Maine’s two biggest mountains normally don’t blow snow in April, but this hasn’t been a typical year. Tuesday, with temperatures starting in the single digits, both Sunday River and Sugarloaf ski areas were making snow.

Last week they were the only two mountains in Maine still open. This weekend, Big Rock in Marsh Hill also is expected to reopen.

In the 42 years Sugarloaf has made snow, it has never done so in April. And that’s after making almost twice as much snow as last year, said a spokeswoman, Noelle Tuttle.

This year Sugarloaf blew snow more than 1,400 operating hours, compared to 700 to 800 last year, Tuttle said.

There were 34 trails open this week, and 50 out of 160 trails were expected to be open this weekend, as well as a significant number for the mountain’s Reggae Fest on April 14-17, Tuttle said.

“It’s definitely been one of the most challenging winters in recent memory. It seems like every snowstorm was followed by rain,” Tuttle said.

Meanwhile, Sunday River will have 65 of 135 trails open and snow guns are still running.

Sunday River has made snow 87 days this winter, which is above the average but isn’t the record, said Nick Lambert, Sunday River’s vice president of marketing and sales.

As usual, Sunday River will stay open until May 1 through its annual pond skimming event this weekend and annual tailgate next weekend. Every year, the resort offers free skiing on May 1.

This year, Sunday River’s 35 snowmakers were named the best team in North America by SAM Magazine and HKD Snowmakers, an industry award voted on by the public.

 

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