Today is the day that skiers react to by habit. It doesn’t matter whether Easter falls in March or mid April, many skiers consider it the end of the season.

With a snow pack that we find more often in mid February than the end of March, the season might not come to a close until sometime in May. Certainly, a number of areas will continue well into April.

Of course, a sudden warm up or heavy rains could change everything in a hurry, but so far the weather has been near perfect for late season skiing.

While daytime highs have reached the 40s, overnight lows have remained well below freezing. This limits melting and gives us good skiing through most of the day. It’s the kind of weather that permits ski areas to stay open indefinitely, but they will be closing, some this weekend and most of the rest over the next two weeks. The closing won’t reflect conditions. Lifts won’t operate if there are no skiers to ride them.

But there is one major difference this year.

Not only is the snow pack deep in the mountains, golf courses and tennis courts are still buried and, with more than two feet of snow, no one is suggesting it’s time to rake the yard. Not having other alternatives, skiers might hang in longer. Maybe they won’t be as eager to head south to get a jump on the golf season. The ski areas hope that will be the case.

To learn what we can expect, I talked with several area representatives this past week and all were in agreement on one thing – February and March have been great months, with the bountiful snow bringing out the skiers.

At Shawnee Peak, Melissa Rock described a recent weekend as “insane.” It’s too early to predict a record, but with business already up seven percent over last season, the final numbers are sure to be good.

Shawnee will be turning the slopes over to snowmobiles next weekend for the Rock Maple Racing Hillcross and Sno-X. The event will feature some of the top snowmobile talent in the eastern U.S. and Canada, and a “Trail Class” division will give novice riders over 18 a chance to compete.

This is a great spectator event with tickets $12 per day or $20 for the weekend. Call Shawnee Peak at 207-647-8444 or visit www.shawneepeak.com for details.

At Mt. Abram, Brad Chapin said the season has been great and plans to stay open through April 10. This is the big weekend for special events, as it is at most areas. It’s obviously too late to attend the sunrise services, but if you live close enough, you might get in on an egg hunt or Easter Parade at one Maine’s ski areas.

Just up the road at Sunday River, Susan Duplessis called this a “very good winter” and said calls last week were up a thousand over the same week a year ago. Closing day is set for April 25 with a reopening for Ski Mania May 1.

According to Bill Swain, Sugarloaf will close April 24, and has some big events planned for the month. Next weekend is the second annual Rail Jam.

Winners from other ASC resorts will make up the field of 24, and this event will be easy to watch on the Landing right in front of the base lodge. The following weekend will be the annual Reggae Fest.

Saddleback’s Tom McAllister said the resort has done extremely well. He was surprised at the number skiers mid week. April 10 might be closing day, but it could be later depending on the weather.

Naturally, everyone is anti- cipating what will be added this summer after the big doings over the last year and half. Plans are still being worked on, but a couple more trails and increased snowmaking are sure things, along with six more condos. The new hotel is in the permit process, and Tom expects the project will begin this fall, with opening set for the following year.

Over in New Hampshire, Bretton Woods is shooting for May with the second annual Bode Fest set for Saturday, April 30. That event combines a morning ski race with an afternoon golf scramble. Of course that assumes the snow will melt off at least nine of the 27 holes before that date. The overall World Cup champion is scheduled to be on hand for the festivities. If all goes as planned, yours truly will present Miller with his third North American Snowsports Journalists’ Competitor of the Year Award after the competition. That honor was voted unanimously at the organization’s annual meeting at Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho a week ago.

One mountain with the location to stay open late is Wildcat. With a base elevation of 2000 feet, the Cat can hold its snow late, and this year there is plenty to hold. Irene Donnell said there is no firm date for winding up the season. Last year, the ski area was open until April 18, and this year looks even better. She added that every trail was open with 100 percent cover, and the upper mountain was still powder and packed powder.

April 1 everyone skis for $8, and skiers fortunate enough to have a winter birthday ski free on their day. One of the highlights of the Wildcat season was an impromptu visit by Glen Plake. The extreme skier demonstrated once again how important he places kids when he sat down and personally signed a poster for every child in the area’s school program.

It’s been a great season, and this could be the best spring skiing ever right through April. For details on events, check the ski area Web sites.

Dave Irons is a freelance writer who lives in Westbrook.