Bad news for all you ski bums out there. Summer glacier skiing has been called off at the French resort of Alpe d'Huez - which, coincidentally, is French for "ratify Kyoto." The Alpe's Sarenne glacier has become unstable due to melting - a particularly worrying development, since the glacier sits at a relatively "safe" altitude of 9,000 feet. (A 2003 United Nations report on global warming warned that rising snow lines would make most low-lying European resorts disappear in the coming decades.)

Every so often, about midway through the month, it happens. The sun goes down, the full moon glows a bright bluish white in a dark, endless sky, and millions of Americans plant their butts by the TV. Not me. I'm thinking about getting my heart rate up, maybe somewhere outdoors, and believe it or not, I'm not alone. Outdoor activities and fitness of all kinds take place every month under a full moon, suiting unrepentant night owls like me just fine.

Far from snowy peaks, you can ski and snowboard any time of year in, of all places, a shopping mall in Dubai. If you care two wits about the environment, though, "the amount of energy this climate-defying folly consumes" will likely keep you away. If you live near real ski country, of course, you know that hardcore downhill enthusiasts will stretch the season until May or so, wishing they could do it all year.

Away.com's ski guide for the 2005-2006 season can help everyone from black-diamond junkies to bunny-slope beginners pick a place to take in gorgeous views, crisp air, and perfect powder.