It may vary from year to year, but we can count on March to be the best ski month of the season. Thanks to abundant snow in February, we’re starting this month with 100 percent operation at every ski area in Maine and nearby New Hampshire.

The days are longer, so we can ski in good light from early morning until the lifts close. And, we can opt out of the heavy skiwear and go for lighter weights. Sun screen takes on more importance, and lunch is likely to be a barbecue on the deck.

Of course, there are a few caveats. Although there is plenty of cover, conditions can change through the day as temperatures rise. The firm groomed surfaces of early morning can soften as the sun climbs. The wax that worked in the morning may no longer work in the afternoon. One way to prepare for this is a midseason tuneup. For do-it-yourselfers, this means making sure the edges are smooth and sharp, the base is clean and utilizing a good universal wax with a wide temperature range. Your shop can do this and recommend a good rub-on wax to add if temperatures climb too high. This time of year, we can have midwinter conditions all day or temperatures in the 40s that soften things quickly. Preparation is the key to enjoying all skiing, especially in the spring.

March is also a month for big events. Sunday River celebrates its Retro 80s event next weekend. Saddleback will jump the gun next Saturday with St. Patrick’s Family Fun Day. Shawnee Peak is hosting a Red Cross Blood Drive Sunday.

Every skier knows that St. Patrick’s day is the official kickoff for the spring skiing season, even though we are as likely to have a snow storm as sunshine this month. The celebrations are a little bigger when the day falls on a weekend, but there will be plenty going on, even if there are no big announcements. Years ago, the now defunct Brodie Mountain in the Berkshires was known as Kelly’s Irish Alps. Owner Jim Kelly added coloring to the snowmaking to produce green snow. I don’t know if any area does that today, but you can be sure that in pubs, lounges and on decks at ski areas across the region there will be plenty of recognition of the day.

The following weekend on March 19, Saddleback hosts the seventh annual Telemark Invasion. Shawnee Peak’s 26th Annual Spring Fling Beach Party is also slated for that day.

One of the biggest events in recent years is the Simon Dumont Cup, which gets underway for the third time at Sunday River on Thursday, March 24, and continues through Satruday. Dumont the Bethel native who set the world’s record for height, will be on hand as his fellow pros and up to 200 of the best amateurs accept the challenge of one of the biggest pro-am ski events in the world. The course, designed by Dumont, will be on the Rocking Chair, which is easily visible from the decks at the Barker Base Lodge. Athletes will compete for a $20,000 purse in cash and prizes.

That will be a busy weekend with the 26th Annual Maine Handicapped Skiing Ski-A-Thon also on tap. This event has raised millions over two and a half decades, and each year the total runs more than  $300,000 as teams of skiers secure pledges from friends and businesses. Many of the participants are also volunteers, who work with the handicapped skiers, contributing their time as well as their fundraising activities. Details on the Dumont Cup and Ski-A-Thon can be found at www.sundayriver.com. A complete list of events throughout the state can be found at www.skimaine.com.

Juniors have a big weekend of racing scheduled for Saddleback on March 26-27, with the Maine Alpine Racing Association/USSA, J1/2/3 Giant Slalom and Slalom. At Sunday River the 21st Annual Eat The Heat Chili Cookoff and Firefighters’ Race will bring out firefighters in full dress to race as teams carrying hoses. It’s always a fun event worth taking time out between runs to watch the action.

These are some of the highlights. There are places that are always great for enjoying the spring sun. Check out the deck at Mt. Abram, where you can watch skiers while catching some rays. Shawnee Peak divides its skiers between the upstairs deck outside Blizzard’s Pub and the ground level patio. At Sugarloaf, the Beach in front of the base lodge is always filled, and the views of the mountain are great. At Sunday River, you can join crowds at South Ridge and Barker Base. Over in New Hampshire, Cranmore has a big deck facing the slopes. Wildcat’s deck is above a bubbling brook later in the spring, but for now it’s probably still frozen.

This is what skiing in March is all about. We start with midwinter conditions and gradually shed clothes as the sun climbs higher and the snow softens to spring conditions.

It’s also a time when some of next year’s skis show up in some shops as demos. They won’t be everywhere, but it’s worth checking the shops at the mountains. You might get a chance to try some and have a better idea of what you might prefer.

See you on the slopes.