It has been a tradition of Ski Magazine to list their top ski resorts annually. The ranking criteria consider many variations from terrain to nightlife to readership ratings. Last week we provided “opening dates” for a few resorts, this week, the top 30. Below is the list with a few comments added by our “winter sports specialists” here at The Society.com:

1. Deer Valley, Utah – no snowboarders allowed on mountain & limited # of passes sold per day.
2. Whistler Blackcomb, B.C. –site of the 2010 Winter Olympics
3. Vail, Colorado – largest single mountain resort in North America & legendary back bowls
4. Park City, Utah – consider the Silver Passport lift pass
5. Beaver Creek, Colorado – where locals escape Vail weekend crowds
6. Snowmass, Colorado – new base area for 2009/2010
7. Sun Valley, Idaho – say hello to Gov. Arnold of California
8. Squaw Valley, California – former Winter Olympics venue
9. Mammoth, California – option for the S. California resident
10. Steamboat, Colorado – western family resort, challenging trees and powder
11. Telluride, Colorado –hidden gem, culinary tour de force
12. Jackson Hole, Wyoming – not for the faint of heart
13. Heavenly, California – cross the border and gamble into the morning
14. Aspen Mountain, Colorado –the original “glamour gulch”
15. Breckenridge, Colorado – spring break central for colleges and universities
16. Northstar-at-Tahoe, California – small scale, big challenges
17. Aspen Highlands, Colorado – expert terrain and a Ritz-Carlton
18. Copper Mountain, Colorado – segregated terrain, bowls can challenge
19. Whitefish Mountain Resort, Montana – never a crowd
20. The Canyons, Utah – see #4, Silver Passport program
21. Keystone, Colorado – a true resort with “charging privileges”
22. Big Sky, Montana – limited nightlife, to exhausted from skiing all day
23. Winter Park, Colorado – drop in next door at Mary Jane
24. Crested Butte, Colorado – high-altitude skiing/boarding
25. Snowbird, Utah – for strong intermediates and experts
26. Solitude, Utah – small family-oriented enclave
27. Taos, New Mexico – from valley heat to snowcapped peaks in 30 minutes
28. Alta, Utah – skiing as it was 40 years ago
29. Snow Basin, Utah – rustic chic
30. Alpine Meadows, California – Tahoe’s hidden gem