By Carl Natale

We have some moisture moving into Maine tonight and Friday. The temperatures will be a little warm so expect rain. Cross your fingers that temperatures drop to create snow.

Which seems OK since most of the Maine skiing industry is focused on the Boston Ski & Snowboard Expo this weekend. For those of you who want to stay in Maine, there are a few things you can do.

Veterans Day

Sunday River is offering free lift tickets for military personnel and their dependents, active and retired, Friday. I hope the weather gets better.

And speaking of Sunday River, Friday marks the beginning of being open all week.

Ski Swaps

• Bigrock Ski Swap And Sale (11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday)
• Auburn Ski Association Ski Swap (9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunday)

Ski Movies

If you’re not ready to hit the slopes then maybe a little cinematic schussing is more your style. You can catch a couple ski films to whet your appetite:

• Like There’s No Tomorrow: Warren Miller’s annual powder porn can be seen 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Friday at Merrill Auditorium in Portland. This year’s film has a segment on skiers Chris Davenport and Hugo  Harrison making runs down Tuckerman’s Ravine on Mount Washington.
• Breaking Trail - A Backcountry Film: Ski Maine is a co-sponsor of this film being shown Nov. 16 at Rivalries in Portland. A $5 donation is requested to benefit the WinterKids program. The film promises “You will find a mixed bag of highly talented and dedicated individuals who enjoy hiking out into the unknown in search of turns and adventure.”

What’s new

Here’s a round up of what’s new this winter at Maine ski areas:

• What’s New for the 2011/12 Ski Season in Maine (Ski Maine) A very complete round up of what to expect this winter in Maine
• Early snowfall jumpstarts ski season (The Boston Globe) Focuses on Sugarloaf and Sunday River
• Best Skiing 2011 - Best New Trails (OutsideOnline.com) The glades at Sugarloaf get a nod

A Family Skiing in Maine

Michael Salisbury’s blog is a must read for families who ski in Maine. He is writing comprehensive ski resort reviews and informative posts. His guide to ski swaps is worth reading before you go to any of the ski swaps scheduled this fall.

Maine Handicapped Skiing

MHS is looking for volunteers this winter.

The best skiing in New England is….

Boston.com wants to know where is the best skiing in New England. Your votes will be used to create an upcoming March Madness-style tournament to determine New England’s favorite resort. You can choose as many as 10 resorts. Make sure Maine is represented by voting now.

Opening day

Like I said, Sunday River is open all week. Maine Winter Sports Center and Big Rock Ski Area plan skiing during Thanksgiving Week (weather depending) but will open regularly later. Other ski areas are planning their opening days:

• Sugarloaf: Nov. 18
• Mt. Abram Ski Resort: Dec. 10
• Big Rock Ski Resort: Dec. 10
• Lost Valley: Dec. 16
• Camden Snow Bowl: Dec. 17
• Saddleback Ski Area: Dec. 17

Did I miss anything? Well let me know by sending an e-mail to schusster@carlnatale.com. I’m also going to be sharing events, news and snow reports on Twitter as @Schusster. Follow me for everything you need to know to plan your next ski trip.