Who Says Skiing Has To Be Expensive In The Northeast?

Jeremy Davis went on a four-day ski jaunt through the region.

He hit Northeast Slopes in East Corinth, Vt., Balsams Wilderness in Dixville Notch, N.H., and Montjoye and Owl's Head in the Eastern Townships of Quebec.

Davis spent $55 on lift tickets, and in each case paid the going rate.

His trick was to hit the slopes at off-prime times.

"Balsams had some of the funnest cruising terrain," Davis reported. "Great twists and turns, awesome snow, $33 2-for-1 deal, zero lift lines."

Northeast Slopes charges $5 on Wednesdays. (The weekend rate is$12.)

Another big factor in the pricing was the 20 percent discount afforded by the U.S.-Canada exchange rate.

"Owl's Head has Tuesday/Wednesday $15 days each week - and that's Canadian money, so it comes out to about $12. Just about the best deal around," Davis said.

Montjoye charges $28 Canadian for adult lift tickets, or $22.50 U.S. after factoring in the exchange rate.

Davis is well-known to Northeastern skiers as founder of NELSAP, the New England Lost Ski Areas Project, a Web site that chronicles the closed ski areas of the region, which Davis began during college and continued in the decade since.