Skiing in New England can be difficult with the weather, conditions, and prices, but if you know what to look out for it can be much nicer than you might think.  

The first and most important thing to address is how to save money while skiing.  There is a common misconception that skiing is only for people that have a lot of money, and at a glance it is.  If you do not plan ahead, a one-day lift ticket can be upwards of one hundred dollars.  But if you are planning to do a lot of skiing over the winter then pre buying a value pass is worth your money.  

The best pass for your money is the Northeast Value Pass, sold by Epic Pass.  This pass gives you unlimited access to Wildcat, Attitash, Mt. Sunapee, Okemo, Mt. Snow, and many others.  For only three hundred and seventy dollars you will easily get your money’s worth in only three or four ski trips.  

Another big part is saving money at resorts.  Ski resorts are notorious for up-charging food.  The best way to get around this is to pre pack lunch and snacks that you might want to eat while on the mountain.  I would recommend energy rich foods that will keep you fueled throughout the day.  

Now that you know how to get the best value for your money you should decide what mountains to visit.  For a mountain within an hour and a half drive, I would recommend Mt. Sunapee.  In the two and a half hour range there is Mt. Snow and Okemo.  Depending on your preference, Mt. Snow is more terrain park oriented whereas Okemo is more focused on their main trails.  Lastly, if you are willing to make the trek, four hours away in Maine is Sugarloaf.  It is a far journey, but definitely worth your time.  

That last thing to consider is the current conditions at a mountain.  Unfortunately we have had fairly poor conditions this winter.  Apart from one major snow storm, this has been a pretty dry winter and with multiple ice storms and temperatures above freezing, mountains have been struggling with keeping terrain skiable.  

Before you go to any mountain make sure to check on their website to see how many trails and lifts they have open.  This will give you a good idea of the conditions on the mountain.  Whether you are a beginner or an experienced skier, following this guide can make skiing a hassle free experience.