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This winter, thousands of people will head to Colorado and other Western states to hit the slopes. Even if you’ve already booked your flights, accommodations and lift tickets, you can still do a few things to make your vacation more fun and relaxing, and less stressful. Sure, you can’t control Mother Nature and guarantee great powder. But, if you take advantage of a few helpful services, build a smart itinerary, and protect yourself from the elements, you’ll make the most of your trip. As you’re prepping for your next ski trip, consider the following tips offered by ski resort employees and veteran travelers. Skip the Car Rental & Hire a Ride If you’re headed to a ski area out West, you probably don’t need to rent a car, unless your destination is especially small and remote, or you just want the freedom to drive around and explore. From the airport, you can reach most ski villages and towns via shuttles offered by hotels, ski resorts, private limo services, or even outfits like Uber. Once you arrive in town, you can explore the ski village and local area by using local shuttles and buses, which are often free or cheap. Also,…

It's no secret that the music you’re listening to can have a profound effect on your powder experience. Disagree? Try listening to “I Write the Songs” by Barry Manilow as you drop into a gnarly chute on a 20-inch day. See what we mean? It doesn't work. That’s not a rip on Barry Manilow—his music is excellent for driving your aunt to the airport. However, there’s a particular type of song that can take an already amazing powder day to the next level of awesome. Here are a few examples of songs that have been personally pow-tested, and each song has been matched with its most suitable terrain type. Enjoy! 1. Keep Me Lifted — Spearhead (Chocolate Supa Highway) All praises to the gods of inspiration—while the band might not even know it, this is the ultimate open bowl anthem. No song ever written complements big, wide-open pow turns like this epic from Spearhead. Bass-heavy and super smooth at the same time, Keep Me Lifted pushes you to ski hard and smooth at the same time—the perfect flow for floaty, high-speed backcountry cruising. 2. Piece of Me — Britney Spears (Blackout) Ok, call it a guilty pleasure, but this is a…

Utah offers some of the steepest and deepest skiable terrain in the country. But the ride is just as spectacular for people who are still learning to ski or snowboard. The Wasatch Mountains are as accommodating for beginners and intermediates as they are gorgeous—with plenty of mellow terrain at all 14 resorts and top-notch ski school instruction on-site. But once you get comfortable on skis, you start looking for those truly great beginner and intermediate runs. We’re talking about those long, scenic trails that are the whole reason you came to Utah in the first place. They allow you to stay in your comfort zone, but offer the opportunity to push yourself as you become a better skier. So where are those green and blue runs that will put a smile on your face? Here are some of the best that Utah has to offer. Alta A great ski run is sure to put a smile on your face. Marc Piscotty Alta boasts a lot of classic expert terrain, but it also offers one beautiful bonus to beginners—the “ Sunnyside @ Three ” program. For just $10, you get a lift ticket to access its three most beginner-level lifts: Sunnyside,…

California takes its fair share of heat when it comes to skiing: not enough powder, heavy, moisture-filled Sierra snow, it’s a long drive to get to the slopes from most major cities. Knock it all you want, we say; meanwhile, we’ll be out there carving it up. Skiing in northern California means world-class terrain, props as the birthplace of extreme skiing, and some of the best spring conditions around. When it comes to NorCal skiing and snowboarding, most San Francisco enthusiasts head right to Lake Tahoe. From the Bay Area, it’s about a three-hour drive to the aquamarine alpine lake, which straddles both California and Nevada and is home to 15 downhill resorts. Lake Tahoe's beauty is so staggering, sometimes you have to take a break from ripping it up to soak it all in. Travis Wise But there’s a vastly different feel to the areas of Big Blue: The North Shore exudes a more upscale vibe, while the South Shore beckons with a rocking party scene, thanks to the casinos and clubs around the Nevada border. And don't forget about Mammoth Mountain, the aptly named resort that's a bit further away in the town of Mammoth Lakes, but boasts…

As Colorado and other western states bask in the glory of snow-filled powder days on the slopes, the eastern states sit by watching, waiting patiently for our turn to play. El Niño has blessed the East Coast with unseasonably warm November and December temperatures, which is great for all outdoor activities…except for skiing and snowboarding. Now’s the time to prep for that first big storm, whether you’re waiting patiently or doing a snow dance in your living room. So whether you plan to make a day trip or a weekend out of it, make sure you hit one of these five Poconos ski mountains when the flakes (hopefully) begin to accumulate. 1. Blue Mountain Blue Mountain offers 6 terrain parks for every skill level. Jeshua Nace Blue Mountain , located in Palmerton, PA, boasts a 1,082-foot vertical drop from summit to base—the highest of any ski mountain in Pennsylvania. Only 90 minutes from Philadelphia, Blue Mountain is definitely the best all-around ski mountain in the Poconos. The location is close enough for a day trip, plus they offer half-day passes and night skiing to boot. With 39 trails of all levels of difficulty and 16 lifts, including a high-speed 6-person lift, this mountain is a go-to…

Science has yet to comb the human genome to discover what rare strand of DNA is responsible for morning people, but rest assured if you aren’t one of them, you aren’t alone. If you count yourself among those who rage against the coming morning just to stumble out the door, into the car, and come to your senses on the road, then this guide is for you. If you’re one of those disturbingly perky, joyful individuals that considers "sleeping in" any time past 6 am, there are a few tips that might help you as well. Here are five suggestions for rising to occasion and getting to the Colorado mountains in good style—or at least in one piece. 1. Get Organized While Your Brain is Fully Functional Humans are masters of self-deception, especially when the empty phrase "I’ll get ready in the morning” is uttered. No, you won’t. Your poor sleep-deprived brain will be straining just to remember to put pants on with the zipper in front. You’re asking a lot to expect it to also organize your gear, find your pass, and round up food. This very phenomenon is why you will one day end up paying $26 for…

Today, the Pennsylvania Pocono Mountains are known as one of the top ski destinations on the East Coast as well as a scenic outdoor escape any time of the year. But the area was first famous for something very different: Following World War II, GI’s brought their new wives to the Poconos in droves, granting the region the nickname, "Honeymoon Capital of the World." Over the last 70-plus years, the Poconos have evolved from a convenient getaway for couples to an outdoor destination, due in large part to the growth of the ski industry in the region. The Birth of Poconos Skiing Snowmaking and grooming equipment keep the resorts in the Poconos operating the entire ski season. Pocono Mountains In 1946, Big Boulder opened and became Pennsylvania’s first commercial ski area. A snowmaking device was patented here in 1950, and by 1956 the system was up and running, covering the slopes with abundant snow. This became the first commercial use of snowmaking, and today it is an essential part of keeping Poconos ski resorts open all season. With the completion of Interstate 80 in the 1950s, the region gained easier access to major metropolitan areas, fueling its popularity among honeymooners…

A week on the slopes – and in the bars – can be an outstanding social holiday. But what if your goal is to return home a better skier? For all their physical demands and opportunities for exhilaration, winter sports can still sometimes be seen as just an excuse to stuff yourself full of fondue and Milka. Now, as people begin planning and booking their ski holidays, if your idea of a superb trip is spending your evening chasing your pals around in a Morphsuit, no one should be trying to talk you out of it, but if you’d prefer to take your slope-riding beyond just what you do in between après-ski sessions, to the “next level” even, there are some excellent options, whatever your current ability. Laax, Switzerland If you need an indication of just how world-class Laax is when it comes to the more extreme side of snowboarding (ie busting huge airs off jumps, sending untouched powder flying), then know that Nicolas Muller, legend of the halfpipe and hero of backcountry riding, lives there permanently. This is the spot to be in if you’re looking to go beyond the groomed slopes and up the ante in the park…

Slopeside meltdowns, freezing tears on frigid lift rides, urgent bathroom breaks the minute you’ve gotten all geared up: Hitting the slopes with your little ones can be a big-time challenge, not to mention a big hit to the wallet. But the benefits—getting your kiddos passionate about skiing and riding and creating a whole new level of outdoor fun for the whole fam—are well worth the hassle. To help you navigate the pitfalls of hitting the mountain with the six and under crew—without having a meltdown yourself—we’ve pulled together a list of helpful tips and handy tricks that will pave the way for less stressful, more fun outings (trust us, it will happen). It just takes some determination, patience, and, sometimes, the promise of apres. Take a deep breath, you’ve got this. 1. Learn how to ski swap, save big-time on cash. Don’t buy brand-new gear if you don’t need to. Kids outgrow everything so quickly and you can find great used gear for really cheap at swaps that pop up all over the place at schools, gear shops, through friends’ kids’ old stuff, and online. Not only are these swaps a great way to save money, but they won’t break…