If you have Skied In the Rockies in recent years you probably considered renting skis. Well your not alone. I have some friends with a Ski Shop in Vail Colorado who was telling me they have had %50 increase in rentals every year for 3 years.
This coincides with Vail activating 100K epic passes each year and higher baggage fee's to bring your own skis.
The benefits to renting skis outweighs the hassle, cost and dragging your gear around when in the Western US. If you think about it the cost of bringing skis entails more than that if you tip porters. $5.00 arriving at the airport, Leaving the airport (both twice) the hotels bellman (both ways). That approximately $70 each way to bring your skis.
After spending the last several seasons in Vail CO I have seen so many people dump their East Coast Skis for Powder Ski Rentals. Though the fat skis have finally made it East the Skis in places like Vail are even fatter. 110 cm under foot in many cases.
The trend to renting skis on ski vacations will continue as long as spending slightly higher cost to rent makes a better travel experience.

Northern New England has had a slow start to the ski season, but things are changing. New England experienced a Nor-Easter on Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. The result was lots of rain and wind for everyone south.
Up in the mountains above 2000ft was another story. Some resort received 12 to 18 inches. One of these resorts was Brettonwoods. Part of the Mount Washington Resort Brettonwoods was able to open as many as 27 trails over the weekend.
Skiers and Snowboarders access is provided by the Bethlehem Express Quad and the Learning Center Quad. Ungroomed trails are considered expert terrain with variable snow conditions and open water bars. Lift tickets are $39 for adults and $29 for Teens and Juniors.

There use to be a race for first to open in New England. A couple years after Boyne Resort purchased Sunday River the resort has been first every year. These folks certainly know how to run a resort.

Sunday River fired up the snow guns early September 26, 2009. They should be open for skiing on Halloween.