Stratton Mountain, VT – With fingers crossed for one more late season snowstorm, staffers at Stratton are gearing up for the final stretch of the Vermont resort’s ski and snowboard season, set to close on Apr. 11.nIn the meantime, sun and warm temperatures are forecast for the coming weekend, the perfect environment for a non-denominational Easter Sunrise service at the summit this Sunday, with the gondola opening at 6 a.m. for those who wish to join the Rev. Louis Midura for his 6:30 a.m. service. The annual Easter egg hunt will follow for children of all ages and meets at the Ski School (six and under at 10:30 a.m., seven and over at 11 a.m.) and anyone can find the Golden Watermelon hidden on the slopes to win a Village Gift Certificate.

Next weekend, Stratton will bid adieu to the 2009-10 season with a pair of special events. The Burgers and Bonks parks event on the Tyrolienne run brings together both skiers and riders in a competition judged by the participants themselves. Registration starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, Apr. 10, in the overflow room of the Stratton Base Lodge, with the competition to follow at 10 and burgers at 11:30. The entry fee is $20.

Then there’s the famed, or infamous depending on the costumes, Annual Pond Skim, which takes place at 2 p.m. Sunday afternoon, Apr. 11, at the base of Suntanner. This high-demand celebration is limited to the first 100 sign ups (beginning at 10 a.m. in the East Wing of the Base Lodge), but spectators of all ages will enjoy the festivities.

Die-hards should mark their calendar for May 29, when Stratton will host the May Mountain Meltdown, a rail jam in the Sun Bowl over Memorial Day weekend. The exact date and time is to be announced at a later date.