You Don't Need a Ski Pass to Love Ski Areas

Powder aims to feature only the best products and services.If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission.After parking my car next to the chairlift I stepped out into three inches of spring mud. The lot, lying next to one of the ski area’s main high-speed quads, had finally thawed after spending the winter blanketed under feet of snow. Now the lift sat quietly idle, ski season having come to an end.But ample snow remained higher on the mountain, and we were here to sk