Go West, get a break at these resorts

Grand Targhee is often forgotten in the shadow of its glitzy sister, Jackson Hole, yet it has the same amount of skiable terrain (about 2,500 acres) and gets even more snow: an outrageous average of 500 inches a year. The first snowstorm rolled through in September. With a single compact base area, the vibe here can be described as relaxed, ski-centric, and even a little retro. The local town, Driggs, has more outdoor shops than fine-dining establishments. It follows that Targhee has a high proportion of expert runs, but the bonus is that the beginner area is entirely separate from the rest of the hill, giving newbies a respite from others whizzing by. Alta, Wyo., 800-827-4433, www.grandtarghee.com

Purgatory, also known as Purg or DMR to locals, has a location that affords certain perks. Here at the intersection of the desert and the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado, the snow arrives dry and fluffy, but big storms are inevitably followed by startingly clear days. All the better to see the views of the pristine San Juan Mountains. (Don’t forget the sunscreen.) Long known as a family-friendly resort, DMR recently beefed up its offerings to appeal to an even broader audience. Last season, Purgatory Lodge, a luxury ski-in ski-out hotel, opened with a pool, spa, and unimpeded views of the mountain. This season, the resort expanded to incorporate 125 acres and 1,200 vertical feet of new expert tree terrain that was thinned for optimal turns. Durango, Colo., 800-982-6103, www.durangomountainresort.com

The trails that funnel into Taos Ski Valley’s base area are so steep the resort established a sign at the base area that reads “Don’t Panic!’’ and reminds skiers that there’s also beginner terrain. Perhaps it is Taos’s fearsome reputation, the fact that it didn’t allow snowboarders until 2008, and its location in a tight valley that have insulated it from development and kept the atmosphere a little wild. Beginners will undoubtedly find suitable slopes here, but the real gems lie in the plentiful black diamonds and the hike up the ridgeline to stunning 12,481-foot Kachina Peak. At the end of the day, a green-chile-spiked dinner awaits in the atmospheric adobe-lined streets of Taos, 19 miles south. Taos, N.M., 866-250-7313, www.skitaos.org

Snowbasin is a puzzle: Why does one of the West’s oldest ski areas with a sprawling 2,820 acres, 400 annual inches of snow, and nearly 3,000 vertical feet of terrain draw so few skiers? Perhaps it’s because the nearest lodging is over a dozen miles away in the outskirts of Ogden, a small town just north of Salt Lake City. Small price to pay. Skiers and snowboarders can schuss down the same slopes that Olympians raced on in 2002 and ski 3 1/2 miles continuously down the mountain with nary a competitor for fresh tracks. And from the top of the Strawberry Express gondola, the views encompass four states and the Great Salt Lake itself. Huntsville, Utah, 888-437-5488, www.snowbasin.com

The first thing newcomers to Alaska notice is that everything is on a different scale, which can be summed up simply as “grand.’’ Alyeska, about 40 miles southeast of Anchorage, is a case in point. A mountain that rises 3,939 feet from sea level, it gets an average of 60 feet (yes, feet) of snow a year at the top. The peak is treeless, like much of the mountain, and on a clear day, skiers and snowboarders can spot mountains rising from the ocean, hanging glaciers, and the northern lights. The maritime snowpack can be heavier than inland snow, but the upside is that wet snow sticks to steeper surfaces. There are a handful of 45-degree chutes dropping from a ridgeline and a new 300-foot-long superpipe. Grand, indeed. Girdwood, Alaska, 907-754-1111, www.alyeskaresort.com

Mount Bachelor prides itself on the fact that it remains condo-free, but this mountain beloved by locals and just 20 minutes from Bend, Ore., has plenty to stay for. The pistes run down the sides of the mountain, a dormant volcano, like drips of chocolate syrup over a sundae. Mount Bachelor makes a point of honest (read: uninflated) snow reports, and this year it implemented a new pricing system that fluctuates between $49 and $69 per day for a non-holiday adult lift ticket according to how many lifts are open. Seasonally speaking, Mount Bachelor is often one of the last ones standing, routinely remaining open until mid-May. Bend, Ore., 800-829-2442, www.mtbachelor.com

A lot has changed at Arapahoe Basin since it first hauled skiers (who paid $3 for a lift ticket) up to the single rope tow in an Army weapons carrier in 1946. But one thing that hasn’t changed much is its down-to-earth attitude. Perhaps it’s because the ski area’s base elevation, close to 11,000 feet, weeds out those who aren’t truly there for the skiing. Another perk of its elevation is that the resort remains open from October to June. The most exciting of A-Basin’s recent improvements is Montezuma Bowl, an expansion of 400 acres, including 36 trails and a quad lift, that nearly doubled the area’s skiable terrain. A $349 bonus pass buys unlimited skiing at A-Basin plus five days valid at Breckenridge or Keystone, one of which can be used at Beaver Creek or Vail. Dillon, Colo., 888-272-7246, www.arapahoebasin.com

Rumor has it that Kirkwood is situated in a honey hole for weather. In other words, it sees lots of storms and, because of a relatively high elevation at 7,800 feet, some of Tahoe’s lightest fluffy stuff. One novel offering at Kirkwood, known for challenging terrain, is private guiding, in which skiers and snowboarders can cut any lift lines with a private guide, who leads them to the best powder stashes on the mountain and helps fine-tune their form. Kirkwood also offers clinics for skiers interested in accessing the backcountry from the lift when Kirkwood’s backcountry-access gates are open. Three new or improved terrain parks will debut this season, but for many, the draw of Kirkwood is the surroundings: restaurants, night life, and glowing Lake Tahoe. Kirkwood, Calif., 209-258-6000, www.kirkwood.com

Situated on the same peak, Moonlight Basin and Big Sky have 5,512 acres of skiable terrain, 220 ski runs, and 4,350 feet of vertical drop, not to mention views of three states and nearby Yellowstone National Park. The two have an astounding variety of terrain, from wide-open bowls and chutes to forested trails and meandering cruisers. The town of Big Sky offers access to other activities like an 85-kilometer-long network of Nordic ski trails, dogsledding, snowmobiling, and sleigh riding. Gold New England Pass holders who are staying in Big Sky’s lodging ski for free for 10 days. Big Sky, Mont., Moonlight Basin, 877-822-0432, www.moonlightbasin.com and Big Sky Resort, 800-548-4486, www.bigskyresort.com