CHICAGO, 13 Oktober (Reuters) – Panen kedelai di AS sudah melewati setengahnya pada minggu lalu dan panen jagung meningkat, namun kemajuannya tertinggal dibandingkan laju yang luar biasa cepat tahun lalu, menurut jajak pendapat Reuters terhadap 10 analis pada hari Senin.

Para petani sedang memanen tanaman jagung AS terbesar dalam sejarah dan panen kedelai yang melimpah.

Rata-rata, para analis memperkirakan tanaman kedelai telah dipanen sebesar 58% pada hari Minggu dan panen jagung telah selesai sebesar 44%. Perkiraannya berkisar antara 52% hingga 70% untuk kedelai dan 35% hingga 55% untuk jagung.

Departemen Pertanian AS biasanya menerbitkan laporan kemajuan panen mingguan setiap Senin sore, atau pada hari Selasa setelah hari libur federal seperti Hari Columbus/Masyarakat Adat di hari Senin. Namun karena penutupan pemerintahan yang sedang berlangsung, tidak ada laporan dari badan statistik badan tersebut yang dijadwalkan untuk dirilis minggu ini. Badan tersebut juga tidak mengeluarkan laporan kemajuan panen pada minggu lalu.

Setahun yang lalu, USDA melaporkan bahwa panen kedelai telah selesai 67%, laju tercepat dalam lebih dari satu dekade, dan panen jagung telah selesai 47% karena kondisi kering membantu mempercepat tanaman menuju kematangan dan meminimalkan penundaan karena cuaca.

“Tahun ini kekeringan (tanaman) sedikit lebih lambat,” kata Don Roose, presiden Komoditas AS yang berbasis di Iowa.

Para analis rata-rata menilai 64% tanaman jagung AS berada dalam kondisi baik hingga sangat baik, turun 1 poin persentase dari rata-rata jajak pendapat analis minggu lalu. Analis menilai kedelai 61% baik hingga sangat baik, tidak berubah dari rata-rata perdagangan minggu lalu.

Para petani terus menanam tanaman gandum musim dingin AS yang akan dipanen pada tahun 2026. Para analis memperkirakan rata-rata penanaman gandum musim dingin telah selesai sebesar 66%, naik dari perkiraan perdagangan rata-rata minggu lalu sebesar 50%.

Semua angka dalam persen:

Zimbabwe telah mencapai rekor panen gandum sebesar 578.000 ton pada tahun 2025, melampaui hasil tahun lalu dan kebutuhan konsumsi tahunan negara tersebut yang berjumlah sekitar 360.000 ton. Pencapaian ini menandai swasembada gandum secara penuh, sehingga negara ini dapat fokus mengekspor kelebihan gandum ke negara-negara tetangga di kawasan ini.

Menteri Pertanahan, Pertanian, Perikanan, Air dan Pembangunan Pedesaan Cemas Masuka menggambarkan pencapaian tersebut sebagai bukti penguatan kapasitas pertanian Zimbabwe dan peningkatan ketahanan pangan. “Dari hanya 94.000 ton pada tahun 2019 menjadi lebih dari setengah juta ton pada tahun 2025, Zimbabwe kini menjadi salah satu dari dua negara Afrika yang sepenuhnya swasembada gandum,” katanya.

Rekor output ini didorong oleh perluasan irigasi, dukungan input pemerintah, dan program mekanisasi. Tahun ini, gandum ditanam di lahan seluas lebih dari 122.000 hektar – meningkat 511% dibandingkan tahun 2019. Pertumbuhan ini sejalan dengan strategi pemerintah yang lebih luas untuk mengurangi ketergantungan impor, terutama setelah guncangan harga gandum global yang disebabkan oleh perang di Ukraina.

Menurut Menteri Masuka, surplus tersebut memungkinkan Zimbabwe menjajaki peluang ekspor regional, terutama di negara-negara yang masih berjuang dengan kekurangan gandum. Sementara itu, pemerintah terus menstabilkan harga dalam negeri dan memastikan pasokan tetap, setelah baru-baru ini melepaskan lebih dari 6.500 ton gandum ke pabrik penggilingan untuk menyeimbangkan pasar.

Meskipun mengalami surplus, Zimbabwe akan membatasi impor gandum tinggi gluten yang digunakan untuk jenis roti tertentu. Pihak berwenang mendesak pabrik penggilingan dan pengolah untuk bekerja sama secara erat dengan Otoritas Pemasaran Pertanian untuk menjaga keseimbangan pasar. Kisah sukses gandum Zimbabwe mencerminkan investasi bertahun-tahun di bidang irigasi, pelatihan petani, dan kemitraan sektor swasta – menjadikannya contoh langka mengenai ketahanan dan swasembada pertanian di Afrika sub-Sahara.

Tag: ekspor, gandum, Zimbabwe, perkiraan hasil panen

Perjalanan musim dingin di Italia menawarkan perpaduan pesona pegunungan, keramahtamahan mewah, dan lereng kelas dunia — dan tahun ini, wisatawan memiliki gambaran yang jelas tentang ke mana harus pergi.

Sebuah laporan baru dari Jfc Observatory, sebuah badan penelitian pariwisata terkemuka Italia, telah mengungkapkan destinasi pegunungan terbaik di negara itu untuk musim ski tahun 2025, dengan menempatkan Cortina d'Ampezzo, Madonna di Campiglio, dan Livigno sebagai resor musim dingin terbaik di Italia.

Pemeringkatan tahunan yang disusun oleh analis pariwisata Jfc Srl ini menyoroti bagaimana preferensi wisatawan membentuk dunia ski Italia. Dengan menggunakan survei pengunjung dan data destinasi, Observatorium mengevaluasi lusinan resor berdasarkan kualitas lereng, keramahtamahan, aksesibilitas, dan inisiatif lingkungan. Hasil penelitian ini mengkonfirmasi wilayah pegunungan di Italia utara sebagai daya tarik terbesar negara tersebut bagi pengunjung domestik dan internasional.

Tiga Favorit Alpen Teratas di Italia

Memimpin daftar sekali lagi adalah Cortina d'Ampezzoresor Dolomites yang terkenal dengan pemandangan pegunungan sinematik dan budaya après-ski yang elegan. Terpilih sebagai “destinasi kulit putih tahun ini”, Cortina juga menempati peringkat pertama sebagai area ski “paling terkenal” dan “paling trendi” — memperkuat reputasinya sebagai tempat liburan musim dingin paling glamor di Italia. Perpaduan antara butik desainer, restoran berbintang Michelin, dan warisan Olimpiade terus menarik para pemain ski dan wisatawan yang sadar gaya.

Dekat di belakang, Madonna di Campiglio mengklaim berbagai penghargaan termasuk “lereng terbaik”, “resor keluarga terbaik”, dan “layanan terbanyak”. Dikenal dengan infrastruktur ski yang mulus dan koneksi ke Dolomiti di Brenta, resor ini tetap menjadi favorit di antara keluarga dan pemain ski berpengalaman yang mencari jalur lari yang jauh dan terawat. Area Ski Madonna di Campiglio di dekatnya juga menduduki puncak tangga lagu nasional untuk “lift ski terbaik”, yang menegaskan reputasinya dalam hal kenyamanan dan efisiensi.

Mengakhiri tiga besar, hidup mendapat pengakuan sebagai resor pegunungan “paling hijau” di Italia. Terletak di dekat perbatasan Swiss, perusahaan ini telah banyak berinvestasi pada fasilitas keberlanjutan dan hemat energi. Perbelanjaan bebas pajak di Livigno, jalur lintas alam yang luas, dan budaya après-ski yang semarak menjadikannya semakin favorit bagi wisatawan muda dan pemain ski sadar lingkungan yang mencari nilai dan variasi.

Resor yang Sedang Meningkat

Selain tiga destinasi teratas, beberapa destinasi telah mengalami kemajuan yang signifikan. Kurirdi lereng Mont Blanc, naik dua tingkat ke posisi keempat, terkenal dengan keramahtamahan hotelnya yang kuat dan suasana pegunungan yang otentik. Kanazei juga maju, kini menduduki peringkat kelima karena perpaduan medan ski yang ramah keluarga dan akses ke sirkuit Sella Ronda. Sementara itu, Val di Fassa disorot karena “nilai terbaik untuk uang” yang mencerminkan betapa seimbangnya harga dan pengalaman dibandingkan dengan resor lainnya.

Laporan tersebut mencatat bahwa tujuan ski di Italia menjadi lebih kompetitif, karena wilayah tersebut terus memodernisasi sistem lift dan memperluas kemampuan pembuatan salju. Alta Badia menonjol karena standar “keamanan terbaiknya”, sementara itu Val Gardena membawa pulang penghargaan untuk “lereng terbaik”. Surga Ski Cervinomeliputi area sekitar Cervinia dan Zermatt, dikenal karena menawarkan cakupan salju paling andal — faktor utama bagi wisatawan yang merencanakan perjalanan di awal atau akhir musim.

wisata Salju dan Daya Tarik Musim Dingin Italia

Peringkat tahun 2025 menggarisbawahi semakin kuatnya kekuatan Italia wisata salju sektor ini, yang terus menjadi salah satu pasar perjalanan paling tangguh di negara ini. Menurut Jfc Observatory, destinasi yang berinvestasi pada infrastruktur dan keberlanjutan akan mendapatkan keuntungan terbesar dalam hal kepuasan pengunjung dan perjalanan berulang. Resor semakin memasarkan pengalaman musim dingin yang lengkap — mulai dari olahraga salju hingga kebugaran, santapan lezat, dan acara budaya — daripada hanya berfokus pada ski.

Di wilayah seperti Trentino-Alto Adige, Lombardy, dan Valle d'Aosta, wisata salju kini memainkan peran penting dalam mendukung perekonomian sepanjang tahun. Banyak resor telah berkembang lebih dari sekadar ski tradisional hingga mencakup sepatu salju, panjat es, dan retret spa mewah, yang menarik bagi wisatawan yang mencari variasi dan relaksasi. Diversifikasi ini, menurut laporan tersebut, telah membantu resor-resor Italia tetap kompetitif dibandingkan destinasi Swiss, Prancis, dan Austria.

penginapan alpen di Cortina d'Ampezzo dikelilingi oleh Dolomites yang bersalju.” width=”1280″ height=”853″ title=”Resor Ski Terbaik Italia Untuk Dikunjungi Musim Dingin Ini 4″ srcset=”https://ftnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/cortina-dolomites-ski-resort-shutterstock.webp 1280w, https://ftnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/cortina-dolomites-ski-resort-shutterstock-600×400.webp 600w, https://ftnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/cortina-dolomites-ski-resort-shutterstock-280×187.webp 280w, https://ftnnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/cortina-dolomites-ski-resort-shutterstock-768×512.webp 768w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px”/>

Apa yang Diungkapkan Peringkat Tentang Pariwisata Musim Dingin Italia

Menurut analisis Jfc Srl, Cortina d'Ampezzo memperoleh 6.571 suara, disusul Madonna di Campiglio dengan 6.525 dan Livigno dengan 6.150. Courmayeur dan Canazei mengikuti dengan masing-masing kurang dari 6.000 suara. Hasil serupa menunjukkan bahwa industri pariwisata dataran tinggi Italia sedang melakukan diversifikasi, memberikan wisatawan lebih banyak pilihan di seluruh wilayah dan kisaran harga.

Massimo FeruzziKepala Jfc Srl, mengatakan peringkat tersebut mencerminkan bagaimana wisatawan semakin memprioritaskan keberlanjutan, aksesibilitas, dan kualitas layanan ketika memilih tempat untuk bermain ski. Data Observatorium menunjukkan momentum kuat bagi resor yang menggabungkan fasilitas modern dengan identitas budaya otentik – sebuah keseimbangan yang terus menarik pengunjung dari seluruh Eropa dan sekitarnya.

Penelitian ini juga menyoroti bagaimana resor pegunungan di Italia memanfaatkan warisan dan inovasi. Sementara Cortina mempersiapkan perannya sebagai kota tuan rumah Olimpiade Musim Dingin 2026, destinasi seperti Livigno dan Moena berfokus pada inisiatif pariwisata inklusif dan energi terbarukan, selaras dengan tren global menuju perjalanan yang lebih ramah lingkungan.

Merencanakan Liburan Musim Dingin

Bagi wisatawan yang mempertimbangkan perjalanan ski ke Italia, peringkat terbaru memberikan lebih dari sekadar daftar — peringkat ini menguraikan keunggulan masing-masing destinasi. Dari keanggunan Cortina hingga fokus keluarga Campiglio dan keberlanjutan Livigno, kota-kota pegunungan Alpen di Italia melayani setiap jenis wisatawan musim dingin. Dengan harga yang kompetitif dibandingkan kawasan ski Eropa lainnya, banyak resor yang terus menarik pengunjung yang mencari petualangan dan keaslian.

Hasil lengkap dan detail tujuan tersedia melalui Observatorium Jfcyang laporan tahunannya menawarkan pandangan mendalam tentang perkembangan wisata pegunungan di Italia. Baik untuk bermain ski, seluncur salju, atau menikmati pemandangan musim dingin Dolomites, resor pegunungan Italia tetap menjadi pusat daya tarik musiman Eropa — tempat pesona masa lalu berpadu dengan kehidupan pegunungan modern.

Kredit Foto Teratas: NorthSky Films / Shutterstock.com

Perkiraan menunjukkan bahwa pada tahun pemasaran 2025/26, Aljazair akan mempertahankan luas areal gandum sekitar 2 juta hektar dan jelai sebesar 1 juta hektar, konsisten dengan musim sebelumnya. Menurut Kementerian Pertanian Aljazair, tanaman diperkirakan akan dipanen di lahan seluas 150.000 hektar di Sahara, 40.000 hektar lebih banyak dibandingkan tahun lalu. Masih belum jelas apakah seluruh lahan seluas 150.000 hektar tersebut ditanami gandum atau termasuk tanaman lainnya. Secara keseluruhan, 5–8% tanaman serealia Aljazair dibudidayakan di daerah gurun.

Sebagian besar tanaman gandum ditanam di zona pesisir Mediterania dan dataran tinggi, dengan mengandalkan irigasi tadah hujan. Berdasarkan data kelembaban tanah satelit, produksi gandum diperkirakan masih di bawah rata-rata sekitar 3 juta metrik ton (MMT). Namun, produksi jelai pada tahun 2025/26 diperkirakan meningkat menjadi 1,35 MMT karena melimpahnya hujan musim semi di wilayah penghasil jelai.

Kampanye penanaman pada bulan Oktober 2024 dimulai dalam kondisi kering, namun kelembaban tanah membaik pada bulan Januari 2025, melampaui tingkat musim lalu, meskipun masih di bawah rata-rata 20 tahun. Selama musim tanam (Januari hingga pertengahan Mei), curah hujan tidak merata, sehingga lahan mengering pada bulan April. Enam minggu terakhir membawa lebih banyak kelembapan, sehingga berpotensi meningkatkan hasil panen di daerah subur, namun hujan yang berkepanjangan hingga pertengahan bulan Mei meningkatkan risiko penyakit dan tantangan panen.

Kementerian Pertanian memproyeksikan wilayah selatan, khususnya El Menia dan Adrar, masing-masing akan memanen sekitar 100.000 metrik ton, Timimoun dan Ouargla masing-masing sekitar 35.000 metrik ton, serta Biskra dan El Oued masing-masing 25.000 dan 21.000 metrik ton. Jumlah ini mencakup sekitar 10% produksi gandum nasional sebesar 3 MMT. Impor gandum pada tahun 2025/26 diperkirakan akan tetap sebesar 9,2 MMT, selaras dengan proyeksi panen dan kebutuhan dalam negeri. Untuk musim ini, impor gandum telah direvisi turun menjadi 8 MMT karena pengiriman yang lebih lambat, terutama dari Rusia dan Perancis.

Perkiraan impor jelai untuk tahun 2025/26 telah diturunkan menjadi 550.000 metrik ton karena perkiraan panen yang lebih baik. Stok gandum juga telah direvisi: 5,2 MMT pada tahun 2025/26 dan 5 MMT pada tahun 2024/25, yang mencerminkan penurunan impor. Aljazair telah menghentikan pembelian gandum dari Perancis karena ketegangan diplomatik, sementara pasokan Rusia (1,7 MMT dalam 10 bulan pertama tahun 2024/25) dibatasi oleh kuota ekspor hingga Juni 2025. Para analis memperkirakan Aljazair dapat meningkatkan pembelian dari negara-negara seperti Kanada atau Argentina untuk mengimbangi kekurangan dan menstabilkan stok pada akhir musim.

Tag: jelai, gandum, Aljazair

Penawaran spot untuk gandum hard red winter (HRW) tetap stabil di Dataran Selatan AS pada hari Jumat karena hujan menghambat panen awal, kata pedagang gandum.

• Perkiraan akan terus turunnya curah hujan berpotensi mengancam kualitas tanaman, kata seorang perantara.

• Departemen Pertanian AS dijadwalkan mengeluarkan informasi terkini mengenai kemajuan panen dalam laporan mingguannya pada hari Senin. Panen gandum musim dingin di negara ini telah selesai 3% pada tanggal 1 Juni.

• Chicago Board of Trade Gandum KC HRW bulan Juli (KWN25) berjangka berakhir 6-3/4 sen lebih tinggi pada $5,49-1/4 per gantang.

Nilai dasar dikutip terhadap kontrak berjangka di cts/bu:

CATATAN:

H = Maret, K = Mei, N = Juli, U = September

Z = Desember; UNQ = Tawaran yang tidak dikutip

0 = Harga Opsi Sp; NC = Tidak ada perbandingan

* = No. 1 12% gandum musim dingin yang keras, tawaran kereta api

** = Protein biasa, tawaran rel

Tautan:

* Timbangan protein gandum KC HRW

* Kemajuan panen gandum mingguan AS

* Basis forward AS (WHEAT/BASIS)

* PM gandum tunai Midwest AS

* Gandum Teluk CIF AS

* Gandum Teluk FOB AS

Colorado skiing—OK, snowboarding, too—is different.

In the Rockies, the snow is less precipitation than it is frozen air sent from the heavens. Bald ridgelines sparkle under bluebird skies, spilling into never-ending aspen glades. Massive bowls look like God took an ice cream scoop to the flank of a 12,000-foot peak. Ribbons of white sluice across evergreen forests, leading to lodges that serve hot cocoa and double IPAs. Here, winter isn’t endured—it’s exalted.

The challenge for locals, then, is where to spend their OOO days and hard-earned dollars. Colorado boasts two dozen ski resorts and a handful of smaller municipal hills, each with its own vibe. Some shine as family-friendly playgrounds for learning and growing a love for the sport. Some impress with their stomach-dropping chutes and cliffs. Some are blessedly anti-resort. The right mountain for you depends on your crew, your style, and, yes, the pass you’re carrying.

That’s where this guide comes in. On the following pages, you’ll find an introduction to Colorado’s major ski areas: what each one does best, our favorite amenities and extras, and, of course, which run to try for a quintessential taste. It’s time to find your winter match.

Jump Ahead:

Ski Pass Collectives:

Read More: When Will Your Favorite Colorado Ski Resort Open?

• Town: Dillon
• Distance from Denver: 68 miles
• Pass: CSCUSA, Ikon

If you measure ski days in vertical feet, no-frills Arapahoe Basin is the holy grail of grit. Nearly three-quarters of the ski area is the purview of expert riders, who bicker about which flume is best over beers at parking lot tailgates. One thing they agree on: The Pallavicini Lift services some of the state’s finest in-bounds terrain from a base area. Decide for yourself on Pali Cornice, where a shooting gallery of steeps spills into a mogul field on lower Main Street.

Read More: How Leaning Into Its Status as an Anti-Resort Made A-Basin More Profitable

• Town: Aspen
• Distance from Denver: 160 miles
• Pass: Aspen Snowmass, CSCUSA, Ikon, Mountain Collective

Serious skiers swear by Highlands, and one peek at the trail map shows why: Nearly 80 percent of the mountain is shellacked in black and double black diamonds, including Highland Bowl, the state’s crown jewel of in-bounds extreme skiing. “It’s steep, long, and has very little skier traffic,” says Kim Reichhelm, a former U.S. Ski Team member who calls the Elk Mountains home. “You can always find good snow on its 20-plus lines.” To reach Highland, riders bootpack 782 vertical feet up a ridgeline from the top of the Loge Peak lift—a one-hour march. Their reward? A 2,500-vertical-foot plunge with bragging rights and face shots.

• Town: Aspen
• Distance from Denver: 160 miles
• Pass: Aspen Snowmass, CSCUSA, Ikon, Mountain Collective

Known as Ajax to locals, Aspen Mountain is where Colorado’s ski scene struts its stuff. Sure, you’ll spot fur-trimmed parkas and gold lamé suits gliding into the gondola, but beneath the glitz is a mountain built for skiers who crave a challenge: There are zero green runs here. Chase glory in the Dumps, a series of east-facing chutes off the FIS chair. Each pitch is split by stands of trees, creating a fun rhythm of powder fields and tight glades that hold snow well after the last storm.

Fuel Up: Hit Stranahan’s Whiskey Lodge, a short walk from the Silver Queen Gondola, for a pretzel hot pocket filled with whiskey-smoked brisket.

Read More: Aspen Mountain’s Massive Expansion is Designed to Outrun Climate Change

• Town: Beaver Creek
• Distance from Denver: 100 miles
• Pass: Epic

Most ski areas front-load beginner terrain near the base. But at Beaver Creek, half a dozen green runs pour off the resort’s 11,440-foot high point, gifting first-timers rare above-treeline vistas of Colorado’s serrated skyline, stretching south to 14,007-foot Mt. of the Holy Cross. Snap a summit selfie, then link Red Buffalo, a mellow cruiser along the Stone Creek drainage, with Cinch for a five-plus-mile route—one of the state’s longest top-to-bottom beginner routes.

• Town: Breckenridge
• Distance from Denver: 80 miles
• Pass: Epic

Nearly a third of Breckenridge, which sprawls across five peaks in the Tenmile Range, is designated for intermediates. Coupled with a lively base area and a downtown where hard plastic boots count as dress shoes, it’s catnip for Front Range skiers. True, Breck is the busiest ski resort in Colorado. To escape the fray, ride the Imperial chair, the highest lift in North America, to 12,840 feet. Skate skier’s right to pick a line down Whale’s Tale and link up with Northstar for a never-ending run that will make your ears pop. Showoffs: Tack on a short bootpack from Imperial to send Wacky’s, a butt-puckering Lake Chutes line in full view of the lift.

• Town: Aspen
• Distance from Denver: 160 miles
• Pass: Aspen Snowmass, CSCUSA, Ikon, Mountain Collective

Of the Aspen foursome, Buttermilk alone is tailor-made for skiers who prefer their turns without tears. Three-quarters of the terrain is designated beginner and intermediate, with flowy, low-angle greens on one side of the mountain and black diamonds on the other—and a gigantic play structure called Fort Frog in the middle. Send groms to the insanely cool Hideout children’s center (it has a craft room) before a lesson, then rendezvous after on Buckskin, “which is fun to rip if you know what you’re doing but mild enough for learners ready to upgrade,” says Carbondale local and guidebook author Heather Balogh Rochfort.

• Town: Frisco
• Distance from Denver: 75 miles
• Pass: CSCUSA, Ikon

Few ski resorts are laid out in such a beautifully straightforward manner as Copper Mountain. Beginners get their ski legs on pristinely groomed greens like Prospector and Roundabout, accessed from West Village. Intermediates head to Center Village for a boost in steepness on Copperopolis and its blue brethren. And experts keen to feel a rush open the throttle down Oh-No to Rosi’s Run from East Village. “Skiing [Rosi’s] under Super Bee is where I learned how to ski fast,” says professional skier Kyle Negomir, who will return to his favorite trail this November as he vies for glory at the 2025 Stifel Copper Cup, part of the FIS World Cup tour.

• Town: Crested Butte
• Distance from Denver: 192 miles
• Pass: Epic

Craving a challenge? Set your GPS for Crested Butte, an intimidating rampart in the Elk Mountains. It’s more wild than manicured, but the quirky, colorful town wears its rugged reputation proudly. Dip your tips in on Rambo, a midmountain drop that locals claim is the steepest in North America. It’s a heart-pounding plunge that’s easily accessible from multiple lifts, including the intermediate-friendly Paradise Express—meaning less gnarly riders can skirt it on a gentler pitch and reconnect with their gutsier pals for a party lap to the base.

• Town: Nederland
• Distance from Denver: 50 miles
• Pass: CSCUSA, Ikon

In August 2024, ski resort holding company Powdr hung a for-sale sign on Eldora Mountain Resort. The exit had nothing to do with finances—“Eldora is profitable,” ski area president and general manager Brent Tregaskis promised—but rather with Powdr’s plans to focus on other opportunities more “in alignment with its founder’s and stakeholders’ goals.” (Read: ventures with its Woodward action-sports brand.)

This past summer, Nederland, which is situated about five miles from the ski area’s high-speed Alpenglow lift, made an announcement of its own: The 1,500-person community—a town with about 30 employees and a $3.2 million general fund—had inked a letter of intent to purchase Eldora. Using cash from municipal bonds, the town is poised to spend $100 million to $200 million to bring the mountain under its ownership as soon as this season.

What does that mean for Front Range Ikon passholders who point their Subarus toward Eldora when I-70 is a mess? So far, not much. The 680-acre ski area will remain on the Ikon Pass this season. The Eldorables will still learn to pizza down Little Hawk and Fun Gully. And regulars will continue to groan when the Corona lift breaks down on a powder day, cutting off the steep, deep, and treed glory of must-ski (if you’re an expert) runs like Salto Glades and Moose Glades.

What will change remains to be seen. Night-skiing operations and increased summer offerings have been proposed. Updates to lift infrastructure (cough, Corona) and snowmaking capabilities will be essential to keep Eldora competitive (and profitable), points out Andy Bigford, who co-authored the ski area’s biography, Eldora: Six Decades of Adventure.

Assuming that happens, Bigford adds, this will be “just another chapter. Eldora has always figured out a way.”

Read More: How Colorado Ski Patrollers Are Grinding to Keep Their Slopes Safe—and Their Profession Viable

• Town: Granby
• Distance from Denver: 86 miles
• Pass: CSCUSA, Indy

Granby Ranch leaves the mega-resort bustle to its neighbor, Winter Park. Here, it’s all about relaxed skiing and family-friendly turns. Two peaks split the duties: one dedicated to beginners and intermediates, the other to more advanced riders sneaking in steeps. For a run that shows off Granby’s sweet spot, cruise down Buckhorn, an east-side groomer that’s wide enough to build confidence. Thanks to a feature-filled fringe, experts won’t lose interest.

• Town: Keystone
• Distance from Denver: 72 miles
• Pass: Epic

Like its Epic brethren, Keystone caters to families, but it stands out for its logical layout (beginners won’t accidentally wander into expert terrain), daycare for children as young as six months, and kid-focused trails, such as Schoolmarm. A continuous, 3.5-mile descent from the top of Dercum Mountain (where there’s a snow fort!), it has a gentle and consistent pitch and passes three adventure zones where newbies can explore tunnels, embankments, and uninterrupted turns en route to the base area.

Fuel Up: Clop over to Goodz Tavern at Kindred Resort—that brand-spankin’-new complex in River Run Village—for a patio après of slow-cooked meats.

• Town: Georgetown
• Distance from Denver: 53 miles
• Pass: CSCUSA, Indy

To the untrained eye, Loveland Ski Area, which perches rather precipitously on the Continental Divide, might seem like a paradise solely for expert skiers and riders. Its newly accessible Porcupine Ridge promises some 500 vertical feet of likely untracked powder for those tenacious enough to bootpack 45 minutes from Chair 9 to get it. Oh, and intermediate and expert terrain make up roughly 87 percent of its 1,800 total acres.

And yet, in spite of those whoop-worthy offerings, “I have so many people say, ‘I learned to ski at Loveland,’ ” says its COO Rob Goodell. “People look left as they’re coming up I-70, see our terrain, and might get a little intimidated. But, boy, you also just came by this beautiful terrain at Loveland Valley that’s a great way to start.”

Split into two sections, Loveland Ski Area is composed of the larger Loveland Basin (which has a bunny hill) and the smaller Loveland Valley, just east. A low-angle playground for folks new to the sport, the latter’s two lifts and two magic carpets provide access solely to greens and blues—so wobbly first-timers need not worry about oblivious experts whizzing past en route to après. Plus, a Loveland Valley–only day pass costs just $50 ($30 for kids ages six to 14, free for five and under).

This season, the ski area unveils even more reasons to exit I-70 early and learn to ski or ride at Loveland Valley: Lift 7, a 40-year-old double, was replaced with a new, extra-wide triple-seater that’s easier to load and ride. Maintenance teams also regraded and cleared trees from Zig-Zag, Loveland Valley’s longest beginner trail, making it even better for French-frying (or pizzaing—no judgment here).

Fuel Up: Find grab-and-go sushi at the Loveland Basin Lodge food hall.

Read More: 6 Reasons to Shred at Loveland Ski Area

• Town: Salida
• Distance from Denver: 125 miles
• Pass: CSCUSA

Many things—like the addition of a lodge and tubing and terrain parks—have changed since Monarch Mountain opened in 1939. Its old-school vibe, however, has not. There’s no snowmaking (with 350 inches of white stuff annually, who needs it?), and all chairlifts are fixed-grip (translation: slow and ideal for catching up with a pal between runs). The 1,146-acre ski area west of Salida along the Continental Divide remains committed to one thing: “It’s all about the skiing,” says director of mountain operations Scott Pressly. “It’s about getting up on the hill with your family or friends and having a good time.”

This season, however, guests will have an additional 377 acres to explore. With the grand opening of No Name Basin (pictured), which gets its non-name from the creek below, Monarch adds a lift that services 12 intermediate and expert runs on the western side of the Divide, formerly accessible only to cat-skiing ticket holders. The expansion, which took more than a decade and cost millions, also includes a warming hut and vault toilets.

The acreage spans a wide range of steep groomers and playful glades. Skiers and riders who find joy in carving down vertigo-inducing headwalls shouldn’t miss Bonanza, which falls off the basin’s northern flank. Bump-lovers will appreciate the ungroomed moguls and steep transition of Buckhorn, located directly below the new Tomichi lift, a fixed-grip triple. Tree skiers: Head far right into Sunset Glades.

It may be tempting to fix your gaze on the powder below your planks. Instead, revel in the panorama west to the Gunnison River Valley, San Juan and West Elk mountains, and maw of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. “Getting on the west side and having that experience of nature and not all of those other distractions that the modern world brings to us,” Pressly says, “it’s going to be that moment of Zen.”

• Town: Mesa
• Distance from Denver: 233 miles
• Pass: CSCUSA, Indy

Powderhorn is about as unpretentious as Colorado skiing gets. It’s a locals’ hill at heart—one that happens to be perched on the slopes of the largest flattop mountain in the world. And schussing down the Grand Mesa should be on every skier’s bucket list: Drop into Maverick, a seemingly endless roller on the front face, to look out across the Western Slope, where the horizon glows with red-rock cliffs and desert canyons. It’s skiing with a Wild West twist.

• Town: Durango
• Distance from Denver: 363 miles
• Pass: CSCUSA, Power Pass

When you buy in advance, lift tickets at this Powder Highway stunner cost as little as $15 midweek. That’s reason enough to plan a trip to southwestern Colorado, where average annual snowfall at Purgatory exceeds 250 inches. It’s an intermediate mountain comprising 65 percent blue and green runs, but for some classic San Juan freeskiing, dip into the Ambassadors’ Glade off the front side, where small cliffbands provide natural drops and, if the snow is good, pillow lines. Rejoin your buddies on Upper Demon for an eyeful of the pink-hued Needles en route to the base.

• Town: Silverton
• Distance from Denver: 330 miles
• Pass: None

Labeling Silverton a “resort” is a stretch: It has no village and operates one lift. But for experts itching to try big-mountain skiing, there is no better place to pillage powder in a controlled environment. The single double chair serves a menu of expert lines—more, if you’re willing to shoulder your planks and hike a ridgeline at 12,000 feet—and helicopters and snowcats unlock untouched bowls and couloirs. Hire a guide to direct you to the day’s best thrills—and don’t forget your avalanche equipment.

• Town: Leadville
• Distance from Denver: 109 miles
• Pass: CSCUSA

Ski Cooper may not boast the acreage of its Epic or Ikon neighbors, but what it lacks in size it makes up for in retro charm. Nab a ticket (often less than $50 on weekdays) and putter up the 10th Mountain double chair to scout for fresh corduroy: Cooper rotates its grooming schedule to keep trails soft. Bury your edges into Trail’s End, a flowy lap along a lodgepole forest near the boundary, or, if temps plummet, try Vendome Burn, a sun-splashed spine off the 11,757-foot summit.

• Town: Snowmass Village
• Distance from Denver: 160 miles
• Pass: Aspen Snowmass, CSCUSA, Ikon, Mountain Collective

The closest thing to a truly self-contained ski resort among Aspen’s four mountains, Snowmass (the largest at 3,300-plus acres) has a lively village and terrain for every ability. Such a distinction makes it a good choice for family getaways and group trips. Rally your crew for a lap down Sneaky’s, a groomed roller coaster that hugs the resort’s edge, offering views of the Roaring Fork Valley and ample opportunities to duck into Sneaky’s Glades for a sample of Aspen’s ballyhooed low-angle tree skiing.

Fuel Up: Load your pockets with handhelds from the new SnacFood Empanadas hut, which debuted on the Snowmass Mall this summer.

• Town: Steamboat Springs
• Distance from Denver: 160 miles
• Pass: CSCUSA, Ikon, Mountain Collective

In winter, snowbirds flock to Steamboat to surf its light, fluffy (and trademarked!) Champagne Powder snow, which averages just six percent water content, compared to the typical 15 percent elsewhere in the West. When the pow piles up—and with an average of 307 inches annually, it does—Olympic boarder and Ski Town USA native Taylor Gold heads for Nelson’s Run. “There are so many little hits to jump off and aspen groves on both sides,” he says.

Fuel Up: Cheers a good day on the hill at Storm Peak Brewing Company’s new Bus Stop Taproom & Kitchen location, which has 20 taps (and a Butterbeer ice cream float for groms) near the base of the mountain.

• Town: Glenwood Springs
• Distance from Denver: 169 miles
• Pass: CSCUSA, Indy

Sunlight is the locals’ alternative to Aspen: small, family-friendly, affordable (day passes hover around $75), and refreshingly unpretentious. One knock on the place has been its hella slow, 50-plus-year-old lifts. That changes this season, with two of its three chairs being replaced. Catch a ride up the new Primo lift, now a fixed-grip quad, to steer the family down The Parks. The mellow cruiser falls off the 9,895-foot Compass Peak summit with in-your-face vistas of the Roaring Fork Valley and picturesque Mt. Sopris, an almost-thirteener that rises above Carbondale.

• Town: Mountain Village
• Distance from Denver: 360 miles
• Pass: CSCUSA

Forget crowded lift lines and highway-adjacent amenities. Telluride pairs historical charm with world-class riding, and everyone scores San Juans scenery—even in the learning and intermediate areas (60 percent of the resort). If you’re nifty with your boards, take pro freeskier Bobby Brown’s advice and head to Little Rose off the Gold Hill Express. “It’s a natural halfpipe that holds snow—amazing tree skiing and steep,” he says.

• Town: Vail
• Distance from Denver: 100 miles
• Pass: Epic

Distilling Colorado’s largest ski area—5,317 acres, 195 trails, 32 lifts—into one must-try lap is impossible. Every front-side lift serves an easy way down, and intermediates can slash groomers on nearly every slope. The prize is the Back Bowls: a 3,017-acre mecca of expert terrain. For a Tour de Vail, choose your own adventure there (lower Genghis Khan is rarely bumped out; Shangri-La hides powder stashes), then navigate to the front side and link Avanti (wide and cruisey), Lindsey’s (nice snow near the trees), and Pepi’s Face (a miserable but efficient sheet of ice). Your landing spot: Vail Village for happy hour and people-watching.

• Town: Winter Park
• Distance from Denver: 67 miles
• Pass: CSCUSA, Ikon

When the Winter Park ski area first welcomed guests in January 1940, it didn’t count Mary Jane—its famously ungroomed, mogul-packed marquee mountain—as in-bounds territory. At that time, a club of Front Range–based downhill devotees owned the land. Its members would drive over Berthoud Pass to boot up and rip down one of the first recognized alpine ski runs in the Western United States. Its name, a nod to the lady of the night who owned the land in the 1880s, was the Mary Jane Trail.

Over the next few decades, Winter Park higher-ups watched as new resorts along the I-70 corridor slowly siphoned off their customers. Eager to give skiers a reason to veer right onto U.S. 40—rather than continue toward the about-to-be-completed Eisenhower Tunnel—they stretched their ski area onto Mary Jane Mountain. On January 10, 1976, Winter Park dropped the rope to a new 350-acre playland, a terrain expansion that was, in its day, among the largest in the nation.

The Jane, as she’s known to the initiated, offered expert skiers densely treed, difficult slopes complete with cliff drops for those who wanted them. It still does—especially with expansions into the Parsenn Bowl and the Cirque. “[Mary Jane] is steep, it can be technical, and there’s a lot of variety,” says Natalie Newberry, who’s logged more than a decade as a ski patroller at Winter Park Ski Resort. “You hear it a lot: Diehards go for the Jane.”

This season, as Mary Jane recognizes 50 years as part of her home resort, expect a music-filled, giveaway-rich celebration on January 10 and 11, as well as yearlong tributes like commemorative chairs on the Super Gauge and Challenger lifts. The most fitting homage any lover of the Jane can make, however? A warm-up lap down her intermediate namesake trail before hitting a quad-scorching bump run like Pine Cliffs or Outhouse.

• Town: Pagosa Springs
• Distance from Denver: 251 miles
• Pass: None

Wolf Creek is a powder paradise, where storms from the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico funnel into north- and northeastern-facing slopes, delivering an average of 430 inches annually. Expert and advanced terrain off the Alberta lift holds soft snow deep into spring, while Navajo Trail, a two-mile-long run accessed from the Treasure Stoke or D. Boyce lifts, rolls along the perimeter of the big-view Boundary Bowl and threads through open aspen glades. The village and amenities are simple, but every trail maximizes carving time over waiting in a lift line—a major perk at Colorado’s snowiest resort.

8 Awesome Community Ski Hills in Colorado

You won’t find a ton of amenities—or, in some cases, lifts—at these municipal hills, but if you’re in the area and hunting for turns, the price is right.

1. Chapman Hill Ski Area (Durango)

“Hill” is a misnomer—it’s steep. But if you’re solid on your edges, it’s a fun, ultraaffordable alternative to nearby Purgatory. Adults $16, children starting at $6

2. Cranor Ski Hill (Gunnison)

Like Crested Butte light, its four runs blend across a bowl with varying aspects, pitches, and features. Adults $25, children $15

3. Echo Mountain (Idaho Springs)

Only 36 miles from downtown, it’s the closest downhill skiing to Denver—and included on several mega passes. Bonus: night skiing. Adults starting at $50, children starting at $30

4. Hoedown Hill (Windsor)

Learn the basics or practice your technique on man-made groomers without heading into the mountains. Gear is discounted through Mountain Rentals. Starting at $20

Read More: Here’s Who Will Love Hoedown Hill, Colorado’s Newest Ski and Tubing Area

5. Howelsen Hill Ski Area (Steamboat Springs)

Shred North America’s oldest operating ski area, then gape at the legendary jump complex where Olympians train—and fly. It’s also included on multiple pass collectives. Adults $49, children $36

6. Kendall Mountain Recreation Area (Silverton)

If a heli drop is out of your bag (or budget), rip around this more traditional ski area, which has one double chairlift and half a dozen runs. Adults $31, children $22

7. Lake City Ski Hill (Lake City)

A surface lift travels 1,000 feet up a tongue of corduroy for relatively long, beginner-friendly runs. Cool: Rental equipment is included with a day pass. Adults starting at $25, children starting at $15

8. Lee’s Ski Hill (Ouray)

With a single rope tow and 75 feet of vert, it’s not exactly destination-worthy. But it’s free, making it a nice add-on to a hot-springs or ice-climbing itinerary.

Read More: Barely Hanging On