I’ve been seeing this year that the cost of a flight from the US to France, mountain ticket for a week in the Alps, and lodging there is cheaper than staying domestic and skiing/lodging in the Rockies for the same time. The majority of US residents would still have to fly to the Rockies anyway. I didn’t verify which exact mountains or level of lodging as I don’t know how, but, presumably, whatever is in the Alps is nicer than the Rockies offerings for the price.

To clarify, skiing is accessible to middle class, but when it’s a personality, it’s a signal of being very comfortably middle class at the least.