How to (sort of) Be a Ski Bum

Every year, we take a big climbing trip.  This year we said, "let's do a big ski trip."  Then the weather looked at us and said, 

"haha, not."  But we are trying anyway.  Skiing on rocks is still skiing.  True skibumhood would involve us being badass backcountry shredders, but we are still struggling with our gaperdom.  Hence this guide to (sort of) being a ski bum, largely based on being one during a year without snow, and also assuming that you live in a van. 

1. No money on the mountain
Being a ski bum by definition means you're broke.  Other wise you'd just be a skier.  It's hard to save money when you insist on participating in one of the more ridiculously expensive sports out there, but there are things you can do to help.  One of them is to leave your wallet in the van when you head for the mountain.  We don't bring any cash or credit cards with us while we are skiing, because spending $25 on a burger at lunch isn't going to help your bottom line.  Instead, we pack a PROBAR and some trail mix, and we usually head back to the van for lunch and a midday break.

2. Sleep where you can, and not where you can't

Seems obvious enough, but this can be tricky.  Navigating different resorts' attitudes towards #vanlife can be difficult.  If there is a sign that specifically states "No Overnight Parking," you shouldn't risk it.  No specific signs?  Probably a safe bet, and you can always claim ignorance if someone disturbs your slumber with a flashlight and an order to move.  Then there are places like Taos, that straight up say, "7 Day Parking Limit," which anyone who lives in a van immediately recognizes as "Yes! Please Camp Here Because We Are An Awesome Place."  Can't sleep at the resort?  Learn your way around National Forest Land, BLM Land, stealth camping, and of course, the Walmart parking lot.

3. Find the free

There are plenty of deals, free things, and hook ups waiting for you, the poor and hungry skier, and if you know where to look you'll end up saving lots of money, getting fed, and getting psyched.  There's the small things, like all Vail Resorts give out free Nature Valley granola bars.  When you're in the ticket office selling a kidney to afford your lift ticket, stuff a few of those in your pockets to ease the pain a bit.  Some places, like Aspen Highlands, have skier appreciation days.  Whether this happens every Wednesday, or if we just got really lucky on the day we were there, it was pretty sweet.  Check out your resorts calendar to see if they have one coming up.  Some of the perks we experienced were free parking, free muffins, free coffee, and free hot dogs (you had to be fast on the hot dogs, they ran out quickly).  Get it.  

Another great option is to volunteer for events.  Chelsea and I put in about three hours of volunteer time for a big event at Vail over a long weekend, and in return we were gifted a $300 down jacket, a 5-day lift ticket, and meal vouchers for the entire weekend.  Sound too good to be true?  We thought so too, but here we are sitting in the van wearing matching jackets.  

There are tons of other deals out there.  For example, each of us recently put in 10 gallons of fuel at a Shell station and we each received a buy one, get one free voucher, which could be used at several different resorts in Colorado.
Enter contests!  I've won a GoPro and a free movie download through Instagram contests, and we are always entering our emails for chances to win gear, food, money, etc.  Someone has to win, it could be you!

Perhaps the best deal of all, is the pass we bought this year- the Mountain Collective, which gives us 2 days of skiing at 7 different stellar resorts throughout the west for $380 (at the time we purchased, cheaper if you bought earlier!).

Lastly on this topic, it never hurts to ask.  We've contacted a few companies along our route, stopped by their HQ, and gotten hooked up with tours, gear, and food.

4. Set low expectations

If your expectations are low, you are more likely to be pleasantly surprised!  This really applies this year because of the dry winter.  We arrive at the mountain expecting low coverage, rocks, ice, etc. and when we don't end up seeing dry ground all day, we are pretty psyched.  When we do get a new core shot in our skis on the first run of the day, we can shrug and say, "yea, I kinda figured that might happen."

5. Remember that Instagram lies

Ever get the feeling that everywhere you're not is getting dumped on?  As you scroll through your feed you see glorious pillows, face shots, snow beards and fresh tracks, and think whyyyyy am I not there?  But then you continue to scroll to the feed of where you are and... wait, what run are they on, because nothing you skiied today looked like that.  #whiteroom #epic #bestdayever #powder #bringyoursnorkel Don't forget that the professional Intagrammers that work for resorts are marketing geniuses and they are paid to make things look awesome so you'll want to jump on a plane and leave the ho-hum conditions where you are, for the excellent snow where they are.  They aren't going to post a picture of a gaper skiing over sticks on Bobby's Run.  Whether or not the picture you're looking at was actually taken recently will always remain a mystery, but remember one thing: if they're posting a lot of sunset and sunrise over the mountain pictures, the snow probably sucks.      

6. No skiing on the weekend

As a ski bum, you have free rein of the calendar, and should thus use your advantage wisely.  You don't have to ski on the weekends.  Most people do.  You don't have to ski on holidays.  Most people do.  So ski during the week, avoid the crowds, and keep the secret powder stashes to yourself.  Wait, secret powder stashes?!  Yea, I haven't found any of those this year either.       

7. Have a plan B

We loaded up the van with snowshoes, cross country skis, downhill skis, hand warmers, tons of jackets, a portable heater, tire chains and several pounds of hot chocolate, because we were expecting an epic winter road trip.  But, we also packed climbing gear, paddling gear, hiking boots, running shoes, and a grip of tank tops because why not be prepared for it all (/because everything I own is in the van?).  We've been skiing and having an awesome time, but because the weather is more spring than winter, we've also been doing lots of other things.  We've visited national parks, gone on many miles of hiking trails, done a bunch of climbing, and otherwise explored when there isn't enough snow on the ground for winter activities.  You can't control mother nature, but you can always find something to do outside.

8. Don't take yourself too seriously

As I mentioned at the onset, we're total gapers.  So despite the fact that I've been making jabs at the conditions this year throughout this whole post, I'm just doing it in good fun, and I really am enjoying every moment of this trip.  Sometimes you have a good snow year, sometimes you don't.  Sometimes it snows a whole bunch right after you've left one place and headed for another.  You can't predict these things, so there's no use worrying or stressing or trying to be in each place only when there is powder.  Being outside in the mountains is such a gift, so just go out there and enjoy your skibumhood!  (But also join POW, and reduce your impact, and vote, because climate change is really scary).