POWDER HOUNDS United States

Coinciding with the month when most of the country’s ski resorts open, our travel embargo to the US is set to lift in early November. US resorts had good snow and a busy season last year, and British powder junkies, deprived of the white, fluffy stuff for two long seasons, will find even more to love in Colorado, where powder-mecca Steamboat has opened 355 acres to the north of the resort, and in Beaver Creek with its new 250-acre McCoy Park expansion. A fast, six-passenger chairlift replaces the ageing Big Burn lift at Aspen (the resort turns 75 this season), and a new chairlift on the north side of Peak 7 marks a 60th anniversary for Breckenridge. This resort, along with the other Vail Resorts, are set to benefit from a $320 million (£238 million) investment plan over the next year. Meanwhile, for hearty tourers looking for pristine powder, the new lift-free resort, Bluebird in Colorado, adds 12 runs to its backcountry terrain.

Book here: Beaver Run Resort, a ski-in ski-out hotel with spa and pool in Breckenridge, costs from £1,405, departing on selected dates in January 2022, with British Airways Holidays (0344 493 0747; ba.com). Aspen, Snowmass and Jackson Hole are available through Frontier Ski (020 8776 8709; frontier-ski.co.uk). Book Steamboat through Ski Solutions

(020 3411 8965; skisolutions.com). Covid rules: Resorts including Aspen and the Vail Resorts require face masks in restaurants, public transport and hotels. A mandatory reservation system for dining on the slopes and proof of vaccinations for all diners over 12 using indoor self-service restaurants

iChairlift your spirits: sit back and take in the views