Though it’s far from an exact science, spring seems to be the ideal time for that great American bacchanal — the Boys Weekend. Or Girls Weekend. Seriously, the gender doesn’t really matter. Regardless of how active we are during the winter, we’re all bound to feel a little antsy once the temperatures begin to warm up. We want to move more. Get outside more. And one excellent way to scratch that itch is to get together with a bunch of good buddies or gal pals and hit the road.
Ski areas, with their history of camaraderie and, more often than not, a bounty of slopeside condos, are an uber-attractive choice for a Boys Weekend. (Given my own orientation, I’ll be talking about the guys, even though 90 percent of the following applies for Girls Weekends. So work with me.)
These outings are similar to the annual “Boyz Weekend” that my mountain biking buddies and I have been taking every autumn for close to 30 years. Coincidentally, most of those fat-tire forays are held at or near ski areas, which have the terrain and most of the amenities that we’re looking for.
During spring, the prospect of mud season puts a damper on any mountain biking adventures. But the months of March and April are perfectly suited for a ski getaway. There’s a certain joy in having a good time, but that joy increases exponentially when you share it with others.