Stowe Purchase: Vail Resorts announced plans to purchase Stowe Mountain Resort for $50 million. The Vermont resort will be the first one in the East for the nation’s largest ski resort operator. Vail Resorts expects to include Stowe in its popular Epic Pass for next season. The season pass includes all of the resorts owned by the company. For this past season, an early-purchase Epic Pass cost $809 compared to $1860 for a Stowe season pass.

Photo: Courtesy of Stowe

Alpine World Ski Championships: The 2017 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships concluded in St. Moritz, Switzerland on Sunday, Feb. 19. American Mikaela Shiffrin won a gold medal in the women’s slalom to go along with her silver in the giant slalom. On the men’s side, the U.S. team failed to turn in a top-10 finish for the first time since 1997. 

Spring Passes: As spring skiing approaches, a couple of resorts announced prices for spring passes. Oregon’s Mt. Hood Meadows reduced the price on its value season pass for the rest of the season to $249. A $159 spring pass good from March 10 to the end of the season will go on sale March 1. Killington Resort in Vermont announced its $189 Nor’Beaster Spring Pass that will be valid from March 17 to the end of the season.

Photo: Courtesy of Mt. Hood Meadows

Taos Ski Valley Certification: Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico became the first ski resort to earn Certified B Corporation status. Joining brands such as Patagonia and Ben & Jerry’s, Taos was honored in light of its commitment to responsible social, economic and environmental actions.

Photo: Courtesy of Taos

Tahoe Season Extensions: In a week that brought even more heavy snow to the Lake Tahoe area, several resorts announced extensions to the ski season. Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows expect to be open into June. For the first time since 2011, Squaw Valley will likely reopen for a special July 4^th day of skiing. Heavenly Resort extended its season through April 23, plus the weekend of April 28-30. Northstar California moved its closing date back to April 23. Kirkwood Mountain Resort will stay open through April 16.

Photo: Courtesy of Squaw Valley