A small army of skiers, snowboarders and other winter-sport devotees will begin their seasonal migration into Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport's terminals in mid-December.

They'll board nearly 35 flights bound daily for mountain resorts in six Western states and two Canadian provinces.

Their flights on American, Delta, Frontier, Southwest and United will whisk them to such Colorado airports as Aspen, Denver, Vail/Eagle, Hayden (serving Steamboat Springs), Gunnison (serving Crested Butte) and Montrose (serving Telluride).

Other destination airports are Jackson Hole, Wyo.; Reno, Nev.; Salt Lake City; Bozeman, Mont. (serving Big Sky); Santa Fe, N.M. (serving Taos and Angel Fire); Vancouver (serving Whistler Blackcomb); and Calgary (serving Banff, Lake Louise and Sunshine Village).

A survey by Ski.com, an Aspen-based firm that has been customizing mountain vacations for 35 years, reports that Dallas ranks fifth in U.S. cities with the most daily direct-access flights to ski country.

American Airlines has announced new daily nonstop service starting Dec. 13 between D/FW and Santa Fe, 72 miles from Taos Ski Valley. The 44-passenger jets are operated by American Eagle. Contact: 1-800-433-7300.

Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort is resuming biweekly Southwest Airlines charters with direct access from Love Field to Durango. Flights will be available Wednesdays and Saturdays from Dec. 15 through March 19. Contact: 1-800-982-6102.

American has "Kids Fly & Ski Free" packages to Crested Butte via round-trip air from D/FW to Gunnison. Valid dates are Jan. 6 through Feb. 15.

United has a similar program with dates of Nov. 28-Dec. 13 and Jan. 4-Feb. 14. Contact: 1-877-326-1467; www.gunnisoncrested butte.com (click on More Stay & Play Deals).

Ski.com, in conjunction with United, is offering free air for kids 12 and younger to Vail/Beaver Creek, Steamboat Springs, Jackson Hole and Crested Butte.

Ski.com also has packages that include free lift tickets and ski and snowboard rentals in many destinations, including Aspen, Breckenridge and Park City. Contact: 1-800-916-9463; www.ski.com.

A potpourri of downhill racing, post-race parties, concerts and athlete signings – free and public – will be the focus Nov. 27 through Dec. 2 at Beaver Creek. The event is Charles Schwab World Cup Race Week with the planet's fastest skiers competing on the precipitous Birds of Prey course. Lodging: 1-800-404-3535; www.beaver creek.com.

Aspen Mountain's fourth annual Summit for Life uphill race, a benefit for the Chris Klug Foundation and American Transplant Foundation, is Dec. 1. Starting at 6 p.m., registered participants must travel about 3,000 feet to the top of Aspen Mountain by using their choice of lighting and nonmotorized gear. Once across the finish, they will enjoy dinner and live music at the Sundeck Restaurant. Fee and registration details: 970-300-4741; www.summitforlife.org.

Back again Nov. 30 through Dec. 1 is the 36 Hours of Keystone. In the endurance event, ski teams will compete for up to $3,600 in prize money. This team challenge benefits Keystone's Adaptive Center, which offers ski and snowboard lessons to people with disabilities. Contact: 970-496-4222; www.vail resorts.com.

First-time skiers and boarders can get an all-day beginner lift ticket, group lesson and rentals for only $25 the weekend of Dec. 8-9 at North Lake Tahoe. Among participating resorts are Alpine Meadows, Diamond Peak, Mount Rose, Northstar, Squaw Valley and Sugar Bowl. Contact: 1-877-949-3296; www.gotahoenorth.com.

Half-price skiing and rentals are in vogue Thanksgiving Day through Dec. 14 at Taos Ski Valley. Discounted lift tickets are $35 for adults, $27 for ages 13-17 and $21 for ages 7-12. Sport-ski rentals are $18. ... Beaver Creek's Ski With a Ranger environmental education program begins in December. Guided tours will meet at 1:30 p.m. Saturdays at the Environmental Learning Center next to the Cinch Express Lift summit. A lift ticket is required.

Walt Roessing is a freelance writer in California.