SAM Magazine—Montpelier, Vt., June 9, 2023—Vermont’s 27 alpine ski areas reported 4.1 million skier visits for the 2022-23 winter season, a 10 percent increase over the 2021-22 season and 3.6 percent above the 10-year average, according trade association Ski Vermont, which said the Green Mountain State saw the fourth-most visitation of any U.S. state. 

The state’s ski areas averaged 117 operating days, four days more than the 10-year average; and an average total snowfall of 167 inches, which was 25 inches more than 2021-22, but still 20 inches below the 10-year average, according to Ski Vermont. 

“Such strong results, particularly in the face of several challenging weather scenarios, is a testament to the industry’s solid planning; aggressive capex investments in snowmaking, efficiency and sustainability; and hard work by ski area and resort operators and their teams to deliver the best Vermont experience for their guests every day,” said Ski Vermont president Molly Mahar, who pointed out that powerful snowmaking statewide “really shines in a season like this one.”  

Despite mild weather in November, which presented snowmaking challenges, nine areas opened for Thanksgiving weekend. A large mid-December snowstorm helped double the amount of open terrain for the Christmas-New Year’s holiday break, one of three key business periods for the industry. 

Following nearly two months of lackluster weather, with mild temperatures and lean snowfall, early March brought storms that dropped prolific snow on the state’s mountains, buoying the season and allowing ski areas to stay open longer—including Jay Peak and Sugarbush, which didn’t close until May; Killington remained open through Memorial Day weekend.

Ski Vermont’s 27 cross country ski areas reported a statewide total of 402,394 skier days, a moderate increase over the previous season.