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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.

Most Colorado Front Range skiers and riders typically don't think much about hopping in the car and heading west. However, this season is different and will require a bit more prep before the ride up I-70, U.S. 24 or Highway 119.

After a "brisk" preseason for season pass sales at Sugar Bowl, the northern California resort has hit the pause button to assure safe distancing this season.

The half-dozen ski and snowboard resorts that sit east of the Cascade divide and on the western edge of the Rockies have begun to announce ticket policies for the upcoming season to comply with local and state Covid-related capacity caps in place.

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.

In its second year, the Indy Pass aims to corral more skiers and riders who don't go enough times to warrant a major multi-resort pass -- and prefer the ambiance of smaller, independent resorts.

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.

Construction is underway as ski lifts serving the Mayflower Village are scheduled to open the winter of 2023 and the projected opening of the Conference Hotel is in 2024.

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.

As the first snowflakes of the season dust the Rocky Mountains, resorts across the U.S. wholeheartedly believe there will be a 2020-2021 season and they will try to make it feel like as normal as possible despite the pandemic.

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