Big trips for 2026?

It was in the 50s here in the mountains of Maryland when I woke up, which provided a hint that Fall -- and the upcoming ski season -- isn't too far away.

So time to revive an annual forum topic: what trips are you planning for this season?  Will you be sticking to local mountains, or tossing in some distant destination resorts into the mix?  Is anyone planning a trip to a ski resort they've never been to before?  What trip(s) are you most excited about?

I'm playing it by ear this year.  Hoping to make some local trips of course, but not sure if I'll find my way to Colorado or out west yet.  My goal last year was to visit some Mid-Atlantic areas I hadn't been to in years, and I totally failed at that, only getting in two days for the ski season (one day at Whitetail, one day at Liberty, the two closest ski areas to me).

No big trips this year, we've got some other entertainment and travelling lined up for late summer through fall.  So it will be the trinity of 7S, LM, and HV, on most weekends.  Will try to get over to BK this season, and probably Whitetail if they get flush with snow and can hold it.

I'll spend at least 3 weeks in New England skiing Epic Pass resorts in VT and NH with family and friends. We have midweek passes for T-line so a few overnighters there. Rumors of a T-line gathering Jan 7- 10 on Ski Talk. https://www.skitalk.com/threads/the-never-ending-timberline-wv-info-weather-and-stoke.12294/page-319#post-1220152  No plans for a Western trip but who knows?

Went back to the IKON pass for this year.  Did the Epic pass last year so that I could visit Telluride.   2 1/2 week trip to Steamboat, Copper, A-Basin, and Winter Park.  So I'm one of the lucky ones that saves money with a season pass. 

Stephen wrote:

I'm on the Indy Pass this year.  Unless I'm mistaken about which resorts belong, one priority is to go to Winterplace to add Turkey Chute to my mid Atlantic mogul trail videos.  Another priority is Blue Knob, cause I've never been.  For bigger trips, driven by Loveland many times, but have never been, also looking at Mt. Hood.

 At Loveland, do laps on chair 8 for me (making sure you do the trees on the bottom half).  Make sure you go up to the top of chair 9.  You can check out the tunnel at the bottom of chair 8 and (occasionally) ski under I-70.

Loveland is one of my favorite places.

Will do.  I've heard good things about Loveland, but always skipped it because it was just right off the interstate.  There's a time for everything, and I guess skipping it for all those years now leaves me with more to be excited about with the Indy pass.

wojo wrote:

Stephen wrote:

I'm on the Indy Pass this year.  Unless I'm mistaken about which resorts belong, one priority is to go to Winterplace to add Turkey Chute to my mid Atlantic mogul trail videos.  Another priority is Blue Knob, cause I've never been.  For bigger trips, driven by Loveland many times, but have never been, also looking at Mt. Hood.

 At Loveland, do laps on chair 8 for me (making sure you do the trees on the bottom half).  Make sure you go up to the top of chair 9.  You can check out the tunnel at the bottom of chair 8 and (occasionally) ski under I-70.

Loveland is one of my favorite places.

Heading to Beaver Creek in January with a group from Columbia Ski Club.   Have never been there before, and now that I am retired and getting up in the years am looking to be pampered with good food and well groomed trails. There is a shuttle to Vail, so can head over there with the Epic pass if we feel a need for more terrain.    

My daughter had been living in Bend OR, so last year our big trip was to Mt Bachelor. While it is a great mountain (volcano), it felt more like a big regional resort rather than a true destination with rather limited on-mountain amenities (all lodging is about 40 min away in town).  Also very windy (apparently known for that), and due to wind and light snow cover only opened to the summit briefly when we were there.      

You definitely need to make it over to Vail if possible, esp if you've never been there.  One nice thing about BC is that some of the highest elevation lifts have some of the friendliest/mellow terrain, so all can enjoy the good snow and scenery.  Both places are very nice, but the scale of Vail's back bowls will blow your mind (so will the size of the base village/town).  I'd go there fairly early in your visit in case you want to do a second day.  Vail can be pretty busy, but January is a good time to beat some of  the crowds.  It's been a while, but IIRC Beaver Creek does not draw quite as many visitors making for a moderate and enjoyable level of trail traffic.

Laurel Highlands wrote:

Heading to Beaver Creek in January with a group from Columbia Ski Club.   Have never been there before, and now that I am retired and getting up in the years am looking to be pampered with good food and well groomed trails. There is a shuttle to Vail, so can head over there with the Epic pass if we feel a need for more terrain.    

My daughter had been living in Bend OR, so last year our big trip was to Mt Bachelor. While it is a great mountain (volcano), it felt more like a big regional resort rather than a true destination with rather limited on-mountain amenities (all lodging is about 40 min away in town).  Also very windy (apparently known for that), and due to wind and light snow cover only opened to the summit briefly when we were there.      

While I am trying to put together a crew to ski Colorado next year to celebrate my milestone birthday, discussions have me thinking New England is more likely. The good news is I've learned some friendly acquaintances are skiers and an old friend is taking it up again. Alas, he moved out from the UWS to Va Beach, so it may be better luck at say, Massanutten.

The bigger challenge is my closest friend who skis is almost my farthest friend who skis. He abanndoned Alexandria for Costa Rica. He's interested, but it's a pretty big deal for him to come back. He also has that milestone birthday, but earlier.

Further complicating things is my car is going to a farm upstate, so we'll be a one-car family. 

So, it remains to be seen what happens - we may pull it off or it could be a trip to Elk here, another to Massanutten there. Those are acceptable of course - but I only get to play the milestone birthday card once...or at least for another decade or two.