We could point out some awful winters, going back in time. We had one in the early 70’s that was bone dry, or rain. Sandwiched between two good winters.
One of first winters, owning a ski house is Stowe in the mid 80’s was terrible at Christmas, New Years. Rain and more rain. Grass and rocks. We had rented the house and they asked for a full refund, which did not happen. Did not ski one day.
We have had early seasons {think before Feb 1st} at Sugarloaf that have been really lean. Horrible combinations of weather including warm, rain, little snow, huge temperature swings.
And generally things get a lot better, February into March.
If I had to make NE ski plans that were not season long, they would be to head far North. After President’s week vacation. Then through Easter. That’s been reasonably great...occasional rainy days to ski, or not.
It’s been that way long before global warming became a focus.
One bit of advice, in considering either season long leases, or owning. I would head as far north as you can tolerate in terms of a drive. Seems to make a bigger difference these days.
It’s not like the Rockies, for sure. Then again the Rockies are not like where we live in the summer. Not giving up the ocean.
And...for you younger folks...think about this back when snowmaking was a fairly rare thing. Only a few trails. Rarely used. “Snow” not that great. And when’s groomer wasa Tucker Snow Cat dragging a section of chain link fence.
The good old days were a lot of fun, and the skiing was not always that great! Today’s technology helps.
If I were doing this again, unless we were making decisions based on race programs and ski academies, as we did, I am not sure that we would buy a ski home and lock into one ski area, or general geographic area. I suspect that our kids would be playing a lot of hooky from school and that we would be on a plane a number of times a year.
Or...we’d be NORTH, with some elevation, again.
No fun to think about.