How to Plan a Big Ski Trip, Part 1: The Dream Phase

Before browsing trail maps or obsessing over snowfall totals, ask: What kind of trip do I want this to be?

Are you chasing pow days? Iconic couloirs? Sunrise tours with your closest friends? Ski-to-pastry après? Let your why drive the where.

Renoun athlete Thor Retzlaff and his wife Tay planned their wedding around this very question. “We knew we wanted to keep it simple: no stress, just good people and skiing every day,” Thor said. Their ‘wedding venue’ was a surprise; they got married mid-week during a hut-based ski tour in British Columbia, surrounded by ten friends and zero cell service. “The skiing was great, but what made it unforgettable was the intention behind it.”

Read about Thor and Tay's ski trip wedding here >>

Big trips magnify dynamics. Who you go with can make or break your week. It’s important to curate a ski trip with the right people as much as the right destination. After all, you don’t want someone thinking they’re in for a boozy, fun few days only to be woken up at dawn for another alpine start. It’s a matter of booth fun and safety that everyone’s skill level and expectations for the basic genesis of the trip are aligned.

Renoun athletes Max and Malin, based in Sweden, are pros at maximizing limited time off. Both work full-time jobs—he’s an engineer, she’s a business consultant—but they stack vacation days and plan trips that balance skiing with real life. “We’ve done hut trips with bigger groups, and others where it’s just us,” Malin says. “What matters most is having shared expectations.”

They recently pulled off a multi-leg trip through Sweden and Norway that involved working remotely from hotels, skiing above fjords, and driving nearly 2,000 km. “We don’t need it to be perfect—we just want to ski and be outside,” Max says. “And we try to find people who feel the same.”

Tip:

Before committing, have a real conversation about the basics:

• Wake-up times (dawn patrol or 10 a.m. waffles?)

• Touring vs. resort days

• Budget and travel comfort

• Risk tolerance and avalanche education

You don’t have to ski the biggest mountains in the world to have a life-changing trip. You just need the right place, right time, right crew.

When choosing your zone, consider:

 - Snow quality and timing: Are you going for deep powder (Japan in January)? Spring corn (the Alps in April)? Storm riding (Utah or British Columbia in February or March)?

 - Accessibility: Can you ski from the door or will you need to shuttle?

 - Permits and guides: Are you going self-supported or booking through an operator?

 - Culture & vibe: Do you want rustic huts or full-service lodges? Euro après or hut-cooked dal bhat?

Max and Malin prioritized travel logistics when planning their Norway trip. “We would work during the day, then drive at night,” Max says. “We planned stops where we could get good sleep and stretch the trip out over multiple legs. It made the skiing feel like a reward.”

Even with spreadsheets, weather can blow up your plans. Have a backup option, and be prepared to have a backup to the backup plan. This mindset is what makes great ski partners great trip partners.

“Honestly, the weather just wasn’t part of our inquiry,” Thor says of his backcountry wedding. “We went out and did it anyway. And the universe gave us a break in the clouds just in time.”

Renoun Skis Reviews team has over a decade of ski design and manufacturing experience, and decades of combined ski-industry experience ranging from certified PSIA ski instructors to shop technicians, racers, and coaches. We also have a deep passion for and love of all things skiing. The team utilizes this experience to provide unparalleled reviews that dive deep to help guide your purchase for just about any ski-related item and help inform you of any ski-focused tips and tricks about maintenance, on-hill performance, and even the best places to enjoy your Après-Ski. Through written and video content, the Renoun Skis Reviews team is here to help inform you on all things ski-related.

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