Wonderland: Spending a white Christmas with the extended family at home in northern Virginia, about 24 kilometres northwest of downtown Washington, D.C., was joyous. Photo: Rama Gaind.
Christmastide. How is it that this annual festive time of the year creeps up on us so quickly? The snowy holiday season, a magical atmosphere, joyful activities, cosy traditions, the happiest of family gatherings. The clock is ticking fast!
I have many cherished memories of the United States — in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Colorado — and in Toronto, Canada, of playing in the snow, building many snowmen and snow forts, having snowball fights and digging tunnels through large snowdrifts. Skiing? Well, who doesn’t mind the thrill, one that comes from the exhilaration of speed, and let’s not forget the sense of freedom and control while gliding down a slope dotted with trees!
Come late December and it’s always the season to be jolly. Regular visits over the years to Liberty Mountain Resort, Snowshoe Mountain, Wisp Resort, Wintergreen Resort, Massanutten Resort and Winter Park Resort meant exciting, shared adventures in the snowfields.
Skiing buddy Stephen described it as experiencing joie de vivre.
“Skiing is a way to feel truly alive. Expressing freedom and escape, it’s those few minutes of pure adrenaline. That feeling of flying, alongside a deep connection with nature, is indefinable. The thrill of speed, the connection to the mountain, and the feeling of vitality while skiing — no, racing — down a slope is essential.”
Conviviality was present in all our activities. The merrymaking when we indulged in epic snowball fights, watched the snow fall as we caught those elusive snowflakes on our tongues, ice skating, going sledding, snowshoeing and even snow tubing. There was a palpable sense of festivity and good cheer.
Reminiscing is relevant, especially as I now learn that Colorado — in the west-central US, within the Mountain States region — kicks off its 150th anniversary with new ski terrain, boutique stays and special events throughout 2026. It will welcome skiers and snowboarders this (Northern Hemisphere) winter with a variety of on-mountain upgrades at the state’s 28 ski areas and resorts, from terrain expansions and new lifts to enhanced snowmaking and elevated après offerings. Here is a brief outline of some major ski resort news.
Significant: Winter 2025-26 promises to be a season to remember, marked by milestone celebrations in Colorado. Photo: Supplied.
Winter 2025-26 will be a monumental year in Colorado, a skier’s paradise. Monarch Mountain will debut its No Name expansion this season, adding 377 acres (152 hectares) of intermediate-to-advanced terrain and 10 new runs on both sides of the Continental Divide.
Keystone’s first luxury hotel, Kindred Resort, unveils this winter with ski-in/ski-out access, multiple new dining concepts, a kids’ club, spa, and dozens of firepits designed for connection, transforming the base of River Run.
Winter Park Resort’s Mary Jane is celebrating its 50th season. Back for a second season of expanded service, the Winter Park Express Ski Train will offer special holiday runs in December and launch a regular four-day-a-week service on 8 January, 2026.
Panadero Ski Corporation is revitalising Cuchara Mountain Park in Southeast Colorado, with lift four set to reopen for the first time in 25 years for the 2025–26 ski season.
As Purgatory Resort approaches its 60th anniversary in December, the Southwest Colorado destination is investing more than $6 million in capital improvements, including expanded snowmaking, a new fixed-grip triple chairlift with five new trails, a new snowcat, glading and more.
This winter, Snowmass welcomes the replacement of the existing Elk Camp quad chair to a new state-of-the-art six-pack lift, as well as the new Cirque T-bar, one of the highest lifts in North America.
World-class: Explore more than 1214 hectares of skiable terrain all season long at the Winter Park Resort in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Photo: Supplied.
Eagle County joins United’s 7-Hub Club, meaning the airport hosts direct flights from seven of the airline’s major hubs around the country: Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco and Washington … making it easier than ever before to reach the heart of Colorado’s ski country.
Winter 2025-26 promises to be a season to remember for Winter Park Resort, in Grand County, Colorado — marked by milestone celebrations, enhanced guest experiences and new early-season festivities that promise to crank up the winter stoke. Winter Park is honouring Mary Jane, its wild, raw, and unfiltered sister mountain, with a golden anniversary bash and season-long revelry.
Taking advantage of its $37 million snowmaking upgrades, the resort is also unveiling “Send’er November”, an early-season lineup of passholder perks, powder-day rewards, and high-altitude fun, making an early-season visit to the slopes better than ever.
Beyond the slopes, visitors can dive into immersive arts and cultural experiences, embark on scenic hut trips, enjoy night-time snow-filled adventures or explore a variety of rejuvenating hot springs and stylish new accommodations.
How I miss having a white Christmas in the United States. However, hope springs eternal with every Yuletide cheer!
