Brains
Skiing year-round is a skier’s ultimate dream.
While that may sound impossible, Colorado skier Rainer Hertrich proved otherwise. Hertrich set the world record for consecutive days skied with 2,993 straight days of skiing — more than eight years without missing a day. He accomplished this feat by beginning his season in Colorado, then making his way to Mount Hood during the summer months, where he worked as a cat driver. When the resorts on Hood closed, Hertrich would then head south to Chile, where the seasons are flipped, allowing him to continue skiing even after the season was finished in North America.
Most of us aren’t aiming for nearly 3,000 consecutive ski days. But skiing at least once in every month of the year is a much more achievable goal — especially with the Ikon Pass.
With 75 destinations spread across North America, Europe, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, the IKON Pass offers enough geographic diversity to keep skiers on snow year-round. Here’s one way to make it happen.
January-April: Base Yourself in North America
The easiest part of the challenge is the heart of winter. By January, every Ikon destination in North America should be operating, giving skiers access to everything from Utah powder at Alta Ski Area to California’s Mammoth Mountain and Colorado classics like Winter Park, Copper Mountain, and Arapahoe Basin.
February and March are often considered prime time across much of the continent, with deep snowpacks, cold temperatures, and some of the season’s best powder conditions.
By April, many lower-elevation resorts begin winding down, but enough mountains remain open to comfortably keep the streak alive. Arapahoe Basin, Mammoth Mountain, and several western resorts regularly continue operating well into spring.
May and June: Survive the Shoulder Season
If there is a weak link in the calendar, this is it. May and June sit awkwardly between hemispheres. Many Northern Hemisphere resorts have already closed, while much of the Southern Hemisphere has yet to open. Mammoth Mountain becomes the most reliable North American option during this period, frequently operating deep into spring and early summer.
For additional insurance, head to Europe. Zermatt’s Matterhorn Ski Paradise in Switzerland offers year-round skiing on the Theodul Glacier and provides one of the most dependable ways to bridge the gap between winter seasons.
These two months require the most planning.
July and August: Chase Winter to Australia and New Zealand
Once Southern Hemisphere winter arrives, the challenge becomes much easier again.
Australia offers IKON pass holders access to Thredbo and Mount Buller, while New Zealand adds Coronet Peak, The Remarkables, and Mount Hutt.
While snowfall can vary significantly from year to year, July and August are the core months of the Australian and New Zealand ski seasons. The combination of active snowfall, snowmaking, terrain parks, and vibrant ski towns makes Oceania an ideal destination for mid-year turns.
September: Finish the Southern Hemisphere in Chile
As spring approaches in Australia and New Zealand, head east to South America.
Valle Nevado, IKON’s lone South American destination, typically remains open through much of September and often into early October.
Located high in the Andes above Santiago, the resort is known for reliable snowfall, expansive above-tree-line terrain, and some of the longest seasons in South America. A September visit keeps the streak alive while the Northern Hemisphere slowly begins to cool.
October: Return to Europe
October is when the calendar becomes awkward once again.
Fortunately, Zermatt remains available year-round, making it the obvious choice if you did not use up your days in spring. Skiers could also look toward St. Moritz’s Diavolezza area, which typically opens in mid-October thanks to stored snow from the previous season.
Europe serves as the bridge back into Northern Hemisphere winter.
November and December: Welcome Winter Home
By November, resorts across North America begin reopening. Colorado mountains like Arapahoe Basin are often among the first to spin lifts, followed by dozens of Ikon destinations across the United States and Canada.
By December, winter has returned in full force, completing the cycle and setting skiers up to start the challenge all over again.
With careful planning, strategic travel, and a willingness to chase snow across hemispheres, skiing every month of the year using only IKON Pass destinations is entirely possible. It may not be cheap, and it certainly won’t be easy, but for dedicated skiers, an endless winter is within reach.
