First, there was my plan. Little Cottonwood Canyon, above Salt Lake City, Utah, is home to (in my opinion) the two greatest powder ski resorts in the world, Alta and Snowbird. If you know anything about skiing, then you’re familiar with them. So, when the forecast on Thursday March 30 was calling for 60 inches of late season snowfall, I assembled a hasty batch of homemade breakfast burritos, a box of Grape-Nuts cereal and honey, several apples, and two suspiciously overripe looking avocados and took off for my ski house at AltaÌębefore the canyon shut down for avalanche hazards.

I wanted to be up there when the canyon’s Highway 210 shut down, because once the door’s locked, no one gets up and no one gets down. And that’s the point. We call these “,” which simply means we’re up here skiing several feet of fresh powder and you’re, well, not here. I snaked up the canyon at 9 P.M. just before lockdown Friday night. Saturday dawned bright and glorious, shining down on a foot of new powder with mere handfuls of us lucky enough to already be in Alta.

Then the real storm hit and hit hard, and suddenly the situation became serious. Sunday was interlodge—you don’t go outside, at all, for any reason. I moved to Alta full-time in 2016, and I grew up skiing here as a local, so I was familiar with the safety measure. The Alta marshal’s office literally requires chains across your door. To an outsider this might seem an extreme measure, but the slides in Little Cottonwood make it the most hazardous highway in the United States for avalanche danger.

I got a sense of just how dangerous things were before the storm even hit. Just a week before, a nine year old boy was playing outside an Alta home when the adjacent roof slid, burying him. This wasn’t fluffy powder—it was more like a pickup truck dropping onto you from ten feet above. The desperate family called 911, and it was their good fortune deputy marshal Ted Spencer was on duty and arrived a scant few minutes later. After making sense of the scene and bewildered family he set to work trying to rescue the boy.

“He wasn’t responsive when I found him but did have shallow respirations when we got him out,” Spencer told me. A former ski patroller, Spencer located the buried child with his avalanche probe on his sixth probe strike. The family was spared a tragedy, thanks in a large part to a competent team response by all the town’s first responders, and in particular Spencer’s expertise.

There’s a high potential for devastation when you incorporate 2,000 feet of steep mountainsides and hundreds of tons of snow barreling down a slot canyon, and Little Cottonwood has 64 of them. It’s why avalanche science and mitigation are such serious pursuits for the professionals responsible for mountain public safety.

Sunday night delivered more powder, but the huge dump left my plan to ski fresh snow in peril, as sometimes the resorts close entirely when the snow gets too deep. Fortunately, Snowbird opened on Monday,Ìęso I slapped on the boards and was at the tram in five minutes. Fifteen minutes later I dropped into the iconic double black diamond Mach Schnell. Not only that, I had it to myself. Untracked. Four runs in a row.

Each half-filled tram load was occupied by those who know they’re experiencing a once in a lifetime day. Snowbird general manager Dave Fields and I found ourselves together amidst enthusiastic grins. “How many people are on the mountain today do you think?” I asked, wiping the snow off the top of my goggles and pulling it from my beard.

“Well, 700 total people are in the resort, but that includes all our employees,” he said. “So, I can’t imagine there’s more than a few hundred spread across the runs we have open.”

We both smiled.

“So, as a favor, would you mind keeping it at that number for the rest of the week?”

He smiled again before replying, “I don’t think we have a choice.” He’s a good man.

șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű the moving tramcar the snow was falling relentlessly. By 4 P.M. when the resort closed, Snowbird was closing in on its previous all-time accumulation record of 782 inches. That’s when Alta town marshal Mike Morey issued his first public announcement. All people within Alta and Snowbird boundaries needed to be indoors by 8 P.M. and there would be no anticipated lifting of interlodge.

Thus began 50-plus hours of bad food and boredom. The avocados had gone in the first lockdown along with the apples, so it’d have to be Grape-Nuts and burritos. I’ll spare the details, save one. Wednesday morning it was still relentlessly snowing. Snowbird had passed its all-time record with 785 inches, and I was staring out at Mt. Superior across from Snowbird like a dog looking out the window longingly watching the neighbor’s puppy playing in the yard.

Meanwhile, Alta’s avalanche forecaster Dave “Grom” Richards and his team of howitzer gunners were lobbing 105-millimeter shells at Superior hoping to dislodge the unprecedented amount of snow that was sitting atop an already unprecedented amount of snow. At 9:15 A.M. reverberations began to rattle the house. Large avalanches have a distinctive signature, a cross between roaring wind and a sense of vibration that’s terrifyingly haptic. I dropped my umpteenth breakfast burrito and rushed to the window to peer through the snow. A monster slide roared down the mountain, its cloud obscuring everything. When the spindrift cleared, I could see it had flowed over Highway 210 and crushed its way into Snowbird’s parking lot stopping just short of their power plant. It was a staggering display of natural power.

I texted Grom:ÌęCongrats buddy. I think you destroyed Snowbird.

Him: Hehehe

Great for him, his job was to make avalanches, but I was still trapped and each day not skiing meant one less country club day. I ski Alta perhaps 100-120 days every year, but I seek these mystical crowd-free days out like an addict.

It’d been six days of storming yet only two clubs. Like love, you only get so many chances for them in your life. Fortunately, the snow tapered off in the wee hours on Thursday with an incredible 65.5 total inches. But that doesn’t mean we’re let out into the playground; there’s always the avalanche mitigation to wait on.

I called Grom to inquire about his plan to manage Alta. “What are you going to do?” I asked.

“I’m gonna issue bombs like they’re candy,” said the 30 year veteran. Succinct, that’s Grom.

Still, Snowbird fired up before Grom opened Alta so I hopped in my 4Runner and drove the 1.5 miles down the highway. Unfortunately, their snow, while deep, had pancaked and the skiing on the lower slopes, while untracked, was, frankly, no good for skiing.

So, it was back in the 4Runner and a dash to Alta, where three lifts were running. As I transited, I passed Superior’s lower south ridge and crossed the monster’s detritus. I couldn’t believe that much snow could flow that far but I didn’t have time for contemplation, the Alta country club awaited.

I opted to skip the resort’s first lot, Collins, where a total of perhaps a dozen cars sat. I could see the lucky few hopping on Collins lift, heading for Alta’s legendary High Rustler and Greely runs. Instead, I thought I’d drive to the upper Albion lot to seek a wee more solitude. Elitist snobbery? Yeah, of course. No friends on powder days and all that.

I was unprepared for what awaited me there. As I crested the low hill leading down into the lot I was met with
 nothing. No employees or crew vehicles. No cars. Not one. I rolled to a stop by the ticket office and found marshal Mike Morey.

“Did I miss the apocalypse announcement or something?” I queried.

“The zombies are coming over Emma Ridge any moment,” he deadpanned.

“Seriously, where are the people?”

“You’re it.”

“Fine by me,” I said, grabbing my K2 Waybacks. Mike and I share a history of military service and a mutual disdain for too many humans. “See ya.”

I’m now going to share with you a closely guarded secret to Alta ski area. When everyone is rushing to High Rustler and Greely, head to the Sunnyside lift. No one goes there on big powder days. Therefore, you can have Vail Ridge all to yourself, as I did on that glorious third country club day.

That is until two hours later both resorts closed down completely when the Superior south ridge I’d been transiting slid naturally and buried the top portion of Snowbird’s Chickadee lift. Fortunately, no one was buried along with it but it was back indoors for the rest of the day. Sigh.

The next day the avalanche danger only accelerated so when Marshal Morey opened downhill traffic from 5 to 9 A.M., it was time to make my exit, but not before Grom called me out when he saw the early morning line of cars making their escape.

“You leaving? I feel like that last scene in Platoon when Charlie Sheen gets on the helicopter and leaves everyone behind in Vietnam,” he asked.

Sorry buddy, when the country club closes it’s time to go. Besides, a man can only eat so many breakfast burritos.

Author note: As I write this one week later, Little Cottonwood remains closed and both resorts passed their all-time records.Ìę

The post Terror and Triumph in Little Cottonwood Canyon appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

All across the country, resorts have been working hard to bolster their offerings and to fix systemic issues, from addressing long lift lines and the mountain-town housing shortageÌęto investing in renewable energy. With the proper precautions, there are more reasons than ever to hit the slopes this season.

There’s More Ground to Cover

Ski resorts spend years—decades even—building out their terrain. The wait is generally worth it, with new glades, bowls, and buttery runs to christen. This season in Colorado, Telluride is getting 40 new acres of beginner and intermediate terrain, including the Grouse Glades, while Beaver Creek will open 250 acres of easy skiing, with two quads and 17 new trails in the bowlish McCoy Park. Last February, Idaho’s Sun Valley pulled the curtain back on 380 acres, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, many weren’t able to ski it. This is your year.

The biggest expansion is at Bluebird Backcountry, located near Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and the only no-lift, ­all-backcountry ski area in the U.S. It will open 12 new runs, for a total of 25. This includes four gullies that are patrolled and controlled for slides, with steep pitches that tilt to a puckering 45 degrees, which increases its avalanche-managed acreage to 1,200. If that sounds intimidating, sign up for the Bluebird+ membership for access to backcountry lessons, seminars, and as many half-day clinics as you want all season long (from $250).

Birding on Skis

In the early months of the pandemic, Americans took up bird-watching like depraved raptors. It is a surprisingly delightful passion that also happens to pair well with skiing. Sign up for Alta’s Birding on Skis tour and you’ll head out on a half-day adventure into Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon to look for resident populations of rosy finches, mountain chickadees, and, if you’re lucky, perhaps a pair of the mating golden eagles that frequent the area below 10,920-foot Devil’s Castle. Tours start with a 9 A.M. ride up Alta’s Collins Lift over epic black-diamond terrain and end at noon at the Albion base area. A conservation ecologist from Salt Lake’s Tracy Aviary will be along to help distinguish nuthatches from creepers. Because you’ll be contributing to a bird survey of the area, the tour is free and includes a half-day ski pass. Participants need only be at least 12 years old and able to ski a groomed blue run.

Lift Off

This winter will see the unveiling of arguably the most technologically advanced butt hauler on this side of the Atlantic. Introducing the Kancamagus 8, a.k.a. Kanc 8, at New Hampshire’s Loon Mountain Resort, the first eight-pack in the East and one of only a few such behemoths in the country. This particular beast features heated ergonomic seats that look like something out of a SpaceX rocket, a locking safety bar, individual footrests, and, of course, a tinted bubble to stave off that icy New England wind. The extra-wide chairs can be spun up to 12.5 miles per hour—­making the Kanc 8 the fastest lift of its size in the U.S.—and can haul 3,500 skiers per hour to a mid-mountain station in 4.5-minute increments, which is barely enough time to cool your quads. It’s likely the kickoff of a national overhaul to lift technology. Next up is Montana’s Big Sky Resort, which will launch the Swift Current 6, a blazingly fast (read: 13.6 miles per hour), heated six-pack that will increase uphill capacity by 50 percent.

Lodging Gets an Upgrade

Most destination ski resorts need a robust real estate scene and high ­occupancy rates to help fund all the improvements that keep us coming back. This winter brings a slew of new places to snooze at some of the country’s most iconic resorts. Aspen Snowmass will see the opening of Viewline, a mid-mountain luxury complex that includes an Ayurvedic spa, 254 rooms, and 20 suites featuring sheepskin throws and awesome ski-in, ski-out access (from $329). Meanwhile, in Park City, Utah, the Pendry (from $1,500) opens in Canyons Village with 152 rooms and the city’s only rooftop pool. The project making the biggest splash is one of the largest of its kind ever to land in Montana: the Montage at Big Sky (from $1,395). Clocking in at a whopping half-million square feet in the heart of the mountain ­village, the 139-room, 39-­residence stunner looks out over the 8,400-foot Spanish Peaks and has six restaurants, an indoor lap pool, a 10,000-square-foot spa, and, just out the door, a 450-foot tubing park for kids. Of course, the 5,800 skiable acres just beyond your black-marble bathroom are the real attraction.

An Innovative Ski-Town Fix

The mountain-town housing shortage intensified after a pandemic-fueled real estate boom drove out longtime residents and decimated the local workforce. Summer visitors to these locales report long waits and fewer services due to staffing shortages. Where does that leave us this ski season?

Resorts planned ahead. Starting this winter, Aspen, Solitude, Sugarbush, Vail, and others will pay non-tipped employees at least $15 an hour, more than twice the federal minimum wage. Mount Bohemia, in Michigan, will trump them all by paying $20 an hour. But finding an affordable place to live is as tricky as ever, especially if you want to settle down.

Enter the Big Sky Community Housing Trust, a newly formed nonprofit that makes the Montana haven of 3,000 full-time residents and some 4,000 vacation homes one of the most promising ski towns to live and work.

The trust, which is partially funded by a resort tax, builds on an idea unfolding in Vail, where the town pays homeowners a percentage of their property value in exchange for saddling the property with a restricted deed that slows appreciation, lowers the sale price, and helps bolster a more affordable housing pool.

The Big Sky version uses grants and money from the resort tax to give the owners of second, third, and even fourth homes subsidies to rent their pads to local workers at reduced rates instead of going the Airbnb or Vrbo route. The trust is also a key player in the construction of 52 gorgeous condos with restricted deeds that will sell for half their market value, with a hard 2 percent cap on annual appreciation.

That’s a big difference in a place where the average condo now goes for $1 million and a single-family home will set you back a cool $2.2 million. “A regular working Joe just can’t do that,” says Laura Seyfang, the trust’s director. “We’re trying to create a little balance here.”

The Other End of the Rockies

There’s so much in Colorado and Utah to be excited about this winter, with new lifts at Breckenridge, Keystone, and Snowbasin—to name a few—and a cat-skiing operation opening in Loveland Ski Area’s Dry Gulch. But if you have the time and means for only one trip, make it count by going to Taos Ski Valley. The New Mexico resort, perhaps the least corporate of the major resorts in the Rockies, averages 300 inches of snow per year and has a smattering of new offerings this season. For starters, you can sign up for an exclusive three-day learning session with Olympian Deb Armstrong (gold, giant slalom, Sarajevo ’84), who will personally coach you out of your poor angulation or whatever it is that ails you. She’s in high demand, though, so for the rest of us, there’s Taos’s new pro-guided experience, where a local ripper will show you secret stashes and the best way to get your tails into the fall line on the double blacks off West Basin Ridge. Back down in the village, you’ll find new attractions like an ice rink, dinner sleigh rides, and a skier-services building.

Power for the Powder

For all the fresh air, exercise, and soul resetting that sliding down snow-covered mountains offers, resort skiing can be pretty rough on Mother Nature. So it’s worth mentioning that Alterra, Boyne, Powdr, and Vail—some of the biggest resort conglomerates in the game—banded together over the summer to fight climate change by signing an agreement aimed at reducing impact while lobbying for policy changes that make renewable energy the norm in the resort industry. This winter, Park City will take a big step toward fulfilling that goal by tapping into the Elektron Solar Project, an 80-megawatt solar farm southwest of Salt Lake City that will provide every last drop of electricity to the resort by 2023.

The post 7 Ways Your Ski Season Is About to Get Better appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Picture a canyon that’s so steep and narrow and gets so much snow that avalanches can come cascading down the mountain and cover parking lots, roadways, and even buildings. That’s what can—and does—happen in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon, the steep, narrow gorgeÌęhome to the and ski areas. The canyon sees an average of 545 inches of snow each yearÌęand is one of the most active avalanche zones in the country, with 64 different slide paths.

Last weekÌęa series of massive storms dumped 96 inches on Alta and 88 inches on neighboring Snowbird over a handful of days. The storm shut down Little Cottonwood Canyon for a record-breaking 60-hour interlodge, an event in whichÌęeveryone in the canyon except critical workers are required to stay indoors due to the high avalanche danger.Ìę

“One of the best ski resorts in the world is built in one of the most active avalanche zones in the world,” says Jake Treadwell, Snowbird’s director of mountain operations. “Once you reach a critical level, where we’re seeing natural avalanche activity on the highway, we have to put people inside and lock the doors for their protection. We call it interlodge. It is the only way to keep people safe.”

An interlodge can happen a few times each winter and usuallyÌęlasts a couple of hours or possibly overnight. In February 2020, the canyon had a 52-hour interlodge, the longest in recent memory.Ìę

I was thereÌęfor this month’s event—inside a room atÌęAlta Lodge with my husband and our two young children for two and a half days. The kids occupied themselves with books, puzzles, and craft bags generously provided by the front desk, in between bouts of running laps (in masks) down the hotel hallway. I tried to get someÌęwork done,Ìęand practicedÌęyoga in the small space between the beds. I joked that it was the world’s plushest prison, with mealsÌędelivered to your room and a slopeside view of a mountain you wereÌęallowed to look at but not touch. Other hotel guests seemed to be doing Zoom calls throughout the hotel, ordering drinks from the bar to take back to their room, or borrowing books from the library in the lobby.

On day two, around 6:45 A.M., all hotel guests were alerted toÌęsomething called maximum security:Ìęeveryone had to vacate their rooms and head to the lobby or locker room, which were deemed the safest parts of the building during the most severe avalanche-control work. That lasted for over three hours. Although we sat separated and had worn ourÌęmasks, being packed into a room during a pandemic while avalanches are triggered above you is not exactly a comfortable feeling. We were all relieved to be released back to our rooms after that.

Utah’s State Route 210—the roadway that travels up the canyon toward the ski areas—has a Utah Department of Transportation Highway Avalanche Hazard Index of 766, the highest in North America. More than half of the route lies in an avalanche runout zone. When road crews and ski patrol are conducting avalanche-control work, the road is closed to keep travelers safe. Last week it was closed for three days.Ìę

“It doesn’t happen very often where we have a three-day closure. It’s not unheard of, but it is rare,” says John Gleason, public-information officer for the Utah Department of Transportation. “The type of storms we were seeing, and the amount of snow we got in Little Cottonwood Canyon, it was staggering. You had all of that fresh snow on top of a weaker base, and that really made the conditions prime for avalanches. Because of its proximity to traffic and the number of slide paths, it’s one of the most challenging avalanche-control areas in the country. There’s no room for error.”

The state’sÌęDepartment of Transportation, Alta and Snowbird’s ski patrol, and the town of Alta work together to mitigate avalanche danger by setting off controlled slides using everything from a howitzer artillery gun to Gazex exploders to explosives dropped from a helicopter.

After 60 hours, the interlodge was liftedÌęand people in the canyon were allowed outside, but the roadway remained closed. Which meant that last Thursday, the ski areas were able to open exclusivelyÌęfor those already there. Snowbird operated with five lifts, including the tram, and had just a few hundred people at the resort.Ìę

“We call it country-club skiing. It happens maybe once every four or five years—when you get to experience the ski area with so few people,” says Treadwell. “For the people who were there, it’s a truly magical day.”

The post The Ups and Downs of My Interlodge Ski Saga appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Caroline Gleich moved to Salt Lake CityÌęfrom her native Minnesota when she was 15Ìęand has been skiing Utah’s Wasatch RangeÌęever since. She began making a name for herself as a professionalÌęskier when she was just 18, and in 2017, she became the first woman to climb and ski all 90 lines inÌęAndrew McLean’s iconic 1998 guidebookÌęThe Chuting Gallery.ÌęLast yearÌęshe 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’t have time for a full backcountry tour in Big or Little Cottonwood Canyons, then she’ll ski in-bounds atÌę. “If I can’t ski perfect untracked powder, then I like perfect groomers,” she says. “Going to Deer Valley feels like a day to restore.”

Need to Know: According to Gleich, one nice thing about the Park City resorts—which include Deer Valley and —is that they don’t 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. “Deer Valley limits the number of tickets they sell, so even on the craziest days, you won’t be waiting in lift lines for too long,” 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. “It’s higher up, so the snow stays nice,” she says. Plus, the cookies at the Silver Lake Lodge are hard to beat.

For AprĂšs-Ski: Get a Bloody Mary at the bar of the ski-in, ski-outÌę, and have dinner atÌę, a new farm-to-table restaurant in Park City that Gleich loves.

Alta Ski AreaÌę

Why Go: “I cut my teeth skiingÌę for so many years,” Gleich says. “It was my gateway to backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. I love being so connected to nature there. You have big, unadulterated viewsÌęand a real sense of the wilderness. Plus, it feelsÌęlike you have to exert some human power by sidestepping or traversing to get to the good places.”

Need to Know:Ìę is the spot for coffee before skiing. “And they have tasty waffles and empanadas,” adds Gleich. If she’s driving up from Salt Lake City, she also likesÌę, near the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon.

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

For AprĂšs-Ski: Get French fries and a beer at theÌę inside the newÌę. Then head for a soak at theÌę, located on the rooftop of theÌęÌęat Snowbird Ski Area, next door to Alta.Ìę“It’s an amazing place to unwind,” Gleich says. “They have a saltwater pool, a hot tub, and a eucalyptus steam room.”

Mount Superior

Why Go: “One of the most iconic runs in Utah is the south face ofÌę,” says Gleich. “That mountain is like the heart of the Wasatch. It’s one of my favorite places to go. It’s got everything—a 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’s also very close to Salt Lake City. You can be standing on the top of this peak in just two or three hours”Ìęafter arriving at the airport.

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

Where to Ski: “Superior is really popular—it’s a classic ski descent,” says Gleich. “There are so many features and nooks you can continue to explore.”

For AprĂšs-Ski: You can ski Superior at dawn and be down at Alta having coffee and breakfast after sunrise. “Or get to Alta for first chair after skiing Superior,” says Gleich. “AtÌę at Alta, you can get a warm breakfast sandwich and a nice cappuccino.”

Millcreek Canyon RoadÌę

Why Go: The top section ofÌę, 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. “You’ll skin through a beautiful, dense forest,” says Gleich. “It’s like forest bathing. It’s very quiet.”Ìę

Need to Know: The trail climbs about 1,200 feet overÌęroughly four miles. The side of the road is usually groomed, so it’s also popular with nordic skiers. “It’s a fun tour for people who’ve never toured. You could tow kids in a sled or skate-ski, too,” says Gleich.

Where to Ski: It’s pretty straightforward: Drive up Millcreek Canyon until you can’t drive anymore. Park, then start skinning up the closed road. “You basically skin or cross-country ski up, then ski down the road,” says Gleich.

For AprĂšs-Ski: One of Gleich’s favorite places to grab dinner in Cottonwood Heights is a new, family-owned Vietnamese restaurant calledÌę. “They have pho that they stew for over 24 hours,” she says.

Grizzly Gulch

Why Go: “With climate change in the Wasatch, we’re seeing our snow lines move higher and higher. On years when we don’t have much lower-elevation snow,Ìę is one of the places you can ski-tour consistently,” says Gleich. “It’s the birthplace of avalanche research and a part of the history of snow safety in the U.S. It’s a really important place for people taking avalanche courses and getting into backcountry skiing.”

Need to Know: There’s a piece of proposed legislation called theÌę that seeks to preserve around 80,000 acres of U.S. Forest Service land in the Wasatch, including Grizzly Gulch, which Alta hasÌę its ski area into. It’s anÌę. “I love Alta. But I’m opposed to any plans to develop Grizzly Gulch,” says Gleich.

Where to Ski: Grizzly Gulch has protected, north-facing terrain, so the snow here stays cold and light. “ is a good place to go tour in Grizzly Gulch,” says Gleich. “It’s got nice, open-spaced trees,Ìęgood snow quality, and is lower angle, with minimal avalanche terrain above.”Ìę

For AprĂšs-Ski: Head to theÌę inside the Alta Lodge. “It’s small and intimate and a fun place to grab a drink after skiing,” Gleich says.

The post Caroline Gleich’s Favorite Places to Ski in Utah appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming

Friday

4 p.m. For lodging in Teton Village at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, you can go bro style (get a bunk at the , from $32), eco-friendly (see rooms at , from $249), or super luxe (reserve a two-bedroom suite at the year-old , from $2,000).

Saturday

8:45 a.m. Skip the tram for the Sweetwater Gondola for more access to beginner and intermediate runs. If the kids are going to Mountain Sports School, take a break at the newly built Solitude Station.

10:45 a.m. Make your way to Thunder chair to ski down groomers between rocky outcroppings in Laramie Bowl, then migrate to Sublette chair to sneak through the trees of Pepi’s Run.

12:30 p.m. Southcable CafĂ©, next to theÌętram terminal, has pizza by the slice and sandwiches.

1:45 p.m. From the top of the tram, Rendezvous Bowl to the Hobacks delivers more than 4,000 vertical feet of some of the most sustained in-bounds skiing in the lower 48.

5 p.m. Slide into the new RPK 3, the watering hole next to the back dock of the tram. Afterward, hit up Teton Thai down the street for spicy curry.

Sunday

8:30 a.m. Hire the resort’s backcountry guides to take you to powder-filled out-of-bounds zones like Rock Springs or Four Pines.

Mont Tremblant Resort,ÌęQuebec

Friday

5 p.m. Stay at the contemporary 93-room (from $169), ten minutes from the hill, and take a soak in a hot bath alongside Diable River at the nearby .

Saturday

9 a.m. Tremblant has separate and distinct versants, or sides. Versant Soleil gets sun first, so hit that in the morning for softened groomers on Toboggan.

11:45 a.m. Head to lunch early to beat the crowds. , on the Soleil side, is a midmountain cabin serving sandwiches and views of the Laurentians.

2 p.m. The north side, Versant Nord, preserves soft snow after a storm. Look for powder between the trees on Banzai or Tunnel.

4:15 p.m. is the spot for aprĂšs brews.

7 p.m. Have dinner at , an upscale brasserie in the town’s pedestrian-only village.

3 a.m. The party in the village goes until the wee hours at the DJ-fueled or .

Sunday

11 a.m. Take the short hike to the ridge between the Sud and Soleil sides to slide into the birch forest of Les Bouleaux.

Copper Mountain, Colorado

Friday

5 p.m. Check into your condo at Copper’s slopeside 86-unit Ìę(from $139). It’s a short stroll to Ìęin the village for ramen and sushi.

Saturday

8:15 a.m. Boot up, then grab coffee, a breakfast sandwich, and a pair of goggles at the main village’s Camp Hale ski shop.

10:15 a.m. Beeline it to the new Three Bears triple chair on Tucker Mountain, which opens this season and will whisk you to 12,421 feet for steep, above-tree-line bowls previously only accessible via snowcat.

12 p.m. Down a hearty waffle or bowl of soup at , a ski-up cabin near the top of American Flyer’s new six-person bubble chair.

2 p.m. Copper is known for its terrain parks. The new Danny Davis–designed Ìęopens to the public this winter with flow trails and jumps for all skill levels.

6 p.m. Follow the locals to Ìęfor live music and prosecco on tap.

Sunday

9 a.m. Do a vinyasa class at Ìęin the town of Dillon, on the way to the airport.

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, California

Friday

6 p.m. Ìę(from $249) has three heated pools, 405 rooms and suites, and its own ski-in, ski-out chairlift.

Saturday

9 a.m. After an Americano and avocado toast at Ìęin the village, pile into the lift line at KT-22 and veer toward the narrow steeps of Moseley’s.

11 a.m. Make your way into the Slot or adjacent Cornice Bowl, both with steep drops and scenic vistas that can be accessed via the Headwall chair. Migrate toward the Granite Chief chair for steep shots and fewer people.

2:30 p.m. It’s back to the village, via the twisting, groomed Mountain Run, for enchiladas and margaritas at the newÌę.

4 p.m. Grab a drink at the , a restored seventies-era tram cabin, which opens in December and will be stationed on the Olympic House deck all winter.

6:45 p.m. Snowshoe up a mellow graded trail to reach the midmountain Ìęfor a candlelit dinner of raclette. Order the apple strudel for dessert.

Sunday

10 a.m. Take the free shuttle over to Alpine Meadows to ride the new Treeline Cirque chairlift to the top of Sherwood Cliffs. Lap that or head to the sunny back side of the mountain to ski South Face down to Sherwood Express.

Aspen Snowmass, Colorado

Friday

5 p.m. Check into the swanky 88-room Ìę(from $379), which opened in August at the base of Aspen Mountain, before grabbing drinks at the rooftop bar.

Saturday

8 a.m. Aspen and Snowmass have a free first-tracks program that lets you on their gondolas an hour before the public—reserve ahead of time by calling the resort.

12 p.m. After hunting powder in Hanging Valley Glades, head to , a new Italian eatery atop ł§ČčłŸâ€™s Knob. (It has loaner slippers if you want to take off your ski boots during lunch.)

5 p.m. Ìęis a solid vegetarian res­taurant that opens in early December at Snowmass Village’s new community hub the Col­lective. Afterward, stop by the center’s vintage-game arcade.

Sunday

10 a.m. Hop on the free town bus to Aspen Highlands and gear up for the 45-minute trek to Highland Bowl. Ride the free snowcat for a bump and be ready for a rigorous boot-pack along the ridge.

Stowe Mountain Resort,ÌęVermont

Friday

5 p.m. Check in at the 312-room Ìę(from $198), steps from the Over Easy Gondola. Or stay in the quaint town of Stowe, where Ìęhas 53 remodeled rooms (from $90) and a pizza joint with a bar built into an Airstream trailer.

Saturday

7:30 a.m. On weekends and holidays, score first tracks on the Forerunner quad—the steep corduroy of Liftline is an invigorating start to the day.

11 a.m. Ride the Mansfield Gondola while enjoying views of 4,395-foot Mount Mansfield before dropping into narrowly cut Cliff Trail to Nosedive.

1 p.m. At the Ìęrestaurant atop the gondola, you can dine on a farm-to-table meal in your ski boots.

2 p.m. Head to the south-facing slopes of Spruce Peak to check out Stowe’s signature trail, Main Street, which is the site of the Eastern Cup championships.

7 p.m. Ice-skate under the lights at theÌęSpruce Peak Village Center rink. The nearby Ìęhas cocktails and shareable plates.

Sunday

10 a.m. Load up on sweet or savory crepes at the , also in Spruce Peak.

Deer Valley Resort, Utah

Friday

5 p.m. It’s not cheap (nothing here is) but the 154 rooms and 66 suites and residences at the Ìę(from $1,115) are top-notch and ski-in, ski-out. Plus, its ski-concierge team will wax your planks and dry your boots overnight.

Saturday

9:30 a.m. From the top of Bald Mountain, carve turns down the advanced Tycoon or Wizard runs on your all-mountain skis.

9:45 a.m. If it snowed recently, forget the groomers. Bring powder skis instead and book it to Mayflower Bowl for wide-open, untracked turns.

3:30 p.m. You’ll find charcuterie andÌęchampagne inside a well-appointed yurt at the , behind the Montage in Empire Village.

6 p.m. Yes, you’re in landlocked Utah, and yes, you should spring for the $80 Seafood Buffet in the —the poke bar and raw oysters are surprisingly fresh.

Sunday

10 a.m. Stick to the Empire and Lady Morgan lifts, where you can swish through evergreens and aspens on runs like Centennial.

Steamboat Resort, Colorado

Friday

5 p.m. You can’t get closer to the lifts than the 382-room Ìę(from $97), which now offers a ski bellman who will deliver your gear to Gondola Square.

Saturday

8:30 a.m. Fill up with pancakes at the hotel’s restaurant, the Cabin, before loading into the new gondola, which is significantly faster than the old one.

10 a.m. If you like tree skiing, the aspen groves in Shadows and Closets often hold dry, light snow.

1 p.m. Follow on Twitter to locate the trail tacos slung from a converted snowcat.

2 p.m. You can still likely find powder lingering after a storm in the O’Clock Trees, a gladed zone off the Sunshine Express chair.

4:30 p.m. Soak your tired legs at . The access road is rugged, so book the shuttle from your hotel.

9 p.m. The late happy hour at downtown’s Ìęserves tasty, half-price burgers.

Sunday

8 a.m. Tuck into eggs Benedict at along Soda Creek.

Breckenridge Ski Resort,ÌęColorado

Friday

4 p.m. (from $255) debuted 60 rooms in December at the base of Peak 9. The hotel offers bunk rooms for families and a Japanese-style onsen, or hot springs.

Saturday

9 a.m. New this winter, book a Breck Guide through the resort to show you the mountain’s best high-alpine zones. You’ll get early ups on select lifts and behind-the-scenes access to ski patrol’s morning meeting.

10:45 a.m. You could spend all day exploring the 543 rolling acres of Peak 6, the resort’s most recent expansion. Hike out to far-reaching Serenity Bowl or Six Senses, or hit lower-elevation glades like Delirium and Wonderland.

1 p.m. Refuel with bison bean chili at , midmountain on Peak 7.

2 p.m. Make your way to 12,840 feet atop Imperial Express, North America’s highest-elevation chairlift. From there, hike to the vertical drop off Lake Chutes or traverse into the expansive bowl of Whale’s Tail.

6 p.m. End your day with microbrews and giant pretzels on the deck of the , at the base of Peak 8.

Sunday

10 a.m. Head to Peak 8’s base, which recently unveiled a major revamp, including a new coffee shop.

Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico

Friday

5 p.m. Ìę(from $259) atÌęTaos Ski Valley has 80 artfully designed, geothermally heated rooms at the base of Lift 1. Stay put for wood-fired pizza at the hotel’s restaurant.

Saturday

8 a.m. Hop onto Taos Ski Valley’s newÌę“gondolita” for a short and fun ride to the , where children can spend the day on pint-size chairlifts and beginner terrain.

9:30 a.m. For a leg-pumping bump run with an audience, Al’s Run under Lift 1 is a solid warm-up.

11 a.m. Hit the boot-pack: from the top of Lift 2, head to West Basin Ridge for long, elevator-like shafts or to Highline for punchy shots through trees.

1 p.m. The quaint, midmountainÌę serves hot soup inÌędoughy bread bowls.

5 p.m. End your day with steins of beer and house-made spaetzle at the recently renovated Ìęat the base of Lift 4.

Sunday

10 a.m. You don’t have to hike up Kachina Peak anymore—a lift delivers you to 12,481 feet in five minutes.

Sugarloaf, Maine

Friday

5:30 p.m. Retreat to the 119-room Ìę(from $109), just 100 yards from the SuperQuad, for a swimming-pool-size outdoor hot tub.

Saturday

8:30 a.m. The Loaf has 1,240 skiable acres, the most of any ski resort in the East. Start on the Sugarloaf SuperQuad and rip high-speed laps anywhere under the chair.

9:45 a.m. Brackett Basin feels like the backcountry, with rugged tree stands and small cliff bands, but it’s patrolled. Still, don’t head into this zone alone or without a plan—pop into the ski-patrol cabin at Spillway Crosscut for beta before you go.

12:20 p.m. Refuel with a burger at theÌęnewly renovated Ìęat Sugarloaf’s base lodge.

2 p.m. The Snowfields atop the resort’s 4,237-foot summit offers the only above-tree-line lift-accessed terrain in the northeast. After a storm, Powder Keg lives up to its name.

4 p.m. Ski up to the for a cold Maine beer.

Sunday

8 a.m. Depending on conditions, Sugarloaf now runs New England’s only cat-skiing operation in the more than 100 acres of freshly gladed terrain on Burnt Mountain, which was previously only accessible via a short hike. Reserve a time slot for two runs.

Sun Peaks Resort, BritishÌęColumbia

Friday

5 p.m. (from $79), a hotel directly across from the Burfield chairlift, has 22 private rooms, shared hostel pods, and a storage room for gear.

Saturday

7:45 a.m. Book the first-tracks program to load the Sunburst Express and Crystal chairlift an hour before everyone else. Head for the wide-open swaths on Headwalls or untouched pow in Crystal Bowl.

1 p.m. Meet Olympian and giant slalom champion Nancy Greene at the top of Sunburst chair for a free tour. She knows the nooks and crannies on this mountain like nobody else.

3 p.m. Order nachos and a Canadian-brewed Sleeman Honey Brown Lager at , the aprĂšs spot of choice.

4:45 p.m. After the lifts close for the day, load into the Sunburst Express again for a ride to the midmountain Sunburst bar and eatery, where a three-course fondue dinner and music await. Bring a headlamp so afterward you can ski down the gentle slopes of 5 Mile Trail in the dark.

Sunday

9 a.m. Take the ten-minute boot-pack to Gil’s, a formerly out-of-bounds area that is now controlled in-bounds terrain with short, off-piste shots and minimal traffic.

Big Sky Resort, Montana

Friday

4 p.m. The 205 rooms at the Ìę(from $99) come with hot tubs, easy chairlift access, and a massive breakfast buffet.

Saturday

10:30 a.m. Make friends on the new eight-person Ramcharger lift. Hit Ramcharger Lift Line run for protected glades.

1:15 p.m. It’s back to the base area for lunch at , a food court that opened in November with a taqueria, a sushi and ramen station, and a stone-fired pizza bar.

2 p.m. From the top of the Headwaters double lift, follow the boot-pack up the ridge. Drop into the extra-steep chute of your choice and enjoy the smooth apron of Stillwater Bowl at the bottom.

4:15 p.m. , a barbecue spot that opens this winter in Mountain Village, feature views of Lone Peak.

6 p.m. Get a pint of craft IPA at Ìęin town, 13 miles from the resort.

Sunday

9 a.m. If you want to ski Big Sky’s signature line, the Big Couloir—a 50-degree, 1,400-­vertical-foot chute—hustle to the ski-patrol shack atop the Lone Peak Tram to check in and reserve a time slot. You’ll need a beacon, shovel, probe, and partner.

Alta Ski Area, Utah

Friday

4 p.m. Since opening last January, the 58-room Ìę(from $349) has brought a new level of luxury to the traditionally funky ski area of Alta.

Saturday

9:30 a.m. When ski patrol drops the rope on the High Traverse, off the Collins lift, be ready to charge. The locals don’t standÌęfor lollygagging on the single-file traverse. The vertical pitch of Alf’s High RustlerÌędrops you directly back to the Wildcat base area for the next lap.

1:15 p.m. , at theÌębase of the Collins lift, has an espresso bar with comfy couches, plus pizza and beerÌęin the saloon.

2:30 p.m. Tree skiing off the low-key Supreme chair never feels frenzied. After the short hike to Catherine’s Area, take your time skiing Sunset to Last Chance.

5:30 p.m. Pop into the Sitzmark Club at Ìęfor an aprĂšs hot toddy and snacks by the fireplace.

Sunday

8:45 a.m. Ski up to Alta Java, at the ­Albion base area, for a Susie’s Special—an espresso-boosted chai latte—and aÌęstrawberry waffle.

Friday

4 p.m. The A-frame, 215-room (from $135), near the main lodge, has the only hotel rooms that are walking distance to the Panorama Gondola.

Saturday

9:40 a.m. From the you can see the entire region, including Mount Lyell, the highest peak in Yosemite National Park. Enjoy the view as you cruise down Dave’s Run.

11 a.m. From the high-flying Chair 23, look for a figurine of the Incredible Hulk bolted to the rocks below. Then carve up the sheer, wind-buffed bowl nearby.

1 p.m. The Yodler, across the parking lot from the main lodge, has salted pretzels the size of pizzas.

3 p.m. If it’s a storm day and the upper mountain gets shut down, wind-protected Chair 22 is a storm skier’s dream.

9 p.m. The openedÌęin town last year to showcase localÌębeers. Sidle up to the bar to sample fourÌęnitro taps and chow down on a meat pie.

Sunday

8 a.m. , off Main Street, has acai bowls and breakfast burritos to go.

The post 36 Hours in Your Favorite North American Ski Towns appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Pro skier Cody Townsend is on aÌęmission right now to ski all 50 lines in the 2010 bookÌę. He’s one year and 20 lines into what he hopes is a three-year project, and he’sÌęlearned a ton so far. Townsend isn’t the only skier attempting all 50. Utah ski mountaineerÌę has been at it for decades and has currently done 30 of the descents. Some of the lines in the book feel practically impossibleÌędue to their remote and challenging terrain, whileÌęothers areÌęliterally disappearing due to climate change and rockfall. But a few are pretty attainable for the rest of us—albeit if you have proper backcountry-skiing experience and avalanche training. We asked Townsend and Howell for their input on the most doable lines in the book. Here’s what they recommended.

Mount Shasta, California

A good entry-level ski-mountaineering objective, 14,162-foot Mount Shasta is a volcanic peak at the southern end of California’s Cascade Range. You’ll spend many hours slogging up 7,200 vertical feet, and you’ll need an ice axÌęand crampons to ascend the peak’s steepest sections. The book cites the Avalanche Gulch route up Shasta, the most popular and straightforward thoroughfare for climbers and skiers come springtime.Ìę leads trips in April and May (from $145). Sleep in your car at the trailhead or post up atÌę, a hotel and hostel with on-site camping that opened lastÌęspring (camping from $40; bunks from $50; rooms from $110).

Tuckerman Ravine, New Hampshire

On the southeast flank of 6,288-foot Mount Washington, you’ll find a glaciated cirque called Tuckerman Ravine, a rite of passage for backcountry skiers in the Northeast. It may be the most popular line in the Fifty Classic Ski DescentsÌębook—this place gets packed on spring weekends. Park at the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, then strap skis to your backpack to hike the three miles along Tuckerman Ravine Trail to the base of the bowl. From thereÌęyou’ll have your choice of a number of classic lines.ÌęÌę(from $325) leads backcountry trips and instructional courses all around Mount Washington, including custom trips into Tuck’s. TheÌęÌę(from $70) at Pinkham Notch is open year-round and comes with breakfast, dinner, and guidebooks in the library.

Mount Superior, Utah

Drive up Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon on your way to Alta or SnowbirdÌęand you can’t miss Mount Superior, which towers over the road and beckons backcountry skiers with fresh powder after a storm. This popular Wasatch peak gets trampled with dawn-patrol skiers from Salt Lake City, but you can still find quiet corners and untracked lines in the steep, north-facingÌęCardiac Bowl or on South Face, which has lines like Little Superior, Suicide Chute, and Pinball Alley.ÌęÌę(day trips from $200) guides skiers down the southeast face of Superior. Stay at AltaÌęat theÌę (from $329), which is just steps from the trailhead.

Bloody Couloir, California

It’s a long approach to the base of 12,552-foot Bloody Mountain, in the eastern Sierra Nevada, before you even begin the haul up the peak’s signature north-facing couloir. You’ll spot this marquee line from Highway 395 as you’re heading south from the town of Mammoth Lakes. To get there, drive up a rough, four-wheel-drive-only road—if the snow is low enough—or hike or skin an additional five miles and over 2,200 vertical feet to reach the bottom of the 2,500-vertical-foot chute.Ìę will do private, custom day trips here for clients with enough backcountryÌęexperience (from $475).ÌęÌę(from $119) has 28 cabins and a restaurant just a few miles from the start of the route.

Seven Steps of Paradise, British Columbia

Rogers Pass is full of excellent ski-touring options. But Seven Steps of Paradise might just be the most classic and doable. You can see the line from the Trans-Canada Highway, making it a popular roadside tour. You’ll start atÌęHighway 1 at Rogers Pass, hikeÌęto the Asulkan Hut, and then top out on the headwall of 9,245-foot Young’s Peak, gaining over 5,000 feet in elevation along the way. Stay overnight at the Alpine Club of Canada’s backcountryÌęÌę(from $35), which will take you a few hours on skis to reach. Seven Steps of Paradise is easily accessed from the hut.Ìę leads group day trips all over Rogers Pass (from $299).

Silver Couloir, Colorado

Like many of the lines in the book, this one is hardly a well-kept secret. Despite the potential crowds you’ll find here, it’s still as aesthetic as a couloir gets. You can see the Y-shaped Silver Couloir on the northeast side of 12,777-foot Buffalo Mountain as you drive west through the Eisenhower Tunnel on Interstate 70 in Colorado’s Summit County. The 3,000-foot-long, relatively wide line reaches about 45 degrees in steepness.ÌęÌę(half-day trips from $220) will escort you there. Stay in the town of Silverthorne at theÌęÌę(from $70), a five-room lodge run by a backcountry skier.

The post The Most Accessible Big Lines to Ski This Winter appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

Planning a ski trip can be tricky. With so many enticing alternatives—California or Colorado? Utah or Quebec? Vermont or British Columbia?—it’s tough to know which resort to commit to. And given today’s collective deals, chances are your season pass works at a whole range of really cool places.

Q. Where can I go skiing with my family without emptying our savings?

A. Stevens Pass, Washington.

Less than two hours east of Seattle, Stevens—Vail Resorts purchased it in 2018—is getting two updated chairlifts this winter. It’s a great family destination, with extensive children’s ski programs and ample terrain for everyone. (You’ll be in powder off the 7th Heaven chair while your teens hit the jumps in the Top Phlight Terrain Park.) Bonus: kids ages six and under ski free. There’s no lodging on the mountain, so you stay a mere 35 miles away in the Bavarian-esque village of Leavenworth. Loge has cozy rental cabins (from $150; ), or get a room with bunk beds for the kids at Sleeping Lady Mountain Resort (from $232; ).

Info: Day tickets from $94; unlimited access with Epic Pass, from $699.

Q. Full disclosure: I’m in this for the aprùs. Which resort has the best bars?

A. Aspen Snowmass, Colorado.

Each of Aspen’s four mountains has its own unique aprĂšs scene. After tree-skiing the Hanging Valley Glades at Snowmass, order margaritas and guacamole at the slopeside Venga Venga Cantina. At Aspen Mountain, head to Ajax Tavern for cocktails and truffle fries after blowing out your quads with 3,267-foot gondola laps. Boot-pack Highland Bowl at Aspen Highlands and you’ll earn the killer pizza and craft beer at the Highlands Ale House. Or hit the groomers and terrain park at Buttermilk, followed by pulled-pork nachos at Home Team BBQ. Stay at the new Limelight Hotel Snowmass (from $300; ) for its bustling lounge.Ìę

Info: Day tickets from $139; five free days with Ikon Pass, from $749.

Q. Which ski area consistently has the most deep powder?Ìę

A. Alta, Utah.

We can’t guarantee you a powder day at Alta, but last winter this low-key Utah gem got over 625 inches of snow, and its 34-year average is 80 inches per month. In other words, the chances of face shots are high. When the snow is deep, make a beeline for the High Traverse or anywhere off the Supreme lift. Stay on the mountain—we like the Rustler Lodge (from $300; ), where dinner and breakfast are included—and you’ll snag first chair while everyone else is stuck in traffic. Crowd averse? leads backcountry tours out of the gates.Ìę

Info: Day tickets from $116; two free days each at Alta and Snowbird with , from $489.

Q. Which resort has the best early-season snow?

A. Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

has received more than 500 inches of snowfall in each of the past three years, and December and January tend to be good months in the Tetons, thanks to cold temperatures and an abundance of early-season storms. Plus, the resort offers discounted ski-and-stay packages and reduced ticket prices before mid-December. Want an insurance policy? The Antler Inn (from $80; townsquareinns.com) gives full refunds on rooms if more than half of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is closed for lack of snow.Ìę

Info: Early-season tickets from $99; five free days with , from $749.

Q. I’d love a nice hotel near the lifts, maybe a spa. Where should I go?Ìę

A. Stowe, Vermont.

Book a stay at the Lodge at Spruce Peak (from $229; ), Stowe’s premier slopeside hotel, and you’ll get a penthouse with a gas fireplace, a kitchen, and a fantastic view of the mountain. And yes, there’s a fabulous spa on the premises. (Try the CBD-oil massage to get the kinks out after a day of skiing.) You’re also steps from the village’s ice-­skating rink, restaurants, and of course some of the Northeast’s finest tree skiing and gondola laps. Topnotch Resort (from $189; ), a few miles down the road, has a great spa as well—it even offers in-room massages for your dog—and a free shuttle to the hill.

Info: Day tickets from $106; access with Epic Pass (blackout days apply), from $699.

Q. What’s the most accessible ski area that still feels remote?Ìę

A. Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Steamboat isn’t the closest resort to Denver (head for Echo Mountain if that’s what you’re after), but it’s a beautiful three-hour drive from the capital, and there are plenty of airport shuttles that’ll take you there. Or you can hop on one of 14 direct flights into Yampa Valley Airport, 28 miles from Steamboat’s perfect glades and cold-smoke powder. Once you arrive, you’ll have the resort’s 2,965 acres and 18 lifts virtually to yourself—crowds don’t exist here. Stay slopeside at the Steamboat Grand hotel (from $139; ), or grab a room at the Rabbit Ears Motel downtown (from $119; ), and a free bus will drop you at the hill.

Info: Day tickets from $115; five free days with Ikon Pass, from $749.

Q. I want an international experience but can’t make it to Europe. Where should I go instead?Ìę

A. Mont Tremblant, Quebec.

This resort in a charming French-Canadian village feels like the Alps, but it’s easier to get to—just a seven-hour drive from Boston or New York City. Ski impeccable groomers with views of the Laurentian Range, or sneak through the trees on Versant Soleil and stop for fondue at the midmountain Le Refuge du Trappeur. Afterward, have dinner at Choux Gras and dance to a DJ until 3 a.m. at Le P’tit Caribou. The on-mountain Lodge de la Montagne (from $115; ) has renovated rooms and a sauna.

Info: Day tickets from $75; unlimited access with Ikon Pass, from $749.

Q. Where can I ski steep lines and scare myself a little?Ìę

A. Big Sky, Montana.

We dare you to drop into Big Couloir, a nearly vertical chute that descends from the Lone Peak summit. Take note that you’re required to carry avalanche safety gear, check in with ski patrol beforehand, and ski with a partner. Or boot-pack the knife-edge ridge above the Headwaters lift and drop into Hellroaring or Firehole—steep, rocky shafts unlike anything you’ll find in-bounds at other resorts. That’s not to say there isn’t beginner and intermediate terrain: the lower mountain is chock-full of it. In town, Horn and Cantle has cocktails and a patio with blankets and heaters.

Info: Day tickets from $155; five free days with Ikon Pass, from $749.

Q. Where should I go if I don’t have a ski pass and want to get away from the crowds?Ìę

A. Sun Peaks, British Columbia.

Mega-passes like Epic and Ikon are great, but they’re also popular, which can mean long lift lines and rapidly skied-out terrain at member resorts. To escape the masses, head to in interior British Columbia. It’s still easy to get to—a 4.5-hour drive from Vancouver, or 50 minutes from the Kamloops Airport—and the place is massive, with 4,270 skiable acres across three mountains. Find powder stashes off Juniper Ridge, or sign up for a private tour of Gil’s, a backcountry-like zone that, along with other areas, became in-bounds terrain a few years back.

Info: Day tickets from $85.Ìę

Q. I’m new to backcountry skiing and want to get more into it. Where should I go?

A. Kirkwood, California.

Even in-bounds skiing at Kirkwood can feel like the backcountry, thanks to the resort’s empty slopes, remote location south of Lake Tahoe, and rugged, powder-filled terrain. But if you want to get guided out of the gates or educated in avalanche awareness, sign up for a course with Expedition: Kirkwood (half-day guided trips from $460; avalanche courses from $400). The Forest Service’s Robbs Hut ($65; recreation.gov), a cabin three miles into the backcountry near South Lake Tahoe, is a good first-timer’s hut-trip destination, with mountaintop views out the door.

Info: Day tickets from $106; unlimited access with Epic Pass, from $699.

Q. Where should I go If I love epic sidecountry and my sweetheart loves groomers?

A. Park City, Utah.

No need for an annulment. As the largest ski area in the United States, with 7,300 acres, has no shortage of high-quality groomed runs for the carving devotee (there are more than 120, in fact)and gates into the Wasatch backcountry for you. Join an Interconnect Tour with Ski Utah ($430; ) to get guided from resort to resort, or hire a backcountry guide from Inspired Summit șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍűs ($450; ). Afterward, reconvene at Twisted Fern in town for confit chicken wings and full-strength beer, and trade tales of the day’s escapades.Ìę

Info: Day tickets from $106; access with Epic Pass (blackout dates apply), from $699.

Q. What’s the best choice for a spring ski trip?

A. Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, California.

Thanks to heavy snowfall, Squaw offered skiing all the way into July in two of the past three seasons. But that’s not all that makes this place a veritable spring-skiing mecca. Events like the hilarious Pain McShlonkey Classic and the annual Cushing Crossing pond-skimming competition bring a festive vibe to springtime in Tahoe. Plus, Alpine Meadows’ ski patrollers employ what they call “cornology” to open and close terrain based on sun, wind, and temperature, preserving the best corn snow in the back bowls. Don’t miss aprĂšs pizza and beer on the patio of the Chamois at Squaw.Ìę

Info: Day tickets from $89; two free days with Mountain Collective Pass, from $489.

The post Where to Ski This Season appeared first on șÚÁÏłÔčÏÍű Online.

OK,Ìęit’s actually impossible to guarantee powder on a ski trip you’ve booked well in advance. The only way to do that is to keep one eye on the short-term Ìęand purchase a last-minute ticket to wherever is going to get hit next. But even then, there are variables. Will the resort open good terrain? Will your flight be canceled due to the storm? Will the storm bring inchesÌęrather than the reported feet? Don’t fret. There are a few trusted places where the perfect powder day lines up more often than not.

Alta, Utah

There’s a reason earnedÌęthe top spot onÌę, an independent site that grades ski resorts based on snowfall data and a custom algorithm to determine the best overall resorts. According to the site, 22 percent of ski days at Alta deliver more than six inches of new snow, and the resort gets a documented 521 inches of snow per yearÌęon average. Stay slopeside in Little Cottonwood Canyon—we like Alta’s (from $334)—and if you’re lucky, you’ll have the ski area to yourself when the access road closes from too much of the white stuff.

Turner Mountain, Montana

Chances are you’ve never heard of , located 23 miles north of the small Montana town of Libby. With just one double chairlift and around 800 acres, it’s not a huge ski area, but here’s what makes it worth a visit: Turner gets around 300 inches of snowfall per year, and it’s closed Monday through Thursday. Which means if you show up on a Friday morning after a storm, you’ll have a week’s worth of waist-deep snow waiting for you. Oh, and lift tickets cost just $38. The Evergreen Motel isn’t fancy, but it’s been recently renovated andÌęoffersÌęski-and-stay packages and free breakfast (from $59).

Grand Targhee, Wyoming

Located just over Teton Pass from Jackson Hole, actually gets more snow than its famed neighbor—around 500 inches on average, compared with 459 inches at Jackson Hole—and significantly less people. It also offers plenty of ways to score powder even if it hasn’t dumped for a while. Bootpack out to Mary’s Nipple, an inbounds zone you can only reach on foot that holds snow well after a storm, book a day on the backside of the resort, or sign up for the mountain’s first tracks program to get on the lifts an hour before everyone else. Stay slopeside at (from $220), and you’ll be set to snag first chair.

Silverton Mountain, Colorado

’s season is already off to a great start. Ski patrollers were scoring powder days in October, and the resort opened for heli-skiing in November. Plus, due to this throwback ski area’s single lift, minimal crowds, hike-to terrain, and high elevation (it tops out at 13,487 feet, the highest in the U.S.), it’s usually a good bet for finding powder. You’ll need to ski with a guide during the peak of the season, but they know the best spots to find soft snow. The recently updated has 14 rooms and a live music venue in the basement (bunks from $40).

Alpental, Washington

When the Pacific Northwest is having a good winter, there’s nowhere better to be than , especially bright and early on a Tuesday morning during a storm cycle. Why Tuesday? Because Alpental, the closest ski area to Seattle,Ìęis closed on Mondays, which means storms have a full day to pile up without any tracks. And: this area gets, on average, 428 inches of snow per year. Stay in a brand new loft at (from $350), next door to the new DruBru brewery and Commonwealth restaurant.

Kirkwood, California

locals call it the K-Factor.ÌęThere’s something in the air at this ski area, located 35 miles south of Lake Tahoe, that translates into massive amounts of snow. Maybe it’s the resort’s position on the Pacific Crest, or the peak elevation of 9,800 feet, but Kirkwood scores an average of 354 inches of snow per year. After a storm, you’ll find untracked powder in Sentinel Bowl and plenty of stashes in the trees off the Wall. The has condo-style rooms at the base of the mountain (from $155), or stay at the hip in South Lake Tahoe if you want to be closer to nightlife (from $98). Either way, don’t miss beers at the , at the end of the access road, after a powder day.

Whitewater, British Columbia

is perhaps best known for its food—the lodge’s famed Fresh Tracks CafĂ© serves up legitimately goodÌęhome-cooked fare. But Whitewater is also known for its powder: about 480 inches of light, dry fluff each year and little in the way of lift lines. Ski inbounds glades in Enchanted Forest or off Glory Ridge; the backcountry access is also top-notch. There’s no lodging at the hill, so book a room in the charming town of Nelson, 25 minutes away, at a spot like the (from $125).

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Name: Connie Marshall
Job: Director of Marketing and Public Relations at
Home Base: Sandy, Utah
Age: 65
Education: Sociology degree and history minor from Alma College, in Michigan

Connie Marshall was a recent college graduate when she received a rejection letter from the Peace Corps. A few months later, the 21-year-old packed up her suitcase, pulled on a nylon dress and hosiery, and moved from her hometown of Newark, Ohio, to Crested Butte, Colorado. Her cousin, a Utah native, was working at Crested Butte Mountain Resort and offered up her sofa. “Everyone was hardcore, in tune with this high-altitude life, and going to the bars every night. I was a fish out of water,” says Marshall.

Couch surfing in C.B. didn’t last long. Two weeks later, Marshall’s auntÌęinsisted that Marshall, still jobless, move to Alta, where she could apply for an open position at the ski area’s ticket office. Marshall got the gig and was promoted to director of ticket salesÌęa few seasons later, in 1977—before snowmaking existed. She had dabbled in skiing for years before moving West, but after a winter at Alta, she was addicted.

“I was not being a master of my own fate. Time eluded me and slipped away—the years rolledÌęby, because I was having a blast,” she says.ÌęÌę

Few icons have had as significant an impact on Alta’s history as Marshall: the two evolved together. By 1993, MarshallÌęhad co-developed the resort’sÌęfirst-ever marketing and PR department; Alta had never even bought an advertisement in a ski magazine before then. The role was natural. Marshall epitomized the homeyÌęvibeÌęthat made Alta a favorite of soÌęmany skiers.ÌęEvery lift operator and visitor recognized her monumental crown of hair, her pats on the back in the dining hall, and herÌęwideÌęsmile. We askedÌęMarshall about her four-decadeÌęcareer at Alta, upcoming retirement, and mountain life in Little Cottonwood Canyon.

On How Alta Has Evolved: “I used to wear bib overalls to work, and there weren’t name tags. There’s a dress code now, and you can’t have a pitcher of beer with [the ski patrollers] during the day. Alta has otherwise been timeless, a nod to how we’ve never been acquired. Alta was founded as a place for local skiers, is owned by families, and we pay cash for everything.”

On Life in the : “I fell in love with a group of spirited ladies: a minister in training, a Mormon, and one who was as wild as the day was long. We lived on nachos or spaghetti, walked in the moonlight, sipped whiskey, partied with the lift crew guys, and read together. I didn’t own a car for three years. We’d cross-country ski, break into old cabins, stay for the night. The majesty of the mountains entered my life.”

On Her Secret Stash: “Since the ‘80s, when the Supreme lift went in, I have spent 50 percent of my ski life in the upper reaches of the ski area boundaries in Albion Basin. Catherine’s Area is beautiful and perfect for wide-open powder lines.”

On Falling in Love in a Mountain Town: “My husband, George, was hired onto the lift crew by a buddy of his, in ‘79. We met at an avalanche center fundraiser at Snowbird. It was a slow start, we dated, and got married in ‘83. In the winter, we worked six days a week, and each Friday we’d freeski, go down valley to the Green Parrot, order margaritas, talk about solving global hunger and world peace. In the summer, we were involved in the early mountain running series. After work, we’d run up to Albion Basin and Secret Lake at 10,000Ìęfeet.”

On Becoming a Mom: “I was living the dream. I wanted to wait to have kids. Our first daughter was born when I was 35, in ‘88. We were on a road trip to visit family. I did a pregnancy test in a shabby motel in St. George. I bawled the whole drive home—I didn’t want to give up my carefree life. Then I had the most beautiful child. When I got pregnant the second time—with twins—in ’91, life drastically changed. The pregnancy was risky. I had pulmonary embolism and flatlined. A nurse needed to drive up the canyon three days a week to check my oxygen count. We decided to move down valley. My position was replaced in the ticket office, which was the right thing to do, but broke my heart. When I returned, I helped with group sales on an at-need basis and started assisting with marketing and PR tasks, which led to the department’s development. Moving was the best for the kids. We shared the mountain with them, but raised them in a more traditional way in the valley community.”

On Her Biggest Career Milestone: “Women were scarce in the ski industry, even in the ‘90s. I was the only female director at Alta to have children. The life-balance was hard to find, and peers saw my flexible schedule as special benefits. ButÌęI had to negotiate my hours, take a pay cut, and needed to leave by 5 p.m., or else I’d have daycare fees. And I was always the one waiting at the bottom of the canyon each morning for avalanche control. It helped to pioneer flex hours, which everyone now uses: parents and young, non-married staff.”

On Having a Resilient Community: “The tragedies we faced always brought our community closer together. Fortunately, there have not been many avalanche-related incidents at Alta Ski Area—one 12-year-old was killed by an avalanche. We faced hardships, like horrific injuries and suicide, as a close family. The toughest times for me were the mundane benchmarks like when I started commuting up canyon.”

On Passing the Torch: “I can’t believe how close to tears I am all the time. I count my lucky stars for the journey. We hired Brandon Ott, former Ski Utah director of content, to take my role—he’s a part of the third generation: When I was an eager 30-something, Alta’s leaders were retiring. Now, five of our 12 department heads are leaving this spring.”

On What’s Next: “I’ll sleep in past 5 a.m. and nordic ski at . I’ll serve on several boards—the Alta Chamber and Visitors’ Bureau, Westminster College scholarship fund, and Alta Community Enrichment arts nonprofit—and stay involved with the local chapter. I might apply for an administration position at the University of Utah—I still get nervous about spending.”

On the Importance of Staying Young: “The stimulation of working in the mountains and at a ski resort helps you stay healthy, strong, and internally young. I feel 20 years younger than I am, physically and mentally.”

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OverÌęthe past few years, ski companies have begun pouring R&DÌęmoney into alpine-touring bindings. Their goal: Create a model that'sÌęlight and efficient enough to tour in, but has the safety features and downhill performance of a traditional alpine binding.

Recently, some haveÌęgotten pretty close. Three years ago, Marker released the Kingpin, the first pin binding to incorporateÌęan alpine-style heel piece, which added strength and security to an efficientÌętouring platform. This year, FritschiÌęlaunched the Tecton, which alsoÌęhas an alpine heel, but features aÌępin toe-piece that, as with an alpine binding, releases laterally, allowing the boot to detachÌęfrom the ski in a crash.Ìę

Now there's the Ìę($650), a new touring binding created by Salomon and Atomic that claims to work equally well atÌęthe resort and in the backcountry. After spending two days using the S/Lab Shift at Alta, including a two-hour long skin, making turns in foot-deep powder, and racing down groomers, I'm inclined to agree with them.ÌęÌę

“The Shift is all about no compromises,” says pro skier and Salomon athlete Cody Townsend. “Essentially what we've createdÌęis aÌębinding thatÌętours with the efficiency of a pinÌębinding,ÌębutÌęskisÌędownhill with the security of an alpine binding. It's the holy grail of bindings.”

The Shift is what you'd get if a and a pin bindingÌęhad a kid. Made of aluminum and a proprietary carbon reinforced plastic, the Shift weighs only 865 grams per binding and has a DIN range of 6-13. It's also compatible with all boot norms, meaning it works with nearly every adult ski boot out there.ÌęIn touring mode, it uses pins forÌęefficiency. To transition toÌędownhill mode, just flipÌęa blue lever in the middle of the toe piece to fold the pins out of the way, and thenÌęthe toe piece clamps to the boot like a normal alpine binding. This is different than the Kingpin and Tecton, which use pins to secure the ski boot toe, even on the downhill. In back, the S/Lab Shift has an alpine style heel, very similar to that of Salomon's venerable STH2 alpine binding.Ìę

Most notably, the S/Lab ShiftÌęisÌęthe only non-frame touring binding to be TUV certifiedÌęto alpine safety standards. In other words, it's just as safe as any alpine binding. This is due, in part, to the 47 millimeters of elasticity, or flex, in the toe which helps it release smoothly during a crash so there's zero reason to lock it out. (For reference, normal pin bindings have zero elasticity while the STH2Ìęhas 52 millimeters of elasticity.)Ìę

At Alta, I started theÌęday with a two-hour skin to the top of the Supreme lift. The binding's 90-degree range of motion provided by the pins, plus the two risers set at two degrees and 10 degreesÌęmade it easy to move up steeper pitches and make kick turns. Although it wasn't revolutionary, overall the uphill felt good, like a normal pin binding.

The downhill is where the Shift truly shines, though I should note that transitioning to downhill mode takes some practice. There's an extra step to the process and it's different than any other binding, but after a few times it's easy to get the hang of. The best part was hearing the audible “click” when stepping into the binding in downhill mode. There was an immediate sense of security and confidence.Ìę

Early season conditions meant that even the best looking, powder-covered slopes were deceiving. I watched one tester skiÌędirectly into a snow-covered rock.ÌęThe binding ejected cleanly, sending him flying down the slope, unhurt.Ìę

On groomers, pin bindings feel different than alpine ones. The lack of elasticity makes pin models jarring and turning feels harsh and abrasive. After all, the only thing that's holding the toe of the boot areÌętwo small metal pins. The Shift, on the other hand, didn't have any of those issues. Pushing myÌęskis hard and making large, GS-style turns felt great. In fact, it felt exactly like an alpine binding.Ìę

There's no way these bindings can be perfect, but after two days of skiing them hard in varied conditions, it's hard to find something to complain about. They handled groomers and crud with ease and Townsend and fellow Salomon athlete Chris Rubens spun and flipped without hesitation. The S/Lab Shift won't be on sale until September 2018, so there are lots of opportunities for testing in the meantime.

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