Part of my natural excitement about moving to Colorado was the proximity of world-class skiing resorts, which meant an abundance of opportunities for shredding some fresh snow powder. I ended up picking Aspen Snowmass as my mountain of choice, and relentlessly pursued the opportunity of acquiring a season pass. By late December, I already had a few solid powder days behind me, shredding the slopes with much enthusiasm, meeting fellow skiers on the luxury express lifts, and appreciating the liberating views above 11,000 feet in altitude.