I remember it clear as day. Returning home from ski trips to Colorado or Wyoming, my parents were full of stories — tales of snow so deep you needed a snorkel, endless trams, and swinging gondolas, sun so bright and skies so blue they had to ski in Vuarnet sunglasses. It all sounded amazing to a young kid in New Hampshire. The trail maps they brought back I eagerly pinned to my wall, and beneath them, I lay awake dreaming of romantic Western ski destinations. Together, we sat in front of the fire and watched Warren Miller films, talking about how incredible the peaks of Chamonix and Whistler looked, or how deep was the snow at CMH Heliskiing or Aspen. One day, we would say. Once we were old enough, my siblings and I got to go on a few ski trips out West, and my parents were right: the snow was deeper, the trails steeper, the mountains bigger. It all seemed so glamorous.
What was my takeaway? These early ski experiences instilled in me a rich curiosity and adventurous spirit, alongside a deep love of travel. Of course now, if I had to, I certainly would be happy enough to ski the same hill for the rest of my life. Why not? Skiing is fun, regardless. But there’s something very special about a ski trip into the unknown.
As I write, I’m flying 38,000 feet above Peru, on my way home from two spectacular weeks in the Chilean Andes – Ski Portillo to be specific. I’m buzzing with the good vibes that come from two weeks spent in light powder and bright sun, with old friends and great clients. We soaked up the culture, made new buddies, worked on our skiing, and created lots of memories – all the elements that come magically together to create a memorable ski trip.
There are further important benefits to these adventures, among them the dollars we left at the resort, helping to drive what is a relatively small industry in Chile, even though it’s a multi-billion dollar one in the USA. Most ski towns and resorts can’t survive on locals alone. The ones that can play a very important role in ski culture, creating the breeding ground for people who dream – and eventually take – the ski trips to bigger mountains and more exotic. Larger resorts and small ski towns depend on guests visiting from other parts of the country and the wider world. It is the guests who drive these economies – the restaurants, shops, ski schools, hotels, and bars. In the US alone, skiing employs hundreds of thousands of people directly, and perhaps millions indirectly. And you know what? Ski hills, big and small, are epic places to create experiences and memories, build friendships, and challenge our potential — all things people increasingly value over money in the bank.
So, this winter, pack up the car, load up the family, buy the plane ticket, and head out on a ski trip. “If you don’t go this winter,” as Warren Miller famously told us, “you’ll be one year older when you do.”
*Chris offsets all his travels with United Airlines CarbonChoice Program
