La Niña's sequel is not yet living up to the preseason hype. Despite the weather phenomenon that brought record snowfall to many resorts last winter, the snowpack at many resorts remains paltry in the new year.
But not every resort is lacking powder: Bright white spots include resorts in northern New Mexico, southwestern Colorado, Alaska, British Columbia, and Alberta. Here is a look at the best deals at some of those resorts and others from coast to coast.
Northeast
Ski Vermont
January is Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, and Ski Vermont is offering a terrific beginner deal at most of its 41 member resorts. For the low price of $29, the deal includes a group lesson as well as equipment rental and a beginner lift ticket. (Blackout dates and age restrictions apply.)
Okemo Mountain Resort (Vermont)
For its Incredible January Savings Event, Okemo is offering a plethora of bargains, including kids' lift tickets for $1 when their family books at least two nights at a resort-managed property for the entire month of January, excluding Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Weekend.
Sugarloaf Mountain Resort (Maine)
Two big weeks with plenty of value are coming up at Sugarloaf: Jan. 8-12 is Children's Festival Week, with free lift tickets, rentals for kids 4 to 14, as well as plenty of on- and off-snow activities and lodging specials from as low as $50 per person per night. Then things take a turn toward the wacky and wild Jan. 22-26 for White White World Week, with daily events capped off with nightly parties and ski-and-stay packages from $79 per person per night.
Mont-Sainte-Anne/Stoneham Mountain Resort (Quebec)
Buy two days of lodging and lift tickets and get the third free at Hotel Stoneham and other properties. Starting at $76 per person per night, the deal is valid all week long through Jan. 28; after that, it's good Sundays-Thursdays through Feb. 24.
Cranmore Mountain Resort (New Hampshire)
Lift tickets are just $9 for Ticket Roll Back Day (Jan. 6).
Rockies
Telluride Ski Resort (Colorado)
Not only are all lifts open at Telluride, January is Friends & Family month: Passholders from any resort can show their pass and get a two-day lift ticket for $119. Telluride Resort Lodging is offering a "Bring 3 & Ski Free" deal for getaway instigators: Organize a trio, book a four-night stay, and your lift tickets and lodging are free. Both of these deals are good Jan. 8-Feb. 3.
Taos Ski Valley (New Mexico)
Breaking the 100-inch barrier before New Year's Eve, Taos has been the beneficiary of more snow than most resorts in the Rockies. Deals include one where you buy three days of skiing and nights of lodging, and get the fourth of each free.
Big Sky Resort (Montana)
The snow has been piling up in recent weeks at Big Sky after a slow start. Book four nights and get your fifth free at several properties in Mountain Village. The deal is available for the rest of the season except blackout dates Jan. 13-17, Feb. 17-25, and March 3-10.
Pacific
Whistler Blackcomb (British Columbia)
Kids stay and ski free in March if you book through Enjoy Whistler by Jan. 31, 2012.
Mt. Rose (California)
Mt. Rose has a number of online daily specials, including two-for-one lift tickets on Tuesdays and family packages including two adult and two child lift tickets for $138. These must be booked online here.
Northstar California (California)
There has been a flurry of news coming out of Northstar: The resort's new 22-foot Shaun White signature superpipe opened on New Year's Eve on the heels of a ribbon-cutting for a new lift and on-mountain lodge earlier in December. The best way to save on lift tickets is buying them online a week or more in advance.
Alyeska Resort (Alaska)
La Niña has not left Alaska hanging. Alyeska has seen 270 inches of snow since October and almost 200 since the lifts opened in late November. For Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month, Alyeska is offering a newcomer package of three group lessons, rentals, and lower mountain lift tickets for just $99 per person for the entire month of January.
