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Fair-weather skiers never prosper. The conditions won’t always look like they do in resort brochures, but—as with any challenge—adverse weather comes with its own opportunities. The biggest: privacy. While the fickle and cold-phobic crowds are warming their toes by the fire, you can have the entire mountain—or at least a small corner of it—to yourself. And sometimes that’s all you really need. On days when the wind is howling, visibility is nil or the snow is too skied off to make the longer, exposed slopes fun—let alone safe—seek out a sheltered spot, such as a gully or terrain garden. Full of bite-size features that mimic those you’d find on the main ski trails, these tucked-away playgrounds are ideal classrooms. (Ask the children’s ski school where they take their classes: Kids always know the best spots to play.) They’ll keep you entertained until the storm breaks.