I want to live and work in a mountain town this summer, but finding affordable housing is proving to be near impossible. Can you give me any tips or direction so I can turn this dream into reality? 鈥擜 Frustrated Flatlander

鈥淚 came for the winter and stayed for the summer鈥� is a common mountain-town refrain. That sentiment, combined with a pandemic-fueled real estate boom, has resulted in a dearth of affordable housing, both seasonal and permanent, in mountain towns across America.

In many small western communities like Steamboat Springs, Durango, and Snowmass, Colorado; Sun Valley, Idaho; and Mammoth Lakes, California, it used to be that employees and locals lived in houses, and tourists stayed in hotels. The reverse is now true: houses are monopolized by Airbnb and VRBO rentals and second homeowners, and some hotels are being purchased by ski resorts and converted to affordable employee housing.

Sadly, more and more essential jobs are going unfilled, some with six-figure salaries, because potential employees can鈥檛 find reasonably-priced rentals. As a result, many mountain towns are shifting their focus to year-round, affordable-housing programs. In Wyoming, for example, Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area helps to fill critical nursing and teaching positions by building homes for individuals and families making between 30 to 80 percent of the area鈥檚 median income.

What does this mean for seasonal workers? Here鈥檚 my advice for finding affordable summer housing in a mountain town.

Find Towns Working on Their Housing Shortages

Whitefish, Montana, the gateway to Glacier National Park, is one such place. Its , which supports full-time and seasonal employees, is funded in part by a added to local lodging, food, and transportation. Half of the contributions from its participants go to Housing Whitefish, a nonprofit that facilitates affordable housing.

Part of last year鈥檚 $52,000 allocation went toward a newly launched rental-assistance program, modeled after a similar one in . Over 12 months, Housing Whitefish will distribute a total of $64,620鈥攐r $5,385 a month鈥攖o 17 qualified applicants. (The money goes directly to the property owner or management company.)

The , which advocates for better options in the North Tahoe and Truckee, California communities, aims to add inventory for the local workforce through its recently launched Accessory Dwelling Unit pilot program. Homeowners are incentivized to add rental space that includes a bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen, and in return they receive assistance with building, permitting, and leasing processes.

Although the organization can鈥檛 help you find housing, it does direct prospective renters to resources through the .

In 2022, Breckenridge, Colorado, allocated $50 million to a five-year workforce housing plan to create some 1,000 new units. The town鈥檚 housing fund also receives money from a short-term rental fee requiring owners to pay a set amount for each bedroom they rent. The goal is for nearly half of the town鈥檚 workforce to live in Breckenridge, with a little over a third of the housing inventory reserved for locals.

In 2016, Aspen Skiing Co., the town鈥檚 largest employer, purchased six 280-square-foot tiny homes for about $100,000 each and put them in the Aspen-Basalt Campground for both summer and winter seasonal employees. The project was such a success that it now offers 69 tiny homes for hires, and for the first time this year has introduced units designed to accommodate year-round employees.听Units range from $550 to $750 a month, and summer leases are available from May 15 through October 31. The units currently have a waitlist for Aspen Skiing Company employees.

Employers in Sun Valley, including the Limelight Ketchum hotel, have also purchased tiny homes in the Meadows RV Park, 3.5 miles away, to rent to employees. Many of these programs run on an application system and most take enrollment for summer employees in March.

Land a Job Before You Head Out

Many large employers, notably ski resorts such as Aspen Snowmass, , and , Colorado, or , Vermont, offer housing or make an effort to help you find housing after you鈥檝e been hired. Sun Valley Resort, for example, has two dorm-style buildings with free laundry and fitness centers available for seasonal employees on a waitlist basis. Two-to-four-person accommodations range from $140 to $210 per person every two weeks. There鈥檚 also an option to pay day-to-day, starting at $10 a day.

Beyond ski resorts, places like offer town employees short-term seasonal rentals, for jobs at businesses like the recreation center or golf course, as well as rental-deposit-assistance programs.

Betsy Crum, housing director for the town of Snowmass Village, notes that winter housing is typically full, while there鈥檚 sometimes more housing available for summer workers.

Montana鈥檚 Big Sky Housing Trust has housing for up to 100 seasonal residents in four- and five-bedroom dorm-style configurations. These units are leased to local independent employers. Lone Mountain Land Company, another major employer in Big Sky, offers dorm-style housing for up to 400 seasonal residents employed by their entities.

Check Out These Helpful Housing Websites and Social Media Sites

Due to the huge demand for housing, many landlords avoid popular rental-listing sites Craigslist and Zillow. One resident seeking a new tenant for housing she has in Carbondale, Colorado, 30 miles from Aspen, didn鈥檛 publicly post a listing because she knew she鈥檇 be overwhelmed with calls. Instead, she put the word out quietly to friends and looked at posts from people in need of housing on a local Facebook group, .

In fact, local Facebook community groups or neighborhood-focused sites like often have rental listings you won鈥檛 find on larger, public sites like Craigslist. is a free site where you can find a roommate or a room available to rent within a house.

When posting that you鈥檙e seeking housing, be clear about your employment situation, desired rental dates, and budget. Younger people should present themselves as a mature, responsible option, preferably coming in with a job already secured. (For example: 鈥淗ello, I鈥檓 coming here to work for the Solar Institute and need a place to stay from mid-June through July that鈥檚 less than $600 a month.鈥�)

You might find success on , a housing marketplace for vacation towns that pays property owners to convert their homes to short- and long-term rentals for the local workforce. Mountain destinations include Woodstock, Vermont; Truckee and South Lake Tahoe, California; Wood River Valley, Idaho; East Placer County, California; and Eagle County, Colorado.

Finally, is a membership-based platform (starting at $10.75 a month) where you can find house-sitting or pet-sitting gigs.

Consider 5 More Resources

1. Look at a Town鈥檚 Website

Many communities offer housing programs or partner with local nonprofits or housing authorities, like the , to administer programs. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always worth a call to any city鈥檚 housing development and housing authority to see if they have resources,鈥� says Daniel Sidder, executive director of Housing Whitefish.

2. Embrace Camping or Vanlife

In Colorado, and have options for free car camping for a season. You can shower at local rec centers.

3.听Cruise the Town

Some good old-fashioned neighborhood drive-bys to spot 鈥淔or Rent鈥� signs posted outside of apartments, on community boards at grocery stores, or in coffee shops can lead to deals, too.

4. Talk to Locals

Lindsay Nohl, 46, enjoyed free communal housing in Tucson, Arizona, while working as the director of NOLS Southwest. But when the campus closed during Covid, she moved to Teton Valley, Idaho. Recently, she made her eighth move in four years, as landlords continue to increase prices or start to rent their properties on Airbnb.

Her go-to strategy for finding cheap housing on the fly? Word of mouth. Another lesson: be flexible. Even though Nohl hasn鈥檛 had a roommate in two decades, she鈥檚 now paying $1,000 a month to share a two-bedroom, 800-square-foot house so she can remain in Teton Valley for the summer.

5.听Scan Newspaper Classifieds

You might come across opportunities to pet-sit or nanny. Or working as a property manager can also lead to free or affordable housing.

Weigh Your Options

The last thing you should consider, Flatlander, is which mountain towns are too pricey or too popular. For example, Steamboat, Aspen, and Telluride, Colorado, as well as Jackson, Wyoming, and Big Sky, Montana, have reputations as luxury vacation escapes, which means housing is in high demand and the cost of living will be greater there than in lesser-known but more economical mountain towns like Le Grande, Oregon, and Reno, Nevada. Or even Laramie, Wyoming, which has a lot going for it.

Many seasonal jobs pay minimum wage, which varies from state to state. In Utah and Wyoming, for example, the federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, while Montana pays $10.30 an hour, Colorado $14.42 an hour, and California $16 an hour.

You should also consider free services offered by the mountain town you鈥檙e considering. Aspen is expensive, but it offers free public transportation, which is another way to help save on costs.

Spending a summer working in a mountain town can be one of the best experiences of a young person鈥檚 life. I hope my advice lands you good, affordable housing. I鈥檒l be pulling for you.

Travel-advice columnist Jen Murphy has scored affordable rent by offering free travel tips to her landlord, as well as volunteering to take out the building鈥檚 trash cans on garbage day and maintain the gardens.听

The post Summer Work in a Mountain Town: Dreamy. The Rent: Not So Much. appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

On a bluebird day last March, Tessa Dawson carved graceful telemark turns down Walsh鈥檚, a double black diamond run on the eastern flank of Aspen Mountain, known as Ajax by locals. Six inches of new snow coated the hill. About halfway down, she pulled over to a boundary rope and pointed toward a stretch of pines and untouched snow that tumbled at a perfect pitch down the northeast side of Ajax. The Roaring Fork River snaked through the valley below. Dawson was showing me Hero鈥檚, 153 acres of prime chutes, glades, and trails that Aspen will unveil in December, upping Ajax鈥檚 inbounds鈥� acreage by over 20 percent. It鈥檚 the most exciting thing that鈥檚 happened on the mountain since the Silver Queen gondola debuted in 1985.

Named as a tribute to some of the legendary figures who shaped Aspen into the place it is today鈥攊ncluding Jim Crown, of the family that owns Aspen Skiing Co, who passed away last summer鈥擧ero鈥檚 is a nine-million-dollar project that鈥檚 been decades in the making and will serve up 19 double black chutes, four main expert runs, and three intermediate gladed zones dropping over 1,220 vertical feet and serviced by a new high-speed quad. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great opportunity to take advantage of some phenomenal terrain,鈥� said Dawson, a 15-year veteran ski patroller whose long, blond braid was coated in frost after a morning spent mitigating avalanche hazards.听

Not only is Hero鈥檚 a win for skiers, but it鈥檚 also insurance of sorts for climate-impacted winters. 鈥淎 large driving factor in opening it was how do we deal with the ever-evolving climate?鈥� said Dawson. The answer for Aspen came, in part, in the form of Hero鈥檚 and its stash of shady, high-mountain terrain, which sits above 10,000 feet and will hold snow as temperatures rise. 鈥淚t鈥檚 largely north and northeast-facing,鈥� Dawson explained. 鈥淪o, as we get warmer and the base area may see more rain events, this will help us with climate change and keep us skiing longer.鈥澨�

听 听 听 听Also Read: 听

Resorts around the world are already suffering the impacts of climate change. Winters are getting warmer, and storms are becoming more violent but less frequent. While Alta, Utah was slammed with over 75 feet of snow last winter, closing the resort for days at a time, photos last January of the Swiss Alps showed green alpine meadows where snow-covered ski slopes should have been. The International Olympic Committee recently expressed concerns about declining options for viable Winter Games hosts. ski season across the U.S. is projected to shrink by 50 percent. In 50 years, coastal and low-lying resorts will likely cease to exist. 鈥淲ithout drastic changes I believe the ski industry will look radically different in 50 years,鈥� said Auden Schendler, Aspen Skiing Co鈥檚 senior vice president of sustainability.

As a result, resorts are starting to take action. In 2019, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort began powering all of its on-mountain operations by wind power. Seven years earlier, Aspen Ski Company partnered with Holy Cross Energy to convert methane from a defunct coal mine an hour away into usable energy. The coal mine now generates enough power annually to power ASC鈥檚 four resorts, as well as its hotels and restaurants.

But, for the most part, these climate mitigating actions largely amount to little more than installing energy efficient lightbulbs in resort facilities, ramping up snowmaking and making it more energy efficient, and diversifying revenue streams geographically and business-wise. Cue Vail Resorts global takeover and the addition of ziplines, alpine slides and mountain bike parks to ski hills worldwide. Real change, says Schendler, will require systemic solutions.

With Hero鈥檚, Aspen Skiing Co. is making a different play in that they鈥檙e implementing changes on the mountain that skiers can see, feel, and enjoy鈥� a move that鈥檚 likely a glimpse of what鈥檚 to come industry wide. But Hero鈥檚 wasn鈥檛 Aspen鈥檚 first climate change-inspired terrain modification. About ten years ago, Aspen Skiing Company moved some of Snowmass鈥檚 beginner terrain from the bottom of the mountain to the top of the Elk鈥檚 gondola at over 11,000 feet. Aspen, it seems, has always been one step ahead of its competition.

For the most part, the community supported Hero鈥檚, though a small constituency opposed it. Some grumbled about making public a beloved insider鈥檚 powder stash. Others cited environmental concerns and wondered why it was necessary to add more acreage to Aspen Skiing Company鈥檚 collective 5,527 acres spread over four mountains. In a 2021 presentation about the project, one local complained that SkiCo was adding to climate change, not ameliorating it, by removing trees from the forest, which she said, 鈥渕ade no sense,鈥� according to the

Nonetheless, many locals look forward to the day the boundary rope on Hero鈥檚 will drop. 鈥淚t鈥檚 fantastic terrain for anyone who loves steeps. I鈥檓 looking forward to completion,鈥� said Aspen native Johno McBride, former U.S. Ski Team men鈥檚 coach.

Back on the mountain, Dawson and I discuss the future of skiing and what that might hold for Aspen. 鈥淲e all love skiing and that鈥檚 why we鈥檙e here. We also understand that it鈥檚 impactful,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o, we鈥檙e trying to be creative in how we approach this industry and our impact and the future.鈥� It鈥檚 a hard balance to strike, but for the moment, it鈥檚 one Aspen seems to have accomplished: innovating novel approaches to fighting climate change off the mountain while trying to guarantee a future for skiing on it. Then, Dawson鈥檚 walkie talkie crackled alive, and she had to go. She turned her skis downhill and, moments later, disappeared into a cloud of cold smoke. For the moment, winter in Aspen was in full force.

If You Go鈥�

Hero鈥檚 isn鈥檛 the only addition to Aspen this season. From new apr猫s spots to spas, here are five new, not-to-missed offerings in one of the world鈥檚 best ski towns.

After a 10-year, 50-million-dollar-renovation, the old Molly Gibson will reopen in December as the a four-star lodge with 68 rooms, a rooftop pool, and a slick cocktail lounge with a menu designed by the folks from the Denver speakeasy Death & Co.

In December, Colorado鈥檚 oldest whiskey distillery Stranahan鈥檚 debuts a new tasting room on Aspen鈥檚 pedestrian mall overlooking Wagner Park. Complete with alpine-inspired bites, craft cocktails, and drams of its signature American single malt whiskey, Stranahan鈥檚 promises to be a staple of Aspen鈥檚 tippling scene.

unveils The Spa at the Little Nell, a 5,000-square-foot facility that features a state-of-the-art workout room, four treatment suites, infrared sauna, innovative skin care offerings, and the latest advances in performance and recovery treatments. Try the Flow, a 75-minute Swedish style massage that uses warm herbal compresses and high-performance botanicals to ease aches and pains鈥攖he perfect antidote after a day on Aspen鈥檚 steeps.

In a land of $80 entrees, the Bar Under Cooper and Kitchen, aka the Buck, will offer affordable鈥攂y Aspen standards鈥攄rinks and bar food in hopes of becoming locals鈥� preferred apr猫s ski spot. Look for daily drink specials, six beers on tap, and tables from the shuttered Red Onion, which have ski passes of longtime Aspen locals embedded in the tabletops.听

Further afield in Snowmass, Viewline will partner with Moet & Chandon to host daily daily, slopeside apr猫s-ski parties starting December 23 and featuring discounted bubbly, deals on food, and, Thursday through Sunday, a live DJ.

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St. Patrick鈥檚 Day lasts about a week in Breckenridge, Colorado. Wear green on the mountain, hear live music, look around town for specials, like the all-you-can-eat Irish buffet. Green beer, blue skies. Spring breakers and other people plan trips around such fun events and festivals.

Recently, a deadly spring-vacation accident, this one on St. Patrick’s Day, broke our hearts, and it involved someone just trying to be outdoors, healthy, and active. As reported in the and confirmed to 国产吃瓜黑料 by Wanda Wilkerson of the Summit County Sheriff鈥檚 Office, on March 17 a visitor died after falling from a chairlift at the Breckenridge ski resort. John Perucco, 60, of Elgin, Illinois, was on the Zendo Chair when he fell 25 feet onto a hard-packed slope. He was trying to brush snow from the chair when he slipped, and according to the sheriff’s office听had not yet put the safety bar down.

In a statement to 国产吃瓜黑料, Vail Resorts confirmed the accident (but didn’t share details on if the safety bar was up or down) and wrote that the skier was 鈥渢ransported to Saint Anthony Summit Medical in Frisco, Colo., and after further emergency care and evaluation, was pronounced deceased.鈥�

Jody Churich, vice president and chief operating officer at the resort, was quoted as saying: 鈥淏reckenridge Ski Resort, Ski Patrol and the entire Vail Resorts family extend our deepest sympathy and support to our guest鈥檚 family and friends.鈥�

鈥淏ar down?鈥�

Some skiers ask this question as the ride up begins to anyone they’re sharing a chairlift with. I have generally liked having the safety bar down; it provides a footrest and sometimes, on the armrest, a trail map鈥攚hich I need at Snowmass, a vast mountain I still barely know despite having lived in the Aspen, Colorado, area for decades.

The recent death at Breckenridge, in addition to others I’ve read about over the years, got me thinking: why don鈥檛 we all put the bar down? Meaning, as a hard rule and with a conviction I haven鈥檛 seen or felt over a lifetime of skiing.

I haven鈥檛 put it down every time I ride a lift and often don’t even think about it. Did all lifts have safety bars when I first started skiing in Pennsylvania and Maryland back east at age 13? No鈥攁nd some still don鈥檛.

One friend who is 6-foot-3 says he usually doesn鈥檛 bring the bar down because it bonks him on the head. Others online cite similar ergonomic cons. One guy said he was nailed in the crotch by a bar鈥檚 vertical divider when a petite woman reached back and thunked the thing down unannounced.

Bars can be awkward or heavy. But really, using the bar every time comes down to creating a habit.

Bar use is encouraged but not mandatory in most ski areas in North America. It is law in Vermont.

Yet on chairlifts, we skiers and snowboarders glide 25, 50, and 100 feet above ski trails, rocks, trees, and other humans. Falls are rare and are often due to user error, but freak things can happen; lifts bounce, gusting winds roar in.

What if anyone I was with鈥攐r I鈥攂ecame ill or faint, and started sliding off? I鈥檝e seen someone suddenly pass out while standing on flat ground, because she was unused to altitude (and also hungover and dehydrated). A person can be hurt or worse by falling a short distance, and lifts get high fast.

A 2001-02 through 2011-12 by the National Ski Areas Association attributed 86 percent of all chairlifts falls to skier error and 4 percent to medical issues, with just 2 percent as the result of mechanical or operator error.

So maybe that takes us back to the which stipulates that you must be able to use lifts safely. Consider that a bar won鈥檛 prevent disaster, but surely it could only help.

Say you drop your pole or a glove and instinctively reach to grab it? Maybe the bar would stop you or restore your senses. As say, 鈥淟et it fall!鈥� What about the beginner or drunk person who might accidentally knock you off? Things happen. We ride with strangers.

a 31-year-old with mental-health issues pushed a stranger 20 to 25 feet off the Loge chair at Aspen Highlands Ski Resort over a perceived (unintended) insult. The incident occurred just past the last lift tower, before the exit and bull wheel. The victim, age 28, landed uninjured in soft snow. It was a powder day, thank heavens.

This year has already marked a change for me. Skiing over the holidays at the impressive Palisades resort in Tahoe, California, where one of our sons lives, I could see with fresh eyes how high above the steeps and granite cliffs our chair was. You bet I pulled the bar down.

It is our option as users whether or not to use it, so let鈥檚 choose it.

Look how easily many of us have changed other habits over the years. None of us used to wear a ski or bike helmet. At first I found it hard to get used to a ski helmet; that took about one day. Now I wear them without thinking about it. Everybody I know does. They鈥檙e warm, too.

I never wore seatbelts growing up, either. Did our station wagon even have them in the back seat? On long drives to ski, my siblings and I would lie in the way back on sleeping bags spread over suitcases.

Later I spent a year at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, where a billboard campaign featured pictures of people鈥檚 stitched-up or scarred faces, with the words, 鈥淚f only I had worn my seatbelt.鈥� Sometimes an image or a certain reminder is all it takes, to form a habit way into the future.

鈥淏ar down鈥� could be a campaign. This past weekend, skiing at my home area of Aspen Highlands,听I found it easier said than done: even after announcing my new plan to my husband and our friend (both were amenable, and neither helped at all), I forgot until halfway up on three of the nine or so runs we took. Still, if I keep trying, and pass it on, and you do, it could go into the future.

Just ask your fellow lift riders before lowering, and do it slowly, please.

Alison Osius is a senior editor at 国产吃瓜黑料. She learned to ski at Elk Mountain, Pennsylvania, with family trips to several areas in Vermont; worked as a ski instructor at the Middlebury Snow Bowl; put in a ski-job (cashier) stint at Snowbird, Utah; and now lives, skis, and vows to put the bar down in Western Colorado.

Here鈥檚 Where We’ll Be Skiing in Late Spring鈥攁nd Maybe Even Into Summer

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In Aspen, Colorado, and other alpine communities, the future depends on making sure the weirdos and oddballs are still welcome. That鈥檚 what gets concerned locals the most animated: any suggestion that their neighborhoods are becoming exclusive playgrounds for the rich, forcing out the gonzo characters that help make them so special. What鈥檚 needed, according to planning experts and many longtime residents, are smarter growth strategies that include affordable housing, increased transportation options, and forward-thinking management of public lands. For this episode, we take a walk around Aspen and ask what it鈥檒l take to get such things done.

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The death of Bob Braudis, Pitkin County鈥檚 six-term elected sheriff from 1985 until 2010, was no shock. He was only 77, but color had drained from his cheeks; he talked more slowly, breathing heavily between words; and he had begun walking with a cane. Bob was a friend, but not a tight friend. We exchanged emails over local columns I wrote, and usually talked at gatherings where we both happened to be. There was no apparent reason for feeling heartbroken, but when I heard the news I sighed deeply and rubbed my eyes to hold back tears. Bob鈥檚 memorial service drew hundreds to the Benedict Music Tent on the famous Aspen Institute campus. Nobody has that many close friends. Only those who create widespread connections attract such congregations.

Bob, a long-haired, six-foot-six gentle giant, was the epitome of an Aspen character. Joe DiSalvo, his close friend and successor as sheriff, told me a story that captured Bob鈥檚 free, exuberant spirit, from years ago when ESPN was 鈥渋nterviewing Aspen鈥� to see if it was a worthy locale for the X-Games.

鈥淏ob and I went to meet some ESPN suits at Highlands. One of the execs shook Bob鈥檚 gigantic hand. The exec asked, 鈥楪eez, where鈥檇 you get those hands?鈥� Bob replied, 鈥楾hey came with my dick.鈥欌�� Aspen has hosted the ESPN Winter X-Games for two decades running.

The sadness I felt was for certainly, but it was also over the loss of the wacky individualism he took from this world and, more acutely, the town. Bob was the latest on a long list of original Aspen characters now gone, from the truly famous, like John Denver and the gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, to local oddballs like the serial letter-to-the-editor author Pete Luhn, who wrote almost daily, seemingly only to provoke fights with other readers, and lesser-known old-timers today immortalized by eponymous local landmarks. Puppy Smith Street is the namesake of Harold Smith, a career City of Aspen streets-department employee who once remarked to a couple of kids that the puppies they were selling for a dollar each were so ugly they鈥檇 have to pay him to take one, at which point they handed over a pup and a buck. No Problem Bridge is named for Joe Candreia, who was known for a front-yard junk collection next to his garden, where he claimed he could grow anything, 鈥渘o problem.鈥� The ski run called Felip鈥檚 Leap on Highland Bowl honors a local waiter, Henry Felip, who drove a 1948 Willy鈥檚 Jeep Truck, electing to wear goggles instead of sunglasses, and took all dares to ski any mountain chute or kayak any section of a river, which ultimately resulted in his death on a stretch of whitewater rapids on the Crystal River called Meat Grinder during spring runoff.

Both DiSalvo and his former brother-in-law, Michael Buglione, who were in the midst of a heated sheriff鈥檚 election, were at the memorial. While the two rivals appeared to be similar in their commitment to upholding Aspen鈥檚 historically progressive and humane approach to illegal drug use鈥攚hich basically posits that adults can decide for themselves, we have to protect kids, and addicts shouldn鈥檛 be put in jail鈥攖he election was essentially about convincing voters who was most like Braudis. Also at Bob鈥檚 service was Mick Ireland, Aspen鈥檚 quixotic one-time-or-another mayor, reporter, county commissioner, attorney, distance runner, city councilperson, cyclist, and columnist. DiSalvo had somehow gotten crosswise with Ireland during the campaign, and the loss of his support was probably what would cost him the close election.

Slumped on my front porch that afternoon waiting out a thunderstorm, I wondered how the Aspen Times journalist Mary Eshbaugh Hayes would have viewed Braudis鈥檚 passing. Renowned for her keen observations, Hayes covered Aspen society for 45 years, until her death at 86 in 2015. She wrote about everything without aiming to please anyone. She was an Aspen iconoclast who could distinguish between phonies and free spirits. Hayes could have told me what I really wanted to know: Is anyone coming to replace the characters Aspen is losing?

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Aspen, Colorado, is one of those fabled places鈥攍ike Banff or Chamonix or Kitzb眉hel鈥攖hat everyone wants to see, if only once. In Aspen, the draws include cascading white snow above a jewel-like town; the early ski history; the melding of mountain sports and culture; the music festival and the writers鈥� conference and the Aspen Institute. And the musicians and movie stars, though we鈥檙e not sure even they can afford it there anymore.

I remember seeing a guy on a cross-country ski trail who I smiled at, out of habit (he smiled back鈥攊t was a beautiful day), and then stared at, thinking, Did we go to high school together? Then realizing it was Wyatt Earp, I mean Kurt Russell. As a longtime local who now lives downvalley, I always enjoyed seeing the glitterati. Martina Navratilova on a panel of women in sports, and she was honest and great. Peter Dinklage at the airport. Kate Hudson hanging out. Even John Denver, long ago. I鈥檓 afraid I would not recognize the Kardashians, though, even if I sat in the gondie with them.

Now you, too, can be part of the fabulousness. The Aspen Ski Company recently did something it has never done before: ask for public input to help name the trails on Aspen Mountain (aka Ajax), which will be home to a new 153-acre area called Pandora, with all terrain above 10,000 feet, opening to skiers and snowboarders in the 2023-2024 season.

The solicitation, shared by the , asks that you 鈥渟ubmit one or more suggestions that fall in the category of local people, local history, mining history, notable terrain, or Greek mythology.鈥�

Greek mythology? Hey, I saw Jason and the Argonauts once. Let鈥檚 do this.

Myths and Legends

Daedalus Drop

Atlas Shredded

Dawn Patrol of Sisyphus

Face of Aphrodite

Corinthian Cornice

Helen of T-Bar

Herc鈥檚 Headwall

Persephone Alley

Atalanta鈥檚 Run

Apollo Speed

Zeus Chute, which would be side by side with the Hera Highway

Hades Glades

Minotaur Maze (tree trail)

Charybdis Couloir (verrry narrow)

Odysseus Off-Piste (he certainly went off now and then)

Prometheus Out of Bounds

Icarus (bring your sunscreen)

Mining History

Airborne Survey

Agglomeration Station

Base Metal (base restaurant)

Master Blaster (or: Conglomerate Bomber)

Smelter Shelter (warming hut)

Local Lore

Sheriff’s Way (for Bob Braudis, the long-haired, six-term sheriff who once approached a hostage taker unarmed, leading to a peaceful outcome that remains a case study for law-enforcement professionals)

Skiing at 100 (this one honors the centenarian Klaus Obermeyer)

Andy Mill Hill (for an Olympian, one of a long list of 鈥檈m around Aspen, who can be seen returning his cart to the grocery store like anyone else)

The Cher Chair (for the new lift; Cher once had a 鈥渓og cabin鈥�/chalet in Aspen)

Rocky Mountain High Traverse (for who else but 鈥�)

Only in Aspen

It’s where you think of Hunter S. Thompson, high rollers, flashy parties, and excess鈥攁ll of it, of course, amid the backdrop of mountains and great skiing. The steep and deep. So 鈥�

Gonzo Gulch

Whiteout

Movie Moguls

Billionaires鈥� Bowl

One of the most fun things I ever did in Aspen was attend a ski-club screening of a modern movie classic. Before the show, which took place in the Wheeler Opera House (est. 1889), anyone present who had been involved鈥攕ay, as an extra in the hilarious ski-school hiring scene鈥攚as asked to stand up. A dozen people did.

So let鈥檚 finish with, of course:

Aspen Extreme.

Enter your trail names 听Due end of day October 21.

Postscript

As of October 21, friends have sent in more (you have probably thought of your own as well) proposed names. We must share:

Achilles Hill

Oedipus Wrecks

Sirens’ Draw (you knew better)

And (remembering this all began with Pandora, there is, for that double-trouble black diamond): Abandon All Hope

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Perched on skis at the top of Bullion King Basin, I admired a wide barrel of spring corn glistening below me. I鈥檇 been waiting for this moment. It was my reward for suffering through a five-hour traverse between two backcountry cabins in southwest Colorado鈥檚 San Juan Mountains. We started that morning at the near Ophir Pass, just west of Silverton, which we鈥檇 skinned up to the previous afternoon. Now we prepared to descend to Highway 550 on Red Mountain Pass, the second day of a new five-day, 27-mile adventure between three luxurious huts in the range.

As I pushed off the ridge and embraced the lightness of gliding down perfectly softened corn, my worries dissolved. No longer was I feeling the burn of a newly formed ankle blister or the hunger pangs brought on by my failure to pack enough snacks. I tucked into my turns with little effort, arcing down one of America鈥檚 most spectacular backcountry skiing playgrounds, knowing that a hot meal and a shower awaited that night.

Multiday ski tours between full-颅service cabins, which allow guests to travel light and fast and sample big-mountain turns along the way, have existed in Europe, Canada, and other great ranges around the world for years鈥攎ost notably, the Haute Route between Chamonix, in France, and Zermatt, in Switzerland. But in the U.S., hut-to-hut skiing has mainly been a DIY endeavor. You had to bring your own food, prepare your own meals, and be strong enough to skin long stretches under the weight of a 40-to-50-pound pack. As outdoor enthusiasts in greater numbers 颅discover the magic of backcountry skiing, and demand grows for well-stocked refuges, that鈥檚 starting to change, especially in the San Juans.

The post This New Backcountry Ski-Hut System Is Epic appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

Welcome to What You Missed,听our daily digest of breaking news and topical perspectives from across the outdoor world. You can also get this news delivered to your email inbox six days a week by for the What You Missed newsletter.听

Snow guns are working overtime across the country.

From Vermont to California, ski resorts are relying on man-made snow in order to open for Thanksgiving weekend amid unseasonably warm and dry fall conditions in many regions.

In Killington, Vermont, on the Superstar slope will allow this weekend鈥檚 Alpine World Cup races to occur. In Utah, crews are to coat barren trails, since making artificial powder snow is less energy-efficient and the heavy stuff makes for a better base.听

In Summit County, Colorado, four ski resorts鈥擟opper Mountain, Keystone, Breckenridge, and Arapahoe Basin鈥攁re relying almost entirely on man-made snow in order to open for the historically busy weekend. , there are now 25 open ski trails between the four resorts鈥攐ne more than was open in 2020 for Thanksgiving.

In Dillon, a town at the center of Summit County, the snowfall measures just five inches, compared to 10.9 inches at this time last year. Warm daytime temperatures have also forced resorts to make snow almost entirely at night.

Artificial snowmaking鈥檚 impact on the environment has , as more resorts now rely on man-made snow to overcome rising temperatures. Advancements in technology and techniques purport to limit snowmaking鈥檚 use of water and energy, but the practice still comes with a major impact: snowmaking systems tend to be the largest consumers of electricity at most ski resorts.

Making snow is also labor-intensive, and crews in Vermont typically work five 13-hour shifts each week. Perhaps that鈥檚 why some ski resorts quickly enough to meet demand this year.

And that storyline could receive global attention in the coming months. The upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing will rely heavily on manufactured snow, as China鈥檚 National Alpine Ski Centre in Yanquing鈥攕ite of the alpine ski and snowboard events鈥�.

Triathlon鈥檚 First Black Female Pro

Head over to The New York Times听and read , the first African American woman to earn her professional license in triathlon. The story chronicles Henry鈥檚 rise in the sport, and her efforts to overcome a terrifying bicycle crash in 2019 that nearly ended her career.

The story also examines triathlon鈥檚 struggles with diversity, something that other endurance sports also face. Less than 2 percent of USA Triathlon鈥檚 annual members are Black. One hurdle is access to triathlons. Another challenge听is linked to swimming鈥� that drowning are disproportionately high, which researchers tie to

But efforts are underway to make triathlons less white. Dr. Tekemia Dorsey, USA Triathlon鈥檚 only Black female board member, spearheaded a program to start triathlon groups at historically Black colleges and universities.

Wipeout Wednesday

We encourage you to charge the Thanksgiving dinner spread like he charged this wave.

Member Exclusive

鈥�How to Cook a Turkey over Charcoal鈥� Grilling your turkey adds complexity to your Thanksgiving preparation, but it also brings layers of tastiness. 国产吃瓜黑料

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鈥�鈥� This documentary goes inside the 2021 Belgian Waffle Ride. 国产吃瓜黑料TV

鈥�鈥� Add some oomph to your swim workout with this fast and fun set. Triathlete

鈥�鈥� The purpose-driven holiday is on November 24, and this guide can help you find the right businesses to check out. Ski

鈥溾�� Gear editor Travis Engel explains how this rig helped usher in the era of aggressive short-travel trail bikes. Beta

The post What You Missed: Ski Resorts Reliant on Snowmaking for Thanksgiving appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

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

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

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

Top 30 Resorts in the West

30. Palisades Tahoe, California

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

29. Solitude Mountain Resort, Utah

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

28. Snowbird Resort, Utah

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

27. Alta Ski Area, Utah

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

26. Heavenly Mountain Resort, California

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

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What Readers Say

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

25. Big Sky Resort, Montana

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

24. Keystone Resort, Colorado

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

23. Revelstoke Mountain Resort, B.C.

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

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What Readers Say

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

22. Mammoth Mountain, California

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

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What Readers Say

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

21. Crested Butte Resort, Colorado

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

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What Readers Say

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

20. Vail Mountain, Colorado

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

19. Loveland Ski Area, Colorado

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

18. Arapahoe Basin, Colorado

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

17. Breckenridge Resort, Colorado

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

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What Readers Say

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

16. Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado

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

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What Readers Say

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

15. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming

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

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What Readers Say

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

14. Lake Louise Resort, Alberta

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

13. Park City Resort, Utah

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

12. Winter Park Resort, Colorado

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

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

What Readers Say

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

11. Copper Mountain, Colorado

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

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What Readers Say

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

10. Steamboat Resort, Colorado

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

9. Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana

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

(Photo: Grant Gunderson)

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

8. Snowbasin Resort, Utah

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

7. Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

6. Telluride Ski Resort, Colorado

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

5. Banff Sunshine, Alberta

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

4. Whistler Blackcomb, B.C.

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

3. Aspen Snowmass, Colorado

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

2. Deer Valley Resort, Utah

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

1. Sun Valley Resort, Idaho

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

Read the resort review and get trip-planning tips:

What Readers Say

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

The post Resort Guide 2022 Is Here: These Are the Top 20 Ski Resorts in the West appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.