Skiing can bring us closer together with family, friends, and strangers. As the sport gains more and more popularity, it’s easy to mentally shelf time on the mountain into the “social energy” department. You spend the day practically leaping off lifts to keep up with your crew and sliding down back bowls that your friends insist on doing in the middle of a whiteout. When’s the last time you stopped for a moment at the top of a run and took in the panoramic views? Can you remember a moment where you closed your eyes on the lift and heard your own thoughts?

Some things really do go better together: hot chocolate and schnapps, graham crackers and marshmallows, I-25 and clear road conditions. With the holidays wrapping up and Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it seems like everything and everyone is paired up… but we’re here to tell you that sometimes the best match of all might just be you and your skis.

The writing is on the wall: keep reading for tips and tricks to the best solo trip!

The Fuel

The best dates require some preparation. The best half days require full days of SNACKING. We smashed together an absolutely delicious Valentine’s Day inspired homemade trail mix recipe, and while we won’t pretend it’s complicated, we can guarantee it’s PERFECT for the drive and the lift:

Halfdays Treat Yourself Trail Mix Recipe

- 1 cup mini pretzels- salt is a must.

- 1 cup cereal of your choice- Chex!? Cheerios!?

- 2 cups popcorn- but make it festive… all the classic brands are selling cute, seasonal flavors. Check for Skinny Pop Sweet Vanilla Kettlecorn, Lesserevil Sweetheart Pop, or Boom Chicka Pop Chocolate Covered Raspberry Kettlecorn

- ½ cup peanuts- to fuel your turns.

- ½ cup chocolate candy- and if we’re being specific… red and pink M&M’s.

Toss it all in a bag, give it a shake, and hit the road.

Other great options:

- For the sweet tooth: puppy chow! Melt 1 cup of chocolate chips and mix with 1 cup of peanut butter. Stir in 6 or 7 cups of chex cereal, then shake the whole batch in 1 to 2 cups of powdered sugar.

- For the health nut: power bites! Mix 1 and 1/2 cups of oats, ½ cup of peanut butter, 1/3 cup of honey, and any add-in dried fruit, nuts, chia seeds, or chocolate chips and roll into bite size balls of energy.

The Drive

The snacks are packed. Now, you’ve got some alone time on the open road. No one is demanding to DJ, there are no conflicting music tastes to compromise over. What will you fill the drive with?! How about that book you’ve wanted to read for the last two years, but never made the time for? Queue an AUDIOBOOK! Amazon Audible offers a free one month trial with up to 3 full books. Here are some of our faves:

Fiction:

Outlawed (Anna North): 

a courageous and determined heroine sets out on an Old West adventure to find her people after being outcasted against feminist stakes.

Where the Crawdads Sing (Delia Owens):

a murder mystery with a romantic, unlikely love story intertwined.

Normal People (Sally Owens):

a sassy, sweet, delightfully romantic coming-of-age novel, good enough to be made into a Hulu series… need we say more?

Memoirs:

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (Mindy Kaling):

absolutely hilarious snippets and stories from the childhood, adolescence, and career of Mindy Kaling, most famous for her role on The Office

Know My Name: A Memoir (Chanel Miller):

the previously anonymous victim in the Stanford assault case speaks out about the assault and its aftermath in a heartbreaking yet inspiring recount of HER experience

Wild (Cheryl Strayed):

a 22 year old woman takes to the Pacific Crest trail after the death of her mother, leaving behind a broken marriage to walk over 1,000 miles

Self Direction/Career and Life Guidance:

The Defining Decade -

Why Your Twenties Matter and How to Make the Most of Them Now (Meg Jay): a psychologist walks us through the facets of the quarter-life crisis, giving advice on everything from cohabitating with a romantic partner, to avoiding comparison with “friends” on Instagram, to getting ahead in your career.

Crucial Conversations (Joseph Grenny):

what to say and how to say it, when it’s REALLY hard to say, especially if you’re a female in the workplace, or a daughter of headstrong parents, or your friend needs some tough love

Atomic Habits (James Clear):

has a similar vibe to that “make your bed everyday” speech by a retired Navy Seal you may have heard beforeIf that’s not really your thing, we recommend a Taylor Swift power hour or checking out the Halfdays Spotify playlists. We have you covered For the Roadtrip, For the Slopes, and For the Aprés. 😉

The Day

You made it to the mountain and it’s time to embrace the solitude. When it comes to solo skiing, you really can’t go wrong, and YOU are the guide. Maybe you love the burn in your quads and that post-workout feeling. Hit the mogul runs, and hit them hard.

Maybe it’s been ages since you’ve slowed down and took it easy. Chill on some groomers and enjoy some S turns. Do your favorite run 7 times in a row. Ski backwards, ski sideways, ski fast, ski slow. Take a break and wash down that trail mix with a hot chocolate.

And don’t get us wrong- it might be a solo day, but take advantage of those singles lift lines. You never know who you might end up next to…

When you’re ready to call it, enjoy some après for one, and drive home safe. But don’t let the solo day(te) end there. The only thing that feels better than sliding your feet into bindings is sliding your feet OUT of a boot. You know where we’re going with this… SOLO SPA NIGHT. Top off the best day by warming up and winding down with a glass of wine, your favorite face mask, and maybe some bubbles in a bath.

The Destination

Well, we’ve given you the tools for the perfect solo Valentine’s Day. The only question left is, where are you going?! The choice is 100% yours. But don’t worry, we have some ideas…

Mammoth, California

Mount Baldy, California

Aspen, Colorado

Breckenridge, Colorado

Steamboat Springs, Colorado

Telluride, Colorado

Winter Park, Colorado

Sun Valley, Idaho

Big Sky, Montana

Mount Hood, Oregon

Park City, Utah

Snowbird, Utah

Zermatt, Switzerland