Happy Fourth of July, Ski Fam!

I have a theory...and every Fourth of July it gets a little harder to ignore.

I think it's secretly the first day of ski season.

Not because the lifts start spinning. Not because snow starts falling. And definitely not because the resorts say so.

It's because something changes inside us.

Every year it happens the same way. The fireworks are over, the grill has cooled off, and the long holiday weekend comes to an end. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I stop thinking about the ski season we just had and start wondering about the one still to come.

I catch myself asking the same questions. Will we get an early storm this year? Will opening day surprise us? Should I finally get my skis tuned instead of waiting until November? Before I know it, I'm picturing that first drive up the mountain before sunrise, coffee in the cup holder, skis in the back, and the excitement that only comes with the start of another season.

I even find myself checking long-range weather forecasts that have absolutely no business predicting December.

Somehow...

I believe them anyway. 😄

Tell me I'm not the only one.

🎿 Every Skier Lives By Two Calendars

I think every skier secretly lives by two calendars. There's the one everyone else follows, filled with birthdays, vacations, beach trips, and backyard barbecues. Then there's the one quietly running in the background, counting down to the first snowfall, opening day, and that first chairlift ride of the season.

That's why the Fourth of July has always felt different to me. Most people see it as the heart of summer. I see it as the moment when dreaming slowly turns into planning.

Suddenly I'm checking weather models that have absolutely no business predicting December...and believing every one of them anyway.

I'm texting friends about our first trip to the mountains and wondering if this will finally be the year we get an early storm.

Winter is still months away. The slopes may still be brown...but in my head they're already turning white.

But...

It starts feeling possible.

❤️ Looking Back Makes Me Even More Excited

The funny thing is, once I start thinking about next season, I always end up thinking about the last one.

It's funny what I remember.

I don't remember how many runs I skied or how many vertical feet my watch recorded. I remember laughing with friends on a slow chairlift. I remember bluebird mornings after an overnight storm. I remember pulling into the parking lot before sunrise, breathing in that cold mountain air, and thinking, "This is exactly where I want to be."

Some of my favorite memories aren't even about skiing. They're about breakfast before first chair, hot chocolate after the last run, the drive home replaying the best turns of the day, and those conversations that somehow only happen when you're in the mountains.

The snow melts.

The memories don't.

That's the funny thing about being a skier. The season ends. Being a skier never does.

🌨️ Another Season Is Waiting

That's why I love this time of year. Not because winter is here, but because it's finally close enough to imagine.

Before we know it, we'll be checking snow reports instead of beach forecasts. We'll be digging jackets out of the closet, waxing skis, and watching every weather update with a little more hope than we probably should. We'll be planning weekend trips, convincing ourselves traffic won't be that bad this year, and dreaming about that first turn on fresh snow.

Every ski season feels like a fresh start.

Another chance to ski a little better.

Another chance to introduce someone to the sport we love.

Another chance to make memories we'll still be talking about years from now.

A Birthday Worth Celebrating

Tomorrow America celebrates its 250th birthday, and that's something pretty special. It reminds me how fortunate we are to have places like Big Bear, Mountain High, Snow Valley, Mammoth, and June Mountain that give us the chance to escape, recharge, and reconnect with the people we care about.

For me, skiing has never been just about snow. It's about freedom. It's about adventure. It's about loading up the car before sunrise because something amazing is waiting just a few hours away.

Maybe that's why America's birthday and ski season have always felt connected in my mind.

Both remind me how lucky we are.

❤️ Why I Love This Holiday

The Fourth of July reminds us to celebrate where we've been.

Ski season reminds us to get excited about where we're going.

The happiest skiers make time for both.

✨ Fourth of July Proverb

"The best adventures begin long before the first snowfall." 🇺🇸🎿

💌 Quick Question

Tell me...

Am I the only one who starts thinking about ski season on the Fourth of July?

Or does something change for you too once the fireworks are over?

Hit reply and let me know. I'd love to hear when your own countdown to winter officially begins.

From my family to yours, have a safe and wonderful Fourth of July. Celebrate America's 250th birthday, enjoy the people around you, and don't be surprised if your mind wanders to snow for a minute or two.

So enjoy the fireworks. Enjoy the last burger. Celebrate America's 250th birthday.

And if your mind wanders to snow for just a minute...

Welcome to the first day of ski season. 🎿

— Sasha Everett

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