If you start around say Thanksgiving, and ski every single weekend through April without fail with a few extended periods and perhaps even a few missed opportunities thrown in there as well 50 ski days is more than a reasonable goal to strive for. In fact, 50’s pretty good. Heck, 20’s even good.

But 183 takes more than that. In most ski towns, the snow sticks enough to think about skiing by October. It’s not so much the random day or two of skiing in August that makes 183 work. Sure, those days to keep it going all year are fun and good excuses for going on a hike with a heavier pack, but it’s the full engagement from the time the snow flies to start a “ski season” to the days when the resorts are closed and driving for turns is beyond a leisurely stroll across town that locks in why 183 ski days is a worthy goal to shoot for.