As the flakes begin to fall, pro snow athletes get stoked, and the rest of us anticipate playing in the pretty white stuff. In this issue previewing Vermont’s longest season, we look to two resorts with very different profiles: Stowe and Bolton. Will the former, purchased by giant Vail Resorts, be crowded with Epic Pass holders? At Bolton, which the DesLauriers family recently repurchased, will skiers be loyal to local? One thing’s for sure: Four out of five Vermont communities with the most Airbnb rentals are — go figure — in ski towns. We check in with independent slalom racer Robby Kelley, YouTube wilderness guide Austin Borg and Richmond’s Silo Skis, where you can build your own sticks. We also investigate the rising trend of uphill skiing and — for indoorsy types — suggest how to craft your way to spring.