I also have a friend who moved back to Buffalo, but will have to monitor the early April weather there and the rest of the eclipse path in the NE between now and then.
@MadPatSki keeps tracks of ski area closing dates and there are usually a lot of options in the 1st half of April. But it sounds like there can be too much heat and some r--n in early April so not sure I want to cross the country to try to ski the East for eclipse. If he's ever done honeymooning, I'm sure
@TonyC will have some advice for 2024.
I've been keeping track and posting online for a decade, but also I've been observing since the early 1980s. Seven year is still pretty far away to predict the ski season as early April is becoming the "early May of the 1980s". If you look at the longterm trend, fewer ski areas open in early April then they did 15-20 years ago. I'm not necessarily concern about the ski areas still being open, but the fact that the eclipse is midweek (Monday), at towards the end of the season, some ski areas might be closed midweek. OR they might not even plan on opening on a ski eclipse day. I'm sure that
@TonyC could maybe correlate previous total eclipse over ski areas during ski season in other parts of the World. Did the ski areas open during eclipse day in February 1979 in Montana? Also keep in mind that February isn't April.
As for the aesthetics of viewing, Jay in 2024 could easily rival what we saw atop Jackson. It's a relatively isolated peak right on centerline with a nearly 360 degree panoramic view. I could see to Mt. Washington the day I skied there in March 2003.
Unfortunately the weather odds are a deal breaker for us without a backup plan. The obvious plan is to buy plane tickets from the NE to Texas for April 7, then make call based upon the latest weather forecast.
Harder to ski outside on snow in Texas. Powderfreak at Stowe mentioned that he was planning to be on the Forerunner Quad on April 8, 2024. I asked him if he could tell us the forecast for that day. For once, we'll be hoping for him to give us a non-powder day.
Liz favors Whiteface as a possible ski/eclipse option based upon her many years living in NYC.
From what MadPatSki says, it would make my day to ski the Slides on an eclipse day! If weather is good and the Slides are open, I would leave Vermont and drive to Whiteface.
Again, Slides, early April, in 7 years, I wouldn't beat on it.
I changed the "Other" to Whiteface since that is where the original "other"'s were posted and added a new other. So if you original "Other" was not Whiteface, feel free to change your vote to the other "Other".
I think that some touring setup might be a good insurance policy. Mont Mégantic is also straight in the bulls eye. Marble Mountain in Newfoundland is also located in totality. I'm not including ski areas that are closed, never make it or future mega ski areas like Balsams Wilderness lol.
Marble Mountain NL
Sugarloaf ME
All the Eastern Townships ski areas in QC (Bromont, Sutton, Orford, Owl's Head).
Mont St-Bruno like Mt Royal in Montréal.
Northern Vermont from Sugarbush to Jay.
Whiteface NY.
Now if you look at places with great views:
Sugarloaf by hiking to top of snowfields.
Sutton could be cool as you can see (if you really look carefully) Montreal's skyline.
Orford - great view to the South towards Vermont.
Mad River Glen, not a fan of the view from Sugarbush.
Bolton's observation tower.
Stowe from the top of Mansfield
Whiteface.
Never been to Newfoundland.