NELSAP
For all of you, what is the theoretical max # of days that you can ski a season?
This is all dependent on everyone's individual situations. Some of us live near a ski area, or are retired, or have a flexible work schedule and can ski 50+ days a season.
Others can only get out a handful of times per year, due to various commitments, distance from mountains, etc.
And even when you do plan on skiing a lot, things happen - other events crop up, the weather can stop cooperating, etc.
My theoretical # of days seems to be in the low 30s. I'm at 32 days this year. I was on track to get up to 40, which would have been my highest ever, but rainy weekends, family and friend events, etc cancelled some of those.
What is your theoretical max # of days?
Jonni
I would say my theoretical max number of days is around 30 to 35. Last year and the year before I was able to get 35 and 36 respectfully - and they both were absolutely great seasons. Typically with spending time with my wife and work, I do have to be a little selective when I can get out.
That being said, I had to cut this season short due to tearing my ACL on 1/28 which resulted in only 15 days this year. I was on track to have a great season, but alas....maybe next year!
NewEnglandSkier13
Interesting question for sure. When I was in college 5 minutes from a ski area, had xc ski trails on campus, and worked at 2 ski areas, my theoretical day count was likely around 150.
In my current situation, I usually work 4 days a week. I still live 5 minutes from a ski area with night skiing and 15 minutes from another ski area with night skiing, so I could theoretically ski after work on days when I work from home, but I only occasionally do. Let's say that I could ski every one of those 3 days off each week during core ski season (late December to mid-March), which would be around 39 days. Then I would add in 15 days or so for when I could do some skiing after work or early/late season skiing. I work at a cross country ski area, and I usually end up skiing for work an aveage of slightly less than one day per week during the season when we are open, so I will add 10 days for that. That gives me a grand total of around 64 theoretical ski days in my current situation. I think I have totalled around 45-50 days this season with one or two more potential days left.
JimK
I logged 70 ski days in the 2023-24 ski season. That's my personal record and I'll be lucky to get 55 this year. Since I fully retired at age 65 in early 2019 I've probably averaged about 55 per year.
Although I had a few skiing-induced aches and pains in the 23-24 season I was fortunate that no ailments kept me off the slopes for extended periods. My first ski day of the winter was December 8, 2023 at Massanutten Resort, VA. My last day was May 11, 2024 at Snowbird, UT. Doing the math, I skied ~45% of days during that five month period. I didn't set out to ski 70 days (matching my age), but it was not too big of a stretch over my recent pattern. I don't aspire to a fixed set of ski days for each season, I just let things unfold organically and be grateful for anything I get.
I'm strictly a recreational skier. I have a Snowbird senior season pass and an Ikon base pass. I live near Washington DC, but I spend the bulk of my ski season in Utah staying at my son's house. In recent years I stay in Utah from mid-January to mid-May.
Bottom line: theoretically I don't see ever skiing more than about 70 days unless I change my pattern and start skiing in Utah in late November. Also, I'm reaching the age where quality rules over quantity. If I ski too hard and too many days in a row it stops being fun. Sometimes it kills me to take rest days when the snow is good, but they help avoid injury and burnout. Off days also help with staying in touch with my wife, a retired skier, who is nice enough to accompany me year round.
ski_itJR
I work 5 days a week and my job usually gives some work travel during the winter season so that takes away a couple weekends. I have been at 27-31 days per season for the last 5 winters and that makes me pretty happy. I
joshua_segal
Theoretically, I suppose it is 365 (or 366 in a leap year). I have friends who have done around 200, although some of that was non-lift serviced.
In reality, last season was the most lift serviced days I've ever had, coming in at 143, (3.6M vert.)
I noticed on WeSki last season, #1 did 172 days and 4 people had over 4M vertical.
justkeepmovingne
I'm a mechanical engineer who is afforded 2 days per week WFH. This limits me to weekends, generally. I do, however, and occasionally did this past season, wake up nice and early to get a touring lap in somewhere in Southern NH; driving back home to get into work at 10am or at my home desk at 9:30.
Assuming an opening weekend Thanksgiving Weekend and closing weekend the third weekend of April, I'm probably sitting at a theoretical maximum of:
-44 weekend days
-3 holidays (Christmas, New Years Day, Presidents Day)
-22 touring days (1/week)
So around 70 would likely be my maximum for me.
I live close enough to some night ski areas that if I really wanted to try, theoretically I could ski W-F at night, too.
Realistically, my ski days per season end somewhere between 20-30 given that I usually have a fair bit of travel during the winter and that my partner doesn't ski, so I try to limit weekend ski days to 1x/weekend and spend the other full day with them.
riverc0il
With a Jay Pass, I could theoretically ski 48 days of weekend skiing (if work does not intervene and assuming they open Thanksgiving weekend and close the first weekend of May, which is normal). Add in three holidays (if they are mid-week). If I used all my vacation and personal time, add 20 more. Plus, early/late season turn earning before/after Jay opens/closes (very dependent on weather, but snow is always available in Tuckerman until June). I could get a K spring pass if I wanted to ski lift served weekends until K closed.
So, assuming I dedicated myself to skiing every day I did not have to work, I think my limit would be around 100 (assuming not flying nor skiing indoors for July-September skiing)
My highest number of days was at least 51 (that I have documented) in 2007-2008.
Between 2004-2014, I always skied more than 30 days. I haven't hit 30 since then. Quality became more important than quantity. I average about 20 now. I'll be above that this season.
I used to go hard in the spring. Now, I'm more excited to be on my bike than ski during the spring. And I like to spread my vacation time around, I only burn vacation days for powder days.
Kayaker
Interesting subject. Considering that I teach at Bradford, and we can have 50,000-60,000 lessons a year, I could be there 5 days a week for a 10 week season. 50 days there and then maybe 10 days of real skiing up north equals 60 days.
BTW this is the first year I skied in 6 consecutive months, November through April. Theoretically I guess in an exceptional year someone could ski at lift served areas in 9 consecutive months in New England, October-June. Has anyone done that?
riverc0il
Kayaker;c-68221 wroteTheoretically I guess in an exceptional year someone could ski at lift served areas in 9 consecutive months in New England, October-June. Has anyone done that?
I am pretty sure that I have done October-May on lifts.
The season as a whole would not need to be exceptional for October-June, but it would require significant early season cold (or a freak 2'-3' storm, which happens) and also cool spring temps for K to retain enough snow for June (K would be the only option).
NewEnglandSkier13
riverc0il;c-68222 wroteKayaker;c-68221 wroteTheoretically I guess in an exceptional year someone could ski at lift served areas in 9 consecutive months in New England, October-June. Has anyone done that?
I am pretty sure that I have done October-May on lifts.
The season as a whole would not need to be exceptional for October-June, but it would require significant early season cold (or a freak 2'-3' storm, which happens) and also cool spring temps for K to retain enough snow for June (K would be the only option).
You could have done it last season starting with Ward in October and ending with Killington in June.
Chuckstah
I have skied October through June in New England a few times. Last Season I missed October. This year I have October (Ward) through April so far. May will be a given, barring an injury, but June will likely not happen. Maybe Jay on the first day of summer?
https://jaypeakresort.com/things-to-do/events/summer-solstice-sessions
joshua_segal
I skied lift-serviced October through June in New England in 2016-7. October to May was routine before 2000.
NewEnglandSkier13
Chuckstah;c-68232 wroteI have skied October through June in New England a few times. Last Season I missed October. This year I have October (Ward) through April so far. May will be a given, barring an injury, but June will likely not happen. Maybe Jay on the first day of summer?
https://jaypeakresort.com/things-to-do/events/summer-solstice-sessions
I don't believe that is lift-served.
Chuckstah
NewEnglandSkier13;c-68236 wroteChuckstah;c-68232 wroteI have skied October through June in New England a few times. Last Season I missed October. This year I have October (Ward) through April so far. May will be a given, barring an injury, but June will likely not happen. Maybe Jay on the first day of summer?
https://jaypeakresort.com/things-to-do/events/summer-solstice-sessions
I don't believe that is lift-served.
They ran the carpet last June, but I don't know what they're planning on this summer.
Edit, the link I posted states served by the Stateside carpet.
marcski
I skied November to June last season. The extremes on both ends were at K.
justkeepmovingne
Kayaker;c-68221 wroteInteresting subject. Considering that I teach at Bradford, and we can have 50,000-60,000 lessons a year, I could be there 5 days a week for a 10 week season. 50 days there and then maybe 10 days of real skiing up north equals 60 days.
BTW this is the first year I skied in 6 consecutive months, November through April. Theoretically I guess in an exceptional year someone could ski at lift served areas in 9 consecutive months in New England, October-June. Has anyone done that?
Lift served may be tough.
I know there will be at least a few who will have done this by the time June comes this year. I know of at least 10-12 people who went up and skiied the Whiteface Toll Road around Oct 22 or so on 2-3" cover. I wouldn't be surprised if one or more of them goes down to ski Killington or Jay if either make it to the first weekend of June.
riverc0il
justkeepmovingne;c-68243 wroteI know there will be at least a few who will have done this by the time June comes this year. I know of at least 10-12 people who went up and skiied the Whiteface Toll Road around Oct 22 or so on 2-3" cover. I wouldn't be surprised if one or more of them goes down to ski Killington or Jay if either make it to the first weekend of June.
If we want to consider hiking, then October to June is likely once every three years or so, and October to July, with Tuckerman, is occasionally an option as well. I have certainly done October-July before, but that was with hiking. Jay doesn't go to June, but may have hikeable snow left in June, depending on how quickly things melt down in May.
NewEnglandSkier13
riverc0il;c-68252 wrotejustkeepmovingne;c-68243 wroteI know there will be at least a few who will have done this by the time June comes this year. I know of at least 10-12 people who went up and skiied the Whiteface Toll Road around Oct 22 or so on 2-3" cover. I wouldn't be surprised if one or more of them goes down to ski Killington or Jay if either make it to the first weekend of June.
If we want to consider hiking, then October to June is likely once every three years or so, and October to July, with Tuckerman, is occasionally an option as well. I have certainly done October-July before, but that was with hiking. Jay doesn't go to June, but may have hikeable snow left in June, depending on how quickly things melt down in May.
Well, hiking is a different story. I once skied for 22 straight months in New England.
joshua_segal
With places like Big Snow available, it's no longer a real challenge to ski lift-serviced every month of the year! That being said, I've never skied in July, August or September.
