As you may know, the air gets a bit thinner at elevation, meaning sound can travel farther. So, if you were quiet enough on Friday and over the weekend, you might have been able to hear the laughs and “yee-haws” coming all the way from Summit County, Colorado as the ropes were dropped, the lifts were fired up and people got their first turns in at Keystone and Copper Mountain. Opening day on Friday was just as it should be. The music was playing, the sun was shining, the base snow depths were measured in feet, not inches and the smiling faces made each person’s love of skiing and riding clearly evident.

Since you subscribe to this newsletter, we know you’re one of us, which means you want to join the fun! If you’re still shopping for a winter vacation, you’re in luck. We’re offering huge specials throughout the season, even during the December holidays. While there are a lot of great specials out there, the value each offers depends on what you find important. One special deal might be very attractive for a family (i.e. fourth person flies free to Crested Butte) and another might be very attractive for a couple. This is where Ski.com can really step in to help. By giving us a call, you can speak with an experienced person based in Aspen who can look through the travel industry’s largest inventory of mountain lodging and things like lift tickets, equipment rental, lessons and more. After learning what you’re looking for, our Specialists can find the deal or deals perfect for you and then customize a quote. If you’re only interested in one destination, our Specialist will only focus there. If you’re looking for the best deal anywhere, our Specialist can look at any of our 100 resorts and quote a few different prices for a few different destinations. Rather than calling all over the country or several companies in one destination, everything can be done with one phone call to Ski.com (and we’ll probably even save you money!).

Regardless of the great offers we have right now, the best deal is still the one that’s free. If you haven’t done so already, visit our Facebook page and enter our Banff and Lake Louise Facebook sweepstakes. We’re giving away a trip for two that includes three nights at the Fairmont Banff Springs, two nights at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, four-day lift tickets valid at Mt. Norquay, The Lake Louise Ski Area and Sunshine Village and roundtrip airport transfers from Brewster Transportation. While you’re on the Page, tell us what you have planned for this winter or, even better, post a photo showing you and your friends or family enjoying the mountains.

The season is shaping up to be a great one. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of it!

D.S.