This guide is a sampler of what some would consider the best hikes in the Monadnock Region of New Hampshire for viewing fall foliage at its peak, or later; many people miss out on wonderful browns and yellows by thinking “oh, it’s too late, the foliage is past peak”, not to mention the better views created by fewer leaves on the trees. The list of hikes and walks is divided into two groups. The first are the hikes that require a certain level of fitness and agility to accomplish. The second is a grouping of easy rambles that just about anyone can enjoy.

If you are concerned that fall is hunting season, don’t be. Read our story on Hiking Safely In Hunting Season, then get out and enjoy!

Six Wonderful Foliage Hikes

1) Cliff Trail on North Pack, Greenfield

The Cliff Trail from the summit of North Pack Monadnock offers a bird’s-eye view from a cliff on a saddle between Pack and North Pack. In the words of one area hiking diehard, “When the foliage is at its height, the colors are brilliant…. The combination of close-up and distance [views] makes for the best fall foliage viewing.” In the distance, of course, is Mount Monadnock to the west. When it’s clear, you can look south along the undulating topography of the Wapack Ridge all the way to Mount Watatic where it straddles the borders of New Ipswich and Ashburnham and Ashby, Mass. To get there, either start at Miller State Park off Route 101 or find the Wapack Trail trailhead on the south side of Mountain Road.

2) Thumbs Up on Skatutakee, Hancock

Maple is just one of the deciduous varieties ablaze in October in the Monadnock Region. (Jonathan Gourlay photo)

The Thumbs Up Trail connects the tops of Skatutakee and Thumb mountains in Hancock. To get there, you must take the Harriskat Trail across the street from the Harris Center for Conservation Education and head up Skatutakee or take a right turn at Thumbs Down Trail and eventually take a fairly steep climb up Thumb. The hike is about a mile and a half to Thumbs Up, which is about a 1.25- mile-long trail offering different views of the surrounding foliage as well as Hancock itself. You can also connect with Jack’s Pond and Old Dublin Road trails from the top of Skatutakee.

3) White Dot Trail on Mt. Monadnock, Jaffrey
The White Dot Trail climbs 1.9 miles from Monadnock State Park headquarters off Route 124 to the summit of what is reportedly the second-most climbed mountain in the world next to Japan’s Mount Fuji. The White Dot Trail is the shortest and most direct route to the summit and takes hikers over rock slabs much of the time after starting on a dirt road. After the junction with the Cascade Link Trail, the trail ascends a stone staircase. At about the halfway point, you break out of the trees and the surrounding lowlands become visible. After diving back into woods for a bit, you emerge once again and are greeted with magnificent views to the south. There are many ledges from which to view the foliage, and of course the summit provides a full 360- degree aspect. To the northwest is Killington in Vermont; to the north is Mount Sunapee(the other terminus of the Monadnock-Sunapee Greenway) with Moosilauke, Lafayette and Mount Washington (which is easily visible when it’s covered with snow while others are bare) in the distance; to the east are the Pack Monadnocks; and to the southeast is Boston and Hancock Tower visible on crystal-clear autumn days.

4) The Shannon Trail on Crotched Mountain, Greenfield
Though the summit of Crotched Mountain has limited views, ledges along the way make the hike well worth it. Views to the south, southwest and west of Mount Monadnock as well as North and Pack Monadnock make this hike interesting any time of year, yet especially so during peak foliage season. The hike to the summit is a classic with families because it is among the easiest to hike, but the Shannon Trail toward the top adds some challenge. The trail is combined with the Summit Trail for much of the hike and becomes more of a test near the ledges, which provide the best views. Access can be gained from Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center off Route 31. Follow signs from Greenfield. At about a mile and a half from Route 31, a gated gravel road on the left marks the trailhead to both Shannon Trail and Summit Trail..

5) Wapack Trail, Temple
The Wapack is a 21-mile trail that stretches from Mount Watatic in Ashburnham, Mass. to North Pack in Greenfield, passing through sections of seven towns. The Wapack is one of the oldest interstate footpaths in the Northeast and essentially follows a ridgeline route along the summits of Watatic, Pratt, New Ipswich, Barrett and Temple mountains before dropping onto a shoulder and crossing Route 101 then ascending the Pack Monadnocks. The section of trail from Temple to Sharon affords open ledges and rocky peaks with impressive ridge views toward Mount Monadnock, the Berkshires and the Green Mountains to the west, Boston to the southeast, and the White Mountains to the north.

6) Bald Mountain and Willard Pond, Antrim
The hike up 2030-foot Bald Mountain is accessed from Willard Pond (a great place for a fall paddle, too), part of the dePierrefeu- Willard Pond Wildlife Sanctuary off of Route 123 in Hancock. The hike encircles Hatch Mill Pond before continuing along the shore of the 96-acre Willard Pond then ascending Bald Mountain, which provides scenic views from rocky ledges over the pond and to points south. From Hancock, take Route 123 north about three miles to Willard Pond Road. After about a mile and half, a parking area marks the trailhead.

One good wind, and the colors blow away. (Jonathan Gourlay photo)

Seven Easy Foliage Strolls

1) Pack Monadnock, Temple
Miller State Park wraps around the shoulders of Pack Monadnock and an automobile road to the summit affords views of Temple Mountain to the south and Mount Monadnock to the west for a day-use fee of $4 for adults ($2 for children 6 to 11; 5 and under and state residents age 65 and over are admitted free). If you are up for the climb, a fire tower, no longer used for detecting fires, affords a panoramic view of the surrounding countryside when the ranger is in. The park is located just off Route 101 near the top of the hill heading east out of Peterborough and is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2) Cathedral of the Pines, Rindge
Panoramic views of Mount Monadnock and its wide variety of deciduous and coniferous trees are just one of the features of this outdoor memorial to those who have given their lives in service to their country. There is a museum, gift shop and gardens. Located on Hale Hill Road just one mile from Route 119. Open through October 31.

3) Harris Center for Conservation Education, Hancock

You don’t have to climb any mountains to enjoy the foliage at this conservation center. In addition to the hiking trails and free weekend programs at the center, its naturalists often arrange guided walks and “ambles” of interesting public lands around the region. Find a calendar of events at the center’s Programs & Outings page at www.harriscenter.org. Located at 83 King’s Highway.

Views of multiple colors abound from many of the easier hiking trails in southern New Hampshire. (Jonathan Gourlay photo)

4) The Gregg Trail and Dutton Brook Trail at Crotched Mountain, Greenfield
These two recently opened trails are wheelchair accessible and begin just opposite the main entrance to Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center on Crotched Mountain Road. A switch-backing Gregg Trail takes you up to a platform with astounding views to the west, including Mount Monadnock, on a bluff where blueberries grow in late spring. The switchbacks offer great views to the east. At the end of the accessible section, the trail meets the more demanding Shannon Trail that continues across a blueberry reclamation project before diving into the woods for the push up Crotched Mountain. The Dutton Brook Trail is also accessible to wheelchairs and circles a pond just north of the rehabilitation campus. As you approach the rehabilitation center from Route 31, drive up Crotched Mountain Road. Immediately after passing Verney Road and the main entrance, look for access to parking on the left. The beginning of the accessible trails is immediately to the right as you turn in.

5) Wilton Center
The varied colors of beech, birch, oak and maple as well as a variety of ferns of gold and bronze hues line the fields and streets of Wilton Center, a quaint village with large houses, old barns, stone walls, and open views of the Monadnock region. It’s absent of commerce, so the relatively quiet roads are a pleasure to walk when the air turns crisp. You’ll find the center by following the signs for Andy’s Summer Playhouse when approaching on Route 101 from the west or the sign for the First Unitarian Church at a steep uphill right turn across from the Mobil station from the east. Andy’s is a children’s theater housed in a former Grange Hall with a parking lot.

6) Nussdorfer Nature Area, New Ipswich

Red and white oak, beech, poplar and hemlock trees provide the contrasting colors at Nussdorfer Nature Area. The area around Hoar Pond is also populated with a stand of tamarack, a deciduous coniferous species of larch that turns gold in autumn. The Hoar Pond Nature Trail starts with a short, steep climb before easing up and turning into an easier walk with some views to the north and east. The trail eventually winds around to nice views of a bog and pond. There is parking off Old Country Road, which is found from River Road off Route 124. Look for brown and white signs.

7) Edward MacDowell Lake, West Peterborough

Easy walk-to views of birch, poplar, maple, oak, beech, hemlock and alder can be found here. The varieties circle a large flood-control lake and a dirt trail ambles along its eastern shore. The Edward MacDowell Dam was built as a result of the Flood Control Act of 1936 and created a lake that has become a popular local spot for walking the family dog, fishing, and canoeing and kayaking. It affords a variety of scenic vistas as does a walk on top of the dam itself. Find the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers station at the end of Wilder Street off Union Street just west of Nature’s Green Grocer.

This is far from an exhaustive list; there are many more hikes possible in the region.  If you have a favorite you’d like to share, add it to the comments list!

Justin Lazar finds his legs on Super Nova at Crotched Mountain Ski and Ride in Bennington, New Hampshire. (Jonathan Gourlay photo)

On a recent Saturday I was crossing over from the top of Meteor, an intermediate slope with a nice sustained pitch straight down the fall line at Crotched Mountain Ski and Ride (Bennington, NH) to Pluto’s Plunge, the resort’s longest black diamond trail, when I noticed a handful of entry points into the woods. It surprised me and I stopped for a moment to take a look. Someone had done a nice job thinning just enough of the small stuff to create what appeared to be a long sustained gladed playground spreading out far enough for two skiers or riders to negotiate side by side.

I dropped in, and followed a line linking a number of consistent but tight turns far enough to need a breather and stopped. I looked around and smiled at my luck. How cool to have found this little hideaway that seemed to stretch all the way to the lower extremity of a stand of trees. I continued down and followed some old tracks out to skiers left. I exited the woods onto Pluto’s Plunge just beneath the summit chair, out of breath and about three-quarters of the way down the slope.

It’s little improvements and pleasant surprises like this that have kept me a loyal season pass holder at Crotched now going on five years. (It also doesn’t hurt that it’s just 20 minutes from my house.) These little details combined with the fact that it is a perfect place for a family to have fun together while improving their skills at moderate prices keeps families of skiers and riders from southern New Hampshire and northern Massachusetts coming back for more.

Crotched is somewhat centrally located within a triangle formed by the cities of Nashua, Concord and Keene, roughly 30 miles from each and just 60 miles from Boston. Purchased and reopened in 2003 by Peak Resorts after a dozen or so years in dormancy, the little big mountain attracts skiers and riders with consistently good snow on its 23 trails and 875 vertical feet that ski like a bigger mountain. It also has a big modern main lodge with a light-filled airy second story with a cafeteria, fireplace, and bar. A shop, day lockers, ticket sales, plenty of cubbies, and wide benches for booting up are on the first floor. Also, a generous rental space (with telemark gear) opens up right onto the snow.

Aside from the modern amenities at the base area, Crotched impresses most with its snowmaking capabilities. This year (though Mother Nature helped significantly), like the previous six seasons, Crotched Mountain snowmakers got the mountain off to a fast and successful start. Typically that means an opening in late November and for the 2010-2011 season, the jump on skiing has been paying off with each successive snowfall. It has also meant that a couple of January rain events and one in early February have essentially had no effect on the conditions.

This was evident the week after I had first discovered the new glades off the Eclipse crossover, when we hit the slopes with my brother-in-law, Chris, and his two young sons. (Chris’ wife, Beth, took to snowshoes, instead, and was rewarded with a rare sighting of a barred owl on her journey up through the woods just beyond the beginner slope Super Nova.)

It's not often you see these guys at the ski area. This barred owl was photographed by a snowshoer just off the Super Nova trail at Crotched Mountain. (Beth Lazar photo)

Expecting a seven-year-old and even a nine-year-old to ski all day is unrealistic, and after a three-hour drive up to our house in Peterborough, NH, from Connecticut the night before, it made more sense for our visitors and us to take it easy getting out of the house in the morning and opt for the half-day ticket that starts at 1 p.m. (Adults: $48; kids 6-12: $39; juniors 13-17: $41). An adult’s full-day ticket is $54. Night skiing from 3 to 9 p.m. is $39 for all ages. It was easy for my crew (two adults and two boys ages 11 and 13) to ski at any time because we have an unlimited family season pass (a little more than $1200).

As is our regular weekend practice, we piled into the car with a bagged lunch and headed to the mountain. The place was busy, with the big parking lot three-quarters full, and inside the roomy lodge the lunchtime crowd was just getting started a little after noon.

After filling our bellies and booting up, we headed to the fixed-grip double at the west end of the mountain and warmed up for a couple runs on Super Nova as Chris took Justin, his youngest, to the Launch Pad learning slope that is serviced by a “wonder carpet” surface lift. When Justin was sufficiently warmed up (two runs), we split up from the top of the double and I dove into the intermediate Comet Drop and across into the thinly gladed Final Frontier as the others took the beginner slope Super Nova down to the base. We met at the double for another ride up and to cross over to more variety at the east end of the area.

The conditions, despite a bit of rain the previous week, were a mix of packed powder on top of a firm, but carvable secondary surface. While we could hear some scratching going on from time to time, the grooming crew had done another phenomenal job the night before, turning a crunchy crust into plenty of easy-turning corduroy. This is another reason Crotched has earned a loyal patron base; the groomers work magic day in and day out. The trees, however, alternated between soft crud and firm crust. Another few inches of snow, and the glades would be perfect.

Half of us took the intermediate Velocity that parallels Comet Drop while the others took another turn down the top part of Super Nova before crossing Final Frontier. We met at the middle of the mountain where the expert slope, Pluto’s Plunge, empties into the wide-open section beneath the summit quad for an easy crossing to the terrain-park quad.

The Super Nova double accesses beginner and intermediate trails at the west end of Crotched Mountain. (Jonathan Gourlay photo)

And this is what the modest mountain does so well. The 75 acres ski much larger than the numbers suggest. We still like what it has to offer (besides the best French fries in the Universe) and we regularly bring visitors from away here for an enjoyable ski experience. The layout makes it easy, say, for me to charge hard down Pluto’s Plunge, or take a detour on the natural-snow-covered and bumped-up UFO, and then meet my family at the base of the summit lift or the east-side quad after they’ve taken easier slopes down.

From the summit, skiers and riders have three options. A left off the chair takes you to the black-diamond Satellite Summit or an immediate plunge down the aforementioned Pluto’s Plunge. Turn right, and you can take the intermediate-rated Moon Walk and loop around to green trails, blues or back down Pluto’s. A final option provides almost 200 more vertical feet of backcountry skiing via a 10-minute climb up a boot-packed trail to the true summit. From up there, you can push off east for a couple of unmarked trails and find knee-deep powder, cut up crud or even thigh-high fluff if you time your visit just right. A small cliff band off to the west even provides a thrilling but brief plunge to a tight glade that empties out onto the intermediate Milky Way.

Less adventurous skiers will continue toward the east after looping off the summit lift and hook up just beyond the top of the terrain park with either NCC-1701 or Galaxy, a pair of beginner trails that offer wide enough space for carving practice. They intersect at the apex of Galaxy’s turn toward the west and offer three choices back down to either the park quad or the summit quad. One of those choices, a blue called Big Dipper, offers aspiring speedsters a bit more pitch on a slope that always seems to hold the snow well.

That slope empties out at the base of the terrain park quad, which probably offers the best seats in the house for entertainment. Crotched Mountain Park begins at the top of the quad and stretches the entire way to the bottom, featuring a variety of rails and hits at the top before progressing to bigger and bigger features that expert boarders and twin-tippers regularly use to show off an impressive variety of flips, jumps and tricks that draw shouts of approval and gasps of surprise from those watching from the lift. Make no mistake, this is a massive terrain park and occupies a serious amount of acreage on this modest mountain.

The park also allows those of us longer in the tooth to relive a little of the past when going airborne meant a loss of your ticket. The in-runs and walls expertly carved and updated weekly by Crotched’s grooming crew provide ample opportunity to get just enough modest air for the occasional middle-aged thrill.

And to make sure the grommets get adequate preparation before launching a barrel roll on the big park, Crotched has built the progressively demanding Zero-G Terrain Park accessed by a triple just outside the east entrance of the lodge. It begins with rails and tables just a few inches off the snow before moving to jumps that demand more experience.

This crew is just one group of loyal locals who call Crotched Mountain Ski & Ride their home hill. (Jonathan Gourlay photo)

So skiers and riders get the training they need, the mountain offers camps in its Freestyle Program for boarders and the entire gamut of lesson plans for the rest of us snowboarders and skiers as well as those interested in learning about telemark. There’s also adult-league night racing, a junior racing team, special clinics and NASTAR every weekend. Then, of course, there’s Midnight Madness, the mountain’s popular Friday and Saturday night celebration with lighted sliding until 3 a.m., live music indoors and a bonfire outside.

And did I mention service is sparkling here? That’s just another reason so many families, couples and singles congregate at this easy day getaway in southern New Hampshire. After a couple of hours exploring its offerings, it’s easy to see why.

Here are two ways to save during vacation weeks (and all season long!)

Ticket Packs

Many areas sell blocks of three, six, or more anytime tickets.  Yes you pay more up front than you would for one day, but the tickets are good for a whole season, they are often transferable, and buying in blocks offers significant savings.

They seem particularly popular in New Hampshire and here are some examples:

Gunstock in Gilford, N.H. is a good example: with their 6-packs you get 6 tickets for the price of 5 and  their Baker’s Dozens get 13 tickets for less than the price of 10! These are anytime, fully  transferable tickets. An adult 6-pack is  $340, Baker’s Dozen is $675

Cannon Mountain in Franconia, N.H.has the 10 any-day, adult, transferable tickets good all season for  $569, which saves over $100 off the regular window price of $67/day.

Crotched Mountain in Bennington, N.H. offers a 10 pack of tickets for $449.  They are transferable and valid all season long.

Mount Sunapee in Newbury, N.H. has 6 – Packs which can be pre-purchased for the price of 5. Only two tickets can be used per day Dec. 25  through March 6. All six can be used in one day before or after those dates

Pats Peak in Henniker, N.H. has PIC-A-PAC anytime transferable Tickets, a 6 Pac ($336) saves $42,  a 12 Pac ($672) saves  $120, and an 18 Pac ($1,008) saves $216.

Waterville Valley in Waterville Valley, N.H. sells 5 Packs of any-day, non-transferable tickets which $10 a day off the regular ticket price.

Whaleback Mountain in Enfield, N.H. has a 4 pack ($120) for the price of 3, saving $40. (Yes, Whaleback’s weekend/Holiday all day lift tickets are $40 . . . )

There are more deals like this in other states, but you get the idea. If you want to ski several days or with several people over the holiday, this might be your best way to save.

Loyalty Cards:

At this time of year, if you don’t ski enough to justify a season pass but still want to save money, your best deal at many areas is a skier loyalty card. You buy a card up front (some come with a lift ticket) and it gets you a significant discount every time you ski. Some include discounts on lodging, meals, and resort services. Usually they pay for themselves in two or three visits. After that, it’s all savings all the time. Last week we looked at multi-mountain cards. Here are some examples of savings at individual resorts:

Ski Sundown in Canton Center, Connecticut has an $89 Savings Card that gets discounts up to 50% on lift tickets.

Jiminy Peak in Hancock, Mass has a $45 Value Card that saves you $15 off  every ticket and 7th visit free.

At Gunstock in Gilford, N.H. the Take 50 card ($130) cuts the price of a weekend/holiday adult lift ticket to $34.

Hunter Mountain in Hunter, New York offers the  $45 Big Lift Cards which saves 25% on Weekend & Holiday Tickets, 50% on Mid-week Tickets and four free Sunday lift tickets!

Bromley Mountain in Peru, Vermont has the $69 Sun Mountain Card which gets a free lift ticket and $10 off every lift ticket for the season.

Jay Peak in Jay, Vermont has the $99 581 card (named for their average annual snowfall in inches) which gets one free lift ticket and $50 adult tickets for the rest of the season

Killington in Killington, Vermont has the $79 Express card which saves 25-50% on tickets all season.

Mount Snow in Dover, Vermont has the $79 Fan Fare Card that gets 50% off midweek tickets, 10% off weekend/holidays.

Smugglers Notch in Jeffersonville, Vermont has the $89 Bash Badge which gets $25 lift ticket or $15 afternoon tickets all season.

The $79 Stowe Points Card at Stowe Mountain Resort in Stowe, Vermont earns points for each dollar spent at the resort, redeemable for lift tickets.

Stratton Mountain Resort, in Stratton, Vermont offers the $79 X2 direct-to lifts card that pays for itself with the first use, gets $30 off weekday tickets, $20 off Weekend tickets and $10 off holiday tickets.

Wildcat Mountain's location in the shadow of Mt. Washington means tons of snow; imagine it with much better snowmaking! (Tim Jones photo)

In a major consolidation of power in the Mt. Washington Valley and New England skiing, Peak Resorts, owner of Attitash, Mount Snow, and Crotched Mountain, has entered into a purchase agreement to acquire all of the assets of Wildcat Mountain.

This is a major purchase for several reasons, and has the potential to provide major benefits for skiers.  First, Peak has a well-deserved reputation for their snowmaking; they introduced mountain-wide fan guns at Crotched in 2002, effectively starting a “snow war” that has benefitted skiers across the region.  They followed that with a huge refit of the snowmaking system at Attitash; we’re among the skiers who have seen a profound difference in the quality of the snow and skiing at that resort since the changeover.  They did the same with Mount Snow, and have proven that they aren’t “one note Johnnys” by continuing with other renovations; a half million put into Mount Snow’s Snow Lake Lodge this year, for instance.  Over the past decade, Peak has been one of the most innovative and stable of the ski area owners in New England; their purchase of Wildcat indicates a continued committment to the region.

As the coldest mountain in New England, Wildcat will benefit from the connection to warmer Attitash (Tim Jones photo)

What does this mean for you?  Simple…more, better skiing, and more options.  For starters, expect combined season’s passes for Wildcat and Attitash.  Wildcat, in the shadow of Mt. Washington, is probably the coldest ski area in New England.  So, on a brutally cold day, ski Attitash (or have Wildcat virtually to yourself).  Spring skiing?  When things turn to slush at other  mountains, head for Wildcat; or, ski Attitash in the morning, have lunch in Jackson, and head up to the ‘Cat for the afternoon.  Options, option, options…

And, of course, Peak won’t leave Wildcat alone.  Expect updated snowmaking, which will mean better conditions all winter PLUS an extended season.  More snow, greater snow depths, wicked cold mountain…April skiing?  Obviously.  May skiing?  Don’t bet against it and put your skis away early.  Some of the changes are planned for this ski season, so the benefit will be felt immediately.

Wildcat's classic New England trails are among our favorites, even without enhanced snowmaking (Tim Jones photo)

More to come as more information comes to us, but for now, we’re excited by the potential improvements to Wildcat, and by the fact that a major player sees the New England ski industry as alive, vibrant, and worth greater investment!

Single Resort Passes

In Great Barrington, MA, tucked in the Berkshire Mountains is Ski Butternut Resort. This season, Ski Butternut entices college kids with $35 lift tickets on weekends and holidays ($25 savings over the regular price!) and $20 lift tickets Monday through Friday, which is $20 less than a regular ticket. Their $18 tubing sessions are only $10 for students, too. To take advantage of these sweet deals, fill out this coupon and bring it and your valid college ID to customer service to get your cheap thrills!

Catamount Ski Area on the border between South Egremont, MA and Hillsdale, NY is cheap and easy: bring your valid student ID and pay $229 for a full season of unrestricted skiing and riding.

Jiminy Peak Resort in Hancock, MA offers up two deals for two kinds of college students; full-time students pay $299 for an unlimited season pass or part-time students can get in on their twilight/midweek pass for only $229. The twilight pass is good anytime Monday-Friday and after 3 pm on weekends and holidays. You need to bring your class schedule showing 12 credits for full-time and 6 for part time and your school ID to get in on the fun.

Pat’s Peak Ski Area offers a unique service to Boston students. They are bussing students twice a day on Saturdays starting January 15 directly from Beantown to the resort in Henniker and back once the ski area closes. The bus ride plus a lift ticket to ski or ride from 8:30am to 4pm is only $59, so call (781) 849-0200 book in advance. Pat’s Peak also offers a standard no-ride-included unlimited college pass that goes for $319 before November 11 and $369 after with a letter from your registrar and valid photo ID.

Stowe offers two options for part- and full-time students. Full-time students (defined by Stowe as at least twelve credits) can get the Unrestricted Stowe 7-Day Plus Access pass before October 31 for $399 and part timers (at least six credits) pay $599.

Sugarbush Resort is flexible with their college plans: you can get an all mountain pass for $319 plus tax or a Mt. Ellen only option for $219. College students can also become reps for Sugarbush and sell passes on-campus. If you sell ten passes for them, you’ll get one for yourself free and a $15 commission on every pass over ten sold. Plus, if you buy a pass from your friendly campus Sugarbush rep, you’ll get a $10 gift card when you pick up your pass.

Smugglers’ Notch kindly gives poor college kids a break with their pass which includes 20% off at their sport and equipment shops and 50% off single and multi-day group lessons and equipment rentals. The pass itself is $319 before Halloween and $419 after for fulltime students that present their ID.

Shawnee Peak in Bridgton, ME offers something a little different; their $199 college pass is open to full-time, part-time, graduate, online and medical resident students. Shawnee opens December 11.

In Rangley ME, Saddleback Mountain offers a super-inexpensive $99 college pass for a full season. Opening day at Saddleback is December 11.

Wachusett has the UPass which is a little more work for a lot less money. The pass is $189 before October 11 and that gets you a season of any night of the week from 4pm-10pm and Monday through Friday 9am to 4pm. With the UPass you also get $10 off lift tickets if you feel the need to shred on weekend days and holidays. You do need to present your valid college photo ID when you buy.

Multi Resort Passes

In New Hampshire, three areas have teamed up to offer the College Breakout Season Pass. Ski and ride Wildcat Mountain, Gunstock Resort and Mount Sunapee with one pass! Wildcat opens December 18, Gunstock opens December 3 and Sunapee opens November 26. Before December 18, the three-for pass is only $259 for full time students with your valid ID and signed and sealed letter from the registrar.

Mount Sunapee went all-out this year. Not only are they contributing to the awesome College Breakout Season pass, they teamed up with Okemo and Stratton to offer the SOS (get it?) Pass. Full-time students up to age 29 pay $279 before October 11 and $315 after for an unlimited season pass to all three mountains.

The  Higher Ed pass is a four-in-one: for $299 (and a letter from the registrar) , that lets you ski and ride all season at Mount Snow in VT, Attitash and Crotched Mountain in NH, and Jack Frost/Big Boulder PA. Go right to the lifts at Attitash and Mount Snow; bring your pass to the ticket window at Crotched Mountain and Jack Frost/ Big Boulder. Each Higher Ed Pass comes with a subscription to either Freeskier or Snowboard magazine and two discounted $40 Bring A Friend lift tickets that are good Monday through Friday non-holidays at Mount Snow.

Jay Peak teamed up with Mad River Glen and Bolton Valley to offer the Triple Major pass, pay $289 before October 11 and $399 after to hit all three all season. You can also get a Jay Peak-only pass for $269 before October 11 or $329 after. Bring your original registration showing twelve credits and student ID with photo and you’re all set!

In New York, students up to age 22 can hit both Whiteface and Gore all season for $375 (price goes up to $475 after November 19, so get moving!)

Okay, put down your pencils and pick up your wallet. Class dismissed!

Attitash

Season passes, go to full price on October 11. For more information on all the deals go here.

Ski Butternut

Before December 1, buy a 2010-11 Season Pass for: $275 Adult, $225 Jr., $100 Kids, $500 Corporate.

Cranmore Mountain Resort

Cranmore’s Season Passes are $179 for Juniors ages 6-12, and Adult limited Happy Trails passes are $339 (with holiday blackout dates but valid weekends!) These prices are valid through November 30.

Gunstock Mountain

The $259 College pass for Gunstock, Wildcat and Sunapee, has no blackout dates.

These  passes are discounted through November 7: Prime Time Adults  $499; Prime Time Teen  $409; Prime Time Child and Prime Time Senior  $279;  Night $229; Mid-Week $299.

Jay Peak Resort

If you buy before October 11, you’ll get Jay’s best  Season Pass Deals. An Adult Unlimited pass is $629 ($1179 per couple), Seniors are $479 (55-69, $199 for the over-70 crowd). They also have a variety of kid and family-pass options.

The Triple Major (college pass with Jay Peak, Mad River Glen and Bolton Valley ) is $289 if purchased before November 8.

Jiminy Peak

October 15th cut off date for season pass and Value Card savings.  Find all the pass deals here

Loon Mountain Resort

Before Columbus Day Weekend (October 11) season passes valid at Loon Mountain,  Sunday River,  and  Sugarloaf  start at $410 for an adult Bronze Pass, $669 for an adult Silver Pass and $975 for an adult Gold Pass. College passes are also available for $339 through November 30.

Mad River Glen

The MAD CARD ($139 until December 15)  gets you 3 transferable day tickets good any time during the 2010-11 ski season, $5 off any additional full day lift ticket purchased throughout the season (Limit: 1 per Mad Card/Day), buy a Midweek Private Adult Clinic and Bring a Friend Free (not available during holiday periods).

The FAMILY MAD CARD ( $189 before October 15) gets kids ages 12 and under (as of 1/1/11) FREE  SEASON PASSES and all other Mad Card benefits. Go here or call 802-496-3551 for details.

Mount Snow

October 11 is the deadline to save $150 on all Mount Snow  passes
The Noreaster Pass includes Crotched Mountain, Attitash and Jack Frost/Big Boulder in PA for $1049, the Classic Pass (Mount Snow only with holiday blackout dates) is $699 and mid-week passes are $549.

The Higher Education season pass (College Pass) is only $299 and includes Mount Snow, Attitash, Crotched Mountain and  Jack Frost/Big Boulder.

Mount Sunapee Resort

Mount Sunapee has a variety of season pass options, all on sale until October 11.

The Ultrapass includes, Sunapee, Okemo, Stratton and Crested Butte  for $1555 for adults. The adult Peak Pass (Mount Sunapee and Okemo) is $959. There are a variety of cheaper midweek, kid and senior options.

The unlimited SOS College Pass (Sunapee – Okemo – Stratton) is $279.

Okemo Mountain Resort

Okemo has a variety of Season Passes are on sale until October 11 including:

The $1557 Ultra pass for Okemo, Stratton, Sunapee and Crested Butte CO, the $741 Value Pass Plus for Okemo, Stratton and Sunapee with blackout dates, and the $1240 Peak Pass for Okemo and Sunapee.

Sunday One-Day Season Pass $299 for adults ($359 after October 11). This direct-to-lift season pass has four blackout dates, but is valid all other Sundays throughout the season.

Frequent Skier Flex Card $99, plus tax (prior to November 15 and $119 afterward), save: 50 percent on weekday, non-holiday (Monday through Friday), single-day lift ticket rates; 25 percent on weekend and holiday single-day lift ticket rates; 50 percent on single-day lift ticket rates every day in November, and from March 21 through closing day in April. Fifty percent savings will also apply on select Sundays in January and March. Flex card benefits are available at  Mount Sunapee Resort, in N.H. (days, dates and discount values may vary)

Okemo’s 8-Pack and 12-Packs are on sale until November 16. The  8-Pack is a pre-purchase of eight unrestricted, single, full-day lift tickets for the price of seven. The 8-Pack is valid every day of the 20010/2011 season with no restrictions and it is transferable. It may be applied toward the purchase of one or two tickets per day. Pricing is: Adults $557; Young Adults/Seniors $487; Juniors/Super Seniors $375. The Okemo 12-Pack is 12 unrestricted, single, full-day lift tickets for the price of ten. : Adults $790; Young Adults/Seniors $690; Juniors/Super Seniors $530. As an added bonus, 8-Pack and 12-Pack holders can present their valid packs at the Crested Butte, Colo., lift ticket window to save 20% on multi-day lift ticket rates all season long.

Pats Peak

Saddleback is offering a 10-year season pass for $5,000 this season!

Other passes  on sale  include their popular Peak Pass for Honor Roll Students ($59 for Maine residents, $99 for others), Adult Season Pass:   $649,Locals Pass:  $549 . Military personnel and First Responders also get huge discounts on Saddleback passes. For complete information, go here.

Shawnee Peak Resort

Buy College Student Season passes at Shawnee Peak for  $199.

Stratton Mountain Resort

Early Booking Offer: Book any winter 2010-2011 lodging by October 30, 2010, and save 30 percent off midweek, 20 percent off weekends and 10 percent off holidays. Also enjoy special savings on lift tickets, snow school and rentals too. With price protection and a relaxed cancellation policy, it’s all the reward without the risk.

The X2 Card $69 ($79 after November 23) offers a free day of skiing or riding plus $30 off midweek (non-holiday), $20 off weekends (non-holiday), and $10 on holidays.

Sugarbush Resort

College and Graduate passes are discounted through November 1.

College Students and Recent Grads pay $319 for all-mountain passes, $219 for Mount Ellen.

Sugarloaf

Before Columbus Day Weekend (October 11) season passes  good at Sugarloaf, Sunday River, and Loon Mountain start at $410 for an adult Bronze Pass, $669 for an adult Silver Pass and $975 for an adult Gold Pass. College passes are also available for $339 through November 30.

Wildcat Mountain

You can see all of Wildcat’s season pass deals here.

Thanks to the New England ski industry and the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire, Brendan got his wish . . . (Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire photo)

If you are reading this, you are probably wishing for more snow. Be patient, it’s coming.

But if you are really into seeing wishes come true, check out the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life threatening medical conditions. The stated goal of Make-A-Wish is “to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.” Most of these kids need all the joy, strength and hope they can get to help them though unimaginable times.

The ties between the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the New England ski industry are deep and profound. Did you know, for example, that every current  “Wisher”

So did Rosie . . . (Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire photo)

from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts receives a VIP pass which entitles them and an accompanying adult to a full day on the slopes with lift tickets, rental equipment and lessons at one of 32 different resorts across New England. That’s offered with the cooperation of Ski NH, Ski Vermont, Ski Maine, and the New England Ski Areas Council.

Ski NH adopted the Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire as its official charity four seasons ago. They donate $5 from every $20 Ski NH Fifth Grade Snowsports Passport directly to Make-A-Wish.  On November 19, 2009 at the Ski NH Boston Media reception, Ski NH presented the Make-A-Wish

And "wisher," Michael (Make-A-Wish Foundation of New Hampshire photo)

Foundation of New Hampshire with a check for more than $10,000 from the winter 2008-09 passport sales.  Over the past three seasons, Ski NH and families of fifth graders have donated more than $20,000 in total. That kind of money makes a lot of wishes come true—and some of those wishes are for time on the slopes.

Here’s a list of the participating ski resorts. Wish them a prosperous New Year the next time you visit:

Massachusetts : Ski Blandford ,
Ski Butternut, Catamount, Jiminy Peak, Nashoba Valley, Wachusett.

Maine : Black Mountain of Maine, Lost Valley, Mt. Abram, Saddleback, Shawnee Peak.
New Hampshire: Attitash, The Balsams, Black Mountain, Cannon Mountain, Cranmore Mountain Resort, Crotched Mountain, Dartmouth Skiway, Gunstock Mountain Resort, King Pine, Loon Mountain, Mount Sunapee, Pats Peak, Ragged Mountain, Waterville Valley, Wildcat Mountain.

Vermont: Bolton Valley, Burke Mountain, Jay Peak, Magic Mountain, Mount Snow, Okemo.