Mountain Sports Club Blog

Countdown to the holidays. With office parties, visiting friends and family it is easy to run out of time for the final days of Christmas shopping. Our merchants are trying to make it easy for you.

Online retail merchants at the Mountain Sports Club Shop/Marketplace, continue to run specials enabling last minute gift shopping for those looking for gear for skiers, snowboarders, hikers, cyclists, campers and outdoor enthusiasts.

One example is $24 overnight shipping valid on purchases through Dec 20, noon central time, at Sun and Ski Sports, Rebel Board Sports and Ski Chalet. Shop any of these 3 sites online, use your $10 off coupon and take advantage overnight delivery. This one -two punch of savings and value is perfect for last minute gift shopping. Great deals on skis, snowboards, cycling gear, camping and outdoor gear.

Done shopping? Get out and ski or snowboard. There is great snow across the country. Check out all the lift ticket discounts available for Mountain Sport Club members. Now over 50 resorts to save on lift tickets.

Colorado local snow report: Not really a snow report just a skiing conditions update.

We had the chance to get out for a few hours yesterday at Arapahoe Basin. The skiing and snow was great. It was blue bird day with fast corduroy groomed runs and still a mix of soft broken snow with easy bumps on the steeps. It was warm in the front range but crisp and cold at Arapahoe Basin. The best snow on the mountain we found was on the west wall. Lots of soft easy carving on the steeps.

Lower on the mountain in the steeper terrain one could see rocks creeping through, that were not apparent on Saturday when we were last up. Snow is again forecast for the next couple of days will prove great at offering up some more fresh snow and improved conditions. This should allow the resorts to open even more advanced and expert terrain. They were preparing the terrain park at the top half of the mountain.

Editors note: The skiing will be very good for this holiday season in the central rockies, New England, midwest and southwest Colorado. We have also recently gotten a locals report that Jackson Hole in Wyoming is serving up great early season conditions. Place to stay - The Alpenhof Lodge. This classic European Ski Lodge is steps away from the base of the area in Teton Village. Great restaurant, apres ski, lounge, hot tub, suana, spa, pool and ambiance. Mountain Sports Club members Save up to 25%. We stayed there this summer and the place is a treat.

Memberships to the Mountain Sports Club now available for only $10.95. Use promo code combo07 and save now on your lift tickets, lodging, travel, shopping and more.

Often times it is said the anticipation and planning of the trip can be a highlight and delight unto itself. When we, the Siewierski clan, decided we would kick off the summer of 2007 with a family road trip north to Yellowstone National Park and the surrounding Teton Mountains and Jackson Hole it was the signal for me to start the planning process.

While I have been to Yellowstone on several occasions this will be a first time for my wife, Laura, and our three boys Jarid(11), Nicky(9) and Sam(6). The plan is unfolding where we will depart Boulder early Monday June 18 and head north via 1-25 to Bozeman Montana. We will spend the first night at the Holiday Inn in Bozeman, as I have an early morning work meeting the next day on the 19th, with the ad agency Mercury for Travel Montana. We will be sure to post a lodging review for this property and others we visit as well as camp site updates.

While we are close to Bridger Bowl the plan calls for my wife to load supplies from the local grocery store before heading into the park. The first two nights we will spend in Gardiner, Montana at the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The camp ground we have selected is the Rocky Mountain RV Park. All listings make it seem like a great starting point. We hope to enjoy a float down the Yellowstone River one day, do some local fishing, get to the Mammoth Hot Springs and over to Roosevelt Tower while in of this area.

The balance of the trip will include two nights camping at the Madison Campground near geyser country and the west entrance of Yellowstone. This area is close to Big Sky Ski Resort. After exploring this region we will go to the Yellowstone Lake and stay in one of their cabins before heading to the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone for 2 last nights of camping before we drop down to Teton Village and Jackson Hole for 3 nights. The end of the journey will be complete with creature comforts as we settle into the the delightful Alpenhof Lodge. The comforts of a nice bed, rooms and showers will be welcome at that stage. Having meals served will also been a pleasant way to wind down at the end of this trip.