skiing is not always a vacation for everyone.
I am suprised to be the only one to have had a need for a handgun while skiing. Mine was needed for fending off wildlife when my ski binding broke on the backside of Keystone Mountain. This is where the more advanced runs are, and by binding edged a tree and broke to pieces. I was only 15 at the time, but my dad was with me and tried to fix it. After realizing my ski was destroyed my cousing was instructed to go down the mountain and tell ski patrol we needed assistance. I forgot to mention I banged up my knee, and I wasnt about to walk 3 miles down a steep back woods slope. About 15 minutes past, and a wolve found its way near my dad and I. By now you are saying bullll ????, but I am serious, this really happen. The wolf kept its distance for a while, but suddenly it disappeared back into the treeline. 10 minutes later 2 appeared where the one was standing, and 1 was standing at our flank. They were literally circling us and closing in. My dad debated on carryingg his .357 service revolver with him on the ski trip, but sadly he left it in the car. He was a police officer at the time. To make an upsetting and long story short, we were both physically attacked, by 3 wolves, and my dad was the one who took the brunt of the attack. He protected me, by exposing his body to the unforgiving wolves. Ski poles lasted about 10 seconds before the cradle position took over. Ski poles have a ring around them that prevents them from going into the ground too far. That same deal applies to wolves. The only thing that saved us from being eaten by wolves that day was a flare gun the ski patrol gun shot at the wolves from above us. I usually never tell this story without showing the pictures, because people wouldnt believe it. In this situation it really doesnt matter though.. The fact is that it could happen, and that is all you need to beleive. My dad has limited movement in his right arm to this day, and scarring that will never heal.
Obviously, I personally have found justification in carrying while skiing, not to mention there are some trashy people in those parking lots at night. I carried my weapon in my backpack this year wrapped in a sweat shirt. Of course the draw is slow, but the chance of getting robbed on your downhill run is slim. I pocket my piece before heading to the parking lot though. I fall a ton, and never had a problem with getting hurt, falling on it, or damaging the weapon. The backpack does not hinder my skiing at all, and its a great place to store my water bottle and granola bars
No place to hide a subcompact there. If you ever get to that level and experience the abuse you body goes though give me a shout and we can talk skiiing and the injuries that can happen. Until then, you have no idea what your talking about. 
