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Vermont's ski resorts employ about 13,000 people, a quarter of them year-round, and the $1.6 billion industry typically brings in $925 million in direct spending, plus the $675 million resorts spend on vendors according to Ski Vermont. The current pandemic, however, has been anything but typical, and across Vermont, ski resorts are taking different approaches for how to open for the upcoming season.

A flurry of new considerations makes the decision a lot more complicated this year. Here’s everything you need to know.

Her father’s death, pandemic-caused cancellations and a wildfire evacuation gave the World Cup champion a new view on competing: “I want to enjoy it, the way I have enjoyed it in the past.”

Epic and Ikon mega season passes may get a lot of attention, as they provide the ability to ski at dozens of popular ski resorts across North America, but they’re not the only passes in town. Two other passes worthy of consideration include the Mountain Collective pass and the Indy Pass. In particular, these passes are good for skiers and snowboarders who wish to sample a wide variety of ski areas.

Since it opened in 2007, Revelstoke Mountain Resort has held a reputation for its monster vertical (at 5,620 feet of lift-accessed terrain, it’s the longest descent in North America), alpine bowls, rainforest glades, record snowfall and near-ridiculous scenery. But where most resorts also boast thriving summer operations to complement winter skiing, RMR had largely stayed relatively quiet on the summer front, with most warm-season activities centralized on the bottom of the mountain.

The uphill-only ski area outside Kremmling, Colorado, is expanding to 1,200 acres for its second season with an emphasis on providing a safer experience and avalanche education.

The scheduled start of the Colorado ski season is only about three months away – and with snow falling on the tops of nearby peaks just this week, it’s hard not to wonder what a winter on the slopes is going to look like during a pandemic. 

Expanded drop off areas, more outdoor dining and touchless lift ticket sales are among the changes in store for the state’s Olympic Regional Development Authority’s Whiteface, Gore and Belleayre ski areas this winter.

It took less than a week after Vail Resorts announced its operating plans for Stowe, Okemo and Mount Snow and all its North American resorts  (including a new skiing-by-reservation system) for more of Vermont’s independents to come out with statements about their operations.

Unlike Vail Resorts, which last week announced a reservation system that requires pass holders to book high-season ski days well in advance, Wolf Creek is adjusting its pricing.

Granby Prentice Granby Holdings sent a letter to the roughly 800 owners of the property at the 5,000-acre Grand County ski and golf resort explaining it is terminating a 15-year deal with them.

After Vail Resorts on Thursday announced its plan for a reservation system this winter at its North American ski areas, members of Colorado’s backcountry winter sports community raised concerns about how the new program will affect crowds on public lands.

What is this winter going to look like? Based on what we’ve read and seen down south (Australia & New Zealand), it isn’t going to be candy canes and gum drops.

It looks like you can hit the slopes before school starts.

Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows has committed to removing “squaw” from its resort name. “Having our name be associated with pain and dehumanization is contrary to our goal of making the outdoors a welcoming space for all people,” said resort president and COO Ron Cohen in an email to patrons.

As summer draws to a close, Vermont ski areas are broadcasting high expectations for opening this winter. 

At a special meeting Wednesday, Aug. 19, Breckenridge Town Council discussed ideas for winter activities outside of skiing and snowboarding that guests can engage in this year.

Mandatory masks, changes to lift line etiquette and new safety precautions at the lodge are among the changes visitors can expect when the season begins at Whitewater Ski Resort.

In a historic announcement, Nordic Valley Ski Resort unveiled a major capital improvement project that will bring the Ogden area resort its first Nordic Valley Ski Resort and the largest expansion project in resort history – and both are slated to open this winter.

Yeah, we get it: With the rounding down of summer and the beginning of cool nights, the first signs of changing colors of autumn—and soon even the first snowfall—here in the high country of Colorado, where I sit writing from my home at 9,000 feet, it usually heralds optimism and stoke.