Have you booked your ski trip yet?

This picture was taken a few minutes ago.

This one was taken yesterday morning.

They're already running newspaper stories seeking volunteers for bootpacking. What is bootpacking? According to the article in today's Aspen Daily News, bootpacking at Aspen Highlands "consist(s) of marching up some of the steepest in-bounds terrain in North America over and over again in ski or snowboard boots." "Packing consolidates the snowpack and reduces avalanche danger."

The ski patrol warns that packing is grueling work. The days last from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m . . . A half-hour break is scheduled for lunch and packers will occasionally have the opportunity to ski down the runs they pack with ski patrol.

Thanks to the opening of some new terrain at Highlands this year, ski patrol will need more volunteers than ever. The new terrain includes a longer Mushroom, areas in Highland Bowl that were previously just past the boundary rope in the North Woods section and some new gladed terrain in the Steeplechase area. Altogether the new terrain encompasses 40 acres.

Your reward for this "grueling work?" Well, if you make it for 15 days, you earn a full season pass which retails for $1,979 (although you can get it slightly cheaper if you buy early). You can also earn vouchers for discounts on passes if you work 5, 8, 10 or 12 days.

Probably the biggest benny is the possibility of getting the early morning call on "Epic" powder days to get first crack at some untracked runs at Highlands.

It pays to be nice to the Highlands Ski Patrol . . .