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Breckenridge at nightfall. Photo: Andrew/Breckenridge Ski Resort

Featured Article

Let it Snow

With no COVID restrictions and new upgrades, some of Colorado's top ski resorts invite you to come and play

Summer is over, and we know the powder will start piling up any minute. And whether you’re a novice or an experienced skier, each of these featured ski resorts has something special planned for the 2022–2023 season.

Aspen
Aspen Snowmass is gearing up for another robust winter season, which includes the return of World Cup racing (March 3–5, 2023) on Aspen Mountain. Other major developments include the all-new Buttermilk base area that was transformed to include a new 9,000+ square-foot, fully electric skier services building; a renovated and rebranded Buttermilk Mountain Lodge restaurant; and an expanded bar and outdoor patio. “This major $23 million renovation will create a more seamless experience for guests as they make their way onto the mountain,” says Hannah Dixon, Communications Manager for Aspen Snowmass. Plus Aspen Snowmass is letting you in on one of its best-kept secrets—the more than 100 shrines sprinkled throughout the Aspen Snowmass quartet of mountains. Hidden from plain sight, tucked away in the trees, and kept a secret—until now—these shrines provide added adventure to your ski trip.

Purchase lift tickets and season passes online or through the Aspen Snowmass app, which serves as an in-resort information hub with interactive maps, snow reports, parking status, wait times, and more. Opening day is November 24.

Breckenridge
Breckenridge spans five mountain peaks within Colorado’s distinct Ten Mile Range, which serves as a fantastic backdrop for the historic Town of Breckenridge. The connection between mountain and town is ever-present from the abundance of walk-to-lift accommodations, the BreckConnect Gondola, and ski-to-town trails. According to Sara Lococo, Senior Manager of Communication, “Nowhere else in the world can you ski from the highest chairlift in North America—Imperial SuperChair—directly into town for après.”

This season, the focus is on the Rip’s Ride chairlift, which was upgraded to a high-speed quad. According to Lococo, “[It] will provide guests with faster access to Peak 8’s primary learning terrain and allow for more time spent on the snow, as well as provide easier and more convenient access from Rip’s Ride over to Peak 9.”

Ticket prices vary. Purchase them online at least seven days in advance. For added value, purchase Epic Pass or Epic Day Pass products. It opens on November 11.

Telluride
This year is Telluride Ski Resorts' 50th anniversary, and it's celebrating with a new Plunge lift, “making access to some of its most popular expert terrain quicker and more comfortable,” says Tom Watkinson, Director of Communications. Although Telluride has a reputation for being an extreme mountain, over half of the resort is beginner or intermediate terrain. Also, Telluride has the only gondola transportation system of its kind in North America. “A destination made up of two, pedestrian-oriented towns makes the need for vehicular transportation unnecessary,” shares Watkinson. “Visitors will get around by foot, ski, or gondola.”

A new high-speed, detachable Doppelmayr quad-chair upgrade (top of 9) was added to Telluride this year, which is twice as fast as its predecessor and more energy efficient. The top of 9, which is almost all solid rock, is also being lowered to make room for a new terminal and increased skier capacity, and snowmaking piping will be replaced while digging trenches for new power lines. Lift tickets are $209; the opening day is November 24.

Vail
Built on pioneering spirit, Vail celebrates 60 years of success this year. To celebrate, Game Creek Express was replaced with a high-speed, six-person chairlift for improved reliability and uphill capacity; it was repositioned to add room for a new chairlift, the Sun Down Express. Also, as a way to prioritize guest experiences this season, Vail will limit lift ticket sales. According to James O’Donnell, President of Vail Resorts’ Mountain division, “Limiting lift tickets throughout the season, alongside the big investments we’re making at our resorts and in our team members, will help us provide our guests with an experience of a lifetime this winter.”

Guests are encouraged to secure lift access in advance. Guests can purchase any Epic Pass product using Epic FlexPay, which enables monthly installments with zero down payment/interest. Vail opens on November 11.