Winter Dispatch: 010
A base layers round up, Park City ski patrol victory, gondola bartenders, and a throwback ski collection.
Good morning!
It’s a strange feeling, watching snow fall outside my window while so many friends in Los Angeles are facing devastating losses from the fires. Sending the most amount of love to those affected. If you’re in a position to help, the Los Angeles Fire Department could use all the support they can get.
On a brighter note, we are entering peak ski season and conditions in most places are becoming really great. I had one of the best ski days I can remember in Vail last week. Eight inches of snow fell the day before, and while I couldn’t make it up for the storm day, the day after turned out to be even better. A bluebird sky, untouched terrain, groomers with a dusting of fluff, and an empty mountain – it was magical.
Chairlift Chatter
The Park City Ski Patrol strike has officially ended – and the patrollers came out on top! They secured a fair contract, including a $2+/hour increase in starting wages. Incredible news. Meanwhile, Vail Resorts’ stock took a nosedive last Thursday, dropping 6.5% – a loss of over $400M in market value. The estimated cost to raise patrollers' wages from $21 to $23 per hour? Just $900,000. Unfortunately for Vail Resorts, the poor guest experience during the strike has likely dealt a far more significant blow to their brand loyalty and reputation – one that could have been avoided by simply meeting the patrollers' reasonable demands from the outset. Slopeside readers in Park City this week report an eerily quiet vibe on the mountain. With the holiday crowds gone and locals seemingly steering clear, things feel unusually empty.
Google Maps spiced things up and rerouted this driver straight onto a ski run at Keystone where the car was stuck for the foreseeable future. Nice.
Our friends in the PNW are lucking out this year. Oregon's snowpack is well above average, sitting at 162% of normal. Time to plan a trip to Mt. Bachelor or Mt. Hood!
The legendary Bemelmans Bar in NYC is making its way to Aspen. Never thought we’d see the day. I will admit that I adore everything about Bemelmans: the sidecar that accompanies your martini, the live jazz on the piano, the absolutely delicious complimentary nuts. Unsurprisingly, this Aspen debut is a popup in collaboration with luxury e-commerce platform Mytheresa. If the martinis are as perfectly chilled as they are at the original, count me in.
The Chief Vibes Officer of Brighton Resort deserves a feature in the letter.
To celebrate 70 years of ski racing excellence, Atomic has unveiled a retro collection inspired by the iconic skis that dominated the podium at the 1991 World Championships in Saalbach, Austria. These are sweet.
Aspen Gay Ski Week kicks off this Sunday. Everyone I know who has been in the past says it’s an absolute blast. Report back if you’re attending!
Mont Orford in Quebec converted one of their gondola cabins into a bar, complete with a bartender. Iconic.
Adding to Cart, Base Layers Edition
Base layers often feel like an afterthought until you’re freezing your booty off because you didn’t layer appropriately. Once you find the perfect combination of layers for your warmth needs, skiing gets much more fun.
For me, this harmonious layering epiphany didn’t happen until a few years ago, and now I feel compelled to share my go-to picks so you can have the same experience.
That said, nailing your base layer setup perfectly is rare. Not every 17-degree day feels the same, but it helps to approach dressing for the mountain with two strategies: one for bluebird days and another for chillier, storm days.
These days, it seems like every ski brand is jumping on the base layer bandwagon. It’s an obvious product extension and a category historically ripe for innovation, with a few key players dominating. The recent slopes-to-street trend (skiwear that transitions seamlessly on and off the mountain) has also pushed this movement forward. Friend of the letter,
, recently wrote a piece on merino wool specifically that’s definitely worth a read.Here are my top base layer picks. The women’s selects are from personal experience, while the men’s come from glowing reviews by the male skiers in my circle.
Smartwool has dominated the base layer game for as long as I can remember, and for good reason. Their Merino 250 Base Layer (100% merino) is still my daily driver and stays at the top of both mens and womens ‘best of’ lists. It’s naturally moisture-wicking, odor-resistant, and provides excellent warmth without bulk.
Uniqlo’s HEATTECH base layers are polyester vs. merino wool but they’re really affordable, lightweight, and provide decent insulation for mild conditions. For both men and women, they’re a perfect option for balling on a budget or layering in less extreme temperatures. Aside from winter sports, these bad boys can also be worn under normal pants if you run chilly, as demonstrated by
on IG this week.
I just purchased my first set of Kari Traa base layers and I’m stoked. Founded by a Norwegian former Olympic freeskier, the brand is designed by women, for women. The Smekker long sleeve set (100% merino) is incredibly soft and super warm. I tested these last weekend on a bluebird day in Vail and, despite feeling too warm (my fault for too many layers), they were odor-resistant and sweat-wicking. I’m excited to add these to my rotation.
Several men I know swear by Icebreaker. Their Merino 200 base layer series is 100% merino jersey, making it equally as soft as it is high-performance. Friends also say that Icebreaker pieces feel more insulating than other options so a great pick if you are always cold on-mountain.
Mons Royale is a brand I’m eager to test. Their merino base layers for both men and women are the subject of much chatter (and praise) in the ski community. Reviews consistently mention their sweat-wicking properties and their ability to keep their shape, which is a huge detail for me with a base layer. I don’t want sagging wool leggings. Their pieces also look like normal tops which facilitates an easy mountain to street transition.
Halfdays has also entered the base layer scene in a more robust way this season. I bought their midweight base layer top and leggings this year and am really enjoying them. The fit is flattering, and they have all the classic properties we look for in a base layer.
If you enjoy this letter, please share with friends! Feel free to respond here with ski-related intel, new products you’re loving, or just to say hi. Thanks for reading 💌