VT first...Vermont usually opens pretty early. 2 years ago they opened on November 10th...Last year was November 2nd. You can definitely find skiing in VT earlier then in PA, and if you can get transportation there, it's your best bet.
If you want hard crusty snow, CO/UT/WY etc aren't the place for you. The "groomed" surface is truly packed powder except very early in the season when they actually have to blow snow, then you're more likely to find conditions there to be like the best conditions here