Mountainside Treats Worth Taking Up Skiing For

I was just an itty-bitty skier when I discovered (actually created) my first slope-side treat. I’d purchase a hot cocoa and a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup at the base lodge and park myself outside — sun or snow. Then, slowly, I’d dip the Reese’s Cup into the cocoa and lick it, repeating until all that was left was the peanut butter, at which point I’d pop it in my mouth and wash it down with the rest of the cocoa. Mmmmm. That treat was as yummy — and special — as my day on the mountain.

Related: I Slept With Your Wife and Other Confessions of a Ski Instructor

Admittedly, my tastes have matured now. But one thing has not changed: the delight at finding the perfect slope-side snack to savor in the perfect location. I’ve tried many over the years. Some were fancy; some, old-school. All combined location and taste to make a perfect ski memory. Here are a few of my favorites.

Breakfast of champions! (Photo: Sunday River/Facebook)

The Sunday River Cinnamon Bun: It’s no exaggeration to say that folks who ski the River in Maine regularly time their runs to bring them right to the door of the Peak Lodge at the top of the Chondola lift as close to 10 a.m. as possible. That’s when the chefs up there pull the first tray of ooey, gooey cinnamon buns out of the oven. Huge and, yes, carb-laden (oh, stop it; you’ll ski it off out there), the buns are magnificent to smell, warm to the touch, and the perfect midmorning snack. On most days, you can sit outside and watch it all — Peak Lodge is a hub of action. On a bitter day, cozy up to the wood stove. You won’t be the only one in socks scarfing down a delectable roll.

At Ski Santa Fe, don’t even bother reading the menu. Go straight for the Frito Pie. (Photo: TripAdvisor)

Frito Pie — Fritos smothered in chili and cheese — is a Santa Fe staple. Ski up and get some. (Photo: Thinkstock)

The Ski Santa Fe Frito Pie: Ski Santa Fe truly does boast one of the best base lodge cafeterias out there. A skier can cruise in and choose from everything from Tex-Mex to pizza to homemade soups of the day. But the Frito Pie is what you want to dig into. The giant bowl filled with chili (your choice of red or green or — just do it — a combo of the two) is topped with crash chopped onions, cheese, and, of course, Fritos. Sitting in the giant dining room with soaring windows is just like being outside. But if the weather calls you (and it often does here), sit outside. Mix it all up and dig in for a combination of sweet and spicy, warm and crispy. You’ll want to travel back for the Frito Pie alone.

Related: Now You Can Rent Your Ski Clothes

Is there a more heavenly combination than a cup of hot apple cider and a freshly baked cider doughnut? We think not. (Photo: Wachusett Mountain/Facebook)

The Wachusett Mountain Cider Doughnut: What’s better than a snack with history? Wachusett’s Bullock Lodge in Massachusetts is just a cool, cool building—the kind that folks have been skiing by and stopping to learn about for years. Built in the 1930s as an economic stimulus project by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the lodge served as the original base lodge for the ski area. But for 50 years, it sat dormant — until 2010, when the region’s popular Red Apple Farm stepped in and made it a real-life Cider House. Daily, there is hot and cold apple cider, as well as made-fresh-all-day doughnuts that live up to their promise to “change your life.” Even if you’re in a rush to make more runs, the scent pulls you in. Inside you’ll find cool historical photos and information. But most of all … those doughnuts.

Bacon. Peanut butter. Waffle. (Photo: Jackson Hole Mountain Resort)

The Jackson Hole Bacon-Peanut Butter Waffle: You have got to be kidding me, right? At the top of Jackson Hole’s Rendezvous Peak in Wyoming sits Corbet’s Cabin. The view from there is sensational, looking down onto the valley floor, at the Grand Tetons to the north, and all along the Gros Ventre and Snake River ranges to the east and south. But you may need to force yourself to look up from your snack: a giant, freshly made waffle with — get this — peanut butter and bacon on top. The combination of flavors is as intense and fantastic as the location. Bonus: Outside you can watch folks brave their way into taking on Corbet’s Couloir, one of the gutsiest trails in all of skiing. And while you may choose not to take that trail on, you will earn bragging rights by snacking on one high-quality treat at one high-altitude spot.

Get your sugar fix at Beaver Creek’s brand-new Candy Cabin. (Photo: Beaver Creek/Facebook)

The Beaver Creek Candy Cabin: Who doesn’t love penny candy? And who wouldn’t like to munch on their classic favorites just about on top of the world? Beaver Creek, Colorado, master of the family-friendly and home of the “I feel like a kid again magic” offers just that with their new-this-season Candy Cabin. Located at the top of the Strawberry Park lift, skiers can cruise right up, pick out some goodies, and savor them. Designed to look and feel like an old-fashioned candy store, the Candy Cabin offers assorted bulk treats such as taffy, gummy candy, hard candies, chocolate malt balls, and more. Colorado Candy Company signature Beaver Creek-logo’ed milk and dark chocolate bars as well as molded ski boots, snowflakes, and snowmen are a great choice too, as are classic Pepsi products made with real cane sugar that bring back nostalgic memories. And since you can enjoy them on a sun deck, this could be the sweetest place at 9,840 feet!

Those are just a few treats worth hunting down. Try them and love them. But listen: Do try the Reese’s Cup dip one day. Sometimes classic wins, too.

WATCH: Olympic Skiers Tell Us Three Tips to Become a Better Skier ASAP

Let Yahoo Travel inspire you every day. Hang out with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Check out our original adventure travel series A Broad Abroad.