How to get the most out of this year’s ski season
The ski season may be a little different this year, but that doesn’t mean you have to forego a session on the slopes. With a little bit of forward planning and creative thinking and a mind open to new possibilities, you’ll have every chance to enjoy some alpine air. Who knows? You might even discover the thrills of a new piste that never would have caught your attention before.
Read on for our tips on how to get the most out of the 2020-2021 ski season:
Image by Fede Roveda from Pexels
Read ahead
Constantly changing restrictions make things hard for the impulse traveller, but all it takes is a little pre-planning to avoid disappointment. Be sure to check each resort’s website before going to see what restrictions are in place. Social media networks can be useful to find the latest information, too.
Health guidelines in Europe are still changing, for example. As of December, Germany will be banning ski holidays, and is pushing for fellow alpine countries France, Austria and Italy to follow suit. Resorts are nominally open, but only to those who live nearby. They are also operating at a reduced capacity and with no lift service. Meanwhile, leading slopes in Switzerland in the Graubünden, Valais and Vaud regions have opened, but with increased health and safety restrictions.
In North America, skiers are in luck, especially since ski resorts under the Ikon and Epic passes are open, pending further changes. However, for popular resorts such as Jackson Hole, reservations are required to manage numbers.
2. Get adventurous
Why not go off-piste? Backcountry skiing is all the rage this year, perhaps thanks to its obvious draw of allowing you to relish the wintry outdoors without the crowds. North America has a particular affinity for backgrounty skiing, with excellent trails to explore such as the John Sherburne Ski Trail in New Hampshire, Brandon Gap in Vermont, or the Wright Peak Ski Trail by Lake Placid in upstate New York. Heading west to Washington state, Mount Baker offers some of the best snowfall in the U.S. There’s also Hankin-Evelyn in northern B.C. in Canada, a backcountry resort that’s perfect for those who want the fun but not the commitment of skiing in the woods. With easily accessible, cut trails, here you can even book the rustic but charming Fire Lookout Cabin for memorable, snow-laden views.
You may also want to embrace uphill skiing, particularly with resort restrictions. In France, resorts like Megeve by Mont Blanc are open for skiing, but not socialising—or using the chair lift. Using skins that ‘grip’ the snow to enable you to hike upwards, uphill skiing is a healthy way to exercise in the winter, and advances in backcountry science and equipment make uphill skiing much more enjoyable than it used to be.
3. Embrace rest and relaxation
The social scene may be quiet at the resorts, but for those seeking a peaceful getaway in the mountains, this year may be the year. In Switzerland, luxurious hotels such as W or Chalet Marmottière in Verbier, or Chalet Zermatt Peak overlooking the Matterhorn, are still open. Otherwise, the Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono offers an opulent experience in Japan.