I’m going to let you in on a little secret that Big Ski doesn’t want you to know: “Ski season” only ends when you decide it’s over. Corporations like Vail and Alterra might have monopolies on lift access, but they don’t get to put limitations on skiing, no matter how badly they wish they could.
You decide when your season ends — and for some, that means never.
Every year on the Fourth of July, my friends and I travel to an undisclosed location deep in the Rocky Mountains to shred gnar, drink beer, and celebrate our Independence.
We ski on Memorial Day weekend, too. In fact, I have skied every month for almost 3 years straight without flying out of the country, or even leaving my home state of Colorado.
That humble brag is only to illustrate my point: If you love skiing like I do, you never have to stop. Even if you’re operating on a shoestring budget (like I am), you can still make turns every month of the year.
The dangers and risks shift, the list of necessary gear changes, and the snow conditions will throw you for some loops. But you can still scratch that itch, even in the depths of summer and into early fall.
With enough determination — and the power of denial, ski season is every season.
Achieving ‘Never Summer’: Ski All Year Round
Full disclosure: I’m not the type to spill local secrets and blow up hidden gems. Part of that is my own selfishness. It’s also partly out of self-preservation.
Skiers, like ice climbers, cavers, and many other active communities, can be very protective of their spots — to the point of threatening violence.
I don’t need death threats. So, you won’t find any specific summer and fall ski locations listed here. There are plenty of loudmouthed authors out there who’ve written articles disclosing those coordinates and directions.
I’d rather teach a skier to fish, though, than hand them my catch. So here’s what I look for when I’m searching for locations where I can ski year-round.
Resorts
We’ll start with the obvious. Some ski resorts stay open late into spring, and even into summer. Snowbird in Utah often closes in May. Arapahoe Basin and Breckenridge in Colorado stay open into June, and sometimes even as late as July.
Then you have Mount Hood in Oregon, which offers year-round, lift-accessed volcano skiing.
Search for resorts that stay open late. This is an easy way to mark May, June, and possibly even July off your “Never Summer” calendar. The vibes are always high on the mountain, the runs are low effort, and there’s usually pond skimming or gaper day celebrations to partake in.
Paying for a day pass can be steep. If any of the above resorts are on a pass you already own, they’re a no-brainer. If not, there are certainly more cost-effective ways to get your turns.
Glaciers
Throughout the Rocky Mountains and all across Alaska and Canada, ancient slabs of snow and ice still lurk in the shadows of mountain passes and hang off well-shaded peaks. In places like Colorado, they aren’t as grand as those you’ll find in Alaska or Canada. But they exist, and they never fully melt (at least, not yet).
Glaciers are your best bet for August, September, and October skiing.
Search for glaciers in your area. Some are extremely hard to access, but others are pretty easy to get to. You’ll almost always have to A-frame your skis and bootpack to the snow, but no one said skiing year-round was going to be a cake walk.
It’s at least a scramble.
Glaciers can be very dangerous to ski on, though. We’ll get into some of the hazards, risks, and necessary tools further down, but just make sure you’re prepared with the right equipment and mountaineering know-how if you intend on skiing a glacier. They can be treacherous.
They’ll also shred your bases to hell, so make sure to bring your rock skis.
Snow Fields
Beyond glaciers, snow fields offer a great way to make turns deep into the summer. But they’re harder to find. That’s partly because people are very tight-lipped about the locations. It’s also because snow fields can be hit or miss depending on the snowpack and weather conditions.
Some years, I’ve skied snow fields in July that are bigger than certain resorts. Those same spots have had almost no snow in other years. They are not nearly as consistent as glaciers. It can make for pleasant surprises or outright disappointment.
Most skiable summer snow fields I’ve found have been through sheer dumb luck or word of mouth. I’ve also driven around, winding up and down dirt roads, scouting with binoculars, looking for snow fields in the high country, still holding onto life by their nails.
Summer Skiing: Hazards & Risks
Summer skiing might seem carefree and easygoing, but trust me when I tell you it isn’t always so. I have had several avoidable close encounters with very serious situations because I let my guard down or simply didn’t know what I was doing.
Skiing in warmer months isn’t all that much safer than skiing in mid-winter — the hazards and risks are just different.
Here are a few of the big ones.
Snow Conditions
If you’re used to skiing in winter, summer snow will throw you for a loop. There will be no freshies. It can be very sticky and sluggish-feeling. The snowpack will likely be sun-rotted, icy in spots, and riddled with rocks, dirt, and other debris.
I’ll reiterate: Bring your rock skis.
Summer snow is also very slick on steep slopes. The amount of melted water within the snowpack can turn your run into a waterslide if you fall. Without the right equipment and training, it can be very hard to self-arrest (more on this in the next section).
Wet Slides
Generally, skiing from May to October is avalanche-free. But not always. I’ve seen some big wet slides well into June, triggered both naturally and by people.
It can be tempting to throw caution to the wind when you’re skiing in summer. Don’t do it. Keep slope angles in mind, and try to ski in the morning before the snowpack warms up too much.
A little avalanche caution can go a long way.
Crevasses & Cornices
Crevasses won’t be present on all glaciers, but the larger ones, like those in Alaska, will have them. These deep, canyon-like cracks can be hard to see, and they will swallow you whole if you aren’t paying attention. Know your objective, and stay alert if crevasses are a feature of it.
Cornices are less of a threat the deeper you get into the summer months, but in May and June, melting cornices can break off and crush everything in their path. If you see cornices, try to avoid skiing directly under or off of them, unless you have the right training and adequate cajones.
Equipment & Training
Much of the equipment is the same for spring and summer skiing, as it is for winter mountaineering objectives. However, there are a few items that you might not think to bring in winter that you should have in summer — particularly on glaciers.
Ideally, if you plan on seriously pursuing year-round skiing, you should take a mountaineering course. You’ll learn all about self-arresting, rope work, avalanche safety, and even crevasse rescue.
These skills make a huge difference in regard to your personal safety when traveling and shredding gnar in the high country. The courses are also a lot of fun. You can look up mountain training centers and mountaineering courses near you online.
If you can’t afford a mountaineering course or can’t find one near you, YouTube is a great resource for mountaineering skills. You can also find books like Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills, which is one of the most comprehensive and detailed guides to mountaineering skills.
The ‘Ski All Year’ Gear List
Much of this gear is also necessary in the winter, for big alpine objectives. Some of it is optional for milder objectives (you don’t need a rope to ski low-angle, easily accessible glaciers or an ice axe to ski in a resort).
If you’re just chilling, pond skimming or making short, safe summer laps, just don’t forget your lawn chairs and the beer.
- Ice axe (for self-arrest and steep ascents)
- Crampons or yak tracks
- Helmet
- Rock skis
- Ski boots
- Hiking boots
- Poles
- Avi gear (beacon, shovel, probe)
- Glacier goggles or polarized sunglasses
- Sun hoodie
- Sunscreen
- Sun hat
- Ski straps
- First-aid kit
- Ski pack
- Rope
- Harness
- Carabiners
- Belay device
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Emergency layers for warmth
- Rain jacket
Ski Season Is Every Season: The Final Word
Skiing year-round, or into summer, won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. The runs are usually shorter and require a lot more effort to get to. You might bang up your skis. Hell, you could even encounter dangers that you’ve never experienced in the winter.
But to me, and to many like me, it’s worth every ounce of gumption it takes. It’s worth the nicks, dings, and core shots my skis take. The pond skimming, sun-soaking, high-alpine summer skiing adventures I’ve had are memories I hold near and dear.
I might only get a handful of turns this Fourth of July — but I’m going to revel in every single one of them. Ski until you’re ready to stop, even if that moment never comes.
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