There’s a special kind of tension in the air when summer starts to fade. School starts up, and the leaves start to turn. For most people, fall means cozy sweaters, pumpkin spice, colorful leaves and football season. However, for skiers and snowboarders, autumn is the slow build to the best time of year.

The anticipation builds months in advance of the first snow. Gear is pulled out from closets, new jackets and goggles are bought, and people start saving up for their season passes. 

The first rumor of snow in the mountains spreads faster than idle gossip in our small town.

Of course, not everyone in Salida skis or snowboards. Many have never learned. But if you have learned, you know the signs. Fall in Salida isn’t about what’s happening, it’s about what’s coming. 

These voices aren’t just about sports, they’re about belonging. In Salida, skiing and snowboarding aren’t just hobbies, they’re a culture that shapes our winters. The mountains are where friendships are made and built stronger, where families spend weekends, and where locals and visitors share the same slopes and enjoyment. The buzz before the first snowfall isn’t just about powder days, it’s about our community.

Ski and snowboard culture runs deep here, merged into our town’s identity as much as the Arkansas River and the art on first street. For us, chasing first tracks isn’t just about being the first down the hill. It’s about being part of something bigger, a flow of life in Salida that ties us all to the mountains and snow.