Each morning, the 国产吃瓜黑料 staff meets to go over the day’s news, and a topic that comes up again and again is the housing crunch gripping mountain towns. Every week, it seems, a different mountain community or aimed at increasing the paltry number of low-cost dwellings. But nobody really knows how to make these towns affordable to crucial workers who live there: you know, ski lift operators, or a town’s

And then, a few times a year, a news story hits that makes us all wonder if the whole effort is an exercise in futility, and that every ski town, from Bozeman to Big Bear,听is destined to become an enclave just for gazillionaires.

The latest: about a seven-story, 21,000-square-foot megamansion that’s about to hit the market in Park City, Utah.

The WSJ estimates that this gargantuan dwelling鈥攚hich sits on 2.6 acres on the slopes of Deer Valley Resort鈥攚ill list for $65 million, which would make it the most expensive in state history. Constructing the home required 60 full-time workers, the newspaper听reports. The publication then quotes the executive who had the thing built, a financial-tech guy named Doug Bergeron.

“I think I personally increased the GDP of Utah,” Bergeron told the newspaper while laughing. Ha, indeed. The听Journal听didn’t ask Bergeron if the home’s spare bedrooms (there are seven in total) would be available for low-income renters during off-months.

But the price isn’t why this home has garnered so much attention. You see, this home has a private gondola. Yep, it’s a bona fide听ski gondola, mounted to an electric track. The private cabin whisks the owner to the top of nearby Bald Eagle Mountain, and from there, it’s just a short ride on a quad to visit Utah’s most famous landmark: the bunny slope where Gwyneth Paltrow collided with that grumpy optometrist.

Hitting the Market in Utah: A $65 Million Ski Home With a Gondola

鈥� Randall Kammerman (@RandallK33)

As I read the听Journal story, my emotions went on something akin to a gondola ride: I felt anger and resentment, and then yes, jealousy and finally grudging appreciation. My initial question (Why didn’t they build high-density, low-income condos there?) quickly gave way to an altogether different one听(Does the gondola have heated seats and Bluetooth speakers?)

Passionate skiers are undoubtedly familiar with this cocktail of feelings鈥攊t’s the one you experience whenever a headline pops up about the Yellowstone Club, or some other private ski operation. Sure, the concept of ski experiences for the one percent is off-putting, but damn, you’d totally , if you could. It’s the skier’s version of this classic story in The Onion: .

Eventually, even I had to admit that I would absolutely love to zip around in a private ski gondola. You get to cut the line, you avoid those awkward chairlift conversations, and you generally get to act like a big-shot. But as I daydreamed about owning this garish ski house, I came up with a longer list of reasons why having your own gondola would absolutely slap.

For us plebeians, riding a ski resort gondola means adhering to a lengthy set of rules. But private gondolas do not have such regulations. And there’s a whole code of social norms you adhere to within a gondola that I assume would vaporize inside a private, rich-guy gondola.

So, here are ten things I would totally do in my personal gondola if I somehow acquire the financing to purchase the $65 million Utah mansion:

Bring my dog:听Most resorts prohibit you to bring your canine on board a gondola鈥攎y home resort, Keystone, specifically forbids it. That’s not the case with my gondola! My nine-pound Schnauzer, Beau, is always welcome. Your dog can come, too.

Fart:听If I’m rich enough to afford a $65 million house then I really don’t care if I pass gas in public. In fact, wealthy me probably loves the smell of my own flatulence.

Discuss politics: What’s worse than farting in a gondola? You guessed it: sharing your hot takes on the upcoming election. Too bad鈥攊f you ride in my private gondola, then you’re going to have to weather my opinions on national, state, and hyper-local politics. The town dogcatcher will never recover from my blistering critique.

Keep snow conditions to myself: Unofficial chairlift etiquette requires you to discuss the weather, traffic, and snow conditions with your lift-mates. The latter topic is paramount鈥攊f you’ve already done a few runs, you must divulge where the good snow is, and where it isn’t. This rule does not apply to riders on my private gondola, however. So, you can forget about me sharing my secret stash in Deadman’s Glades.

Leave my pole-straps ON:听This ubiquitous rule that governs all chairlifts, surface lifts, and gondolas (remove your ski pole straps) no longer applies to me. So when I step into my gondola, my ski poles will be strapped to my wrists no matter how much clanging and fumbling it causes.

Horseplay:听The rules for riding the chairlift at California’s Palisades Tahoe specifically forbid being a general nuisance: throwing stuff, pushing, and generally acting like a 11-year-old boy hopped up on Mountain Dew. On my gondola, however, horseplay is not only encouraged, it is required. So, when boarding, welcome to the Thunderdome.

Sleep overnight:听Do you remember the poor gal who was trapped in a gondola at California’s Heavenly ski resort overnight? Well, I want to experience her plight鈥攐nly in a heated gondola that’s connected to my mansion with plenty of heat, food, and booze.

Drink alcohol: Speaking of booze, drinking alcohol in a gondola is another across-the-board no-no at North American resorts, even if it’s rarely enforced. But my gondola will have a minibar, and happy hour goes ’round the clock.

Smoke marijuana:听Look, I’m a lame suburban dad who wears imitation Crocs 24-7鈥攎y pot-smoking days are long behind me. But if I had access to my own gondola, you’d better believe I’d hotbox that thing. I cannot guarantee I’d actually make it to the slopes鈥攅specially if I had a pint of Cherry Garcia in my freezer and The Hunt for Red October on the cable box. But hey, if I get too high to actually exit my gondola, I can simply ride it back to my living room.

Swing and bounce: Another cardinal sin for resorts鈥攄on’t swing or bounce the chairlift! I have no clue how to budge a gondola that’s mounted to a metal track, but I’d find a way. After all, in this scenario I’m rich, so the rules don’t apply to me!

The post 10 Things I鈥檇 Do in My Own Private Ski Gondola appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

As you may have heard, Oscar-winning actress (and ) Gwyneth Paltrow is in a Utah courtroom this week, participating in a trial that has shone a spotlight on our world of outdoor recreation. Paltrow a skiing collision in 2016 at Utah鈥檚 Deer Valley Resort that may have left a man with serious injuries.

A retired optometrist named Terry Sanderson, 76, alleges that Paltrow, 50, plowed into him from behind on a beginner run and then fled the scene. The impact, Sanderson says, caused serious trauma, including a brain injury and multiple broken bones.

Paltrow and her legal team dispute that she was at fault鈥攖hey say Sanderson caused the crash. The trial kicked off on Tuesday, March 21, and there have already been a few twists and turns.

Who Is Suing Whom?

Both Sanderson, 76, and Paltrow are suing one another. He seeks $300,000 in damages, while Paltrow is asking for a symbolic payment of $1 plus the cost of her legal fees.

Sanderson and demanded $3.1 million in damages. He says Paltrow was skiing out of control when she struck him. 鈥淕wyneth Paltrow knew it was wrong to slam into Dr. Sanderson’s back, knocking him down, landing on top of him, knocking him out and then leave the scene of the ski crash she caused, but she did it anyway,鈥� his legal team told the jury earlier this week.

Paltrow in February 2019 alleging that Sanderson caused the accident and is now attempting to capitalize on her fame. 鈥淗e demanded Ms. Paltrow pay him millions. If she did not pay, she would face negative publicity resulting from his allegations,鈥� her attorneys wrote in 2019.
According to her legal team, she 鈥渨as enjoying skiing with her family on vacation in Utah, when [Sanderson]鈥攚ho was uphill from Ms. Paltrow鈥攑lowed into her back.鈥欌€� Her lawyers say that and the role Paltrow鈥檚 celebrity has played in the case.

So, What Actually Happened?

I don鈥檛 know about you, but my Instagram feed these days is chock-full of videos of skiers careening , , and yes, . But alas, the Paltrow-Sanderson collision appears to be the one ski crash that went unfilmed. Paltrow鈥檚 lawyers, however, have raised questions about supposed . It has not materialized.

What we do know is that the incident happened on February 26, 2016. Paltrow was on a ski trip with her two children (Apple and Moses) and her then-boyfriend (now husband) Brad Falchuk and his two children. She was taking a lesson with her kids at the time of the crash. The collision occurred on a green ski run called Bandana, which takes skiers from the top of 9,100-foot Flagstaff Mountain down to the Empire Canyon Lodge, a popular mid-mountain eatery. Bandana is unquestionably a run for beginners, and it鈥檚 the easiest trail connecting the two points on the mountain. Alope shows multiple 鈥淪low鈥� signs dotting the wide and gradual run as it gently makes its way to the lodge.

With the lack of video as official evidence, this case is likely to be a he-said she-said affair.

What Does He Say?

Sanderson claims that he was skiing in front of Paltrow when she struck him鈥攑ositioning that should grant him the right of way, per the No. 2 bullet point on the the . His lawyer, Lawrence Buhler, told a jury on Tuesday that Paltrow was distracted by her children as she descended the slope, and that she screamed just before skiing into Sanderson. After the impact, Buhler said, Paltrow hurriedly skied down the mountain. His lawyers also say that Paltrow鈥檚 ski instructor later filed a false report about the incident to protect Paltrow.

On Wednesday, March 22, Sanderson鈥檚 legal team called his companion Craig Ramon to the stand, and attorneys said he was the only eyewitness of the crash.听 Ramon said Paltrow was at fault. 鈥淚 see this skier just slam into the back of Terry, very hard,鈥� Ramon said on the stand. 鈥淪he hits him right directly in the back. His skis, the tips go out like this, and he falls face down kind of spread eagle.鈥�

On Wednesday, March 22, members of Sanderson鈥檚 family testified that his personality was forever changed by the impact. Two doctors also said the crash had . 鈥淎fter the accident, he deteriorated abruptly,鈥� said Dr. Wendell Gibby.

What Does She Say?

Paltrow legal team in a statement on Tuesday. Her counter suit claims she was skiing downhill from Sanderson, and that . In his opening statements, Paltrow鈥檚 lawyer Stephen Owens said she was descending the slope when 鈥渢wo skis appear between her skis and a man comes up right behind her.鈥� Paltrow thought she was being assaulted and fell on top of Sanderson. Paltrow鈥檚 defense is likely to argue that Sanderson was potentially unfit to be skiing at the time of the impact. According to her legal documents, Sanderson had previously informed his doctors that he was blind in one eye and had declining vision in the other.

What Role Does Skiing Play in a Verdict?

The written rules of ski resorts play a major role in deciding who is at fault here, and about during the trial. Utah is one state (Colorado, too) that has 鈥攊f you are reckless, you are to blame is the law鈥檚 basic message.

, a Salt Lake City-based lawyer who has worked on ski collision cases, who said the trial will听 hinge on which party can convince the jury that the other person broke the rules by skiing in an unsafe way.听And that鈥檚 where the trial gets sticky, since both parties allege that they were the downhill skier who was struck.

鈥淪o what it鈥檚 going to come down to is, the jury is going to listen to everybody about the collision itself and the aftermath and decide who they think is credible and who isn鈥檛,鈥� Cutt told CBS News.

What鈥檚 At Stake?

Various websites estimate Paltrow鈥檚 worth to surpass $100 million鈥攎uch of that due to the valuation of her lifestyle website Goop. These personal valuations, of course, are broad estimates. Still, it鈥檚 safe to say that $300,000 isn鈥檛 a particularly painful sum for the Paltrow estate to pay. This trial appears to be entirely symbolic for both parties. Sanderson believes he was wronged, and so does Paltrow.

How Weird Is this Trial?

Thus far, not too weird, although there have been a couple of strange moments. On Wednesday, March 22, Paltrow鈥檚 lawyers complained about overzealous press harassing her inside and out of the courtroom, calling out a photojournalist from the Associated Press who was pointing a camera in the courtroom instead of at the lectern (a supposed violation of courtroom decorum). Then, on Thursday, March 23, Paltrow鈥檚 legal team for the courtroom security. The judge declined.

How Long Will It Go On?

It started Monday, March 20, and is supposed to run for between eight days to two weeks.

Will Gwyneth Paltrow Take the Stand?

Probably. Legal experts , March 23. She may instead take the stand on Friday or Monday.

Can I Watch the Trial?

驰别辫鈥攊迟鈥檚 .

The post What You Need to Know About the Gwyneth Paltrow Skiing Trial appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

It鈥檚 that time of the year again, when Ski releases the results of its annual Reader Resort Survey, ranking the top ski resorts in North America. And after the pandemic season we all made it through, it was anyone鈥檚 guess which resorts were going to come out on top. In the West, where travel was less restricted, many of you said that you made most, if not all, of your typical ski trips鈥攁side from Canada, as borders were closed. That said, we did see a bump in responses for smaller, , and more appreciative comments about them, as well.

Not surprisingly, the West鈥檚 biggest resorts bore the brunt of the frustration from readers, with comments about interminably long lift lines and packed slopes dominating the responses this year. Readers both lamented the loss of skiing鈥檚 softer side鈥攍imited access to the dining and apr猫s facilities, less camaraderie after a day on the slopes鈥攁nd celebrated just skiing without all the bells and whistles. While we anticipate a return to normalcy at ski areas this winter, we acknowledge that the pandemic changed how we ski at the resorts鈥攁nd that some of us are opting not to, with a newfound love of backcountry skiing.

Whatever the coming season will look like for you, we hope you can use these rankings to inform your vacation choices. As one wise reader wrote, 鈥淭here is no one resort that 鈥榟as it all鈥�. People need to decide what鈥檚 important to them.鈥� We couldn鈥檛 have said it better ourselves.

Top 30 Resorts in the West

30. Palisades Tahoe, California

Overall Score: 7.83
Strengths: Challenge, Variety
Weaknesses: Grooming, Service

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What Readers Say

鈥淵ou can find whatever you鈥檙e looking for at [the former] Squaw/Alpine. The combo of the two gives every resort skier the they鈥檙e looking for. There is enough development at both mountains that give sufficient apr猫s options but without ruining what makes these mountain American classics. The appeal of Tahoe will almost be focused around the lake. Doesn鈥檛 matter what is built around the base of the mountain, they can鈥檛 beat the star attraction of Lake Tahoe. They are beginning to turn away the local and semi-local patrons by trying to overbuild around the resort and ruin what makes the mountain unique.鈥�

29. Solitude Mountain Resort, Utah

Overall Score: 7.84
Strengths: Snow, Value
Weaknesses: Dining, Local Flavor

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What Readers Say

鈥淧erfect blend of family-friendly groomers and wicked inbounds extreme terrain. Who can beat the Utah powder, really? The resort isn鈥檛 crowded, food and such are good and reasonable. Did I mention the skiing? The powder? Only downside is there is really no nightlife to speak of but then again, you鈥檙e there for skiing and with the steeps, chutes, trees and cliffs, you鈥檙e too fried to party all night and be able to hit it again the next day.鈥�

28. Snowbird Resort, Utah

Overall Score: 7.85
Strengths: Snow, Challenge
Weaknesses: Family, Local Flavor

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What Readers Say

鈥淪nowbird is for skiers and boarders. The snow-sliding experience is epic for those of intermediate abilities and greater. People ski hard and crash early so they can do it all over again the next day. There is little 鈥渘ightlife,鈥� hardly an issue for those struggling to stay awake much after 8 or 9pm. For those with less interest in the mountain experience, metropolitan Salt Lake City is well under a half hour away and offers the wide variety of options one would expect in any major city.鈥�

27. Alta Ski Area, Utah

Overall Score: 7.89
Strengths: Snow, Overall Satisfaction
Weaknesses: Nightlife, Grooming

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What Readers Say

鈥淎lta is purely for skiing. The terrain variety is amazing and fun for any level skier. It is the resort where I jumped my first big cliff, and is the resort I took my kids to so that they could jump their first cliff. It holds memories and experiences that expanded my skiing reality and love of the sport. I would recommend this resort to anyone. It has all that you need to enjoy a great day on the mountain, whether you stop for lunch or pull it out of your ski jacket pocket.鈥�

26. Heavenly Mountain Resort, California

Overall Score: 7.91
Strengths: Lodging, Nightlife
Weaknesses: Service, Variety

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What Readers Say

鈥淗eavenly is beautiful! The views cannot be beat, desert on the Nevada side and the lake on the California side. Most days are sunny and there is so much terrain to cover. The resort has dining options, but venture out (not far), and you will find great local options. Overall, Heavenly lives up to its name, especially when it comes to the weather and views, but it can be extremely busy and you will spend a lot of time waiting in line and riding lifts to get to everywhere on the mountain.鈥�

25. Big Sky Resort, Montana

Overall Score: 8.04
Strengths: Variety, Lifts
Weaknesses: Access, Apr猫s

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What Readers Say

鈥淏ig Sky was my bucket list ski trip. And it didn鈥檛 disappoint! I love everything about this mountain. It鈥檚 got terrain for days. A true skiers鈥� mountain. What it lacks in nightlight and dining options, it makes up for in terrain. I tell people who want to come to Big Sky, if you want to party, it鈥檚 not the place. If you want to ski your butt off, go now.鈥�

24. Keystone Resort, Colorado

Overall Score: 8.06
Strengths: Family, Access
Weaknesses: Challenge, Snow

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What Readers Say

鈥淚鈥檝e spent the past ten years skiing in Colorado, and out of all the resorts, I keep coming back to Keystone. It has the right mix of steep and deep tree runs, groomers, and fast access to all of it.鈥�

23. Revelstoke Mountain Resort, B.C.

Overall Score: 8.07
Strengths: Snow, Challenge
Weaknesses: Family, Lifts

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What Readers Say

鈥淥ne of my favorite ski resorts in Western Canada. The terrain is difficult and the double blacks are extremely challenging. However, for an advanced or expert skier, this is one of the best mountains in Western Canada to really push your skills and experience some of the best steep skiing in the West. Excellent tree runs, bowls, chutes, glades, and gullies. Not a family or beginner- friendly mountain.鈥�

22. Mammoth Mountain, California

Overall Score: 8.09
Strengths: Variety, Lifts
Weaknesses: Access, Value

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What Readers Say

鈥淚 absolutely love Mammoth. It lives up to its name as the place is Mammoth! It鈥檚 cool to ride the Gondola and look out to see all the lifts and terrain available. If you want black and double- black terrain, they鈥檝e got it. You want blues, they have that too! You need some greens for the first-timers and young ones, they have that as well. Well-groomed with fast long runs but also plenty of untouched terrain that鈥檚 great for powder or bump skiing. If you want to really ski, go here!鈥�

21. Crested Butte Resort, Colorado

Overall Score: 8.11
Strengths: Local Flavor, Apr猫s
Weaknesses: Snow, Access

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What Readers Say

鈥淲hat can you say about a beautiful ski town? It鈥檚 called Crested Butte. This place has charm. The skiing is out of this world with some really dry pow and terrain that鈥檚 meant to challenge you and humble you.鈥�

20. Vail Mountain, Colorado

Overall Score: 8.12
Strengths: Dining, Nightlife
Weaknesses: Value, Service

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What Readers Say

鈥淰ail is an amazing place. It鈥檚 vast, stunningly beautiful, and has terrain to challenge any level of skier. The Back Bowls, especially Blue Sky Basin, are incredible, and are worth the trip just on their own. However, the sheer size of the place can sometimes be intimidating, and for an intermediate skier like myself, it can be easy to get in over your head, so it鈥檚 important to map out your day in advance and talk to some people with local knowledge to get the lowdown.鈥�

19. Loveland Ski Area, Colorado

Overall Score: 8.14
Strengths: Value, Access
Weaknesses: Lodging, Nightlife

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What Readers Say

鈥淟oveland is old school. Affordable. No frills. In the day lodge (practically the only base-area amenity) you鈥檒l see tables of locals who all know each other. They all greet each other by name. Everyone boots up inside, gets a cafeteria coffee and chats at big round tables. It鈥檚 so warm and convivial as well as affordable. Must be one of the least expensive day tickets in the state if not the nation. Very friendly, uncrowded, old-school vibe. Reminds me of Vermont in the 鈥�70s before base area villages were even a thing. If you want a mellow, affordable, no stress, no frills day that will leave you relaxed and peaceful, this is the place.鈥�

18. Arapahoe Basin, Colorado

Overall Score: 8.16
Strengths: Value, Local Flavor
Weaknesses: Family, Lodging

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What Readers Say

鈥淚f I am taking a trip to Colorado, I always make it a point to ski A-basin. I love how it鈥檚 a mountain and not a resort, giving you just what you need. Plus the parking lot tailgating is always fun.鈥�

17. Breckenridge Resort, Colorado

Overall Score: 8.20
Strengths: Apr猫s, Nightlife
Weaknesses: Value, Service

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What Readers Say

鈥淏reck offers the ambiance of a small town with big-mountain skiing right outside your door. The variety of terrain, excellent grooming, outstanding local lodging/dining/entertainment options and easy access from Denver make it my top pick for Colorado skiing.鈥�

16. Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado

Overall Score: 8.20
Strengths: Grooming, Service
Weaknesses: Value, Variety

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What Readers Say

鈥淏eaver Creek is the best-kept secret in skiing. Just ten miles west of Vail, it gets 1/4 of the skier traffic, with terrain that in some cases eclipses that of its older brother. It鈥檚 the only place in the United States where you can sample a mainstay on the World Cup downhill circuit. I guarantee you鈥檒l never forget the first time you ski past the double-black diamond warning sign that says 鈥楻ace conditions may exist鈥� and plunge over the Brink, not knowing whether said conditions exist until after it鈥檚 too late to turn back.鈥�

15. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming

Overall Score: 8.21
Strengths: Challenge, Snow
Weaknesses: Family, Access

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What Readers Say

鈥淓ver since I can remember or maybe since the first time I saw Warren Miller鈥檚 鈥淪teep and Deep鈥� (which was when I was pretty young), it was a dream of mine to ride the Jackson Hole Aerial Tram. This dream came true during the 鈥�19/21 season, when my parents and I got out there for a few days. I absolutely loved the chutes at Jackson Hole! Even with poor snow conditions they were still fully covered, and they are long enough to have a lot of fun. I can鈥檛 say Jackson Hole would be my first recommendation for beginner skiers, but it is an absolute must for people who are looking for some awesome steep terrain.鈥�

14. Lake Louise Resort, Alberta

Overall Score: 8.23
Strengths: Access, Variety
Weaknesses: Lodging, Overall Satisfaction

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What Readers Say

鈥淟ake Louise has dry snow and it鈥檚 windy so it refreshes most nights even without new snow. You can find dry fresh pow days after a snowfall. The Lake has more expert terrain than the other areas close to home. The avy crew is the best around and the trail crew farm snow better than most ski hills anywhere, capturing our dry snow as it blows over the mountain leaving fresh lines each morning. The views from the hill are some of the best in the world of endless snow-covered mountain peaks. It鈥檚 like a dream鈥攏o really, just ask people who come here from around the world. There is always good skiing to be had at the Lake, you just need to go.鈥�

13. Park City Resort, Utah

Overall Score: 8.24
Strengths: Access, Dining
Weaknesses: Snow, Value

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What Readers Say

鈥淚f you are traveling with a larger group, Park City is sure to meet the needs of everyone in your party. The mountain is so ginormous, if you can鈥檛 find terrain that interests you, it probably doesn鈥檛 exist anywhere. The town of Park City has plenty of shopping and dining options. Overall, Park City should serve any traveling group well. With a huge selection of on-mountain terrain, in-town shopping and dining, and lodging to fit any need, if you can鈥檛 find what you need here, you probably aren鈥檛 going to find it anywhere else.鈥�

12. Winter Park Resort, Colorado

Overall Score: 8.25
Strengths: Family, Lifts
Weaknesses: Dining, Nightlife

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips: No.12, Winter Park Resort

What Readers Say

鈥淢y husband and I try to visit all the different resorts in Colorado in order to find our favorite, and out of the eight we have visited, Winter Park ranks up at the top for both of us. The mountain has a good flow, lift lines were short, the runs were challenging, but not too challenging. It was an overall great experience as we skied first to last lift!鈥�

11. Copper Mountain, Colorado

Overall Score: 8.30
Strengths: Lifts, Access
Weaknesses: Dining, Nightlife

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What Readers Say

鈥淐opper has a huge variety of terrain spread across this large resort, so there are plenty of options for every level. Great, long groomers in both lower-intermediate and upper-intermediate ranges. Limited truly extreme terrain, but even some pockets of deserving double-diamonds in several locations. And much more and better tree skiing than most people know.鈥�

10. Steamboat Resort, Colorado

Overall Score: 8.40
Strengths: Family, Dining
Weaknesses: Challenge, Value

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What Readers Say

鈥淎 great family resort. Lots of terrain on the mountain and lots of things to do off the hill. The area around the resort and the town have lots to offer. Great restaurants, bars and a few breweries make Steamboat a great destination. Spring skiing is fun and the outdoor apr猫s facilities are a fun time. They even have live music daily outside. 鈥�

9. Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana

Overall Score: 8.42
Strengths: Local Flavor, Value
Weaknesses: Grooming, Snow

(Photo: Grant Gunderson)

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What Readers Say

鈥淥nce you have skied or snowboarded in Whitefish, you will always want to come back. It is the perfect mountain to ski, snowboard and apr猫s-ski for beginners, experts and everyone in between. It has everything you want and nothing you don鈥檛 want.鈥�

8. Snowbasin Resort, Utah

Overall Score: 8.45
Strengths: Lifts, Service
Weaknesses: Nightlife, Lodging

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What Readers Say

鈥淚 hate letting people in on our secret but sharing is caring. Our resort is one of the best. They work hard for opening day and maintain the mountain so well during the ski season. It can be super busy on Saturday but that鈥檚 because the secret is out.鈥�

7. Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico

Overall Score: 8.45
Strengths: Challenge, Overall Satisfaction
Weaknesses: Access, Nightlife

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What Readers Say

鈥淚 love the mountain and the vibe of TSV鈥擨鈥檝e been traveling there every winter for over 22 yrs. It has a feel all its own, and their Adult Ski Week program is unparalleled鈥攅very time I go I advance my skills. Everyone should experience Taos at least once, but it鈥檚 addicting! They get a good amount of snow each season, but even during dry spells the snow is kept in great condition.鈥�

6. Telluride Ski Resort, Colorado

Overall Score: 8.50
Strengths: Variety, Dining
Weaknesses: Value, Access

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What Readers Say

鈥淭elluride is our favorite resort for two reasons. First, the most beautiful ski area, hands down, in the US. Secondly, for the most part, best snow you鈥檒l ski anywhere. A perfect blend of light, yet dense, so you鈥檒l ski better on this snow than on any other. A complete boost for the ego.鈥�

5. Banff Sunshine, Alberta

Overall Score: 8.59
Strengths: Lifts, Snow
Weaknesses: Nightlife, Challenge

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What Readers Say

鈥淥nce you take the gondola up the mountain you have a variety of lifts to take you to several different peaks with virtually no lines. And the best part is your pass only gets scanned once for the gondola and then never again! On each run I can take easier paths while kids do more challenging runs, then we meet at the lift for another long run.鈥�

4. Whistler Blackcomb, B.C.

Overall Score: 8.55
Strengths: Variety, Nightlife
Weaknesses: Snow, Value

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What Readers Say

鈥淲histler is the total package. You鈥檙e surrounded by beautiful mountains and there is a village at the base of the mountain that you can walk to with nightlife and very good restaurants. Everything is right there. You never have to travel again once you get to your destination. And the snow is typically awesome!鈥�

3. Aspen Snowmass, Colorado

Overall Score: 8.68
Strengths: Nightlife, Lifts
Weaknesses: Value, Access

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What Readers Say

鈥淎spen is a wonderful vacation for Coloradans looking to get away from the closer-to-Denver mountains. Downtown Aspen is fantastic and as a somewhat local you can still feel at home and not under the pressure to buy into a ritzy trip. Highlands is a family favorite, but Bonnie鈥檚 at Ajax is still one of the best鈥攖ake a break to grab a sweet treat and coffee.鈥�

2. Deer Valley Resort, Utah

Overall Score: 8.74
Strengths: Family, Access
Weaknesses: Challenge, Variety

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What Readers Say

鈥淒eer Valley has been the best resort we have skied at thus far. The customer service is exceptional, the Utah powder is like no other, the food/restaurants/amenities/apr猫s both at the resort, and in town, are exceptional. I recommend Deer Valley, and Park City, to everyone. These are the reasons why we have skied there numerous times and will continue to go back every opportunity we get.鈥�

1. Sun Valley Resort, Idaho

Overall Score: 8.91
Strengths: Grooming, Service
Weaknesses: Access, Snow

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What Readers Say

鈥淪un Valley is just magical. The village and the Lodge can鈥檛 be topped. The mountain is perfectly maintained and has perfect pitch on every run. The history makes it fun to be a part of. The Holding family are supreme stewards of this jewel. 鈥�

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Caroline Gleich moved to Salt Lake City听from her native Minnesota when she was 15听and has been skiing Utah鈥檚 Wasatch Range听ever since. She began making a name for herself as a professional听skier when she was just 18, and in 2017, she became the first woman to climb and ski all 90 lines in听Andrew McLean鈥檚 iconic 1998 guidebook听The Chuting Gallery.听Last year听she climbed Mount Everest in an effort to promote gender equality in sports. Now 34, Gleich uses her influence as an athlete to promote issues like climate change, cyberharassment, and clean air quality. We asked her to share her favorite places to ski in her home state.

Deer Valley Ski Resort

Why Go: Gleich mostly skis in the backcountry, but if she doesn鈥檛 have time for a full backcountry tour in Big or Little Cottonwood Canyons, then she鈥檒l ski in-bounds at听. 鈥淚f I can鈥檛 ski perfect untracked powder, then I like perfect groomers,鈥� she says. 鈥淕oing to Deer Valley feels like a day to restore.鈥�

Need to Know: According to Gleich, one nice thing about the Park City resorts鈥攚hich include Deer Valley and 鈥攊s that they don鈥檛 see the same weekend crowds as the ski resorts in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons, like Alta and Snowbird. Which means that Deer Valley can be a good bet even on a busy Saturday. 鈥淒eer Valley limits the number of tickets they sell, so even on the craziest days, you won鈥檛 be waiting in lift lines for too long,鈥� she says.

Where to Ski: She prefers the terrain accessed via the and the upper part of the mountain, like Lady Morgan, Bald Mountain, and Flagstaff Mountain. 鈥淚t鈥檚 higher up, so the snow stays nice,鈥� she says. Plus, the cookies at the Silver Lake Lodge are hard to beat.

For Apr猫s-Ski: Get a Bloody Mary at the bar of the ski-in, ski-out听, and have dinner at听, a new farm-to-table restaurant in Park City that Gleich loves.

Alta Ski Area听

Why Go: 鈥淚 cut my teeth skiing听 for so many years,鈥� Gleich says. 鈥淚t was my gateway to backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. I love being so connected to nature there. You have big, unadulterated views听and a real sense of the wilderness. Plus, it feels听like you have to exert some human power by sidestepping or traversing to get to the good places.鈥�

Need to Know:听 is the spot for coffee before skiing. 鈥淎nd they have tasty waffles and empanadas,鈥� adds Gleich. If she鈥檚 driving up from Salt Lake City, she also likes听, near the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon.

Where to Ski: Gleich mostly laps Alta鈥檚 beloved Collins lift, where you can access steep shots off the High Traverse, like Jitterbug or Alf鈥檚 High Rustler. 鈥淚 also love to ski Alta with my nephews and my 88-year-old dad, who鈥檚 had a hip replacement,鈥� she says. 鈥淗e mostly likes to ski Sunnyside, Sugarloaf, and Supreme.鈥�

For Apr猫s-Ski: Get French fries and a beer at the听 inside the new听. Then head for a soak at the听, located on the rooftop of the听听at Snowbird Ski Area, next door to Alta.听鈥淚t鈥檚 an amazing place to unwind,鈥� Gleich says. 鈥淭hey have a saltwater pool, a hot tub, and a eucalyptus steam room.鈥�

Mount Superior

Why Go: 鈥淥ne of the most iconic runs in Utah is the south face of听,鈥� says Gleich. 鈥淭hat mountain is like the heart of the Wasatch. It鈥檚 one of my favorite places to go. It鈥檚 got everything鈥攁 beautiful, big-mountain face that gets incredible sunrise light, an exposed ridgeline that feels like an alpine climb, and from the top of the peak, you can see far in every direction. It鈥檚 also very close to Salt Lake City. You can be standing on the top of this peak in just two or three hours鈥澨齛fter arriving at the airport.

Need to Know: As with all backcountry areas, before you go, read the avalanche forecast from the听,听carry a beacon, shovel, and probe, and know how to use them. The Utah Avalanche Center has听 for backcountry education in the area. Or hire a guide:听 leads backcountry tours up Mount Superior.

Where to Ski: 鈥淪uperior is really popular鈥攊t鈥檚 a classic ski descent,鈥� says Gleich. 鈥淭here are so many features and nooks you can continue to explore.鈥�

For Apr猫s-Ski: You can ski Superior at dawn and be down at Alta having coffee and breakfast after sunrise. 鈥淥r get to Alta for first chair after skiing Superior,鈥� says Gleich. 鈥淎t听 at Alta, you can get a warm breakfast sandwich and a nice cappuccino.鈥�

Millcreek Canyon Road听

Why Go: The top section of听, closed during the winter, is a good spot for newer backcountry skiers who want to test their skills on low-angle, low-avalanche-danger terrain. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l skin through a beautiful, dense forest,鈥� says Gleich. 鈥淚t鈥檚 like forest bathing. It鈥檚 very quiet.鈥�听

Need to Know: The trail climbs about 1,200 feet over听roughly four miles. The side of the road is usually groomed, so it鈥檚 also popular with nordic skiers. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a fun tour for people who鈥檝e never toured. You could tow kids in a sled or skate-ski, too,鈥� says Gleich.

Where to Ski: It鈥檚 pretty straightforward: Drive up Millcreek Canyon until you can鈥檛 drive anymore. Park, then start skinning up the closed road. 鈥淵ou basically skin or cross-country ski up, then ski down the road,鈥� says Gleich.

For Apr猫s-Ski: One of Gleich鈥檚 favorite places to grab dinner in Cottonwood Heights is a new, family-owned Vietnamese restaurant called听. 鈥淭hey have pho that they stew for over 24 hours,鈥� she says.

Grizzly Gulch

Why Go: 鈥淲ith climate change in the Wasatch, we鈥檙e seeing our snow lines move higher and higher. On years when we don鈥檛 have much lower-elevation snow,听 is one of the places you can ski-tour consistently,鈥� says Gleich. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the birthplace of avalanche research and a part of the history of snow safety in the U.S. It鈥檚 a really important place for people taking avalanche courses and getting into backcountry skiing.鈥�

Need to Know: There鈥檚 a piece of proposed legislation called the听 that seeks to preserve around 80,000 acres of U.S. Forest Service land in the Wasatch, including Grizzly Gulch, which Alta has听 its ski area into. It鈥檚 an听. 鈥淚 love Alta. But I鈥檓 opposed to any plans to develop Grizzly Gulch,鈥� says Gleich.

Where to Ski: Grizzly Gulch has protected, north-facing terrain, so the snow here stays cold and light. 鈥� is a good place to go tour in Grizzly Gulch,鈥� says Gleich. 鈥淚t鈥檚 got nice, open-spaced trees,听good snow quality, and is lower angle, with minimal avalanche terrain above.鈥�听

For Apr猫s-Ski: Head to the听 inside the Alta Lodge. 鈥淚t鈥檚 small and intimate and a fun place to grab a drink after skiing,鈥� Gleich says.

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Fresh terrain is opening up, a听new megaresort beckons, and a Godzilla El Ni帽o promises major storms. Why should you be amped for winter? Let us count the ways.

1. El Ni帽o Is Back (And They鈥檙e Calling It Godzilla!)

Since 1950, about one-third of winters have been granted El Ni帽o status. 鈥淚f it feels like we鈥檙e constantly talking about it, you鈥檙e right,鈥� says Joel Gratz, the CEO of , a weather-forecasting website for skiers. But the strong El Ni帽os鈥攖he winters that bring more than 500 inches of snow to places like Telluride in Colorado and Mammoth in California鈥攈appen only about once a decade. The good news: this winter, forecasters at the National Weather Service are predicting a particularly strong El Ni帽o, expected to last into March. But let鈥檚 back up: What is El Ni帽o, exactly? It鈥檚 when water temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean become warmer than usual, which affects the prevailing winds and ultimately brings heavy precipitation to the southern half of the United States. So when you鈥檙e planning a ski trip this winter, keep your eyes on California, Utah, New Mexico, and southern Colorado for deep powder.
鈥�Megan Michelson

2. You Don鈥檛 Know Vail

It has a reputation for catering more to oligarchs than young rippers, and yes, there are luxe hotels and gondolas with heated seats. But with all the options available, Vail has never been more affordable, and the mountain is full of challenging terrain.

Lap Chair 10听

Even on the busiest days there鈥檚 never a line, since this lift mostly serves 1,500-vertical-foot pitches of thigh-destroying moguls. Warm up on Blue Ox, then charge straight down the lift line: it鈥檚 steep, narrow, and pockmarked with rock drops, and skiers on the way up will let you know how you鈥檙e doing.听

BYO Rib Eye

Round up some friends and head out to the summit of Blue Sky Basin, where the resort runs two huge, free gas grills. Pack a Bluetooth speaker, some steaks, and a case of beer, and take in the views across the valley of the 14,009-foot Mount of the Holy Cross.

Ski the Minturn Mile听

Duck out the backcountry gate at the top of chair 7 and ski down to the 111-year-old mining town of Minturn. It鈥檚 by no means a scary run, but get the lowdown from a local, and take standard backcountry precautions. Then grab a beer at the while you wait for your hotel or a buddy to come pick you up.听

3. The Southwest Could Have an All-Time Winter听

Because of its location in the Southern Rockies, New Mexico鈥檚 could get hit hard by El Ni帽o鈥揻ueled storms. 鈥淚鈥檝e been geeking out on the models,鈥� says ski patroller Justin Bobb. 鈥淭aos is such a steep, rocky mountain that a big snowfall makes a huge difference.鈥� If the snow does come down, the Kachina lift鈥攚hich last year opened up more than 50 acres of experts-only runs previously accessible only to those willing to hike鈥攚ill run more consistently. After blasting through chest-deep powder, drop into the slopeside , as authentic a German eatery as you鈥檒l find outside of Munich.

4. Sun Valley Goes Both Ways

Plan to bring two pairs of skis to this Idaho gem, which was added to the this year. First, turn to your frontside carvers, because the resort is known for its outstanding groomers and wide-open, 3,000-foot runs like Warm Springs and Limelight. Local Chopper Randolph, a former pro mountain biker, says, 鈥淪harpen your edges and let 鈥檈r rip.鈥� Sun Valley is also known for having the best snowmaking in the business, so it鈥檚 a good choice for December, when snowpack elsewhere can be unreliable. When it gets deep, bust out your fat boards and book a trip with , which takes off from the resort and serves up the largest area in the lower 48 ($1,375). With access to 750,000 acres spread across three mountain ranges, you鈥檙e guaranteed fresh tracks. Book a room at the newly renovated , where Hemingway wrote much of For Whom the Bell Tolls ($369). For apr猫s, local dive bar has good burgers and frosty 32-ounce chalices of beer. Or score a table at tiny , which serves authentically spicy Vietnamese and Thai street food.

5. Season Passes Keep Getting Better

Thanks to a surge of new deals covering more resorts at lower prices, it has never been easier to pull the trigger on a pass. The math speaks for itself; in most cases, you鈥檒l need to ski less than five days to cover the cost. Now you just have to choose. 鈥擬.M.

• has added Stowe and Taos to its roster of over a dozen world-class resorts. $399 for two days at each resort
• Vail Resorts鈥� is better than ever: good at some of the best spots in the country and, new this year, Australia鈥檚 Perisher. From $769 for unlimited access
• If you don鈥檛 use your at least five days at Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows, you鈥檒l get full credit for the next season. From $410

6. Magic Mountain Is the Powder Capital of the East Coast听

One of New England鈥檚 steepest resorts, Vermont鈥檚 has 1,700 vertical feet packed into just 195 acres served by a mere two chairlifts. Even better, because it鈥檚 closed Monday through Wednesday, those willing to skin up can have the mountain to themselves early in the week. The resort is uphill-friendly on weekends, too鈥攎ake it to the top lift shack on your own steam and they鈥檒l give you a token for a free chair ride. Take that second trip up on the Red Chair and head for Timber Ridge, an abandoned resort on Magic鈥檚 back side. The benevolent landowner allows backcountry riders free access to the ten cut trails.

7. Tahoe Is Due for Deep Snow听

After receiving less than half the normal 450 inches of snowfall last year, Squaw Valley/Alpine Meadows is counting on a comeback. And when the El Ni帽o storms blow in, the combined resorts are a primo place to be, with 6,000 acres of Olympic-downhill steeps (Squaw hosted the Games in 1960), back bowls with Lake Tahoe views, and the ski-flick-starring crags and couloirs of the KT-22 peak. Fortuitously, this summer Squaw replaced the Siberia Express, often closed during windy storms, with a new six-person chair that should run even when it鈥檚 nuking. Squaw is also known for its apr猫s scene. Start at the classic , at the base. Locals string Le Chamois鈥檚 Buddy Pass鈥�20 Budweisers for $20鈥攏ext to their season pass. Nearby, the deck at the , named for late freeskiing legend Shane McConkey鈥檚 plank-shape innovation, is the place to soak in the sun, watch skiers descend, and quaff a few pints of Sierra Nevada. For lodging, check out the . Built for the 1960 Olympics, the inn has been remade into a dog-friendly base camp and is located just across the street from the gondola (from $265).

8. A Utah Classic Will Never Change听

Two-thousand-acre is the perfect counterpoint to now enormous Park City. The posh mountain caps skier numbers at 7,500 per day. (Sorry, knuckle-draggers, snowboards still aren鈥檛 allowed.) Furthermore, a significant portion of Deer Valley鈥檚 patrons aren鈥檛 powder hounds, which means that it鈥檚 easy to find fresh lines through its terrain days after a storm hits. (Alta and Snowbird, just over the ridge, are usually tracked out by 11 a.m.) So even on a powder day, feel free to break for lunch. Deer Valley鈥檚 is known for its chili; you can even get cheese fries doused in the stuff. (Work that off in the trees under Lady Morgan Express.) For lodging, book a room at the , which has been called the world鈥檚 best ski hotel for good reason鈥攊ts slopeside location makes for seamless mornings, and the 145 fireplaces will get you warmed up on your return ($795).

9. Snowmass Is a Touring Paradise

• The resort has the most liberal skinning policy of any major area鈥攜ou can ski laps 24 hours a day and even bring your dog, provided you keep it leashed.
• Locals say it takes about two hours to reach 11,835-foot Big Burn.
• No touring gear? No problem. in Aspen rents complete setups ($58).
• Swing by for a bagel after your morning skin鈥攜ou earned it.

10. There鈥檚 a New Megaresort in Town

The biggest change in the ski world last year was Vail鈥檚 acquisition of Utah鈥檚 Park City. The latter is now on the Epic Pass, which makes a visit to sample the Wasatch Range鈥檚 famously light powder practically mandatory if you put in for one of those. The most notable shift under the new ownership? The brand-new eight-person Quicksilver gondola rises up and over Pinecone Ridge and connects Park City to the Canyons ski area. Or, rather, the resort formerly known as Canyons: as of this year, it鈥檚 all called Park City, and at 7,300 acres, the combined terrain makes it the largest resort in the country. Unchanged is the excellent in-town scene. For lodging we love the , a tidy B&B within walking distance of the lifts run by ski guide Deb Lovci, who can be counted on to point you to the goods on powder days (from $189). Over the past decade, the has become a staple even in teetotaling Utah, serving small plates paired with whiskey and vodka at the base of Quittin Time run. This fall it opened , a 3,500-acre property 20 minutes outside town. The new facility features tastings, a restaurant serving high-end comfort food, and, coming soon, a 60-room hotel.

11. America鈥檚 Toughest Hill Just Added More Terrain听

, in Wyoming, will celebrate its 50th anniversary on November 27 with $6 skiing, the price of a lift ticket in 1965. The resort鈥檚 real gift, though, is the new Teton lift, a 1,650-foot high-speed quad that opens up three new advanced groomed runs in steep terrain that was previously hike-to only. Also, the lift off-loads riders just a few steps from the boundary gates that access Granite Canyon鈥攁 gallery of 2,000-foot, rock-lined couloirs like Endless and Mile Long. This is extreme stuff, so if you don鈥檛 have backcountry chops, hire a guide and head through the south gates to Rock Springs. Plus, you鈥檒l get tramline priority for hot laps ($920 for a group of five).

12. Vermont鈥檚 Food and Drink Scene Is as Good as the Skiing

• : Whiskey from the Green Mountain State sounds like an oxymoron, but that鈥檚 changing thanks to this distillery鈥檚 award-winning rye. Consider filling a flask for tomorrow鈥檚 chilly chairlift rides.听
• : Possibly the most revered brewery in the country is in tiny Greensboro Bend, 45 minutes east of Stowe. Swing by for a growler of Bierre de Norma, its flagship sour farmhouse ale.
• : Make a reservation for a $12 tour of the 30-acre spread, half an hour south of Montpelier, then take home as many jars of goat鈥檚-milk caramel as you can carry.听

13. Montana Is the Ultimate Family Trip

With a whopping 5,800 acres served by 34 lifts, is roomy. And with an average of just 3,000 visitors a day, the resort figures that there are two acres for every skier. That鈥檚 good news for everyone but especially for families, who don鈥檛 have to worry about reckless riders plowing through the brood as they鈥檙e practicing pizza and French fries. Indeed, the resort is working hard to be family-friendly. It renovated the terrain parks this summer and added a new stash park, bringing the park total to seven, four of them beginner or intermediate level. Best of all, if guests stay at a resort-owned property, kids under ten ski free. Under-fives ski free anyhow, and there鈥檚 no charge for nightly PG- and G-rated movies shown in the Yellowstone theater at the base. Our favorite place to stay is the pet-friendly, slopeside , which has outdoor hot tubs and a heated swimming pool (from $202). Meanwhile, there鈥檚 plenty of serious terrain to test yourself once the kids are in ski school. The 2,000-foot lines off Headwaters, on the Moonlight Basin side, host Freeride World Tour qualifiers. To ski the Big Couloir, a 1,000-foot, 56-degree pitch that rolls right off the top of the resort, sign in with ski patrol鈥攁nd bring avy gear.

14. British Columbia鈥檚 Backcountry Beckons

叠.颁.鈥檚 spans 8,171 acres, but despite that quantity of terrain, it can get tracked out after a big drop, thanks to all the snowboards and powder-slaying fat skis. To find fresh lines, head outside the resort鈥檚 ropes into the serrated wonderland of . The guide service runs programs for backcountry newbies and experienced riders who just need someone to show them the lines (about $175). The guides use the resort鈥檚 lifts to boost them into the high country. From there you鈥檒l skin up a nearby peak and harvest the goods on the long run down. Even experts will pick up a few pointers. As co-owner Peter Smart says: 鈥淏etter technique opens up more interesting terrain.鈥澨�

15. There鈥檚 No Time Like the Present to Learn Snow Safety听

The backcountry is more popular than ever. But before you charge out there, enroll in the three-day level-one class at ($340) in Colorado. You鈥檒l learn the basics of reading the snowpack and not taking stupid risks.

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UP-AND-COMER

The Sundance set will rejoice over the fact that The Canyons, a once unknown Park City resort, now hosts a Waldorf Astoria, complete with a slick new Spruce Restaurant from celeb chef Mark Sullivan. Avoid the glitz by hitting the steep, open glades off the Ninety-Nine 90 Chair.

ENDLESS OPTIONS

Vail‘s wide range of terrain parks and village shopping means the family will stay busy while you make laps. Everyone rushes to the 3,017-acre Back Bowls. You should, too. But when Chair 5 gets constipated, make for Chair 11 and duck over to the trees and cliff drops on the front side.

BEST NIGHTLIFE

World-renowned sushi chefs, an international clientele, and some 200 restaurants and bars make Whistler-Blackcomb the most raucous party scene this side of France. That’s especially true this year, when the Olympics come to town February 12聳28. That’s no reason to shy away, though: Olympic host resorts often see a dip in visitation immediately following the Games聴meaning hotel rooms (and bar颅stools) can be had.

FUNKY TOWN

Despite its A-list residents, Telluride manages to keep things low-key. Credit a hearty civic spirit: Locals recently raised $50 million to prevent a massive development on the one road leading into this box canyon. Sure, the Mountain Village is a little ostentatious, but any place with an in-town “free box” (where you can score discarded ski gear) is all right by us.

SNOWBOARD HEAVEN

Its world-class terrain park might be the main attraction for some, but Mammoth‘s slopes are mostly fall-line, meaning very few traverses or flat spots. And since it’s in the Sierra, the snow comes in fast, thick, and heavy (18 inches in a 12-hour period is normal). So bring your biggest board.

Take a Hike

The lift-served skiing at these five resorts is fantastic. The terrain requiring a bit of extra effort? Icing on the cake.

BEST TESTPIECE

Big Couloir, the 1,450-vertical-foot no-fall zone that sits just inside Big Sky‘s boundaries, requires you to bring avy gear and check in with ski patrol. So don’t start there聴narrower but less-punishing lines begin from the knife-edge ridge that separates Big Sky from sister resort Moonlight Basin (above the Challenger Chair).

THE ORIGINAL

Jackson Hole gets credit for beginning the open-boundary trend over the past decade. A 15-minute hike along Pepi’s Bench gets you to the steeps in Sheridan Bowl; longer slogs into the Headwall, Casper Bowl, and the uncontrolled Bridger-Teton National Forest beyond provide more diversity.

HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT

Keystone still has a reputation as a tame Denver family resort. For shame. The new 300-acre Independence Bowl opens 30-to-40-degree lines accessed by an invigorating hike on AT gear. Cat rides ($225 per day) serve the well- and sore-heeled alike.

THE SURPRISE

Unbeknownst to the Brie eaters in Deer Valley‘s exquisite lodges, the resort’s Empire Canyon has hike-to shots that rival any at its bro-ier neighbors. A short traverse gets you to the first of nine Daly Chutes聴500-to-800-vertical-foot shots. Hike or sidestep along the ridge for the X Files Glades, wide-open avenues underneath a canopy of pines. Naturally, all runs wind up at the cozy Empire Canyon Lodge.

THE GREAT NORTH

It’s time to ski what you’ve been missing: Fernie‘s five lift-accessed bowls are chock-full of interior B.C.’s abundant (340-plus inches annually) powder聴and bereft of people. Traverse skier’s left along Cedar Bowl to the Snake Ridge for rock-lined chutes. Skier’s right from the Timber Chair takes you to Siberia Ridge, where a ten-minute hike accesses 30-degree open bowls leading back to the base.

Classic Mountain Towns

Places where the eating and drinking and hanging out downtown is every bit as great as the skiing at the resort

JEKYLL AND HYDE
When the spring-breakers roll in, Breckenridge temporarily becomes a snowy Cancun. But the 150-year-old village (pop. 3,500) has a more civilized side, too, and remains one of the most family-friendly resorts in Colorado, thanks to its effortless intermediate slopes and stellar ski-school instructors.

WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE
There’s a reason so many stars flock to Aspen: It’s an unbelievably fun place to ski (especially Aspen Highlands). And party. Downtown Aspen basically a four-by-nine-block rectangle has everything from dark, unpretentious places (Zane’s Tavern) to lounges seemingly airlifted straight out of L.A. (like 39 Degrees at the Sky Hotel, complete with signature martinis, minimalist furniture, and outdoor fire pits).

UNINHIBITED UTAH
Sure, Park City‘s skiing is great (check out the award-winning park, awesome groomers, and surprising amount of big-mountain terrain). But with a pumping main street packed with 54 bars and restaurants, it’s without a doubt home to the state’s best nightlife.

REAL COLORADO
Steamboat‘s tagline is “Ski Town, USA” and town is the operative word. Unlike purpose-built ski villages, Steamboat is the real thing, with stores that still sell stuff like groceries and hardware. Tip: Start your evening at the Tugboat (located in Ski Times Square) before taking advantage of the shuttle system and walking the town.

EASTERN STAR
Not only does Stowe have some of the best terrain (and snowmaking capabilities) back east, but it’s also one of the oldest ski towns in the U.S. Pop into the old-school Vermont Ski Museum (), in the village, then head over to the Rusty Nail (), a bar and grill with some of the state’s best live music.

Winter Retreats

Whether you’re looking for expert backcountry skiing or a romantic weekend that may or may not involve snowshoes, we’ve got you covered

OLD-SCHOOL NORDIC

With 90 miles of trails out the front door, Stokely Creek Lodge, a 25-room Scandinavian-style resort in the Algoma Highlands of Ontario, is all about the skiing. And with no phones or TVs in the rooms, your nightlife options are refreshingly analog: sauna, moonlight ski, or fireplace reverie. From $100;

MONTANA CHILL

The nearby Gallatin and Madison rivers flow swiftly enough to offer fly-fishing all winter long from the ridgetop lodge and 24 cabin Lone Mountain Ranch, and with Yellowstone National Park only minutes away, backcountry skiing and snowshoe tours at the park are always an option. Seven nights from $2,475;

NORTHWEST GLAMPING

Each of the six new one-bedroom cabins at Rolling Huts are simple (cork floor, wood stoves) but decidedly modern (laser-cut topo-map artwork, modular furniture, Wi-Fi) affairs. Even better, they’ve all got perfect views of the North Cascades and are just minutes from some of the Methow Valley’s 110 miles of rolling cross-country trails. From $80;

KING OF SKI CABINS

Because it overlooks some of the province’s choicest big-mountain terrain, the 20-person, helicopter-accessed Bill Putnam Hut (also known as Fairy Meadow), near Golden, B.C., just might be the most sought-after backcounty cabin in all of Canada. From $550 per person per week, not including guide or cook (both of which we recommend);

ROMANTIC WISCO

Almost every room at Northern Wisconsin’s Canoe Bay/Relais Ch芒teaux has a beautiful view of Wahdoon Lake, which makes it even harder to leave your digs. A complimentary continental breakfast is brought to you every morning, and should you want to trade your jacuzzi tub for the frozen trail, snowshoes are provided at the reception desk. From $350;

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ENVY THE TRUSTAFARIAN: his Sahara-weary Blundstones, his digicam full of pics from his heli-skiing trip in New Zealand, his endless free time to pursue such far-flung travels. Is there a better fantasy than the trustafarian lifestyle聴freeing yourself from the punch clock and hopscotching around the globe with skis or board in tow? If you’ve ever come home to an empty fridge and considered turning on your heels and blowing your whole 401(k) on a winter walkabout, you’ll appreciate our calendar聴a discerning datebook for well-heeled ski bums worldwide. From the greatest ski-town parties to the best times to hit the best resorts, it’s all here. Your first step? Buy the limited-edition $6,000 Gold Pass, good at more than 260 resorts in 35 states (800-974-2226, ). Proceeds from Gold Pass sales help support U.S. Ski and Snowboard Team athletes, and passes are fully transferable to an unlimited number of your moochy ski-bum friends. Not ready for a radical life change? Just clip our list and knock off an item or two per year. You’ll be the richer for it.

November

Wolf Creek, Colorado
While most of North America is still patching together its ski season with Hail Marys and snow guns, point your rig toward Wolf Creek Ski Area, a homey, pint-size (1,600-acre, 1,604-vertical-foot) mountain in southwestern Colorado’s San Juans, 275 miles southwest of Denver, that traditionally chokes its patrons with snorkel-mandatory dumps well before Thanksgiving. A good rule of thumb: Check the snowfall forecast for Telluride or Crested Butte, then double that. Lift ticket, $45; 970-264-5639,

Keystone, Colorado

Most resorts start their season by merely switching on the lifts. Not Keystone, which kicks off the winter with the annual 36 Hours of Keystone. It may sound core, but the Keystone event is a day and a half of parties, concerts, movie premieres,and, of course, nonstop racing on Dercum Mountain for just a buck an hour. Call for exact dates; 800-468-5004,

December

Beaver Creek, Colorado

Park at the Beav between December 1 and 4 to see the world’s top ski racers, including reigning overall champ Bode Miller, compete in the 2005 Visa Birds of Prey World Cup races. Admission is free; 800-404-3535, . After a long day among the hoi polloi, ski over to Trappers Cabin, a private luxury lodge at 9,560 feet. The cabin keeper greets you at the door with fleece slippers, hors d’oeuvres, and a flute of champagne. While you soak in the outdoor Jacuzzi, a chef prepares your five-course dinner in the kitchen. From $850 per person per night (two-night minimum), including a day of skiing and lunch; 970-845-5788,

Grand Targhee, Wyoming

Christmastime is always tricky for skiers: Is there anyplace where the snow is guaranteed but the crowds aren’t? Head to Grand Targhee Resort, advises Tony Crocker, a California actuary who crunches snowfall data from major North American resorts. (Check out his site, .) Only twice in the past 30 years has this 2,000-acre Tetons ski area seen fewer than 110 inches of snowfall before New Year’s Day, Crocker says. Lift ticket, $55; 800-827-4433,

Silverton, Colorado

Don’t forget Dad’s 1975 one-piece ski suit when you pack for Chris Davenport’s New Year’s Retro Bonanza, December 30聳January 1 at Silverton Mountain, in Colorado’s San Juans. The throwback party is the crescendo of this hard-skiing camp, which includes three days of on-hill instruction, avalanche training, and freeskiing with stars Davenport and Brant Moles. And don’t worry about jockeying for powder during the holidays: Silverton limits its lift-ticket sales to a scant 80 people per day. $750; 970-387-5706,

January

Park City, Utah

Hang out with the Sundance Film Festival’s rebellious offspring聴the lower-wattage film festivals that run concurrently across town in Park City. First, score some seats at the 12th Slamdance Film Festival (January 19聳27; 323-466-1786, ), which was hatched by filmmakers who were rejected by Sundance and is dedicated to showcasing work by first-time directors. Or catch some free viewings at the six-year-old X-Dance Action Sports Film Festival (January 20聳24; ), where you can see action-sports films ranging from skating to surfing to motocross. In all the excitement, don’t forget to bring your sticks so you can hit Park City Mountain Resort’s Jupiter Bowl. Preening Hollywood types don’t tend to ski.

Kitzb眉hel, Austria

This January 20聳22, watch the world’s top skiers try to survive the world’s most unforgiving downhill course, above Kitzb眉hel. Austria’s Hahnenkamm Race, now in its 66th edition and 39th year on the World Cup, has created such heroes as Franz Klammer, who won the event a record four times. The knife-edged derring-do of racers is breathtaking: If the 260-foot jump in the “mousetrap” doesn’t send these shrink-wrapped huck dolls skittering, there’s still the unsettling prospect of catching an edge while hurtling at nearly 90 miles an hour through the Zielschuss Kompression.

Aspen, Colorado

Even if the sight of motocross bikes launching 70-foot gap jumps to the thump of rap music doesn’t twist your throttle, Winter X Games 10 shouldn’t be missed: It’s the best party in Aspen. January 28聳31, more than 200 athletes compete at Buttermilk Mountain in disciplines like slopestyle, superpipe, and snowmobile snow-cross. While 70,000 people gawk at the high-fliers at Buttermilk, the slopes of Ajax and Snowmass are often less crowded. At night, tens of thousands converge on Aspen’s Victorian streets, where the bars overflow. 800-525-6200,

Chatter Creek, British Columbia

By late January, the heart of British Columbia is on its way to another 30-foot winter, so head on up to snowcat-ski 60 miles north of Golden at Chatter Creek Mountain Lodges聴a six-year-old operation that’s already created a buzz among Bombardier aficionados. Chatter Creek聴owned and operated by four former heli-loggers who felled trees to build a 9,200-square-foot lodge in a single summer聴offers a white-collar powder-skiing experience (tricked-out snowcats, massages, fancy lettuce on your dinner plate) with a blue-collar feel (snowmobiles, pool tables, canned beer). Three-day trips start at about $1,350; 250-344-7199, .

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

According to snow geek Tony Crocker, the Tetons usually have the best snow conditions in January, when colder temps keep the white stuff fluffy. This makes it a perfect time to attend the January 26聳29 Jackson Hole Steep and Deep Camp, where you can hone your high-angle techniques. Each morning, small groups of four to six skiers get on the resort’s early tram and hit the mountain hard, learning how to deal with tight gullies, execute crux moves, and billy-goat their way out of trouble. The $820, four-day clinic includes instruction, lunches, lifts, two dinners, parties, and video analysis. 800-450-0477,

Lake Tahoe, California

A hard-skiing winter isn’t complete without pulling up a chair(lift) to the all-you-can-eat buffet that is Lake Tahoe in winter. Surrounding the lake, or a short drive away, are 15 resorts. The wild card, says Tony Crocker, is California’s snowfall variability, which is among the highest in the West. So rent a car and follow the most auspicious snow reports. As a general rule, Tahoe’s north shore is a better bet for higher snowfall, says Crocker. Translation: Think places like Squaw Valley USA and Northstar-at-Tahoe, with its newly revamped base village. With the most snowfall (550-plus inches) in Tahoe, Kirkwood will have the best conditions if it hasn’t snowed much recently. 888-824-6338,

February

Steamboat Springs

Charming Steamboat Springs pays homage to its frontier past during Winter Carnival, its 93-year-old event held every February.

Mt. Baker, Washington

Come winter, a jet stream often trains like a fire hose on this near-mythical ski area that once received a world-record 1,140 inches of snowfall in a single year. At the annual Mt. Baker Legendary Banked Slalom, February 3聳5, 300 racers聴from ankle-biters to Olympians聴take their shot on the same racecourse: a natural sluice that careers down the mountain. The laid-back extravaganza culminates on Saturday night with a salmon barbecue for 600. $40聳$55, depending on category; 360-734-6771,

Wasatch Range, Utah

Want to poach six resorts in one day? Sign on with the Ski Utah Interconnect 国产吃瓜黑料 Tour and you’ll sample up to six Wasatch Range resorts before the sun drops over the Great Basin. Be one of 12 skiers to don avalanche transceivers and take the Deer Valley Resort lifts before they open. After a few powder runs, you’ll hop over to adjacent Park City Mountain Resort. Then leave the ropes behind for a two-mile backcountry descent to the base of Solitude Mountain Resort and on to nearby Brighton Ski Resort. Next, it’s back to Solitude, across the dramatic 500-yard traverse called Highway to Heaven, and into Little Cottonwood Canyon via Twin Lakes Pass. Another long backcountry run deposits you at the upper base of Alta Ski Area. But your quivering legs aren’t done yet: You’ll drop into Mineral Basin, return to the mountaintop, and ski to Snowbird’s base before catching a shuttle back to Deer Valley. The $175 price tag includes guide, lunch, lifts, beacon rental, and transport; 801-534-1907,

Steamboat Springs, Colorado

There’s a charming wholesomeness to Steamboat’s 93-year-old Winter Carnival. Today’s version (February 8聳12) takes over the entire town. A favorite event: the Friday-night phenom where a celebrity exhibitionist covers himself in glowing lightbulbs, then skis down the mountain launching fireworks from his pack. Head to Howelsen Hill to see if someone can break the world record in the gelandesprung聴a ski-jump contest in which leapers use standard alpine gear. Many events are free; 800-922-2722,

Bardonecchia, Italy

Forget figure skating and soporific biathlons: At the XX Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy (), unpack Old Glory and head 40 miles west to the town of Bardonecchia, home of all the snowboarding events. There, February 16聳17, Vermont’s Lindsey Jacobellis, 20, and Maine’s Seth Westcott, 29, are both early favorites to mine top metal in the new medal sport of snowboardcross, a.k.a. SBX. (Think motocross on snow, with four athletes plunging down a banked course, elbow to elbow.) Tickets, $59聳$151; 877-457-4647,

March

Telluride, Colorado

More than a century ago, Butch Cassidy stormed the San Miguel Valley Bank, in Telluride, Colorado, and snatched more than $20,000. In an unusual celebration of that heist, Telluride Ski Resort can relieve you of your own 20 grand. After flying in to Montrose or Telluride, you and three guests are picked up by helicopter and flown to town, then driven by snowmobile up to Tempter House, a sumptuous ski-in/ski-out rental perched on a 12,200-foot ridge. For the rest of the weekend, the ski patrol is your chauffeur. There’s also an on-call massage therapist, a personal butler who waxes skis, and a breakfast delivery each morning. $20K (really!); 970-728-6900,

Jay Peak, Vermont

A beautiful thing called orographic uplift, coupled with 3,861 feet of Jay Peak聴the biggest summit that storms pass over after barreling across Canada for hundreds of miles聴guarantees that this small but storied ski area gets walloped with 355 inches of natural snowfall each winter. Some of the best stuff falls in mid-March, when the days are blessedly warmer. Track the Doppler, then drop in for a midweek powderfest at this 2,153-vertical-foot Wolf Creek of the East, starting with a tram run up to Tuckermans Chute. Lift ticket, $58; 800-451-4449,

Moonlight Basin, Montana

Feeling strong after almost five months on skis? Test your quads against the hale Montanans’ on March 18 at Moonlight Basin’s mini-triathlon, the Headwaters Spring Runoff. Competitors boot it up a timed hike of nearly 1,000 vertical feet to the top of the resort’s Headwaters, a crashing fist of a mountain face. Competitors choose a run down lines like Hellroaring for the race’s freeskiing segment. This trifecta ends with a 1.5-mile Super G race to the resort’s midmountain Madison Lodge. Last year’s men’s champ, a ski patroller, smashed the other 50 racers’ times by more than two minutes and took home $1,700. Still feeling a little soft for hiking? This year, Moonlight installed a double chairlift to access the Headwaters, increasing the resort’s lift-served vertical terrain to 2,720 feet. Entry fee, $75; 866-212-0612,

April

La Grave

Hit La Grave for the sanity-testing Derby de la Meijie festval, held every April on the 5,900-foot mountain. The catch? No gates, no fixed route, and minimal grooming.

La Grave, France

Imagine signing up for a ski race with no gates, minimal groomed piste, and no fixed route. Now imagine that said race also plunges 5,900 feet through bumps, crud, and icy patches on the flanks of 13,081-foot La Meije. You’ve just envisioned the tallest downhill ski race on the planet, and the centerpiece of the Derby de la Meije festival (April 4聳7). The race begins atop the famously raw ski area of La Grave, which overlaps with Ecrins National Park, in southeastern France’s Hautes-Alps. From there, taking in some great views of the mountain’s treacherous glaciers, up to 1,000 racers depart in waves of ten. Chuckleheads abound: A few years ago, an American lit something resembling dynamite on the back of his mono-ski to propel himself over the flat section of the glacier, where the race turns off-piste. About $70; 011-33-4-76-79-90-05,

Livigno, Italy

Check your alpine bindings聴and your inhibitions聴at the valley’s entrance when you head for the Live Free Heel Fest (formerly La Skieda), a weeklong grappa-drenched party that bills itself as the world’s biggest tele-skiing festival. As many as 1,000 heel flappers from some 20 countries聴a virtual bent-knee United Nations聴descend on the small mountain village of Livigno, in northwestern Italy, April 1聳8, to participate in silly races (a crowd fave in the past has been the slalom through heavy, swinging bags that knock racers out of their boots), a film festival, cookouts, gear demos, and guided daily ski tours for up to 100. $170, including lift tickets and all events; 011-39-0342-052230,

Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia

Whistler’s Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival is the season-ending blowout. Last year, the pros showed their stuff on the rails, boxes, and hips of the terrain park in the slopestyle events. The centerpiece of this April 14聳23 bash is the superpipe, where boarders and skiers air 20 feet out of the pipes. But what really attracts the 275,000 revved-up groms and jibbers are all the other off-hill events聴free concerts at the foot of the ski hill; a nighttime urban rail session under the lights, attended by 7,000 fans pumped full of Red Bull聳and聳J盲germeister antifreeze; pro photo and filmmaker throwdowns in front of keyed-up audiences; and parties throughout Whistler Village. 604-938-3399,

Chilkat Mountains, Alaska

In the spring, the skies over Valdez buzz with choppers from nearly half a dozen heli-skiing companies, so if you’re looking for the lonesome Valdez experience of 15 years ago, do like ski-porn auteurs Teton Gravity Research and Absinthe Films: Head southeast to discover the new heli-skiing frontier of the Chilkat Mountains. The ragged Chilkats have better weather than the Chugach range during the March and April flying season聴and, some say, better snow. Sign on with Alaska Heliskiing (formerly Out of Bounds 国产吃瓜黑料s) and you’ll likely get snowboarding star Tom Burt as your guide ($3,750, based on a five-person group for six days of skiing and eight nights’ lodging; 907-767-5745, ). If you stay at Bruce and Carrie Bauer’s bed-and-breakfast (907-767-5668), by Mosquito Lake, you can practice your jumps and tricks on Bruce’s homemade terrain park.

Mammoth听Mountain, California

Every resort says it has spring skiing, but if you want heavenly April turns, Tony Crocker advises heading to Mammoth. Why? “No Sierra Nevada mountain preserves its snow as well,” Crocker says. This 3,500-acre resort has the high altitude (9,000 feet) to keep the place open until Memorial Day or later 90 percent of the time, and the cycle of warm days and freezing nights is the recipe for perfect corn snow. Spring lift ticket, $56; 800-626-6684,

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