In 2008 the mountains above Telluride, a town of 2,267 airlifted from the Alps, kept their powder through May. This year some brilliant minds built a quad lift to the resort’s crown jewel: Revelation Bowl, heretofore one of the most sought-after backcountry runs in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado (lift tickets, $97; tellurideskiresort.com). Northeast-facing Revelation holds 800 vertical feet of wide-open turns (about the size of one of Vail’s big bowls—without the Vail-size crowds). For steep powder runs through boulders, traverse the ridges, or for rolling groomed terrain, beeline straight down the middle. In between schusses, catch glimpses of 13,000-foot peaks above and Telluride far below. Come evening, Capella Telluride makes for a suitably fluffy landing pad (doubles from $295; capellatelluride.com). The hundred-room hotel by Ritz Carlton founder Horst Schulze opened in the mountain village in February. Here, ski valets swap guests’ equipment for hot drinks, while a team of personal assistants arranges dinner reservations and private ski tours.

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