When the latest issue of SKI Magazine arrived a couple of weeks ago, I couldn’t help but notice the headline, “Spring Secret: Powder.”

Elsewhere on that front cover were mentions of spring festivals and best places for late season skiing. Sure enough, when I checked the issue date it read, “Spring 2015” two full weeks before the end of January. Spring skiing was at least two months away, and the two months we expect to provide the best skiing were yet to come. We’re thinking of mid winter. Look for spring skiing in this space on St. Patrick’s Day.

February is always thought of as the big month for any ski season. By the beginning of February, the snowmakers have laid down a deep base on most trails, and thanks to this last week’s storm, we have an abundance of natural snow. As we pass the mid point of winter, the sun is higher and the days are longer. This is the perfect recipe for great skiing, and the majority of ski vacations are taken this month. Of course, we have the school vacation periods as well, so look for a busy month.

A check of the ski area web sites shows a handful of special events this month. The vacation will take place Feb. 15 to 22 and the state high school championships will also be held that week, with the B and C competitions at Big Rock and the A Alpine at Mt. Abram and Nordic at Stark Hill. Details of the championships can be found on the Maine Principals’ Association’s website — www.mpa.cc.

The list of events covers just about everything with a heavy emphasis on family activities for the vacation. Areas that normally operate on a limited scale will open for the full week or with expanded hour.

But don’t wait for the vacation. There are specials going on starting the first day of the month such as Maine Day at Saddleback, with special pricing for Maine residents. Sugarloaf has a New England Day on the sixth with special pricing. Lost Valley has two-for-one tickets the third and fourth and two for one the fifth with a canned food donation. Shawnee Peak has a New England ski day with $19 tickets the sixth. There are too many special events to list, but you can watch or participate in torch light parades, family fun races, and fireworks.

The ski areas also have a long list of bands for après ski, but to find your favorite band, you’ll have to go the various web sites. As for torch light parades, I have participated from Maine to Argentina (At Las Lenas in August), and if I watch them, it will be from the comfort of Blizzard’s Pub at Shawnee Peak, the Foggy Goggle at Sunday River, the Widowmaker at Sugarloaf or the Swig ‘n Smelt at Saddleback. Ditto for fireworks. By the way, if you do participate in one with live fire torches, don’t wear your best parka. Sparks to burn holes in them.

As I watched the heavy snow Tuesday (Westbrook is in that 18-24 inch belt), I thought of how I treated such storms years ago. In those days, I would not have hesitated to take a snow day and head for the mountain.

I remember one mid week day at Sunday River, when I was subbing for the lone pro patrolman who had been injured. We had a foot or more when the lifts opened, and it continued all day. Not many lift tickets were sold so a handful of us, mostly instructors, had the mountain to ourselves. We spent the morning seeking trackless snow, and after lunch, were trying to think of a trail we hadn’t skied. We opted for Crossbow, a little used narrow run behind the T-bar terminal but were disappointed to find tracks. We didn’t know that an instructor (I believe it was Ken Remsen) had taken a small group out for a powder lesson and had chosen that run to show them untracked powder. He made the mistake of lining his charges off to the side where the trail opened up above Rocking Chair. We broke out of the upper part of the run at full speed, which only accelerated when we saw the trackless snow below us. All of a sudden Ken’s pristine snow had six sets of tracks. I don’t know if he ever forgave us, but it makes the point that there are no friends on a powder day.

Another memorable day took place in New Hampshire. I was part of a group of ski journalists invited by the association then known as “Ski the White Mountains” to ski all nine of the White Mountain areas in a single day.

When I learned that it would start at the Balsams with dinner the night before so we could get on the lift at 6 a.m., I accepted immediately. The first run was in the dark as we loaded and unloaded from the lift by the lights of snowcats. We started down the run in 15 inches of fresh powder. All we could see was the vague outline of the trees but in that powder, but who cared? We piled into vans and headed South arriving at Wildcat around 8 a.m. to head up the mountain before the lifts opened to the public. At the top in brilliant sunshine, we observed the first rule of powder — be first! We headed down the Lynx trail in a foot of the new stuff, the best run of the day. I’m sure I have a lot of company in remembering powder days as best of all. I hope you can make some of your own this winter.

Finally, you can support the Ski Museum of Maine at Camden Snowbowl Thursday, the fifth. Get the details of this special day at www.skimueumsofmaine.org.

See you on the slopes.