What's New On The Nearby Slopes

Closest to home SPRING MOUNTAIN will be jumping into winter with an addition to its fleet of snow grooming "Cats". The new groomer will be another magic wand to smooth the blizzard of snow, cranked out by Sping's powerful powdermaking system. The new Cat will also be doing extra duty in the snow tubing park. Look for expanded evenings of the popular after-school program for youngsters that gives them 4 or 8 weeks of coaching under the same instructor. After skiing, The Powder Pig Pug, with its window-on-the-slopes will be offering new and unique locally brewed craft beers. This teaching mountain holds 7 slopes and trails, a terrain park and tubing runs, serviced by 6 lifts. All-day ticket prices this season are $48 on weekends, $38 midweek. Evening rates are $30 all days. Check out all the tariffs here: springmountainadventures.com/daily-rates

The growing 4-season complex at BEAR CREEK MOUNTAIN RESORT is catapulting into winter with a dynamic facelift in the restaurants and lodge. On the mountain, snowmaking keeps up with modern technology for deeper snow production. This season will see more dollar-stretching options for cruising on Bear Creek's 21 trails, terrain parks and the tubing runs . On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (non-holiday) Loyal Ski Club members enjoy all day skiing for just $22 with a club membership.  College students will cash in on the same deal. This season, all day-adult lift tickets are $67 on weekends, $50 mid-week. Check out all the rates here: bcmountainresort.com/snowsports/snowsports-l/tickets-passes

A blizzard of new features have exploded on the terrain parks of BLUE MOUNTAIN. What makes them unique is their origin. The mountain has bought a lumber yard that recycles fallen slopeside trees into park features. Now, that's thinking boxes - and rails. New skiers and riders have a lot more room to ramble this season. You'll find expanded territory to enhance terrain based learning techniques on the upper third of Frontier Alley. Adult learners at Blue Mountain will also see expanded features on Valley School West. Sixteen lifts get you to the mountain's 39 trails, slopes and parks. To ease back between runs, there's a new look and landscape on the Summit Terrace. And if you gaze all the way up to the left of the mountain, you get a sneak peak at a 40th Blue Mountain trail, set to open next winter. Basic adult Lift tag rates this season are $70 on weekends and $55 midweek. That's for an 8 hour day that starts when you hit the slopes. Check all prices here: skibluemt.com/winter-sports/skiing-snowboarding/lift-tickets/

CAMELBACK MOUNTAIN has added a dramatic laser light show to the dynamics at the largest Snowtubing park in the country. The 42 lanes of Galactic Snow Tubing launches an "out-of-this-world" light extravaganza to the excitement of tubing. Camelback Lodge, a "Ski-In-Ski-Out" hotel that has been crafted around a mega-indoor waterpark in the Northeast begins its second winter season at the base of Camelback Mountain. Visitors will find 453 suites for destination accommodations, 7 pools and 13 water slides in the naturally lit "Aquatopia". On the mountain, 34 trails, lighted for night skiing are serviced by 16 lifts. Adult all day tags this season clock in at $67 on weekends, $53 midweek. All the rates are here: skicamelback.com/tickets-passes/lift-tickets/

It's all about the snow at SHAWNEE MOUNTAIN. As part of  a multi-year, multi-million dollar snowmaking upgrade project, for the 2016-17 ski season, over 3,000 feet of new snowmaking pipe has been installed on the Tecumseh and Lookout trails and  new portable, high tech snow guns have been added for the Tomahawk lift base area. This winter, Shawnee is making it easier than ever to arrive unburdened by an armful of gear. The rental shop is now able to outfit over 4,000 skiers and riders with the latest state-of-the-art equipment. And racers get an extra jump out of the gate. The Shawnee Mountain Ski and Snowboard School has purchased new wireless electronic timing equipment for its popular recreational ski racing program and for its youth development racing school. Ten lifts get skiers, riders and tubers to the heads of 23 slopes and trails, 2 terrain parks and the tubing lanes. Adult all day lift tickets are priced at $62 on weekends, $50 midweek. All the rates are here: http://www.shawneemt.com/tickets-passes/lift_tickets.html

Season ticket holders at twin resorts JACK FROST  and BIG BOULDER get a big lift this season. Their tags are now good for skiing and riding at high energy Hunter Mountain in New York. Frost/Boulder operators PEAK RESORTS has ponied up nearly 37 million dollars for the Empire State slopes and added them to the Pennsylvania season ticket that already covered sister areas Mount Snow in Vermont, Attitash, Crotched Mountain and Wildcat in New Hampshire. Meanwhile, back in the Poconos, there'll be dynamic skiing in the "Glades" of Jack Frost this season with extensive tree trimming and configuration. Getting around the mountain will be easier with new signage, and look for blizzards of early season snow with another upgrade of the snow making system. On the lodge side, the Frosty Toboggan eatery gets a dazzling new entertainment schedule and a tuned up apres ski menu. Over at Big Boulder, plans to get an early start to the riding season are backed up with revamped snow system pumps and guns, along with spruced up lifts and lodge. The sister-mountains hold 35 trails, slopes and terrain parks, served by a combined 22 lifts. Adult all-day lift prices this season check out at: $58 on weekends, $48 midweek. All the tariffs are here: jfbb.com/snow-passes/

Notes: Keep tabs on the mountain web sites for opening dates and conditions. Remember that the base prices are often discounted for on-line sales and special promotions. Check often for the best pricing. Local ski shops also have discounted lift tickets for shop customers. Senior and children's discounts are available at all areas.

Think snow!