Well, we’re in the thick of it.
Winter storms, unbearable temps, the seasonal slog that makes many of us question why we live where we do.
The remedy? A 15-passenger rental van and a snowy road trip to a ski slope that’ll challenge your skills, test your courage and aggressively chase away the deep winter doldrums.
Where can you go in the continental U.S. to face your fear and conquer a mountain?
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Teton Village, Wyoming
Nestled in the southern Teton Range of the Rocky Mountains, Rendezvous Mountain offers steep chutes, severe bowls and plenty of untracked backcountry—all covered in about 11.5m of snow every winter.
Looking for the longest continuous vertical rise in the U.S. (4,139ft)?
Hoping to snowboard the only Burton Stash park in the Rockies?
Want to hop into a 100-person Aerial Tram for a bird’s eye view of one of the world’s toughest ski runs?
You’ll find it all at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Along with all the Five-Star accommodations you’ll deserve after testing your mettle on the mountain.
Palisades Tahoe
Olympic Valley, California
34 lifts. 30km of black pistes. 6,000 skiable acres across two mountain peaks.
Palisades Tahoe’s got it all—with monster moguls, steep chutes and more than its fair share of gullies and drops. And as the host of the 1960 Winter Games, it even offers a little bit of history.
Snowfall lasts late into the season, making for one of the longest ski and snowboard seasons in the country. And when spring finally comes, it comes with yearly music festivals and pond skimming events.
When you’ve had your fill of death-defying action on the slopes, you’ll find some welcome respite at the Village at Palisades Tahoe, where coffee shops, wine bars and restaurants give you a chance to chill out with a swell view of Lake Tahoe.
Mad River Glen
Fayston, Vermont
Welcome to the most challenging and diverse ski terrain on the East Coast (according to Ski magazine), featuring a 2,037-foot vertical with no run-outs.
With an average snowfall of over 150 inches a year, Mad Glen relies almost completely on natural snow, and actually restricts any snowmaking above 2,300 feet.
Known far and wide for its anti-commercial philosophy, it’s run by an independent co-op dedicated to preserving low skier density, natural terrain and forest, and varied trail character.
It’s a true taste of old-school New England skiing—and, if you’re looking for a challenge, not to be missed.
If winter’s bumming you out, now’s the time to book a 15-passenger van and seize the day on one of the country’s most challenging slopes. It’ll be a road trip for the ages—and a skiing experience you’ll never forget.
Rent a 15-passenger van to make every mile of the journey something to remember.
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