If you’re heading out to the mountains to do a winter season, you’re going to have to add a few things to your packing list.
If you just plan on working and not skiing or snowboarding up on the mountain, you’re still going to need some gear so you’re not miserable. You need to stay dry, and you need to stay warm. A typical day working at a ski resort puts you out in the elements; waiting for shuttles and buses, walking from bus terminals or parking garages, and walking around the village for after work food and drinks. You’re going to need boots, at least a pair of warm winter boots, and I like to have a pair of hiking shoes or boots for running errands around town. Long johns are a must, or some kind of base layer. You can withstand some pretty cold temps with a long john shirt, a fleece, and some kind of shell jacket to keep the wind and snow away.
Bedding – Over the years I have come to look at bedding as disposable. Unless you know for certain what kind of situation you are getting into, travel with your sleeping bag and order stuff when you arrive. You may find out that bedding is provided, or maybe you hit the lottery somehow and ended up with a bigger bed than you had planned on. Either way, you can make a walmart run, or order stuff from amazon and have the cheapest option for bedding that fits.
Bathroom – It is extremely rare that you would have a bathroom to yourself, you’re probably going to be sharing a bathroom with multiple people. A bathroom bag is essential. Shower shoes are essential. Be prepared to not have the option to leave anything in the bathroom and have to take it back to your room every time. It’s the less romantic part of seasonal work where you have bad roommates, but it happens. Some people won’t think twice about using your shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, etc..
Kitchen – If you end up having a kitchen to use it will probably have the essentials and a bunch of stuff left behind by previous seasonal workers. This another one where I’d wait to buy anything until I got there. Maybe bring a few of your favorite coffee cups, but I wouldn’t waste any space bringing stuff from home unless you have a lot of extra room.
Household Items – Just don’t. Anything in shared spaces gets trashed. At our ‘apartment’ in Vail, we had 6 people. 6 people with friends coming and going all day and night, impromptu parties, random people passed out the couch. Your best bet is to all pitch in on a used tv and call it good. You’ll find that in most shared living situations that you are either working, out at the bars or out doing something – or you’re in your bed. Hanging out in the living room watching TV isn’t really a thing, you’re never really going to have peace and quiet long enough to watch a movie.
