Opening day is upon us, with most major ski resorts expected to open by Thanksgiving weekend, kicking off the winter 2024–25 season. Each year, , our șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Inc. partners, surveys its readers about which resorts offer the most value, their favorite family-friendly amenities, banging bumps, where to catch the liveliest aprĂšs scene, and more. All responses are recorded—many of them mentioned below—and highlight what each ski area does best.

No one resort is the ultimate ski destination for every single person. We know that. You know that. But the experiences and opinions of your fellow skiers go a long way when it comes to deciding which mountain to knock off your bucket list next. To see the full list of the top 50 resorts in the U.S. and Canada, with , check out its .

1. Snowbasin, Utah

Strengths: Value, lifts, access
Weaknesses: Lodging, aprĂšs, nightlife
Price and Pass: Adult lift tickets from $159, or use your Ikon or Mountain ­Collective Pass.

Why Skiers Love It: The notion that a top ski destination should be considered a best-kept secret seems inconceivable, yet that descriptor filled the comment section in ł§°­±ő’s annual Reader Resort Survey. Hidden in the Wasatch Back region, the 3,000-acre resort is popular with locals and visitors alike. skiers appreciate the easy access to Ogden (20 miles away), the fast lift network, the 325 average annual inches of snowfall, and the quality hospitality. “Staff are friendly, and you can tell they love to work there,” said one skier.

The resort earned the second-highest score in the value category, demonstrating that readers feel it delivers great bang for the buck. Raves were heaped on everything from the relative lack of crowds—holidays excepted—to the delicious food and variety of terrain (“Hands-down some of the best in Utah,” said one visitor). ­Skiers also loved the sparkling, marble-adorned bathrooms.

Snowbasin, which opened in 1939, doubled in size in the late 1990s after it was designated a venue for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Today it spans three peaks, drops 3,000 vertical feet, and operates 13 lifts—the DeMoisy Express six-pack debuted last season, doubling uphill capacity to the popular intermediate Strawberry area. Upscale facilities include national-park-style day lodges with those bougie bathrooms. With the returning to the region, we can expect even more upgrades, as Snowbasin is slated once again to host the alpine skiing events.

If you’re coming solely for the skiing—from the wide, well-groomed boulevards of Elk Ridge to the powdery chutes of Lone Tree—Snowbasin will deliver. It has preserved its local vibe while offering the amenities of far more expensive resorts. In other words, it’s got something special. One aficionado said it best: “The first look at the mountain as I turn off Trapper’s Loop gives me in the feels every time!”

Room for Improvement (According to Readers): Snowbasin isn’t a true destination resort, because there’s nowhere to stay at the base. The closest lodging is about ten miles away in tiny Huntsville, and the nearest hub, with hotels, dining, and an aprùs scene, is 30 minutes downvalley in Ogden.

Where to Stay: The boutique Compass Rose, in Huntsville, has 15 modern-farmhouse-inspired rooms, as well as a complimentary light breakfast every morning. Families with kids will love the room configuration—two pairs of bunk beds plus a queen.

Dining and AprĂšs: Hit the Angry Goat Pub and Kitchen in downtown Ogden for the expansive menu of spruced-up American pub fare, unique house cocktails, and 200 craft beers.

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

The post SKI Magazine’s Readers Ranked the Best Resorts in the U.S. and Canada. appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

When the Winter Park Express returned in January of the 2016–17 season, there was a lot to be excited about. The train trip departing from Denver’s Union Station promised to bypass I-70’s notorious ski traffic, replacing it with a scenic, two-hour ride up into the mountains that culminated in a 6.2-mile ride through circa-1927 Moffat Tunnel before the train chugged into Winter Park’s station.

And then skiers found out the price—from $80 for a round-trip fare, and sometimes as pricey as $140—which made riding the train little more than a novelty for most. It also only operated on the weekends, making logistics tricky.

Since then, the Amtrak-operated Winter Park Express has stuck to a similar pricing scheme and a limited schedule, adding in some holiday Mondays and offering a wider range of fares to suit different budgets. All in all, it’s been a success, and has demonstrated an unwavering interest in routes to the slopes that don’t involve sitting in standstill traffic.

Case in point, a couple months ago the Colorado Department of Transportation and extend service beyond Winter Park to Steamboat and further north. Championed by Colorado Governor Jared Polis and state lawmakers, the proposal intends to utilize train tracks already in place to create passenger rail service from Winter Park to Steamboat and as far north as Craig. But those plans are .

In the meantime, Amtrak just announced significant upgrades to the ski train experience, debuting in time for this season. This includes lower train fares, an expanded schedule, more passenger capacity, and an earlier start to the season.

The Winter Park Express will begin service on December 20—three weeks earlier than in past years. There will be two holiday weekends on the schedule: December 20 to 22 and December 27 to 29. Fares will start at $19 each way, and increase based on demand, and fares for kids ages 2 through 12 are only half the cost of adult tickets.

For the bulk of the ski season, Jan. 9 through March 31, trains will run Thursdays through Mondays, departing  at 7 A.M. and arriving at Winter Park at 9 A.M. The return trip leaves at 4:30 P.M. and arrives back at 6:40 P.M. at downtown Denver’s Union Station. Also new this season, all trains will carry two additional passenger cars, increasing capacity from 270 to 400 seats per train.

During a press conference at Union Station earlier this week announcing the upgraded ski-season service, Governor Polis said that he hopes to eventually offer year-round train service. Until then, ski train.

The post Take the Train to Ski in Colorado for Less than $20 This Winter appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Modern base layers have come a long way from the waffle-knit long johns that were wetted out by lunchtime after a few freeze-thaw cycles. From natural temperature-regulating fabrics like Merino wool to synthetic options engineered to wick moisture, today’s base layers are marvels of technology. Our test crew put 50 items through their paces last winter in locations across North America. Testers skied at resorts and in the backcountry, went backpacking and camping, and ran on both snow-packed trails and city paths to bring you this list of the top performers in the category.

At a Glance

• Editor’s Choice: and
• Best Winter Running Top:
• Best Value: and
• Best One-Piece:
• Most Comfortable Base Layer Bottom:
• Best For Frigid Temperatures: and
• Best for Winter Camping:
• Best for Winter Backpacking: and
• How to Buy Base Layers
• How We Test
• Meet Our Testers

If you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. This supports our mission to get more people active and outside. Learn more.

Editor’s Choice

Helly Hansen LIFA Merino Midweight Graphic Crew and Pant

Sizes: XS-XL
Key materials: Merino wool, polypropylene
Comfort rating: 9/10
Breathability rating: 10/10
Warmth rating: 8/10

Pros and Cons
⊕ Two-layer construction ideal for wool-sensitive people
⊕ Excellent moisture management
⊕ Flat seams are chafe-free under other layers
⊗ No thumb holes

Helly Hansen’s two-layer LIFA merino tech, which sandwiches an internal synthetic layer with an external merino layer, allows folks who are wool-sensitive to experience the material’s benefits. The result was a hit among our testers, who uniformly felt that LIFA’s combination of warmth and breathability made this the ultimate base layer for any winter activity where big temperature fluctuations require the need to stay warm and dry.

While testing this set in regions ranging from the Northeast to the Tetons, testers agreed that the LIFA Merino Midweight crew top and bottom provided warmth on lift rides and windy summits but also wicked moisture extremely efficiently. One tester who happened to have it on while digging out her snowed-in van was impressed with how dry she stayed throughout the physical exertion. For folks wanting even more ventilation, HH makes a zip-neck version for quickly dumping heat.

Best Winter Running Top

Janji Rover Merino Hoodie

Sizes: XS-XXL
Key materials: Merino wool, nylon, spandex
Comfort rating: 9/10
Breathability rating: 9/10
Warmth rating: 8/10

Pros and Cons
⊕ Super stretchy and comfortable
⊕ Thumb slits and ponytail hole
⊕ Doesn’t get stinky
⊗ Baggier fit might not be ideal as a ski base layer

Although Janji considers its Rover hoodie to be a midlayer, this incredibly stretchy and comfortable merino-blend top might be the ultimate versatile hooded long-sleeve shirt. Weighing in at 10.6 ounces, the Rover Merino Hoodie is a true midweight base layer for all winter pursuits, but where it excelled the most during our test was as a running top for a wide range of conditions. Made mostly from merino wool and nylon with a pinch of spandex for added stretch and ease of movement, the Rover pulls on and off easily and feels weightless during your runs, yet adds just the right amount of warmth on cooler mornings and dumps heat effortlessly as your motor gets going.

Testers appreciated thoughtful features including the wide and stretchy thumb slits on the sleeves, a ponytail hole on the snug hood, and a small zipper pocket on the lower hem for stashing coffee money or a house key. I found it to be a fantastic addition to my winter running kit, and I especially appreciated the fact that it literally never got stinky. It’s become my go-to fall and winter running top.

Best Value

REI Co-op Merino 185 Long-Sleeve Half-Zip Base Layer Top and Bottom

Sizes: XS-XL
Key materials: Merino wool
Comfort rating: 10/10
Breathability rating: 8/10
Warmth rating: 7/10

Pros and Cons
⊕ Well-priced base layer staple
⊕ Super soft next to skin
⊕ Built-in SPF 30 sun protection
⊗ Runs big

Anyone shopping for a high-quality merino base layer for skiing that won’t break the bank should seriously consider REI’s lineup. Made with 100-percent ultrafine 185-gram merino wool, this layer provides warmth and next-to-skin comfort without any itchiness or chafing. Flat seams and underarm and crotch gussets to enhance your comfort and range of movement, while the super stretchy waistband is low profile beneath ski pants. (The top is available as a crew neck or a half-zip depending on your personal preference.)

Our testers wore this at resorts as well as on winter hikes and snowshoe excursions, and felt that it got the job done, albeit without any bells and whistles like thumb holes or built-in UPF protection. This would be a good choice for someone with basic long underwear needs who want a quality option that isn’t flashy or fancy,” said one Durango, CO-based tester who wore it in a range of conditions last winter. “I was surprised by how soft the material was. I didn’t notice or feel it while skiing, hiking, or cross-country skiing. After a big sweat, it dried before the chill set in.”

Best One-Piece

Wild Rye Olivia Onesie

Sizes: 0-18
Key materials: Merino wool
Comfort rating: 9/10
Breathability rating: 8/10
Warmth rating: 8/10

Pros and Cons
⊕ Flattering shape
⊕ Boot-top length
⊕ Easy rear zipper for nature breaks
⊗ Runs big

Testers raved about this onesie. A couple of them even admitted to wearing it nearly 24/7 while working from home, going on dog walks, ski touring, and resort skiing. The 100-percent merino wool onesie is butter-soft next to skin, but what sets it apart from other one-piece options are a few thoughtful design components.

Testers loved the soft, wide waistband; it helped keep our ladies from feeling like shapeless blobs while wearing it. Wild Rye put a lot of thought into the rear zip for convenient bathroom access while out in the wild: One tester who wore the onesie beneath a drop-seat bib was happy to report that the interface between the two worked flawlessly. Our lady skiers also appreciated the Ÿ boot-top length on the legs and the high-zip neck for added warmth and wind protection. The snug-fitting hood slips easily beneath a helmet, too.

“So warm and cool at the same time,” said one tester. “The lightweight wool is just right for changing conditions, and the hood and high-zip neck keep you snuggly warm when the chill sets in.”

PAID ADVERTISEMENT BY REI
MSR Evo Trail Snowshoes ($169.95)

Devotee of winter wandering? You can depend on the MSR Evo Trail snowshoes. Great for trails and rolling terrain, they blend simplicity, comfort and performance to keep you exploring with ease.

Other features:

• ParaGlide bindings feature 2 roller buckles and toe stops that make placing your feet and securing and removing straps simple and intuitive—even while wearing gloves
• Stretch mesh bindings comfortably hug your feet with no pressure points and fit nearly any footwear
• Steel traction rails and brake bars molded into the decks provide secure and lasting grip
• Molded plastic decks withstand harsh conditions
• Add-on modular flotation tails (not included) accommodate heavier loads, or allow you to go from packed snow to deep powder with a single pair of snowshoes
• Max recommended load with tails (not included): 250 lbs.

Most Comfortable Base Layer Bottom

LĂ© Bent Sentinel Midweight Waffle-Knit Bottom

Sizes: XS-L
Key materials: Nuyarn Merino Wool Blend with Bamboo
Comfort rating: 10/10
Breathability rating: 8/10
Warmth rating: 9/10

Pros and Cons
⊕ Great loft and breathability
⊕ Super warm
⊕ Stretchy and comfortable
⊗ Pricey for base layer bottom

LĂ© Bent waffle-knit leggings use the brand’s tried-and-tested Nuyarn construction, which means the wool fibers are spun around a bamboo filament, rather than coiled, as with traditional merino. The result is more surface area to soak up and diffuse moisture, which leads to a garment with more loft, better temperature regulation, durability, and superior breathability.

Our testers raved about these bottoms, with one Vermont skier admitting that they kept her as warm on the coldest days as her trusty pair of down-insulated crops. “A bit bulky,” she commented, “but worth it for the warmth.”

Classified as midweight, the Sentinel uses a waffle-knit design to reduce the weight without sacrificing the performance. The full-length tight is a bit of splurge for a base layer bottom, but testers argued that it’s a luxury purchase with best-in-class thermoregulation. In other words, you get what you pay for. “OBSESSED with this baselayer,” said our 5-foot, 6-inch tester. “I toured in it and never got too hot. My butt never got cold at the resort, even on the coldest and wettest days.”

Best For Frigid Temperatures

Patagonia Capilene Thermal Weight Zip Neck and Bottom

Sizes: XXS-XL
Key materials: Polartec Power Grid synthetic fabric
Comfort rating: 9/10
Breathability rating: 8/10
Warmth rating: 8/10

Pros and Cons
⊕ Excellent warmth-to-weight ratio
⊕ Breathable in a range of conditions
⊕ Deep chest zipper, thumb loops, and stretchy underarm gussets
⊗ Not offered in a hooded option

Given the heft of Patagonia’s beefiest base layer, we expected it to be less breathable. But while the Capilene Thermal Weight Zip Neck and Bottom is the warmest in the brand’s lineup, our testers were pleasantly surprised by how well this set was able to dump heat, wick sweat, and keep them dry and comfortable throughout a large range of conditions.

Patagonia uses Polartec Power Grid, a lofted synthetic technical fleece that layers a wicking fabric next to your skin to soak up moisture with a top layer that easily disperses it. The “grid” design creates air channels that help keep the base layers light and breathable. “This is a wonderful layer and was often my go-to this winter because I knew it could handle many different conditions and would be the most comfortable,” said one tester who wore it in temperatures down to 5 degrees on shifts as a volunteer ski patroller at Grand Targhee.

Testers also appreciated the substantial layer’s versatility, allowing them to not only bundle it beneath many layers for warmth on the coldest days but also wear it under just a light shell on the skin track or other active pursuits, where they said it performed equally well. Another tester just replaced her set after eight years of consistent wear. “The durability is impressive given the breathability,” she said.

Best for Winter Camping

Houdini Long Power Tights

Sizes: XXS-XL
Key materials: Polartec Power Stretch Pro
Comfort rating: 9/10
Breathability rating: 7/10
Warmth rating: 9/10

Pros and Cons
⊕ Warm and cozy
⊕ No inside leg seams
⊗ Waistband could be wider
⊗ Runs a little long

When warmth is of the utmost importance, Houdini’s Power Tight has got you covered. Literally. They’re stretchy, insulating, breathable, and oh-so-cozy—so much so that testers wore them all day then slept in them on winter camping trips in Utah and Colorado.

Made from Polartec Power Stretch Pro, a dual-layer synthetic fabric with four-way stretch that wicks moisture from the skin and disperses it up and out for quick evaporation, the Power Tights were a go-to pick for our testers all winter. The next-to-skin layer feels cozy like fleece, and the outer layer is silky smooth, making it easy to pull on your shell pants. Testers loved that the Houdini Power Tights have no inside leg seams, so chafing is never an issue, but agreed that a wider waistband might be more comfortable when you’re wearing these around the clock.

Testers who skied in the Power Tights said that they’re quite warm, and advised pulling them out on colder, lift-riding ski days. But for winter camping, all agreed that these were a staple and worth every penny. “I wore them camping early spring in Moab and I was so thankful to have them.”

Best for Winter Backpacking

Minus 33 Long-Sleeve Henley and Woolverino Wool Leggings

Sizes: XS-2XL
Key materials: Merino wool, nylon, spandex
Comfort rating: 9/10
Breathability rating: 8/10
Warmth rating: 7/10

Pros and Cons
⊕ Simple design
⊕ Built-in SPF 50 sun protection
⊕ Comfy, wide waistband with a hidden pocket
⊗ Best for moderate temperatures

In addition to performing well during winter backpacking trips to and fro in temperatures ranging from 10 to 60 degrees, our testers loved that these base layers looked and fit like sporty tops and leggings rather than winter long johns, and that they have UPF 50 sun protection built-in. The Woolverino midweight bottoms feature a yoga-style wide waistband with a small stash pocket and a compression-style silhouette. They are made with a blend of merino wool, nylon, and spandex so they will keep their shape even if you wear them hiking all day, sleep in them, and then wear them to breakfast the next day. The Henley top is made from 100-percent merino wool with a regular fit and flatlock stitching so it’s comfortably worn with a backpack and doesn’t bunch up or rub on your shoulders. The three-button front-closure style adds a bit of flair and airflow while the slightly longer sleeves and hemline add to its classy profile.

How To Buy Base Layers

When shopping for base layers, consider how they will perform when you’re out in the wild. First and foremost, are they comfortable? These are your next-to-skin layers so they need to feel good on your body. Are the seams compatible with backpack straps? Does the hem work well with your ski pants? Does the half-zip, button-up, mock neck, or crew neck satisfy your style? Are you looking for something to wear during long days of uphill travel in the backcountry or will you be spending the day riding chair lifts?

Merino wool fibers are naturally odor-resistant, moisture-wicking, and breathable, but generally less durable as synthetic materials. Because synthetics are usually a blend of fabrics, they are popular with those keen on stretchiness and moisture management. It’s better to buy something that is thoughtfully designed and durable rather than something cheaply made that might fail you on the mountain. Beyond the technical details, you may also want to determine if what you are buying is sustainably produced. Most reputable brands have information about their sustainability practices available on their websites.

How We Test

• Number of Testers: 8
• Number of Products Tested: 46
• Coldest Day During Testing: -10 degrees F
• Warmest Day During Testing: 55 degrees F
• Activities: Resort Skiing, Ski Touring, Camping, Snowshoeing, Dog Walking, Nordic Skiing, Running
• Mountain Ranges Tested In: Rockies, Tetons, Adirondacks, Wasatch, San Juans

Meet Our Testers

Understanding that base layer testing can be highly subjective based on personal preference, body type, activity level, and a host of other factors, we assembled a test team of ladies of all different shapes and sizes, living in different mountain regions, who regularly get after it no matter the winter weather. Category manager and SKI Executive Editor Samantha Berman lives and plays in Colorado’s Front Range, where she skis most weekends at the I-70 resorts. Other key testers include a Vermont ski patroller as well as a volunteer ski patroller at Grand Targhee.

The post The 11 Best Women’s Base Layers for Staying Warm and Dry in 2025 appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

It’s been a busy 18 months in the news cycle for Utah’s formerly sleepy ski area: New owners, a push toward a hybrid privatization model, the end of season pass sales caps, and now February weekends reserved entirely for season pass holders, with no daily lift tickets on offer.

The weekends of February 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, and 22-23 will only be accessible to Powder Mountain season pass holders. Ski Utah Passport holders and people taking lessons through the resort’s ski and snowboard school will also be permitted, and night-skiing tickets will still be sold to the public for $19 apiece.

A little backstory, if you haven’t followed Powder’s unique trajectory: It all started in April of 2023 when in the financially struggling resort. Hastings, a passionate snowboarder, and his wife have owned property at the mountain for the last 10 years and built a house there in 2021. He’d always loved the resort’s low-key vibe, adventurous terrain, and incredible lack of crowds in spite of the sport’s tremendous growth over the last several decades.

Since the purchase, Hastings has been frank about the ski area’s financial struggles and the goal to bring it to profitability under his leadership. Accordingly, he and his team have had to make some difficult and sometimes unpopular decisions, including  and introducing paid parking this season.

On the flip side, they’ve also begun to seriously invest in the ski area’s aging infrastructure, including adding a new lift in the formerly hike-to and cat-served Lightning Ridge area and upgrading two older lifts with high-speed express chairs—all open to the public and debuting this season. (They’re also adding or upgrading three lifts serving slopes reserved for the private homeowner community.)

For Hastings, it’s all about preserving Powder Mountain’s most important attribute: its lack of crowds.

“Being uncrowded is our core value; that’s what makes Powder unique,” he said during a sit-down with SKI earlier this week. “It’s a great mountain in Utah, but there are other great mountains in Utah. Alta and Snowbird are intensely crowded and there’s intense traffic to get there. We’re low on the traffic, with easy access, and low on the on-slope number of skiers and boarders, so that’s the thing that people love about Powder.”

His dilemma is how to preserve this destination-defining core value while still becoming profitable.

“One answer would have been to go Epic or Ikon,” Hastings explained. “Big crowds, but pleasing a lot of people. I decided to try to be a strong independent, but there were going to have to be some changes.”

One of the more controversial changes is removing the longtime season pass sales cap, a tactic put in place years ago and lauded by local skiers for keeping crowds low. Although it might seem counterintuitive to keep crowds in check, Hastings and team are hoping to sell more season passes, but unlike the high-value Epic and Ikon pass, the $1,649 price tag for single-resort access will naturally deter some folks. The February weekends are intended as a pass benefit to reward current pass holders and to attract new ones.

“It’s a little shocking because we’re giving up a bunch of day ticket revenue in those big February weekends,” Hastings admitted. “But we think it’s worth it to make the experience for the pass holders a little bit better as we shift into becoming a season pass-oriented business to compete more effectively with Epic and Ikon.”

Public feedback has been mixed. Hastings said that the response from season pass holders has been very positive, and acknowledges that while it’ll be more difficult for day skiers hoping to enjoy some weekend turns in February, he reasoned that “it’s only eight days, it’s not that radical.”

       Related:

, with the majority of Pow Mow followers—including many pass holders—expressing frustration and disappointment in the ski area. Several locals lamented the late date of the announcement, saying that they’d made plans and might now lose money or have to pivot to a different ski area.

“We’ve already booked our lodging for February, and now finding out that some of our group can’t ski on the weekends is unacceptable,” said one user via Instagram. “Please consider making provisions for season pass holders like me who plan these trips a year in advance to enjoy Powder Mountain with our extended family.”

Others took issue with the general direction that Hastings is taking the ski area.

“Ten years ago that place was amazing. Best value on the snow,” said another skier via Instagram. “Ten years from now it will be a private version of Deer Valley.”

For his part, Hastings is sensitive to the optics around the ski area’s broad moves, including the private slopes and the exclusive pass holder weekends, but argues that he’s fighting a battle to keep Pow Mow in business—and keep it independent and uncrowded.

“The industry with Epic and Ikon has gotten more low cost, more open to people coming in,” he responded. “We’re a little counter-position niche, we’re not going to transform the ski industry. We’re struggling to find a way to keep our resort independent, so it’s a more narrow aim that we stay independent and uncrowded.”

Maybe the real question here is whether “independent” and “uncrowded” can ever be cordial bedfellows, or is exclusivity their de facto offspring? We’d hate to see that be the case, but only time will tell.

Summed up one longtime Pow Mow skier: “I remember when it was a reasonable idea to have family and friends visit me from out of state in February and be able to get affordable day tickets at Powder Mountain.”

The post Powder Mountain Owner Speaks on Nixing Lift Tickets on Peak Weekends appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

While most of us in North America sweat our way through a late-June heat wave, the ski resorts south of the equator are getting buried with snow—so much snow that one ski area has delayed its opening day for a second time. Chile’s is sitting pretty with a total of 198 inches of snow on the year so far—two inches shy of its 200-inch average seasonal snowfall—before the resort has officially opened.

Originally scheduled to kick off the season the weekend of June 20, the resort located about a two-hour drive from Santiago received over 100 inches of snow leading up to opening day, forcing it to postpone to June 26. Another winter storm taking aim on the Andes this week has again compelled the resort to push the start of the season again, this time to June 29.

Suffice it to say that Portillo skiers will be able to celebrate the start of the 75th anniversary season with a much-anticipated powder day.

       Related:

The nascent 2024 South American winter has been eventful, to say the least. In May, several ski areas were able to due to generous early-season snow. Before the calendar was even flipped to June, resorts including Chile’s Valle Nevado, El Colorado, and La Parva began spinning lifts thanks to winter storms that brought 4 to 6 feet of snow. Argentina’s Cerro Catedral, at the country’s southern tip, saw a stunning eight feet of snow in mid-May.

And Las Leñas, set near the Argentinean city of Mendoza, got so much snow that its access road has been completely buried. was supposed to host a pre-opening celebration on June 20, but too much snow made that impossible. The resort will now open for the season on June 29 with a at its 11,000-foot summit.

All of this early-season bounty could equate to one of the longest seasons in recent history for South America’s mountain resorts. While they typically begin to wind down in September, a deep base could stretch winter through the better part of October—just long enough for the flakes to fly here in North America once again.

We’ve said it before, but we’ll say it a little louder for the folks in the back: If a ski trip to the resorts of the Andes sounds appealing, this might be the summer to heed the call. There hasn’t been an early season quite like this in recent memory, and our dollar goes pretty far down there. What’s more, Portillo is offering 15 percent off stays before July 26 for a traditional ski week, which includes lift tickets, accommodations, and meals. For the special offer, email reservations@skiportillo.com.

Check out ł§°­±ő’s for the down-low on the must-visit resorts, the best times to go, how to get there, and more travel intel.

The post Too Much Snow in the Andes? This Ski Resort Delayed Opening Day. appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

A decision that just came down from the Colorado Supreme Court has the potential to disrupt the state’s ski industry. The seven justices of the state’s highest court ruled 5-2 that the broad liability waivers we all sign when we purchase our lift tickets don’t hold ski resorts immune from lawsuits in all situations.

This is the first time that the Colorado Supreme Court has taken a stance against liability waivers as blanket coverage for resort operators. The ruling has the potential to impact the resorts’ ability to get insured and can have ripple effects on consumers.

    Background:

“It’s a sea change, in terms of ski areas’ responsibilities and consumers’ ability to be protected from ski areas’ negligence,”  Evan Banker, a personal injury attorney at Denver firm Chalat Law . “From a consumer protection standpoint, it’s huge. Because liability breeds responsibility.”

The case in question involves a teenager who fell from a lift at Crested Butte in March of 2022. Then-16-year-old Annie Miller boarded the Paradise Express with her father, Mike. The teen wasn’t able to get properly seated and slipped from the chair, holding as it rose to 30 feet before she lost her grip and fell onto the hard pack below. Miller shattered her C7 vertebrae, suffered bruising to her heart, injured her lung, and lacerated her liver. The accident has left her paralyzed from the waist down.

The original lawsuit alleges that Mike Miller, along with onlookers standing in the lift line, screamed to get the attention of the lift operator, but no one was standing at the lift controls. They claim that Annie Miller’s injuries could have been avoided, or at least much less severe, had the lift been properly staffed, and because it allegedly was not, that Crested Butte “consciously and recklessly disregarded the safety of Annie.”

Vail Resorts, which owns Crested Butte, doesn’t comment on ongoing litigation. But in the original court documents, Vail’s lawyers invoked the liability waivers that all skiers sign when they purchase their Epic Pass lift products. These blanket waivers acknowledge that skiing is an inherently dangerous sport and that participants may not hold resort operators liable for accidents that occur on the slopes. The protection is laid out under the , and, in regards to chairlift incidents, the Passenger Tramway Safety Act. While , few have been successful enough to make it to trial.

The Millers, however, are taking aim at the part of the legislation that limits protection for the ski area if the accident was caused by negligence and purposefully risky actions on the part of the resort.

And this is where they found traction with the Colorado Supreme Court.

“After determining that that claim states a viable negligence per se claim,” the justices ,  “we further conclude, as a matter of first impression, that Crested Butte may not absolve itself, by way of private release agreements, of liability for violations of the statutory and regulatory duties on which Miller’s negligence per se claim is based. Accordingly, we conclude that the district court erred in dismissing that claim (we, however, express no opinion on the ultimate merits of the claim).”

To distill it down, the court said that while the liability waivers protect ski areas in many instances, they don’t protect them in cases where the resort was potentially negligent—but they made an important distinction between the two different types of negligence the case addresses that were previously dismissed by the lower court. (A third, gross negligence, was not part of the appeal and thus not addressed.)

The first is “highest duty of care,” from which the justices ruled that the resorts were protected under the liability waivers, which clearly include falls from chairlifts. The second, referred to in the above ruling, is “negligence per se,” which takes place when the defendant potentially broke state law, in this case, the Passenger Tramway Safety Act, and is the one on which the Colorado Supreme Court decided that the Miller lawsuit deserves to move forward.

“We have not previously addressed this question, and, in our view, it presents a matter of significant public importance, given the broad use of liability releases in the ski industry in Colorado,” Justice Richard Gabriel wrote in the court’s opinion.

Two dissenting justices argued that there’s no meaningful difference between the two types of negligence in question, and both felt that the liability waivers were sufficient enough to quash the negligence claim and kill the lawsuit.

The Millers’ case is far from decided. The Supreme Court ruling simply allows the suit to be argued at the district court level, the results of which will be of great interest to not only the country’s ski resort operators but any business that takes people out to do inherently risky adventures such as rafting, ziplining, and mountain biking.

, the trade group that represents 21 ski areas in Colorado, is one of the entities watching this case closely. Arguing alongside Vail Resorts in the initial lawsuit, CSCUSA said that a judgment for the plaintiff could have massive effects on the ski industry, particularly around how the resorts are able to let kids experience the slopes. In its brief to the court, CSCUSA wrote that the judgment could weaken liability waivers for children, affecting a resort’s ability to get insured, which would ultimately determine whether a resort could even afford to allow kids on the lifts.

“Without the protection of releases, many smaller and low-cost providers [resorts] will not be able to provide their services to children,”  the trade group wrote in the 2023 brief.  “For many larger providers, without the protection of releases, they will have to increase prices.”

We all want skiing to be as accessible to everyone as possible, but not at the cost of our safety. At the end of the day, the onus is on the resorts to keep skiers safe. Needless to say, we’ll be watching this closely as it moves back to the district court in the months to come.

The post Ski Areas Are Not Immune to Lawsuits, Says Colorado Supreme Court appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

In a surprising—but not unheard of—determination, the Teton County Coroner ruled the death of Jackson Hole, Wyo., ski instructor a homicide. The 71-year-old Jackson resident was on April 14, and was on life support in an Idaho hospital until his death on April 17.

Wuerslin, who was skiing on the intermediate Rendezvous trail, was hit by a skier located uphill from him “who failed to maneuver” around him, according to ski patrol reports. Both men were taken to the hospital, and the 34-year-old skier who hit Wuerslin, who also lives in the region and hasn’t been publicly identified, was released to recover at home. Wuerslin was not teaching at the time of the accident.

Following an autopsy, coroner Brent Blue determined the cause of death to be intracranial hemorrhage and ruled Wuerslin’s death a homicide. Blue also shared that , and doesn’t mean that criminal charges will be brought. The Teton County Sheriff’s office said that its investigation is ongoing, and that they are currently seeking eyewitnesses to the April 14 collision.

While a homicide ruling in a ski collision is very rare, it does highlight the growing concern over out-of-control skiers and snowboarders on increasingly crowded slopes. Since the pandemic, more and more people have turned to outdoor recreation, and since the winter of 2021.

Collisions aren’t new, but they are becoming more common. The Colorado Sun, and reported that “it would appear that the increasing frequency of injuries coincides with the rising number of [skier] visits.” The Sun noted that since the ski industry isn’t required to report skier injury data, it’s nearly impossible to confirm with hard numbers.

That said, the Denver–based daily newspaper did collect trauma center admission data from 25 Colorado zip codes reported to the state’s health department between 2017 and 2022. Reporter Jason Blevins also visited the two busiest ERs in ski country and spoke to over a dozen injured skiers. Through that, the Sun came to the conclusion that there’s “an increasing concern about safety on ski slopes as crowding and collisions increase.”

There’s no real debate that collisions on the slopes are accidents, not premeditated, but that doesn’t make the responsible party immune from criminal charges. After , a 21-year-old liftie named Nathan Hall was charged with, and ultimately convicted of, criminally negligent homicide. Hall, who had just left his post for the day and was heading down the mountain via the Lower Riva Ridge run, collided with 33-year-old Alan Cobb at a high rate of speed. Cobb suffered a fractured skull and died the same day. Hall’s sentence included 90 days of jail time, three years of probation, and an $18,000 fine.

Just two seasons ago, a snowboarder who collided with a skier at Colorado’s Eldora Mountain was charged with leaving the scene of a crash. Nicholas Martinez, 29, slammed into Eldora ski instructor Ron LeMaster, who never regained consciousness and was pronounced dead at the base of the mountain on Nov. 3o, 2021. In that case, the Boulder County prosecutor’s office declined to push forward with a manslaughter charge because they couldn’t prove that Martinez was snowboarding out of control, nor if he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Martinez was and received a $500 fine and 40 hours of community service, to the disappointment of LeMaster’s family and friends.

In Jackson Hole’s Wuerslin case, it remains to be seen whether criminal charges will be brought. Still, there’s no denying that skier collisions are not to be shrugged off as “just part of the sport.” That personal responsibility needs to be taken seriously—or else there could be legal consequences.

“These incidents unfortunately continue to be an occurrence for skiers,” JHMR’s Risk and Safety Director Jon Bishop , “It is your duty as an uphill skier to avoid those below you. We ask that everyone ski in a safe and respectful manner.”

It could be a matter of life and death.

The post Teton County Coroner Rules Jackson Ski Crash a Homicide appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

“Not the last line, just the last episode,” Cody Townsend stated about halfway through episode number 46 in his ski-mountaineering series, “The Fifty,” which was released this morning, March 20.

And that’s pretty much the gist. This is the end of “The Fifty” as we know it—there will be no more regularly scheduled programming—but Townsend made it clear that he will continue his quest as conditions and opportunities allow.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

If you haven’t been following Townsend and “The Fifty,” he’s a pro skier who punctuated his freeride career in 2014 by nabbing Powder łŸČčČ”ČčłúŸ±ČÔ±đ’s . But in a surprise turn in 2019, Townsend pivoted. Inspired by the book 50 Classic Ski Descents of North America, he endeavored to learn the art of ski mountaineering—Townsend was previously known for accessing big mountains via a helicopter. Townsend was a nascent ski mountaineer when he announced that would repeat all 50 lines and document the journey on his . He sought to use the objective and his connections in the ski community to gain skills and knowledge along the way.

       Also Read:

The Fifty now has a cult following, with fans invested in Townsend completing the goal. Back in February, Ski published a commentary by longtime contributor and ski mountaineer Matt CotĂ© titled “Cody Townsend Should Quit ‘The Fifty’ While He’s Ahead—and Alive.’” raked in both praise and vitriol from Townsend’s fan base, but Townsend himself admitted that he grapples daily with balancing his and his crew’s safety against completing the remaining lines, which are arguably among the most dangerous in the series.

Even back then, Townsend told CotĂ© that he would not die for this series, and gave no timeline for finishing it, especially considering that the final four lines are rarely in skiable shape. He even hinted that he might not officially finish, which is where he seems to have landed with today’s final episode.

“Well folks, this is it,” Townsend said from the base of California’s 12,500-foot Bloody Mountain, which will be the location of the .  “The adventures aren’t over, I’ll definitely still be filming in the mountains and sharing cool stuff.” He urged people to revisit the channel, where he plans to continue posting content.

As for this last episode, Townsend said that it brings ”The Fifty” project full circle. Bloody Couloir was the first big mountain line he’d ever skied some 20 years ago. He ventured out with very little ski-touring experience, in race boots and 202-cm race skis. “We literally had no idea what we were doing.”

For this final installment, Townsend brings back Greg Lindsey, who was with him on his original Bloody Couloir excursion, but this time they do it right—well, “Fifty”-style right, with a bit of slogging to the base via SUV, e-biking, and hiking. Using plenty of video footage from the original mission mixed in with the current trek, this episode brings home just how far Townsend and crew have come, and what they’ve gained in the process.

“It’s pretty cool to come full circle and do it again with the same crew and see where we’ve all been along this route,” Lindsey commented during the episode.

Needless to say, this iteration of the Bloody Couloir line went far smoother for Townsend thanks to a ton more experience, but the joy felt at the summit, and during the descent, remains largely the same.

“Skiing is one of the most magical sports in the world because it can provide a lifetime of adventures, challenges, friends, community, and joy,” Townsend mused.  “When I started this project, I said I wanted to learn the mountains in a whole new way, and after 46 lines I can easily say I’ve learned a lot, thanks to the people, the mountains, the places, and the communities.”

Musing on his journey, Townsend ends the “final” episode with a bit of mystery and intrigue, saying that he will continue to pursue the remaining four lines on his own timeline. “Whether Bjarne (Salen) and I complete all 50 or not, that is a question I continue to seek the answer to, and one day hopefully you all will know the answer too.”

Watch the Final Episode of “The Fifty”: Line Number 46, Bloody Couloir

The post Cody Townsend Ends ”The Fifty“ with 46 Ski Descents Complete appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

We get it: It’s hard to hear bad news about how global warming is affecting the sport we love, especially when Mammoth stayed open into August and Alta broke historic snow total records just last season. Yet we still have to heed to what science is telling us, which is that U.S. winters are indeed getting shorter and shorter.

A new report detailing climate change’s effect on the ski industry takes a look at both the past and future. , which was published in the trade publication Current Issues in Tourism, examines global warming’s effect on different aspects of the ski industry, including season length, average winter temperatures in different U.S. regions, and projected economic losses if climate issues go unchecked.

One of the most unique aspects of the report is that it presents an alternate reality of what our ski seasons would have looked like over the last 20 years without any climate-change impacts. Using data from ski resorts gathered between 1960-1979, before the effects of global warming started to impact our winters, the researchers concluded that our ski seasons would have been extended by 5.5 to 7.1 days. Those days equaled around $252 million in lost revenue.

Using similar extrapolated data, the researchers also projected how our future ski seasons will be impacted by global warming. Instead of only gloom and doom, however, they offer a glimpse of what it might look like if we successfully lower our fossil fuel emissions—as well as if we don’t.

       Also Read: 5 Reasons I’m Convinced We Can Stop Climate Change

We’ll give you the bad news first. If we continue on our current trajectory, our seasons risk losing up to 60 days in the high-emissions scenario. That’s two months. And if we do manage to reduce our carbon emissions, we’ll only lose an estimated 14 to 33 days. Those estimates take into account not only reduced snowfall, but also higher temperatures that will make it more difficult or impossible to make snow.

It’s not a great scenario, but it’s also not surprising given the way global warming has left its mark in every corner of the globe. Yet despite evidence of climate change touching our everyday lives, we can’t seem to move the needle.

That’s why the study’s authors targeted skiing.  “[People] may not care about the loss of the species halfway around the world, or a flood that’s happening in some other part of the world,” said scientist Daniel Scott, a professor at the University of Waterloo and a co-author of the study. “But sport is often something people care about. And they can see some of these changes happening.”

So are we actually reducing our carbon emissions? No, and what’s more,. Climate meetings in December in Dubai , with 200 countries agreeing to move “more quickly” toward renewable energy sources and away from relying on fossil fuels.

It feels bleak, but the only thing to do if you’re a passionate skier—and a passionate outdoorist—is get loud. , and make changes in your life that reflect your dedication to greener practices. At this point, every little but matters, even if it doesn’t always feel like it.

The post Your Ski Season May Get Drastically Shorter appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Ever since this story broke Friday, January 26, skiers across the country have had the same reaction: “How did this possibly happen?” How did a first-time Heavenly, Calif., visitor allegedly directed to download on the gondola by a resort employee get stranded overnight when gondola service stopped shortly after she boarded for the ride down to the Stagecoach base?

Monica Laso was on a snowboarding trip to Heavenly with friends when she decided she was too tired to ride down to the base just before 5 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25. She allegedly approached a resort employee who directed her onto the Heavenly gondola to download to the base. It was 4:58 p.m. According to the Heavenly website, the gondola closes at 4 p.m.

In an interview with , Laso shared that the gondola stopped about two minutes into the ride. She didn’t have her phone with her, but shouted through the small cabin window when she saw resort workers closing down the mountain below. “I screamed desperately until I lost my voice,” she said during an interview translated from her native Spanish. She rubbed her hands and feet together to stay warm as the temperature dropped to 23 degrees overnight.

Down as the base, her friends were frantically trying to find her. They filed a missing persons report with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s office and posted to Facebook sites, sharing that she was last seen going down with a ski patroller, and that the ski area was “doing nothing” to find her.

Vail Resorts owns Heavenly and hasn’t said much outside the “we’re investigating” messaging. Resort Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Tom Fortune released a statement Friday night. Still, he didn’t share any details relating to this incident, specifically, any procedural breakdown or miscommunication that could have caused the gondola cabins to go unchecked.

“The safety and wellbeing of our guests is our top priority at Heavenly Mountain Resort,” Fortune said. “We are investigating this situation with the utmost seriousness.”

Although a spokesperson for South Tahoe Fire and Rescue, which reported to the scene, told KCRA that she hadn’t seen anything like this happen in 20 years, a similar event when a Vermont woman boarded the gondola at 3:15 p.m. The resort closed the gondola early that day due to weather, with the woman still on board. She spent five hours stranded before they found her in a gondola near the summit. She sued in civil court for $500K. The jury awarded her $720K.

We’re happy to report that Laso was found in good condition on Friday morning once the gondola started up again and refused transport to the hospital. It remains to be seen how Heavenly and Vail Resorts will account for this mishap, but this will represent a new fear unlocked for many skiers. We’re eager to hear more from Heavenly about the breakdown that led to this very preventable incident.

On social media, , which is understandable. Said one pass holder: “Well, guess our Epic passes will cost more next year to cover this blunder they will need to pay out.”

The post A Tahoe Woman Spent a Night Trapped in a Gondola appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.