January Moments — A Tale of Two Winters
January started off a bit uncertain.
On the East Coast, after a great December, we hit a thaw toward the end of the month followed by a big ice storm that coated much of the state in nearly half an inch of ice. A lot of snow disappeared overnight. Out west, things weren’t much better — a historic snow drought stretched from Colorado through the Pacific Northwest and into California, with little relief in sight.
That said, I still decided to start the new year the best way I know how: on skis.
Having both an Ikon Pass and an Indy Pass meant my options were pretty open, and I finally checked out Ragged Mountain for the first time. It’s a small, family-owned hill not too far from me, and I’m really glad I made the trip. Conditions were great, and I loved the terrain — one of those places that feels low-key but punches above its weight.
A couple of days later, I skied Cannon Mountain with my family. My parents are retired and mostly ski Cannon since it’s free for seniors, and I don’t get to ski with them all that often. Spending the day together at one of my favorite mountains felt really special.
Later that week, I did some uphill laps at Tenney Mountain in Plymouth, another local hill I’d been meaning to check out for a while.
This year, my Colorado ski trip was planned a bit earlier than usual. I wanted to avoid MLK weekend and the crowds, so I prepped my skis at home — waxing them with my Mountain Flow infrared waxer, which I’ve been using a lot this winter. Watching the wax melt cleanly into the base with zero mess never gets old.
I flew out to Colorado with plans to head straight to Steamboat, but decided to take advantage of my Indy Pass and ski Loveland on arrival. Not much was open, but it was quiet, relaxed, and a nice way to ease into the trip at an independent ski area just outside Denver.
By the time I arrived in Steamboat, I was lucky enough to be coming in just after a one-foot storm — the biggest snowfall Colorado has seen all season. There wasn’t much snow in town, but once I got up to the summit and over to Morningside, it was pure Narnia. Trees completely buried in soft pillows, powder lines everywhere.
One moment from that day will probably define the entire month for me.
As the storm cleared, I stood on the summit and looked back toward the forested hills behind the resort. Pine trees coated in fresh snow, flakes swirling through the air, rising and falling with the wind. The sun filtered through just enough to make everything sparkle. It was pure magic.
Steamboat, for me, isn’t just about skiing hard. It has a great après scene and a solid lineup of restaurants and bars that don’t feel overpriced or pretentious. One standout for me is Yampa Valley Kitchen — highly recommend.
After a few days, I headed back to Summit County for time at Copper and Arapahoe Basin. The snow wasn’t as good there, but the mountain crews have been doing an incredible job grooming. And honestly, it’s not always about powder — ripping fast cruiser blues on perfect corduroy can be just as fun.
Back home, winter finally showed up in force. Shortly after returning, we were hit with an Arctic blast, with temperatures dropping into the negative double digits. I skied Waterville Valley on the coldest day of the year — mostly because the forecasts scared everyone else away. I’m glad I went. Soft snow, beautiful views, and somehow I was still skiing groomers at 2 p.m. on a Saturday, which almost never happens.
Then came the storm that defined the month on the East Coast. Southern New Hampshire picked up around 20 inches over two days, and this wasn’t heavy, wet snow — it was champagne powder. Temperatures stayed cold through the rest of the month, leaving us with something that feels rare these days: a deep, fluffy, soft snowpack.
I even took a weekday off to chase powder at Stratton. After a full day there, I still didn’t feel done, so I stopped at the Dublin Nordic Center for a few evening laps under the lights.
All things considered, January turned out to be a blast. Conditions out west were definitely subpar, but any day on skis is better than none. And I’m incredibly grateful for the winter we’ve been having in New Hampshire. Here’s hoping it sticks around for another month or two.
