Unlike the higher elevation mountains of Colorado and Utah, where ski season extends well into the summer, the Green Mountains of Vermont are like an avocado in terms of the ski season: perfectly ripe in March and early April. Then a warm spell comes and the season ends abruptly, but those last two to three days leave a blissful memory to end the ski season with, when the snow is soft and the weather is (relatively) balmy. It’s like celebrating winter and summer all on the same day!
Skiers don silly outfits such as Hawaiian shirts and sunglasses, eat outdoors, and enjoy a tailgating-style, party-like atmosphere. Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow, southern Vermont, hosts a spring festival called The Snowmelt: Slushcup and Spring Fling. It features live music and “pond skimming”—skiers ski at high speeds down the mountain and then try to water ski across a pond without sinking in. Skiers who make it to the snow across the pond are greeted with cheers, and those who sink into the cold pond are jeered and heckled. It’s all in good fun!
