The new year came with new access to cherished or unexplored terrain across Colorado ski areas.

Keystone Resort ended December by announcing the debut of Bergman Express. The high-speed, six-chair reaches high alpine previously hard-earned by hikers — what the resort describes as “mellow and welcoming terrain” in Bergman Bowl to the “steep and rocky” Erickson Bowl.

A few days before Bergman Express, Winter Park Resort welcomed the first passengers of the Wild Spur Express, another high-speed, six-chair. The resort celebrated the ride as granting entry to Vasquez Ridge — 285 acres described as “mostly blue intermediate trails” mixed with “more advanced, steeper bump runs.”

Previously in December, Steamboat Resort cut the ribbon on the fully complete Wild Blue Gondola, heralded the longest, fastest gondola of its kind in North America. Nicknamed “the Monster,” the gondola takes guests to the top of Sunshine Peak in 13 minutes.

Around the same time, Aspen Mountain launched a new, high-speed quad up to 150 acres above 10,000 feet. The terrain is called Hero’s, a spread of chutes and glades that represents Ajax’s biggest expansion since the 1980s.