Lift Tickets
Skiing isn't cheap, and the price of your average lift ticket is jaw-dropping proof of that. Prices range by resort, skier age, the day of the week, and time of the day, ranging (roughly) from $30 to $80. Season passes are a great value if you frequent a particular mountain, but otherwise aren't really worth it. Generally, you can score the cheapest tickets for weekdays and the late afternoon or evening.
While you are at the ticket booth, grab a trail map. They can help you a great deal, especially when a wrong turn at the top of the mountain could lead you to a trail you'd best not try out, like a black diamond called "Widow's Underpants" or "Donner Party Surprise."
Speaking of wrong turns, one of your friends is bound to take one. Cell phone coverage can be spotty up on a mountain, so consider bringing walkie-talkies in order to communicate. At the very least, designate a time to meet back at the lodge.
Apres Ski
Once you've made the necessary amount of runs down the mountain, it is imperative to get to a bar. Half of the fun of hitting the slopes is Apres-ski (French for 'after' skiing). Generally, this begins with bellying up to a bar, proceeds through the stage where you are drinking with other red-cheeked people in snow pants, and hopefully ends with you drinking a hot toddy, in a hot tub, with hot women. Staying the weekend at a resort makes this part much more fun.
People at the bar don't have to know that you're a novice skier. Learn some skiing/boarding slang, and you can blend into any post-mountain crowd. For example:
"I was carving the crud, but when I was trying to dodge a gaper I caught an edge. I ended up with a yard sale and had to herringbone ten minutes to grab my hat."
Translation: "I was turning quickly in the heavy and uneven snow. Alas, when I tried to avoid a fellow skier who was enjoying the scenery, I tripped and I crashed. Much of my skiing equipment fell off and was strewn about behind me. I had to make my way back up the mountain for ten minutes to fetch my bonnet."
Whether or not you are fluent in ski slang, the East Coast is overloaded with resort options. Check out the ones to the right and get to shredding the pow-pow.
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