Reverse skiing up a mountain is only possible during full moons on the summer equinox, which is why Rube Goldberg invented ski lifts. Rise to the top with today's Groupon, which gets you a ski lift ticket at Mt. Crescent Ski Area, located in Honey Creek, Iowa, about 70 miles northeast of Lincoln. Choose between the following options:

• For $17, you get one junior lift ticket (up to a $34 value).
• For $19, you get one adult lift ticket (up to a $39 value).

Thanks to 20 hard-working snow machines, skiers and snowboarders of all levels can zip down runs reaching up to 2,000 feet at this western Iowa resort. With this deal, you get a lift ticket to take you up to pristine trails packed with glistening snow between December and March each year. Although gravity will pull patrons inexorably toward the bottom of the slopes, two chairlifts return as many as 3,600 snow surfers to the top each hour, where they can take in views of the park's 50 acres, test their mettle on the challenging Double Trouble Chute, or make a snow-sculpted diorama of the entire cast of Happy Days . Afterwards, skiers can warm their toes in the newly renovated two-story lodge and replenish their bodies with a drink from the Mountain Cafe & Bar. Mt. Crescent Ski Area is scheduled to open on December 11 this year.

Reviews

Mt. Crescent Ski Area was featured in an article in OnTheSnow and has a four-star average from OnTheSnow reviewers:

• Mt. Crescent Ski Area, located just 15 miles northeast of Omaha in the Loess Hills of Western Iowa, is like an oasis for snowsport enthusiasts in western Iowa and eastern Nebraska. – Mike Terrell
• This is the perfect place to learn or find out if your new board or skis are going to work for you. – Deej