"Night skiing has always been popular, but is more so now, due to the tough economic times," says Kevin Furst, the social-media coordinator for Shawnee Mountain. "Friday nights have become the most crowded for us; we usually have more than 1,700 skiers and snowboarders on the mountain."
On average, lift tickets for weekend nights cost 40 percent less than day tickets - a saving of about $18 - giving skiers and boarders full access to the trails from twilight until closing. Most resorts, including Big Boulder and Sno Mountain, offer additional price reductions for college students.
As a result, night skiing often has a youthful, party atmosphere. The lodges are packed with skiers and snowboarders sharing tips, bragging about their latest run, and comparing equipment. At times, the crowds are as dense at night as they are during peak daylight hours.
Mixed in with the young crowd are seasoned veterans enjoying the lower rates, too.
"A good portion of the night skiers that come here are people who work 9-to-5 jobs," says Paul Best, a shift manager at Blue Mountain's learning center. "They can't ski during the day, so they come whenever they have some free time."
By day, Best, an instructor for more than 40 years, teaches beginners from as far away as Hawaii. But night is when he hits the slopes for fun.
Experienced skiers can adapt to night skiing easily, he says.
"It's not hard at all to transition to skiing at night," Best says. "In fact, the only real difference is that you've got artificial light guiding you instead of the sun."
Which isn't to say that night skiing is easy. Experts caution new skiers to build up some trail experience during the day before hitting the slopes at night.
