The winter season is upon us, and there is no better way to take full advantage of it than to download the latest snow sports apps. This list includes the best of the best when it comes to free apps, enabling users to track their runs, altitude, accomplishments, and share that information on several social media platforms. Check out the five recommendations below, then get to downloading.

EpicMix (iOS)

Developed by Vail Resorts, this app’s list of features seems somewhat endless. First, users are able to view and purchase photos of them on the mountains that are taken by professional photographers at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, Northstar, and Kirkwood. You can track your vertical feet, earn “pins” for your accomplishments, share that information on social media, compete against other users, and see where your Facebook friends are riding. The app also provides trail maps, lift status, run conditions, weather updates, and traffic details for areas surrounding the six mountains. Although the app is free, you must have an RF-enabled season pass, Epic Day lift ticket, or a PEAKS Card to use it. Although this seems a bit strange, it’s really only useful for people at one of the mountains anyway.

Find My Friends (iOS, Android)

While this app may have gained its popularity from people looking to discover if their significant other was cheating on them (thanks, CNET), it’s actually extremely useful when it comes to finding your friends on the slopes. When you’re on a mountain that’s not super familiar, surrounded by similar-looking slopes, this app’s ability for you to see friends’ exact locations can actually be a big time saver. While I question this app’s use in most cases—it basically turns your phone into a stalking device—it seems handy in certain circumstances. Just send a follow request to one of your friends, wait to be approved, then head to where they are on the mountain.

Liftopia (iOS)

The name of this one explains it all—it reports on snow conditions and is a great source for browsing and purchasing lift tickets. This is the only app currently on the market that allows skiers and snowboarders to check out deals, purchase tickets, lessons, and rentals ahead of time. More than 150 ski areas are included in the app, and since deals are aggregated in one place, users can save up to 80 percent. The app also provides quick links to check out ski resort statistics, resort photos, driving directions, as well as terrain details.

Realski (iOS)

Augmented reality is what this app is all about. It allows users to locate trails, see the level of difficulty, and find the closest chair lifts. The app uses information from your phone’s camera, compass, and GPS. All you need to know is how to aim the camera on your phone. But according to a review by The Recapp, the biggest problem is that the number of resorts included in the app is limited. However, one of the perks is that it allows you to geotag where you parked your car, which helps eliminate hauling your gear around while trying to find your vehicle. Check out the video below to see how Realski is used.

Ski & Snow Report (iOS, Android)

Last but not least, this app is focused on staying up-to-date with everything happening at your favorite resorts. Add destinations to get notifications about weather conditions, snow depth data, a five-day forecast, trail and lift maps, as well as social media access. New this year is a longer list of resorts that users can add to their favorites list.

Image from EncMstr on the Wikimedia Commons