Spring in New England for some skiers and snowboarders can be the best time of year, when bulletproof ice and sub-zero temperatures give way to sunny skies and soft snow.  That is, if there is any snow there to begin with, which has been the biggest problem for New England mountains this winter.

With most of New Hampshire’s mountains closing within the first week of April, snow riders in the Seacoast need to look further north to have a true spring skiing experience.A little time in the car can make a huge difference in snow pack. Carpool, take the bus, or hitchhike if you’re into that. 

Starting in late February and continuing through March, northern Vermont received several feet of snow, which helped make up for the disappointing first half of the winter season. 

A prime example is Stowe. The mountain has received 17 feet of snow since Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, and conditions are prime for a real East Coast spring skiing experience.

“Conditions up here at Stowe are a lot like how the end of December was,” says Christian Theberge a Portsmouth native who now lives in Stowe.

As any New England snow rider knows, spring weather can be unpredictable. This year is no exception. Weather forecasts are predicting a mix of rain and snow for much of the first half of April. That’s bad news here on the coast, but good news for the mountains.

With rain moving into the east, the higher elevations could be seeing weather more reminiscent of winter than spring. If this happens it could add a few more days to the season.

For people looking to have a blue bird day in the sun, this might not be your season, however. The sun will peek out from behind the clouds here and there over the next couple of weeks but there is no clear day in sight at this time. Don’t let a little rain scare you away, though—although rain washes away snow, it also helps create soft conditions. Anyone who has experienced the chatter of a snowboard or skis scrapping across an ice can appreciate slushy snow. With proper jackets and pants, riding in the rain can be a good time.