Vermont has found itself blanketed with snow in early December. Major mountains like Killington, Jay Peak, Mount Snow, Stowe, and several others have opened for the season. New York mountains have also found snow, starting to shape exciting beginnings to the next ski season. Many River Dell students are eager to get up and start shredding the powder, with some already having spent time on the slopes.
Senior Judson Syracuse, a professional ski instructor at Mount Snow, mentioned, “There are only two trails open as of yet, but the mountain has plans of opening more,” he reflected, eager to teach.
Other students, such as Thomas Murray, express their excitement to just be out in the snow again. He is hoping to enjoy the powder up in Vermont this winter, and forecasts are calling for massive amounts of snow to strike central VT this season, adding to Murray’s excitement.
Vermont’s Killington, the Northeast’s largest mountain—sometimes referred to as “The Beast of the East”—has 42 out of its 155 trails open. The mountain has not only been blowing its own snow but has also been hit with powder from Mother Nature. Excitement will only keep growing as the season goes on, as they are one of the first to open and the last to close. Last season they closed on May 10th, 2025, and this season they opened on November 12th.
River Dell Ski Club has eyes on Belleayre in the Catskills for their choice of mountain. The mountain has served the club for the last two years, and students love it. While not the largest in the state, Belleayre has a gondola and high-speed quads that service the mountain and its skiers and riders.
Belleayre has also improved its snowmaking capabilities, making it even more alluring for this upcoming season. As it stands now, the mountain has 41 of its 62 trails open and 6 of its 8 lifts spinning. It is shaping up to be an exciting upcoming season for the club at Belleayre.
Overall, things are shaping up for an exciting ski season in the Northeast, with tons of powder to shred on as well as manmade snow. River Dell students and the Northeast alike are excited for another amazing season.
