder Ridge is small with 30 trails and 3 chairlifts and appeals mostly to beginners.  But its $279 unlimited pass covers skiing seven days and seniors over 65 and juniors 6-12 pay $179.  If you ski six or more times weekends where lift tickets go for $50, the pass is a deal.  

Windham Mountain, Windham, NY

Located 10 miles from Hunter, Windham specializes in theme weekends: the Psychedelic 60s held with WDST, the Woodstock, NY radio station (Jan. 29 and 30), Wounded Warrior to help injured veterans learn to ski (Jan. 6-9), and Hospitality Industry where bartenders, wait staff and hairdressers earn discounts (Jan. 17-19). On weekends visitors can ski on seven trails from 4-9 p.m.  Other activities include visiting Windham Vineyard, Windham Fine Arts and the Cave Mountain brewery.  Best deals:  the $199 weekday pass and $299 unlimited for seniors 65 years and up and the $79 Gravity card ($20 more starting Nov. 1) takes 50 percent off $48 weekday prices and 25 percent on $68 lift tickets weekends and holidays.