Skiing in the springtime is an altered state. Down jackets and  bulky bibs give way to vests, t-shirts and shorts. Mountaintop restaurant decks are packed with more sun soakers than a sandy Costa del Sol stretch. Skiers seem more playful and the mountains more inviting.  Skiing becomes a pursuit of pleasure rather than a test of technique.

Ski and snowboard resorts have a different magic that reveals itself as the weather warms. Crisp snow softens into glistening mid-morning corn snow, goggles are swapped for sun glasses, temperatures are mild, no one has to dress for the cold, everyone can eat lunch outdoors and quitting early for sunny après-ski is part of the experience.

The best days start early, then it's a dance with the sun across the mountain, moving to a new section just as the snow begins to change.  With spring skiing, nature's changing chemistry of fire and ice adds a new dimension to the man/mountain equation.

The award-winning contributors to SkiSnowboard.com Web site and the Ski Snowboard America and Ski Snowboard Europe guidebook have selected their best bets for great spring skiing. These are resorts where skiing and snowboarding can continue through late April and at some areas until Memorial Day and maybe July.

These resorts have high altitude, northern exposure, steep slopes and massive snow packs or glaciers that will last through the spring and sometimes into the summer months providing plenty of skiing and snowboarding. Some of these resorts actually record their snowiest months in March or April.

Here are five resorts for springtime fun in North America and another handful in Europe.

Mammoth Mountain, California
This is one of the kings of spring skiing. Mammoth has perfect weather for spring snow -- freezing at night and warm during the day. The altitude varies between 8,000 and 11,000 feet. Some of the lower lifts may close, but the upper mountain remains open. The new village that has grown at the base of the mountain by the town has changed the après-ski experience of this resort, creating much more to enjoy rather than purely skiing.

Mt. Bachelor, Oregon
This is a better mountain for spring skiing and snowboarding than for mid-winter skiing. In the spring the entire mountain is almost always open. In the winter the summit can be closed around 30 to 40 percent of the time due to high winds. Because this mountain has so many exposures, the snow conditions change during the day. This means plenty of great skiing and riding without slush. Nearby, the town of Bend is filled with art galleries, shops and filling restaurants.

Lake Tahoe, California
A handful of the Tahoe resorts offer wonderful spring skiing and snowboarding. Kirkwood is perhaps the best with the highest altitude, followed by Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows with excellent exposures. These areas allow visitors to combine sunny skiing and snowboarding with dramatic scenery and excellent nightlife, especially on the south shore of the lake. If one arrives while The Chutes at Mt. Rose are open, springtime is the best time to pack in plenty of steeps only 20 minutes from Reno.

Summit County, Colorado

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This county claims the highest altitude resorts in the state. Of the three main resorts, Copper Mountain has the best terrain and exposure for the late season. Nearby, Arapahoe Basin is a spring legend. The steep Palivaccini hold snow well into the summer and some Aprils have four feet of snow and May sometimes adds another two to three feet of snow. The scene at the base area is fantastic with hundreds of skiers enjoying tailgate parties. Nearby Loveland is also a springtime contender.

Whistler/Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada
This area, especially the upper slopes, normally makes it almost to Memorial Day, however, its coastal proximity means variable spring weather. Blackcomb's big bowls and the glacier make this a perfect place to enjoy skiing and riding in the sun. The slopes into the village can develop very deep slush. Downloading here is not for sissies-It allows a head start on the party that is about as good as it gets in April.

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