Utah ski trip was winding down. We had long wanted to visit Sundance, and it did not disappoint. Robert Redford was wise to buy and develop the resort in such a magnificent location! It is quaint, rustic, and beautifully run and decorated with American cowboy and Indian motifs. Steep mountains and waterfalls surround the resort, but many of the slopes are wide and well groomed. There are the usual mixture of catwalks (which I find difficult and try to avoid) and bowls. From the front there is one very long chair, and you can download it at several points. If you stay on to the end, you can access another lift to a spectacular view of the Great Salt Lake.
The residents say it is one of the smallest of the Utah resorts, and I tell them we would love to have such a resort back East. To me, it is huge, high, and challenging! The sharp peaks can make you very dizzy. It is a family resort, and it is wonderful to see so many children learning and singing as they ski or board. There were a number of Brigham Young college students, and they are respectful and well behaved. Everyone goes out of their way to be friendly! Special thanks to public relations manager Lucy Ridolphi, who does a terrific job and has produced a very handsome brochure of Sundance.
If you can get reservations at one of the lodges on the property, try to do so. But, you must book well in advance, especially if the timing coincides with the Sundance film festival (some of the events are held there, but most are in Park City). Sundance was voted the 6th top resort world wide by Conde Nast, and deserves the honor! If you can’t stay overnight, book lodging at one of the nearby cities and spend the day. You will have a terrific ski experience. Hopefully, no” raindrops will fall on your head” while you are there. Ouch! Hope that didn’t “make your day.”
Sadly, the next day was time to leave Utah. It was a long 9 day trip, capped off by extremely rough flights for all travelers across the nation. After an enormous amount of turbulence, and wind gusts of 70 miles per hour, we had a rough landing at BWI. Every adult on the plane applauded, and most of us shook the hands of the Delta pilot and co pilot as we left the plane. As we looked out the airport window, we saw a magnificent rainbow, which made it all worth while. It was another answer to our prayers, and a signal it was time to plan another trip!
Author Connie Lawn, see more articles at DCski.com from Connie.
Tuesday we were at Park City; Wednesday at Snowbasin, (where we stayed at the handsome Lakeside Villages), so by Thursday, we must be a Snowbird. What a treat!! If you have never in your life stayed in the Cliff Lodge, you owe it to yourself to have at least one night there. The sheer, spectacular mountains can be seen from all the windows. The sunsets and sunrises are magnificent! The décor of beautiful hotel is enhanced by displays of oriental carpets, antique Chinese robes, screens, and sculptures, and beautiful artwork and other fine items sold in the stores. There is a heated rooftop pool and hot tub, as well as a spa and health club. It is great to enjoy the pool, especially as the snow falls in your face, and the moon rises over the mountains. Our special thanks to Public Relations Director Laura Schaffer for her generous contribution to this part of her trip. Her parents are journalists in Washington so she understands what reporters like! We enjoyed dinner at the Lodge Bistro, breakfast buffet at the Aerie, and Clif energy bars on the snow!
On Thursday, we took the Peruvian Express High Speed Chair to the top of Snowbird at 10,518 feet. Then we skied down Chips Run, a 2.5 mile blue trail but steep and challenging for us. As the natives say, “Snowbird is an intense mountain.” A new option is to buy a combined Snowbird-Alta lift ticket (only $10 extra) and take the new tunnel from the top of the Peruvian quad chair. The surface people mover is 600 feet long and 15 feet high. You can take the tunnel through to the panoramic Mineral Basin, take the Mt Baldy lift go through the gates to Alta, ski back through Alta at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon and return to Snowbird on the free shuttle bus. This new option can be especially helpful to intermediate skiers, and reduce traffic on the aerial tram and other chairs. We hope to return and check out the tunnel and more of the areas – there is so much territory, and so very much to cover! We were extremely pleased we had a great deal of time to spend with the Snowbird Adaptive skiers – the major part of our visit.
The Adaptive sports center is run with compassion, skill, care, and dedication by Peter Mandler, the Executive Director, Laura Cantin, the Assistant Director, and numerous instructors and volunteers. They have all earned their places in Heaven! While we were there, two young children with cerebral palsy were being brought down the mountain on sit skis. It took a team of 3 or 4 people to help them ride the lift and whiz down, but how much the children loved it! There is no additional charge for this – as in most adaptive programs, the funds come from donations and fund raising events. Later in the day, a doctor with a spinal cord injury also had a chance to celebrate his second anniversary on a monoski. Several of us had the chance to sit in his monoski; it is not at all easy and requires great upper body strength and coordination just to get in and out of it.
On Thursday, we took the Peruvian Express High Speed Chair to the top of Snowbird at 10,518 feet. Then we skied down Chips Run, a 2.5 mile blue trail but steep and challenging for us. As the natives say, “Snowbird is an intense mountain.” A new option is to buy a combined Snowbird-Alta lift ticket (only $10 extra) and take the new tunnel from the top of the Peruvian quad chair. The surface people mover is 600 feet long and 15 feet high. You can take the tunnel through to the panoramic Mineral Basin, take the Mt Baldy lift go through the gates to Alta, ski back through Alta at the top of Little Cottonwood Canyon and return to Snowbird on the free shuttle bus. This new option can be especially helpful to intermediate skiers, and reduce traffic on the aerial tram and other chairs. We hope to return and check out the tunnel and more of the areas – there is so much territory, and so very much to cover! We were extremely pleased we had a great deal of time to spend with the Snowbird Adaptive skiers – the major part of our visit.
The Adaptive sports center is run with compassion, skill, care, and dedication by Peter Mandler, the Executive Director, Laura Cantin, the Assistant Director, and numerous instructors and volunteers. They have all earned their places in Heaven! While we were there, two young children with cerebral palsy were being brought down the mountain on sit skis. It took a team of 3 or 4 people to help them ride the lift and whiz down, but how much the children loved it! There is no additional charge for this – as in most adaptive programs, the funds come from donations and fund raising events. Later in the day, a doctor with a spinal cord injury also had a chance to celebrate his second anniversary on a monoski. Several of us had the chance to sit in his monoski; it is not at all easy and requires great upper body strength and coordination just to get in and out of it.
Thanks to Jessica Kunzer and Ski Utah, we had another magical week in Utah – a state which produces some of the best snow conditions and most majestic, towering, and steep mountains in the world! Thanks also for a tour which shows us how far Utah has progressed, and will continue to progress, to help adaptive, disabled athletes and wounded warriors.
We had a wonderful whirlwind tour, which included Park City, Snowbasin, Snowbird, and Sundance (which Charles and I visited on our own). Everyone has their own preference, but Charles and I loved the long, wide, perfectly groomed slopes of Snowbasin, as well as the panoramic views. We love the comparative solitude and the assurance we are not going to be crashed into from behind or above. We were once told there are an average of 2,000 acres to a skier on a weekday. We also love the fact that people remember us and call us by name, even though we had not been there for several years. Snowbasin also has the incredibly luxurious day lodges, which are dripping with marble, fine carpets, crystal lamps, and beautiful art. It is nice to rest on a plush couch, in front of the fireplace, when you are relaxing from the rigors of the slopes. The day lodges also have gourmet meals and numerous community events for visitors and nearby residents.
Snowbasin is opening up more programs for adaptive skiers and boarders, including those with sight and hearing problems. We watched with amazement as a blind skier repeatedly whizzed down the mountain, while a world class sit ski champion went through his paces. Both men warm up on runs like the two Olympic Downhill courses at Snowbasin, and then think nothing of spending the rest of the day on steep, narrow double black diamonds. Paul Schaeffer is a blind skier who lives in Virginia and works at the State Department. He flies in alone from the Washington DC area, takes a bus to Ogden and then shuttle buses to Snowbasin. There his guides and ski companions help him out. But, since he skis better than most of them, they have to work hard to stay ahead of him! Paralympian Chris Waddell was also a guest at Snowbasin that day; he has won top medals in monoski competitions around the world. We were honored to meet athletes of this character and caliber.
Monday afternoon we had flown into Salt Lake City from Reno. We were met at the busy airport by our hostess, Ski Utah’s Jessica Kunzer who had already met the other two journalists on our tour. Jessica and Ski Utah have to be some of the busiest ski representatives in the industry. She conducts about 5 such tours a year, and they require enormous work and expense. As if she were not busy enough, Jessica told us she was up at 4 in the morning to hike up a mountain with friends. Then they skied down at sunrise. She personifies much of the best of the West, where people combine the love of nature with dedication to intense physical exercise. Don’t mess with these women – you may not live to tell the story! Two members of our group, including me, had intense lung congestion, which caused us pain and breathing difficulties throughout the week. That was no fun, and can be dangerous, especially at that altitude. I learned that lesson the next day – more later.
We checked into a modern Holiday Inn Hotel and then went directly to the famous National Ability Center at Park City. It is one of the most amazing of all the centers for adaptive sports people in this country. The sprawling, modern center receives donations from many people, but the largest grant came from the generous Bronfman Family. The Bronfman Recreation Center and Ranch proudly carries their name. The center has many adaptive programs, including hippo or equestrian therapy, swimming, biking, and the wide range of winter and summer programs. The programs are the brainchild of Meeche White, who has devoted the last 30 years to creating them and raising funds. She claims she plans to semi retire, but I doubt she can ever be replaced. She is now assisted by a terrific partner - Ryan Jensen, the Marketing Manager.
That night we had dinner at the National Ability Center Ranch with 10 soldiers and Marines from San Antonio sponsored by Operation Comfort. While they were recovering from their wounds, they were skiing and snowboarding. Some were still on active duty, and the others were working hard to begin the next phase of their lives. One handsome young soldier still has sand and shrapnel in his eyes, but is coping with his pain and is skiing. He masks his disabilities, and it is difficult to tell he has visual impairment. Charles and I enjoyed the opportunity to have long talks with the men and women over the relaxed meal. Often, there is a great rush at these wounded warrior events, and there is little time to get to know the soldiers and their stories, before we all head to the slopes together.
A Note about Altitude sickness
Just a brief aside to warn flatlanders – take it easy in the wind, cold, and altitude. I love Park City – one of my favorite areas. I came down too fast a few times, and the wind grew stronger and colder. I was having trouble breathing in any case, with the chest congestion. On the second run, as I neared the bottom, I got dizzy, my heart pounded, and I fought for breath. Then everything went blurry, and I sank gently into the snow. It was so peaceful lying there. But, whenever I tried to get up, I did not have the strength to stand. Thank God Charles and other members of our party were there, and they stayed until the ski patrol came. Those wonderful men gave me oxygen, strapped me into their sled, and transported me down the rest of the mountain. It is so comforting to be cared for by professionals! Still, I was really angry at myself. The condition cleared up in a short time, and I was well enough to ski Snowbasin the next day, if I took it easy and stopped frequently. I think the wind, cold, and my congestion were the main problems – I do not generally have a problem with altitude. But, this is meant as a warning to my friends – don’t exert yourself too quickly in the big mountains – build up to it by skiing and boarding often, and don’t try to do too much in a day. Buy a half day lift ticket, get some rest, and enjoy spending part of the time sitting around in the sun, and eating the delicious foods at the resorts!
Article written by Connie Lawn. See more of her articles at DCski.com
We had a wonderful whirlwind tour, which included Park City, Snowbasin, Snowbird, and Sundance (which Charles and I visited on our own). Everyone has their own preference, but Charles and I loved the long, wide, perfectly groomed slopes of Snowbasin, as well as the panoramic views. We love the comparative solitude and the assurance we are not going to be crashed into from behind or above. We were once told there are an average of 2,000 acres to a skier on a weekday. We also love the fact that people remember us and call us by name, even though we had not been there for several years. Snowbasin also has the incredibly luxurious day lodges, which are dripping with marble, fine carpets, crystal lamps, and beautiful art. It is nice to rest on a plush couch, in front of the fireplace, when you are relaxing from the rigors of the slopes. The day lodges also have gourmet meals and numerous community events for visitors and nearby residents.
Snowbasin is opening up more programs for adaptive skiers and boarders, including those with sight and hearing problems. We watched with amazement as a blind skier repeatedly whizzed down the mountain, while a world class sit ski champion went through his paces. Both men warm up on runs like the two Olympic Downhill courses at Snowbasin, and then think nothing of spending the rest of the day on steep, narrow double black diamonds. Paul Schaeffer is a blind skier who lives in Virginia and works at the State Department. He flies in alone from the Washington DC area, takes a bus to Ogden and then shuttle buses to Snowbasin. There his guides and ski companions help him out. But, since he skis better than most of them, they have to work hard to stay ahead of him! Paralympian Chris Waddell was also a guest at Snowbasin that day; he has won top medals in monoski competitions around the world. We were honored to meet athletes of this character and caliber.
Monday afternoon we had flown into Salt Lake City from Reno. We were met at the busy airport by our hostess, Ski Utah’s Jessica Kunzer who had already met the other two journalists on our tour. Jessica and Ski Utah have to be some of the busiest ski representatives in the industry. She conducts about 5 such tours a year, and they require enormous work and expense. As if she were not busy enough, Jessica told us she was up at 4 in the morning to hike up a mountain with friends. Then they skied down at sunrise. She personifies much of the best of the West, where people combine the love of nature with dedication to intense physical exercise. Don’t mess with these women – you may not live to tell the story! Two members of our group, including me, had intense lung congestion, which caused us pain and breathing difficulties throughout the week. That was no fun, and can be dangerous, especially at that altitude. I learned that lesson the next day – more later.
We checked into a modern Holiday Inn Hotel and then went directly to the famous National Ability Center at Park City. It is one of the most amazing of all the centers for adaptive sports people in this country. The sprawling, modern center receives donations from many people, but the largest grant came from the generous Bronfman Family. The Bronfman Recreation Center and Ranch proudly carries their name. The center has many adaptive programs, including hippo or equestrian therapy, swimming, biking, and the wide range of winter and summer programs. The programs are the brainchild of Meeche White, who has devoted the last 30 years to creating them and raising funds. She claims she plans to semi retire, but I doubt she can ever be replaced. She is now assisted by a terrific partner - Ryan Jensen, the Marketing Manager.
That night we had dinner at the National Ability Center Ranch with 10 soldiers and Marines from San Antonio sponsored by Operation Comfort. While they were recovering from their wounds, they were skiing and snowboarding. Some were still on active duty, and the others were working hard to begin the next phase of their lives. One handsome young soldier still has sand and shrapnel in his eyes, but is coping with his pain and is skiing. He masks his disabilities, and it is difficult to tell he has visual impairment. Charles and I enjoyed the opportunity to have long talks with the men and women over the relaxed meal. Often, there is a great rush at these wounded warrior events, and there is little time to get to know the soldiers and their stories, before we all head to the slopes together.
A Note about Altitude sickness
Just a brief aside to warn flatlanders – take it easy in the wind, cold, and altitude. I love Park City – one of my favorite areas. I came down too fast a few times, and the wind grew stronger and colder. I was having trouble breathing in any case, with the chest congestion. On the second run, as I neared the bottom, I got dizzy, my heart pounded, and I fought for breath. Then everything went blurry, and I sank gently into the snow. It was so peaceful lying there. But, whenever I tried to get up, I did not have the strength to stand. Thank God Charles and other members of our party were there, and they stayed until the ski patrol came. Those wonderful men gave me oxygen, strapped me into their sled, and transported me down the rest of the mountain. It is so comforting to be cared for by professionals! Still, I was really angry at myself. The condition cleared up in a short time, and I was well enough to ski Snowbasin the next day, if I took it easy and stopped frequently. I think the wind, cold, and my congestion were the main problems – I do not generally have a problem with altitude. But, this is meant as a warning to my friends – don’t exert yourself too quickly in the big mountains – build up to it by skiing and boarding often, and don’t try to do too much in a day. Buy a half day lift ticket, get some rest, and enjoy spending part of the time sitting around in the sun, and eating the delicious foods at the resorts!
Article written by Connie Lawn. See more of her articles at DCski.com
This was one of the trips one has to make sure is in the winter travel schedule. Not only are Snowbird and Alta known world wide for the incredible powder and steeps, but the agenda had attendees on the mountain of each at least an hour before the general public. I had this trip on the books early last year when we had seen the schedule. It had been a few years since I had skied either Alta, or Snowbird so I was excited to get back.
Sitting at the end of Little Cottonwood canyon they are blessed with some of the deepest and driest snow and powder known to man. This year the snow was piling deep and storms had been frequent visitors making for certain great conditions. We stayed at the Cliff Lodge and Spa, truly a monument to comfort and convenience with a full spa in the facility upstairs. For those of us combing work there was also a full set of business services available and a great wireless connection throughout the building. With this convenient of a location it was grab your skis from the lockers, walk out and ski down and over to the lift. At day’s end one skied right to the base of the lodge. The Cliff Lodge and Spa is the best location for comfort and convenience at Snowbird. The snow would prove to be fantastic. We arrived right after a storm that had dropped several feet of powder.
On Wednesday the day started with a breakfast hosted in the Peruvian tunnel which one would normally take a conveyor lift through to the backside which was Mineral Basin. This recent addition I had never skied as it was either not open, or there was zero visibility the last several times I had been at Snowbird. Today would be different. Blue clear skies awaited us as the moon slowly descended over the horizon while the sun crept up from the east. After listening to the intro and welcome from our gracious hosts we were then provided access to the mountain as sunrise appeared. Soft buttery powder was everywhere. Mineral Basin offers less steep terrain than the front side even with some of the cliff areas. The lines were many and varied. It was a quick traverse either right or left at the top and pick your line of fresh untracked powder. The snow ranged from boot deep to about knee deep in spots. Quickly the powder was cut up but there still plenty of soft snow anywhere. It was fast crowd of ski area operators and suppliers just ripping the snow. We had about 3 hours before heading back for the afternoon of sessions and trade show.
Snowbird continues to be one of my favorite mountains in North America. The combination of steep terrain, wide open bowls and incredible snowfall make it a must ski or ride destination for any serious skier and snowboarder. It easy access in and out of Salt Lake City draws powder hound enthusiasts the world over. If the mountain does not offer enough terrain there is always the helicopter ski operation as another option for even more Wasatch Powder.
Day 2 was a bit different of a day, but truly unique. We were provided loading on the Snowbird Tram at 7:30 am and had guides take us over to the entrance to Alta. Here we were greeted by Alta staff and and taken for a guided tour of Alta and hour before the public. It was a different day on that it was snowing and blowing. No blue sky and sunshine today. The snow was variable but there was plenty of powder shots to be found off piste. Initially we stuck to the fresh corduroy and got our bearings. After several runs and lifts we settled into skiing the lower part of the mountain off the wildcat chair. The trees here were protected and offered plenty of deeper untracked snow. Less wind and great skiing. Alta still is one of the last resorts that does not allow snowboarders. The collection of lodges at the base has not changed in decades and offers a very unique and relaxing ski vacation alternative. Both Alta and Snowbird offer a great ski vacation and opportunity to really wind down. If you are looking for night life and a load après ski scene you need to look elsewhere. If it is steeps, powder and no nonsense skiing you crave put both Alta and Snowbird at the tops of your list of must visit resorts.
Out of the Clouds, and into the Sun! Snowshoe and Silver Creek West Virginia
After five years of planning, the Challenged Athletes of West Virginia sponsored their first Wounded Warrior Weekend at Silver Creek and Snowshoe. Their hard work paid off – it was a tremendous success! The snow conditions also held up, and were good to excellent, depending upon the time of day and area. Everyone learned a lot and had a great time. Nearly 40 people participated in the weekend. They included the regular staff members, instructors, and volunteers from the Snowshoe program, which is ably headed by David Begg. He told us 5 of the warriors were active duty Marines from Camp LeJeune (they looked so young without their heavy military equipment!). The other visitors were from Tennessee, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia. They had various degrees of injuries, but several had lost legs. They all appeared to be skiing, snowboarding, or sit-skiing with great courage and skill. Dave said they hope to have other such warrior programs, in addition to those for the skiers and boarders disabled in other ways. He said there was incredible support from the staff, volunteers, and community. He told us the event created a really good feeling in the Snowshoe community. Some of the athletes continue to experiment with their sport. Staff Sargent Karl Dorman has a knee disarticulation, or amputation at the knee, and was skiing for the first time with two skis and his new prosthesis. Before that he was snowboarding. He is active in the distribution of artificial limbs. He, his wife, and four children attended the event, and he has siblings still serving in Iraq. It is difficult to list all who participated. But, special thanks to media and marketing coordinator Laura Parquette, who did a great job, despite the flu!
The warriors in the program included Karl Dorman, Arnold Beard, Shon Holler, Tyler Baker, Richard Caseltine, Dominico Washington, Roman Goddeau, Aaron Bourassa, and Dean Schwatz. Some of the special adaptive instructors and volunteers Bob Spencer, Becky Halioua, Nathan Magnusen, Denise Heffernan, Mark Tracy, Riley and David McDowell, Robert Martin, Dave Kennedy, Jeff Costin, Skeeter Porter, Brandi Garrett, Mike Smoot and the fabulous instructors who cooked and served the terrific food all weekend. Thank you all, and apologies to those left out or misspelled! The weekend consisted of special instructions and free skiing or riding, generally in the Silver Creek area (which is much less crowded than the larger Snowshoe area. Both are connected by free shuttle buses, and use the same lift passes). Many of the warriors are so skilled, they did not actually need instructors, and were far ahead of them on the snow. The sit skiers were especially fast and graceful. But, all the athletes had “snow buddies” or a group of volunteers to help them with their equipment, and assist in getting onto and off the lift, if needed. Again, some are so skilled and possess so much upper body strength, they need little help. Some skied or used snow boards with one leg, while others used their special, high tech prosthesis. Other athletes on the mountain appeared to be considerate and polite towards the special skiers and boarders. Adaptive ski programs are growing in this nation, and there is greater support for them in many areas. That is an important trend which must be encouraged! Most of these programs are privately funded, so support, contributions, and volunteer assistance is always welcome.
The Skiing was great!!
Snowshoe and Silver Creek lived up to their reputations as some of the finest resorts in the Mid Atlantic region. It is too bad they are so far away from the Washington and Baltimore metro areas, and we wish there was regular shuttle bus service (to all the resorts, in fact). Thanks to the skilled driving of my husband and partner Charles, we made it in about 5 hours each way. He followed the most important rule – drive during daylight!! Those steep, winding roads can be killers. Fortunately, the ice storm of the night before was not a major factor, since we left in mid afternoon. But, the thick fog in the lowlands, which yielded to clouds in the higher mountains, became very scary. The warriors told horror stories about their driving experiences. Snowshoe can be confusing at best of times, even for those of us who had been there several visits before. If you are trying to find your lodging, when it is cold, snowy, windy, dark, and cloudy, it is not a pleasant experience. So, drive in daylight and enjoy the dramatic scenery. It is not called “wild, wonderful West Virginia” for nothing! The trails were in great condition, and the snowmaking and grooming paid off. On Saturday, we thoroughly enjoyed Silver Creek, where the instructions were underway. There are some very fine lifts and trails there, and Mountaineer, Bear Claw, and Flying Eagle are advanced. The majority of the trails are designed for intermediates and beginners. There is also a nice large condo on the slopes, and the package prices are reasonable.
For many reasons, it might be better to stay in Silver Creek, ski there during crowded weekends, and take the quick shuttle bus to Snowshoe when you want to go there. On Sunday morning, the sun was shinning, the snow was perfect, and Charles and I were out early. We passed up the chance for free ski lessons – offered by the resort – to check out the new trails. We loved Sawmill! The moguls were just the way I liked them – medium sized and soft snow. I could not resist shouting “eh haw” everytime I jumped one! Widowmaker, Camp 99, and Sawmill Glades also looked like they were in terrific shape, as was most of the mountain, at that hour. Then we took the shuttle bus over to the Western Territory, and took the infamous Upper Shay’s Revenge and Lower Cupp Run. Can you say fast? Wow!! No wonder they are rated some of the most challenging and exhilarating runs in the East! I hope people from other parts of the country come and try them. I defy them to ever think Eastern skiing is easy after that. Definitely not for the faint of heart.
One more note about Snowshoe (and any other snow experience). It really pays to get a package deal, and check the various websites for specials. Booking a package which includes a condo, ski lift, and – sometimes rental equipment and instructions, it really pays. You can get packages for about $170 on weekends, and under a hundred during the week – again, there are a lot of specials. The condos are fabulous, with terrific views of the mountains and heavens (Snowshoe, like Wintergreen, is a resort built on the top of the mountain, to maximize the views and the fresh air). The condos have full kitchens and those magical, romantic gas fireplaces. There are saunas, swimming pools, exercises rooms, and indoor play areas in the Snowshoe resort. There are also a series of great restaurants, if you do not want to cook in. For the weekends, there are also Church services , which always take on a special beauty high in the mountains.
The Snowshoe Resort offers 60 trails, a 4,848 foot summit elevation, and a 1500 foot vertical drop. There is also snow tubing, terrain parks, snowmobile rides, and snowshoeing. In the summer, there is golf, biking, boating, and the usual round of summer activities in a magical setting. Thank you Snowshoe – keep up the good work!
Blog report authored by Connie Lawn
After five years of planning, the Challenged Athletes of West Virginia sponsored their first Wounded Warrior Weekend at Silver Creek and Snowshoe. Their hard work paid off – it was a tremendous success! The snow conditions also held up, and were good to excellent, depending upon the time of day and area. Everyone learned a lot and had a great time. Nearly 40 people participated in the weekend. They included the regular staff members, instructors, and volunteers from the Snowshoe program, which is ably headed by David Begg. He told us 5 of the warriors were active duty Marines from Camp LeJeune (they looked so young without their heavy military equipment!). The other visitors were from Tennessee, Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia. They had various degrees of injuries, but several had lost legs. They all appeared to be skiing, snowboarding, or sit-skiing with great courage and skill. Dave said they hope to have other such warrior programs, in addition to those for the skiers and boarders disabled in other ways. He said there was incredible support from the staff, volunteers, and community. He told us the event created a really good feeling in the Snowshoe community. Some of the athletes continue to experiment with their sport. Staff Sargent Karl Dorman has a knee disarticulation, or amputation at the knee, and was skiing for the first time with two skis and his new prosthesis. Before that he was snowboarding. He is active in the distribution of artificial limbs. He, his wife, and four children attended the event, and he has siblings still serving in Iraq. It is difficult to list all who participated. But, special thanks to media and marketing coordinator Laura Parquette, who did a great job, despite the flu!
The warriors in the program included Karl Dorman, Arnold Beard, Shon Holler, Tyler Baker, Richard Caseltine, Dominico Washington, Roman Goddeau, Aaron Bourassa, and Dean Schwatz. Some of the special adaptive instructors and volunteers Bob Spencer, Becky Halioua, Nathan Magnusen, Denise Heffernan, Mark Tracy, Riley and David McDowell, Robert Martin, Dave Kennedy, Jeff Costin, Skeeter Porter, Brandi Garrett, Mike Smoot and the fabulous instructors who cooked and served the terrific food all weekend. Thank you all, and apologies to those left out or misspelled! The weekend consisted of special instructions and free skiing or riding, generally in the Silver Creek area (which is much less crowded than the larger Snowshoe area. Both are connected by free shuttle buses, and use the same lift passes). Many of the warriors are so skilled, they did not actually need instructors, and were far ahead of them on the snow. The sit skiers were especially fast and graceful. But, all the athletes had “snow buddies” or a group of volunteers to help them with their equipment, and assist in getting onto and off the lift, if needed. Again, some are so skilled and possess so much upper body strength, they need little help. Some skied or used snow boards with one leg, while others used their special, high tech prosthesis. Other athletes on the mountain appeared to be considerate and polite towards the special skiers and boarders. Adaptive ski programs are growing in this nation, and there is greater support for them in many areas. That is an important trend which must be encouraged! Most of these programs are privately funded, so support, contributions, and volunteer assistance is always welcome.
The Skiing was great!!
Snowshoe and Silver Creek lived up to their reputations as some of the finest resorts in the Mid Atlantic region. It is too bad they are so far away from the Washington and Baltimore metro areas, and we wish there was regular shuttle bus service (to all the resorts, in fact). Thanks to the skilled driving of my husband and partner Charles, we made it in about 5 hours each way. He followed the most important rule – drive during daylight!! Those steep, winding roads can be killers. Fortunately, the ice storm of the night before was not a major factor, since we left in mid afternoon. But, the thick fog in the lowlands, which yielded to clouds in the higher mountains, became very scary. The warriors told horror stories about their driving experiences. Snowshoe can be confusing at best of times, even for those of us who had been there several visits before. If you are trying to find your lodging, when it is cold, snowy, windy, dark, and cloudy, it is not a pleasant experience. So, drive in daylight and enjoy the dramatic scenery. It is not called “wild, wonderful West Virginia” for nothing! The trails were in great condition, and the snowmaking and grooming paid off. On Saturday, we thoroughly enjoyed Silver Creek, where the instructions were underway. There are some very fine lifts and trails there, and Mountaineer, Bear Claw, and Flying Eagle are advanced. The majority of the trails are designed for intermediates and beginners. There is also a nice large condo on the slopes, and the package prices are reasonable.
For many reasons, it might be better to stay in Silver Creek, ski there during crowded weekends, and take the quick shuttle bus to Snowshoe when you want to go there. On Sunday morning, the sun was shinning, the snow was perfect, and Charles and I were out early. We passed up the chance for free ski lessons – offered by the resort – to check out the new trails. We loved Sawmill! The moguls were just the way I liked them – medium sized and soft snow. I could not resist shouting “eh haw” everytime I jumped one! Widowmaker, Camp 99, and Sawmill Glades also looked like they were in terrific shape, as was most of the mountain, at that hour. Then we took the shuttle bus over to the Western Territory, and took the infamous Upper Shay’s Revenge and Lower Cupp Run. Can you say fast? Wow!! No wonder they are rated some of the most challenging and exhilarating runs in the East! I hope people from other parts of the country come and try them. I defy them to ever think Eastern skiing is easy after that. Definitely not for the faint of heart.
One more note about Snowshoe (and any other snow experience). It really pays to get a package deal, and check the various websites for specials. Booking a package which includes a condo, ski lift, and – sometimes rental equipment and instructions, it really pays. You can get packages for about $170 on weekends, and under a hundred during the week – again, there are a lot of specials. The condos are fabulous, with terrific views of the mountains and heavens (Snowshoe, like Wintergreen, is a resort built on the top of the mountain, to maximize the views and the fresh air). The condos have full kitchens and those magical, romantic gas fireplaces. There are saunas, swimming pools, exercises rooms, and indoor play areas in the Snowshoe resort. There are also a series of great restaurants, if you do not want to cook in. For the weekends, there are also Church services , which always take on a special beauty high in the mountains.
The Snowshoe Resort offers 60 trails, a 4,848 foot summit elevation, and a 1500 foot vertical drop. There is also snow tubing, terrain parks, snowmobile rides, and snowshoeing. In the summer, there is golf, biking, boating, and the usual round of summer activities in a magical setting. Thank you Snowshoe – keep up the good work!
Blog report authored by Connie Lawn
Recently we had the chance to head down to Crested Butte from Boulder for the long President's Day weekend. The boys get out from school and we make sure to get a little further away from the front range resorts. Sort of a new tradition in our household. En route we stopped in Salida for an evening and skied the next day at Monarch Mountain - see earlier blog post - before driving to Gunnison and onto Crested Butte.
We were easily lured as we had not been back in over a decade and my wife and I would make this an annual visit prior to starting a family. We were way overdue and the snowfall had been reported to be of epic proportions.
The afternoon drive was a picture perfect day with blue skies and easy driving. The huge snowfall has led to massive piles of snow. Some up to second floor stories of buildings and at the tops of all roads signs. Over 320 inches of snow to date by February 17th.
We would be staying at Mountain's Edge 201. A 1970’s built condo, 2 bedroom and cozy with a hot tub. Booked through Peak Property and Real Estate, the condo was very convenient to the lifts. A short couple of minutes walk to the lift and the base area.
We started the first day, and most days, with a couple of high speed cruisers off of the Silver Queen lift down International. The corduroy snow was great for loosening the legs and getting one ready for the great skiing and riding in front of us. From there we took the high lift a t-bar above the head wall into Teocalli bowl. It had been 13 years since we last skied here and I had never been in Teocalli Bowl. The snow was awesome with soft powdery conditions and great steeps, once at the bottom there was a 10 – 15 minute hike out to a ridge that deposited us just above the t bar accessing the North Face. There is now doubt Crested Butte is a unique and special place with incredible amounts of steep and truly extreme terrain. With snowfall like they have had this year, there is hardly a rock to be seen. Once at the top of the T-bar you have your choice to keep heading west to Phoenix or Spellbound bowls. We would choose the North Face bearing right. There are countless lines for you to select from. Just make sure you do not have a cliff band to launch over, unless that is what you are searching.
Once at the bottom of the North Face, or other bowls you have a short hike out. Then it is a cruise, or bumps down to the East River Express chair. When skiing this terrain you then need to take this lift and then the Paradise lift back up to access the t-bar and complete the circuit again. There is an earlier exit to the left where you give up some vertical and can end up at the Paradise lift, thus eliminating the extra chair. However, that being said if you have come to Crested Butte for the steep terrain and real back country feel plan to do some hiking, traversing and ride the extra chairs. The skiing and riding is like no other place in Colorado.
In the afternoon we went and skied the Banana Peel and Funnel. These runs to the extreme upper right of the area are seldom, and in most years not, open. This year with the snow it was the time to ski these runs. We went in and had three young skiers and boarders all of 12, 10 and 9 with us. It was spectacular seeing them work there way into these step and narrow terrains and simply rip and smoothly links turns through the rock outcroppings. the snow was perfect and we only wanted the day to keep going. See photo gallery shots for pictures.
The next couple of the days was more of the same. We had till Monday to devour as much of the great steep terrain and perfect Colorado snow as we could keep our legs consuming. While we did not get any of the storms as they had previously it was terrific to ski and see everything and let the skis fly in the steep, or high speed cruisers. Crested Butte is not all about the steeps for many. The area offers a great mix of bumps, cruisers, with lots of groomed runs everyday and beginner terrain for everyone.
There has been significant development starting at the base of the area - the start of a Village center area - with many new homes and condos along the resort, immediate mountain and surrounding area. It still does not have the overbuilt feel and rush that exists in so many other resort areas that have been built out. Crested Butte still embodies a slower more relaxed pace with new amenities with the promise of more to come. Real estate in Crested Butte is creeping upwards, but the comparative prices to resorts like Vail or Aspen make this place still a bargain. I know management plans to sell more lift tickets as well and I am sure they will, but the access and location will ensure Crested Butte never gets too big and loses the feel and soul it has. The mountain and surrounding peaks beckon and provide that great glow that comes being in a true alpine environment.
Look to save on lift tickets? Make sure to use Mountain Sports Club discounted lift tickets and lodging for members. Crested Butte lift ticket discounts valid on single day and multi day lift tickets.
We were easily lured as we had not been back in over a decade and my wife and I would make this an annual visit prior to starting a family. We were way overdue and the snowfall had been reported to be of epic proportions.
The afternoon drive was a picture perfect day with blue skies and easy driving. The huge snowfall has led to massive piles of snow. Some up to second floor stories of buildings and at the tops of all roads signs. Over 320 inches of snow to date by February 17th.
We would be staying at Mountain's Edge 201. A 1970’s built condo, 2 bedroom and cozy with a hot tub. Booked through Peak Property and Real Estate, the condo was very convenient to the lifts. A short couple of minutes walk to the lift and the base area.
We started the first day, and most days, with a couple of high speed cruisers off of the Silver Queen lift down International. The corduroy snow was great for loosening the legs and getting one ready for the great skiing and riding in front of us. From there we took the high lift a t-bar above the head wall into Teocalli bowl. It had been 13 years since we last skied here and I had never been in Teocalli Bowl. The snow was awesome with soft powdery conditions and great steeps, once at the bottom there was a 10 – 15 minute hike out to a ridge that deposited us just above the t bar accessing the North Face. There is now doubt Crested Butte is a unique and special place with incredible amounts of steep and truly extreme terrain. With snowfall like they have had this year, there is hardly a rock to be seen. Once at the top of the T-bar you have your choice to keep heading west to Phoenix or Spellbound bowls. We would choose the North Face bearing right. There are countless lines for you to select from. Just make sure you do not have a cliff band to launch over, unless that is what you are searching.
Once at the bottom of the North Face, or other bowls you have a short hike out. Then it is a cruise, or bumps down to the East River Express chair. When skiing this terrain you then need to take this lift and then the Paradise lift back up to access the t-bar and complete the circuit again. There is an earlier exit to the left where you give up some vertical and can end up at the Paradise lift, thus eliminating the extra chair. However, that being said if you have come to Crested Butte for the steep terrain and real back country feel plan to do some hiking, traversing and ride the extra chairs. The skiing and riding is like no other place in Colorado.
In the afternoon we went and skied the Banana Peel and Funnel. These runs to the extreme upper right of the area are seldom, and in most years not, open. This year with the snow it was the time to ski these runs. We went in and had three young skiers and boarders all of 12, 10 and 9 with us. It was spectacular seeing them work there way into these step and narrow terrains and simply rip and smoothly links turns through the rock outcroppings. the snow was perfect and we only wanted the day to keep going. See photo gallery shots for pictures.
The next couple of the days was more of the same. We had till Monday to devour as much of the great steep terrain and perfect Colorado snow as we could keep our legs consuming. While we did not get any of the storms as they had previously it was terrific to ski and see everything and let the skis fly in the steep, or high speed cruisers. Crested Butte is not all about the steeps for many. The area offers a great mix of bumps, cruisers, with lots of groomed runs everyday and beginner terrain for everyone.
There has been significant development starting at the base of the area - the start of a Village center area - with many new homes and condos along the resort, immediate mountain and surrounding area. It still does not have the overbuilt feel and rush that exists in so many other resort areas that have been built out. Crested Butte still embodies a slower more relaxed pace with new amenities with the promise of more to come. Real estate in Crested Butte is creeping upwards, but the comparative prices to resorts like Vail or Aspen make this place still a bargain. I know management plans to sell more lift tickets as well and I am sure they will, but the access and location will ensure Crested Butte never gets too big and loses the feel and soul it has. The mountain and surrounding peaks beckon and provide that great glow that comes being in a true alpine environment.
Look to save on lift tickets? Make sure to use Mountain Sports Club discounted lift tickets and lodging for members. Crested Butte lift ticket discounts valid on single day and multi day lift tickets.
Lake Tahoe has had some of its best snow in decades, and my husband Charles and I did a weekend add-on to the adaptive ski tour of Utah that we will report on next week.
As in the East, the areas here can get crowded on weekends, and we could not get accommodations in Incline Village, Nevada. The area is well known for expensive homes, but there are lakeside casino hotels on the Nevada side which are relatively inexpensive and have free shuttle service to many of the ski areas. But, they were full. In Reno, there is ample lodging in casino hotels and many motels; you could get luxury accommodations and good rates. It is about an hour drive or less to the mountains, depending upon the resort and snow conditions.
We returned to a sumptuous suite in the new Tuscan Towers of the Peppermill. Thanks to our friend Michelle Hackman, we also enjoyed a hilarious show with the comedian Howie Mandel in the new Tuscan auditorium. The Peppermill hotel has a casino (the gaming is everywhere in Nevada, even in supermarkets) but Charles and I were not tempted. Nor did I allow him a tour of the Mustang pleasure ranch advertised on billboards on the roof of the taxis!
Our flights out West were complicated but fortunately, we missed the bad weather of the week before. That weather system translated into massive amounts of snow by the time we arrived. Our flights took us from BWI to Cincinnati on a Delta connection plane which held 50; then we changed to a larger one for a smooth flight to Salt Lake City. Next, a long walk through terminals and transfer to SW Airlines, a flight to Boise and finally into Reno. The casino hotels in Reno have free airport shuttles, and were relieved to be back at the Peppermill and promptly crawled into bed. Pity the poor political candidates and reporters – they are making such hops all the time!
Alpine Meadows, California
The next morning we shuttled back to the airport, rented a car, and took a glorious drive over the mountains to Alpine Meadows. We went over Donner Pass and past huge mounds of snow everywhere. Off the highways, there were places set aside for cars to safely park, and hundreds of people climbed over the mounds of snow to cross- country ski, snowshoe, snowmobile, and sleigh ride. The West has truly been blessed this year.
Alpine Meadows is a magnificent resort, not far from Squaw Valley. It is very steep, and can be prone to avalanches (as are many of the areas). The steepness and increasing wind made me very nervous, but everything was terrific when we were there. Thanks to media rep Rachel Woods and ski manager Mike Allred for helping with lifts and equipment. I used Volkl R1 skis and Tecnica boots. They were good and worked well on the fast, groomed trails, but heavier than the usual equipment I use in the East. Charles thought his equipment was also good, but the heavy Tecnica boots gave him a bruise on his shin.
Still, I highly recommend renting equipment on trips involving planes, and I will report on the skis and boots from now on. It is much less hassle to rent than to carry. And, now more airlines are imposing one piece limits on luggage, so bringing your own equipment could cost much more than rental fees.
At Alpine, we took several fast, fairly steep blue trails with magnificent vistas of the high Sierras and Lake Tahoe in the distance. The weather was in the high fifties, and the snow in the upper mountain was listed as 157 inches, with 103 inches in the lower mountain. There are numerous trails and bowls, and the highest point, Ward Peak, is 8,637 feet.
In addition to the incredible beauty and conditions, Alpine has one of the finest and oldest adaptive ski schools in the country. In fact, director Haakon Lang-Ree says it was one of the founding chapters of Disabled Sports USA. When we were there, there was a large group of adaptive teen skiers who were bused up from the San Francisco Bay area. We watched as they went through their instructions and boarding or skiing. These teens showed so much pride in their accomplishments, as they conquered new maneuvers or went over obstacles in the terrain parks.
Not only children enjoyed the mountain. There were several hundred guests from the Rotary Clubs there, skiing, meeting, and sharing friendship. Many appeared to be in the older skiing range. I enjoyed one man’s shirt which read, “Seniors rule.”
You can tell a resort is a family area when there are dogs around. I saw about 20 dogs cavorting in the snow at different times (but not in the trails where they could endanger to skiers). There were also numerous, sleek, friendly Golden Retrievers, who wore jackets identifying them as avalanche rescue dogs. Fortunately, their skills were not called upon at this time.
Diamond Peak, Incline Village, Nevada
On Sunday, March 2, we had several fast runs at Diamond Peak, which is adjacent to Incline Village. It boasts some of the best views of Lake Tahoe, and is not exaggerating! The sparkling aqua lake could be seen from several of the trails. It is 27 miles from Reno, and the winding mountain highway takes you past the Mt. Rose Ski area; one of our favorites. I’m glad Charles is a skilled driver – I would not want to handle those mountains and curves on my own; especially during snow and ice storms. There are alternative highways, which can be wider and faster, but are a bit longer.
Diamond is considered a family resort, and there were many young children whizzing down the mountains. 31 runs were open and the 65 inches of snow was listed as groomed. That translates to fast and hard packed. As the wind picked up at the top, we had to fight hard to gain control and keep from being blown off the mountain. But, we had a fast day skiing and snow boarding with our friends Michelle Hackman and her husband Colin. He arranged a surprise birthday party for her at the Snowflake Lodge at the top of the mountain. The view is worth many more birthdays!
On the way down, Charles and I were able to show off our Eastern skills. The slopes became harder and faster as the afternoon wore on. On the lower parts, they were a bit slushy in the 40 degree temperatures.
The highest point at Diamond Peak is 8,540 feet, with a vertical drop of 1,840 feet and the longest run of 2.5 miles. Most of the trails are blues and easy blacks. Diamond Peak has many fun events, such as a Last Tracks wine tasting and appetizers, at the end of some evenings. Skiers and boarders can watch the spectacular sunset over Lake Tahoe, as they journey down the mountain.
Our rental equipment held up well, and I suppose I do better on the heavier skis and boots, but I have to get used to them. This time I used Volkl Unlimited 156’s and Salomon boots. Thanks to Kayla Anderson, Marketing Coordinator, and Walter Guasch, Rental Manager, for arranging passes and equipment. We plan to re-visit Alpine Meadows and Diamond Peak many times.
Make sure to take advantage of the lift ticket discounta available from the Mountain Sports Club on your lift tickets the next time you ski at Diamond Peak. Members save $9 daily of lift tickets when using the discount coupons.
Western Wanderings -Tahoe – Feb 29 Mar 2, 2008 By Connie Lawn
As in the East, the areas here can get crowded on weekends, and we could not get accommodations in Incline Village, Nevada. The area is well known for expensive homes, but there are lakeside casino hotels on the Nevada side which are relatively inexpensive and have free shuttle service to many of the ski areas. But, they were full. In Reno, there is ample lodging in casino hotels and many motels; you could get luxury accommodations and good rates. It is about an hour drive or less to the mountains, depending upon the resort and snow conditions.
We returned to a sumptuous suite in the new Tuscan Towers of the Peppermill. Thanks to our friend Michelle Hackman, we also enjoyed a hilarious show with the comedian Howie Mandel in the new Tuscan auditorium. The Peppermill hotel has a casino (the gaming is everywhere in Nevada, even in supermarkets) but Charles and I were not tempted. Nor did I allow him a tour of the Mustang pleasure ranch advertised on billboards on the roof of the taxis!
Our flights out West were complicated but fortunately, we missed the bad weather of the week before. That weather system translated into massive amounts of snow by the time we arrived. Our flights took us from BWI to Cincinnati on a Delta connection plane which held 50; then we changed to a larger one for a smooth flight to Salt Lake City. Next, a long walk through terminals and transfer to SW Airlines, a flight to Boise and finally into Reno. The casino hotels in Reno have free airport shuttles, and were relieved to be back at the Peppermill and promptly crawled into bed. Pity the poor political candidates and reporters – they are making such hops all the time!
Alpine Meadows, California
The next morning we shuttled back to the airport, rented a car, and took a glorious drive over the mountains to Alpine Meadows. We went over Donner Pass and past huge mounds of snow everywhere. Off the highways, there were places set aside for cars to safely park, and hundreds of people climbed over the mounds of snow to cross- country ski, snowshoe, snowmobile, and sleigh ride. The West has truly been blessed this year.
Alpine Meadows is a magnificent resort, not far from Squaw Valley. It is very steep, and can be prone to avalanches (as are many of the areas). The steepness and increasing wind made me very nervous, but everything was terrific when we were there. Thanks to media rep Rachel Woods and ski manager Mike Allred for helping with lifts and equipment. I used Volkl R1 skis and Tecnica boots. They were good and worked well on the fast, groomed trails, but heavier than the usual equipment I use in the East. Charles thought his equipment was also good, but the heavy Tecnica boots gave him a bruise on his shin.
Still, I highly recommend renting equipment on trips involving planes, and I will report on the skis and boots from now on. It is much less hassle to rent than to carry. And, now more airlines are imposing one piece limits on luggage, so bringing your own equipment could cost much more than rental fees.
At Alpine, we took several fast, fairly steep blue trails with magnificent vistas of the high Sierras and Lake Tahoe in the distance. The weather was in the high fifties, and the snow in the upper mountain was listed as 157 inches, with 103 inches in the lower mountain. There are numerous trails and bowls, and the highest point, Ward Peak, is 8,637 feet.
In addition to the incredible beauty and conditions, Alpine has one of the finest and oldest adaptive ski schools in the country. In fact, director Haakon Lang-Ree says it was one of the founding chapters of Disabled Sports USA. When we were there, there was a large group of adaptive teen skiers who were bused up from the San Francisco Bay area. We watched as they went through their instructions and boarding or skiing. These teens showed so much pride in their accomplishments, as they conquered new maneuvers or went over obstacles in the terrain parks.
Not only children enjoyed the mountain. There were several hundred guests from the Rotary Clubs there, skiing, meeting, and sharing friendship. Many appeared to be in the older skiing range. I enjoyed one man’s shirt which read, “Seniors rule.”
You can tell a resort is a family area when there are dogs around. I saw about 20 dogs cavorting in the snow at different times (but not in the trails where they could endanger to skiers). There were also numerous, sleek, friendly Golden Retrievers, who wore jackets identifying them as avalanche rescue dogs. Fortunately, their skills were not called upon at this time.
Diamond Peak, Incline Village, Nevada
On Sunday, March 2, we had several fast runs at Diamond Peak, which is adjacent to Incline Village. It boasts some of the best views of Lake Tahoe, and is not exaggerating! The sparkling aqua lake could be seen from several of the trails. It is 27 miles from Reno, and the winding mountain highway takes you past the Mt. Rose Ski area; one of our favorites. I’m glad Charles is a skilled driver – I would not want to handle those mountains and curves on my own; especially during snow and ice storms. There are alternative highways, which can be wider and faster, but are a bit longer.
Diamond is considered a family resort, and there were many young children whizzing down the mountains. 31 runs were open and the 65 inches of snow was listed as groomed. That translates to fast and hard packed. As the wind picked up at the top, we had to fight hard to gain control and keep from being blown off the mountain. But, we had a fast day skiing and snow boarding with our friends Michelle Hackman and her husband Colin. He arranged a surprise birthday party for her at the Snowflake Lodge at the top of the mountain. The view is worth many more birthdays!
On the way down, Charles and I were able to show off our Eastern skills. The slopes became harder and faster as the afternoon wore on. On the lower parts, they were a bit slushy in the 40 degree temperatures.
The highest point at Diamond Peak is 8,540 feet, with a vertical drop of 1,840 feet and the longest run of 2.5 miles. Most of the trails are blues and easy blacks. Diamond Peak has many fun events, such as a Last Tracks wine tasting and appetizers, at the end of some evenings. Skiers and boarders can watch the spectacular sunset over Lake Tahoe, as they journey down the mountain.
Our rental equipment held up well, and I suppose I do better on the heavier skis and boots, but I have to get used to them. This time I used Volkl Unlimited 156’s and Salomon boots. Thanks to Kayla Anderson, Marketing Coordinator, and Walter Guasch, Rental Manager, for arranging passes and equipment. We plan to re-visit Alpine Meadows and Diamond Peak many times.
Make sure to take advantage of the lift ticket discounta available from the Mountain Sports Club on your lift tickets the next time you ski at Diamond Peak. Members save $9 daily of lift tickets when using the discount coupons.
Western Wanderings -Tahoe – Feb 29 Mar 2, 2008 By Connie Lawn
A late February trip to Idaho brought me to 3 sweet ski areas - Sun Valley, Brundage and Tamarack in the South central part of Idaho. While Idaho may not be at the top of many skiers and snowboarders list of destination states for ski and snowboard vacations that will be changing based upon my recent experience.
There has been huge snowfall this winter and all three resorts offered great skiing and riding, plenty of options for great lodong and accomodations and excellent dining options. I flew into Boise and each of the areas are under 3 hours driving from Boise.
Sun Valley
It had been over 15 years since I had been to Sun Valley and I had forgotten how big and huge the area is. It had been several days since any new snow, but on the north facing slopes I was still able to find soft barely skied powder snow. The runs are long and provide options for off piste in the bowls and next to the beautifully groomed cruisers. The views of the Sawtooth wilderness is another spectacular site to behold. It was a blue sky day and the vistas enabled me to see mountains close to 100 miles in the distant horizon.
I drove and parked in the River Run base lodge area. Once at the base area I rode the Lower River Run chair up to midway and jumped on the upper River Run chair. This got me right to the top and access to the bowls on Bald Mountain. From here I then took the Lookout Chair across the top of the ridge to the top of Bald Mountain at 9,150 feet. This is a great jumping off point as you have a variety of lines, runs, bowls and tree lines to ski. The snow was surprisingly light and soft. It had not snowed for several days and there was a bright blue sky. Anything on the north facing slopes I found to have boot deep pow left to ski. Some of the snow was chopped up and some partial lines were still available.
In addition to the nice bowls with intermediate to advanced runs was the impeccably groomed runs. Literally something for everyone. And no crowds. One thing about Sun Valley is that while it may be hard to get to you have no lines and wide open runs to yourself. As big as many Colorado resorts with about half to 60% of the skiers and snowboarders. It is truly a relaxed unrushed and comfortable place to ski and ride. The on mountain and base lodges are truly full of creature comforts, excellent food, great views and a friendly atmosphere. If you have not been to Sun Valley I would highly suggest putting on your list of must resorts to ski or ride.
There has been huge snowfall this winter and all three resorts offered great skiing and riding, plenty of options for great lodong and accomodations and excellent dining options. I flew into Boise and each of the areas are under 3 hours driving from Boise.
Sun Valley
It had been over 15 years since I had been to Sun Valley and I had forgotten how big and huge the area is. It had been several days since any new snow, but on the north facing slopes I was still able to find soft barely skied powder snow. The runs are long and provide options for off piste in the bowls and next to the beautifully groomed cruisers. The views of the Sawtooth wilderness is another spectacular site to behold. It was a blue sky day and the vistas enabled me to see mountains close to 100 miles in the distant horizon.
I drove and parked in the River Run base lodge area. Once at the base area I rode the Lower River Run chair up to midway and jumped on the upper River Run chair. This got me right to the top and access to the bowls on Bald Mountain. From here I then took the Lookout Chair across the top of the ridge to the top of Bald Mountain at 9,150 feet. This is a great jumping off point as you have a variety of lines, runs, bowls and tree lines to ski. The snow was surprisingly light and soft. It had not snowed for several days and there was a bright blue sky. Anything on the north facing slopes I found to have boot deep pow left to ski. Some of the snow was chopped up and some partial lines were still available.
In addition to the nice bowls with intermediate to advanced runs was the impeccably groomed runs. Literally something for everyone. And no crowds. One thing about Sun Valley is that while it may be hard to get to you have no lines and wide open runs to yourself. As big as many Colorado resorts with about half to 60% of the skiers and snowboarders. It is truly a relaxed unrushed and comfortable place to ski and ride. The on mountain and base lodges are truly full of creature comforts, excellent food, great views and a friendly atmosphere. If you have not been to Sun Valley I would highly suggest putting on your list of must resorts to ski or ride.
The holiday weekend was upon us and the plan was for a family ski and snowboard trip that would start with us heading for Salida on Thursday night and skiing at Monarch on Friday as we worked to beat the weekend crowds. With abundant snow recently and all winter we knew the conditiond would be excellent.
We stayed an evening at the Circle R Motel. This motel was spacious, clean and confrtable with hottub. Even though we were only there a night some of the units have refrigerators, microwaves and a little kitchen. Family owned and operatored by Pam and Lee we felt right at home. With already great rates the Mountain Sports Club savings and discount makes this an incredible value for those looking to save on the lodging. You will be able to stay here for several nights for less than one night in many ski resort towns.
That evening when we arrived we had dinner in old town Salida at Benson's. We had arrived close to 9 and wanted to make sure a full kitchen was still available. I had remembered Benson's from aprevious visit. Good selection of microbrew beers, hearty portions and a good pub style menu. The service was excellent and quick.
The next morning we were advised to have breakfast at Pancake Patio. Great value, friendly service, good food with generous portions. Just a few blocks down the road from the Circle R, it was an another good choice for a hearty breakfast to get us ready for a day of skiing and riding.
The skiing at Monarch was a picture perfect day. Blue skies, relatively warm day and soft snow. It had snowed recently and while there was minimal powder there was lots of soft broken snow and easy bumps to fly through. It has been over 15 years since I had been to Monarch and the warm family feel of the area was still as friendly as ever. There is a new structure for rentals that really made the traffic flow out of the base lodge much easier and added to a good family feel. We sampled runs across the ridge and had great views of the snowcat skiing terrain available. Monarch offers a wide range of terrain from short steeps, trees and bumps to easy cruisers. We tended to spend most of the day off the Garfield chair as we preferred the variety of great runs offered here. This was the case when I last skied here as well.
Make sure to take advantage of your Mountain Sports Club discounts when purchasing lift tickets. Members save up to $8 daily on lift tickets with the coupons. This area is a great value for families and anyone on a budget. Sitting a top Monarch Pass the area always has some of the best snow in the state. A visit to Salida and Monarch feels like a step back in time to days when resorts were not all full on real estate developments and the skiing and snowboarding fun as the focus on all efforts.
We stayed an evening at the Circle R Motel. This motel was spacious, clean and confrtable with hottub. Even though we were only there a night some of the units have refrigerators, microwaves and a little kitchen. Family owned and operatored by Pam and Lee we felt right at home. With already great rates the Mountain Sports Club savings and discount makes this an incredible value for those looking to save on the lodging. You will be able to stay here for several nights for less than one night in many ski resort towns.
That evening when we arrived we had dinner in old town Salida at Benson's. We had arrived close to 9 and wanted to make sure a full kitchen was still available. I had remembered Benson's from aprevious visit. Good selection of microbrew beers, hearty portions and a good pub style menu. The service was excellent and quick.
The next morning we were advised to have breakfast at Pancake Patio. Great value, friendly service, good food with generous portions. Just a few blocks down the road from the Circle R, it was an another good choice for a hearty breakfast to get us ready for a day of skiing and riding.
The skiing at Monarch was a picture perfect day. Blue skies, relatively warm day and soft snow. It had snowed recently and while there was minimal powder there was lots of soft broken snow and easy bumps to fly through. It has been over 15 years since I had been to Monarch and the warm family feel of the area was still as friendly as ever. There is a new structure for rentals that really made the traffic flow out of the base lodge much easier and added to a good family feel. We sampled runs across the ridge and had great views of the snowcat skiing terrain available. Monarch offers a wide range of terrain from short steeps, trees and bumps to easy cruisers. We tended to spend most of the day off the Garfield chair as we preferred the variety of great runs offered here. This was the case when I last skied here as well.
Make sure to take advantage of your Mountain Sports Club discounts when purchasing lift tickets. Members save up to $8 daily on lift tickets with the coupons. This area is a great value for families and anyone on a budget. Sitting a top Monarch Pass the area always has some of the best snow in the state. A visit to Salida and Monarch feels like a step back in time to days when resorts were not all full on real estate developments and the skiing and snowboarding fun as the focus on all efforts.
Saturday, February 16, 2008, was one of the near –perfect days for skiing and snowboarding at Liberty Mountain – the trails were well covered, the sun was shining, and the weather was warm. Some brave souls skied in short sleeve shirts. Don’t they know it is still February? We were pleased to take off our jackets and hang them on the racks (without lift tickets, of course). Next to the slopes, golfers were playing on the course. Love that contrast!
Over our heads, in the cloudless skies, we watched three gliders perform graceful circles. At times they seemed close enough to touch. Presumably, they landed safely at the nearby airport.
Liberty Mountain was crowded, as we knew it would be this Saturday of the Presidents weekend. But, they handled the crowds well. Charles and I are always impressed with the safety measures at Liberty. At several intersections, Ski Patrol members stood next to signs urging skiers and riders to slow down. Sometimes, they blew whistles or held up their hands. The signs read, “Chill” and “Ski Fast, Lose your pass.” They meant business, and the skiers and boarders appeared to respect them in most cases. Thank you!!!
The snow was in quite good condition. In fact, snow making continued on some trails until the afternoon, which left nice bits of real powder on the sides of the trails. Of course, the trails got harder and slicker as the day progressed, but that is to be expected. 16 trails were open and 8 lifts. There were nice big moguls on Upper Ultra and Upper Eastwind (not that I felt inclined to take them, but they looked large from the chair).
The snow parks looked good, and were well-utilized. There are good safety features; lifts you can get off at mid station, to cut down traffic from the top. There is also a J bar to one park and a magic carpet for beginners on the “green” side of the resort. I was pleased to see safety features at the Boulder Ridge Snow tubing. I did not tube this time, but looked down at the tubes from the ski slopes. It appears as though the hills were high enough to stop you at the end, and no one came close to hitting the fence (at least while I was observing). In fact, they slid backwards gently as they came to the end of their run. These features are very important, and make the exciting sport of tubing safe as well as fun. I will check it out again next visit.
There were lots of instructors working on Saturday, and a large group of adaptive skiers enjoying the thrill of the snow. At the end of February, Liberty Mountain hosts its group of Wounded Warriors – most have been receiving therapy at Walter Reed Hospital. But they will find the snow covered mountains, the fresh air, the respect and friendship to be the best therapy they can possibly have.
There are lots more events coming up at Liberty. There is a Big Air Park event, and 80’s weekend, and the usual zaniness that comes with March and springtime. Liberty has some of the best events in the region, so look for a variety of special surprises. Let’s see if they can top last year, when they covered President Eric Flynn’s office in foil, and aliens took over the resort! Whatever comes up, there should be several more weeks of good skiing and snowboarding ahead at Liberty Mountain, and the other resorts of the Mid Atlantic region.
This blog entry titled Gliders and Sunshine at Liberty Mountain – Saturday, February 16, 2008 - is from our field correspondent Connie Lawn. You can view more of her work on this blog and at www.dcski.com.
Mountain Sports Club members also receive lift ticket discounts at Liberty Mountain Resort. MSC members save $5 daily on lift tickets with members only coupons for daily lift ticket discounts. Not a member? Join now at www.mountainsportsclub.com.
Over our heads, in the cloudless skies, we watched three gliders perform graceful circles. At times they seemed close enough to touch. Presumably, they landed safely at the nearby airport.
Liberty Mountain was crowded, as we knew it would be this Saturday of the Presidents weekend. But, they handled the crowds well. Charles and I are always impressed with the safety measures at Liberty. At several intersections, Ski Patrol members stood next to signs urging skiers and riders to slow down. Sometimes, they blew whistles or held up their hands. The signs read, “Chill” and “Ski Fast, Lose your pass.” They meant business, and the skiers and boarders appeared to respect them in most cases. Thank you!!!
The snow was in quite good condition. In fact, snow making continued on some trails until the afternoon, which left nice bits of real powder on the sides of the trails. Of course, the trails got harder and slicker as the day progressed, but that is to be expected. 16 trails were open and 8 lifts. There were nice big moguls on Upper Ultra and Upper Eastwind (not that I felt inclined to take them, but they looked large from the chair).
The snow parks looked good, and were well-utilized. There are good safety features; lifts you can get off at mid station, to cut down traffic from the top. There is also a J bar to one park and a magic carpet for beginners on the “green” side of the resort. I was pleased to see safety features at the Boulder Ridge Snow tubing. I did not tube this time, but looked down at the tubes from the ski slopes. It appears as though the hills were high enough to stop you at the end, and no one came close to hitting the fence (at least while I was observing). In fact, they slid backwards gently as they came to the end of their run. These features are very important, and make the exciting sport of tubing safe as well as fun. I will check it out again next visit.
There were lots of instructors working on Saturday, and a large group of adaptive skiers enjoying the thrill of the snow. At the end of February, Liberty Mountain hosts its group of Wounded Warriors – most have been receiving therapy at Walter Reed Hospital. But they will find the snow covered mountains, the fresh air, the respect and friendship to be the best therapy they can possibly have.
There are lots more events coming up at Liberty. There is a Big Air Park event, and 80’s weekend, and the usual zaniness that comes with March and springtime. Liberty has some of the best events in the region, so look for a variety of special surprises. Let’s see if they can top last year, when they covered President Eric Flynn’s office in foil, and aliens took over the resort! Whatever comes up, there should be several more weeks of good skiing and snowboarding ahead at Liberty Mountain, and the other resorts of the Mid Atlantic region.
This blog entry titled Gliders and Sunshine at Liberty Mountain – Saturday, February 16, 2008 - is from our field correspondent Connie Lawn. You can view more of her work on this blog and at www.dcski.com.
Mountain Sports Club members also receive lift ticket discounts at Liberty Mountain Resort. MSC members save $5 daily on lift tickets with members only coupons for daily lift ticket discounts. Not a member? Join now at www.mountainsportsclub.com.
The K2 Raider Ski with Marker M2 11.0 Tc Binding Package is now on sale for only $519.97. You save over 40% on the K2 Ski and Binding package. This discounted ski and ski binding package is brought to you by Ski Chalet. Visit them online to take advantage of this incredible deal now while supplies last. Ski Chalet is an award winning specialty ski retailer for over 30 years. Mountain Sports Club members save an additional $10 and save in store on purchases and shop work.
New to the K2 skis line for 2008, the K2 Raider ski is exceptionally versatile and built for the athletic skier seeking performance at an exceptional value. Built on the proven 78mm chassis, this ski has the widest performance envelope in our line. This ski binding package is currently available in 160, 167 and 174 cm lengths. With great snow everywhere take advantage of this closeout ski while still available. There is still lots of great skiin gleft this season.
Features
MOD Monic dampening system
MOD Technology
Triaxial Braided
Tecnical specs:
Dimensions: 119/78/105
Performance: 50% ungroomed / 50% groomed
Radius: 18m @ 174
Construction: Torsion Box
Core: Fir/Aspen
New to the K2 skis line for 2008, the K2 Raider ski is exceptionally versatile and built for the athletic skier seeking performance at an exceptional value. Built on the proven 78mm chassis, this ski has the widest performance envelope in our line. This ski binding package is currently available in 160, 167 and 174 cm lengths. With great snow everywhere take advantage of this closeout ski while still available. There is still lots of great skiin gleft this season.
Features
MOD Monic dampening system
MOD Technology
Triaxial Braided
Tecnical specs:
Dimensions: 119/78/105
Performance: 50% ungroomed / 50% groomed
Radius: 18m @ 174
Construction: Torsion Box
Core: Fir/Aspen
K2 Sweet Luv Ski's with Marker M2 Bindings, ladies Ski and Binding Package Save over 50% Now. This sweetheart deal on the popular ladies ski is our deal of the week. Now you can purchase this ski and binidng for only $284.93. Hurry because at this price these will not last long. this is truly a great savings for the lady skier for Valentine's Day.
Known for the easy and forgiving nature, the Sweet Luv ski and binding package is ideal for any recreational skier. With its blend of Bioflex core and 72mm waist width, the skier can effortlessly initiate a turn and ski any slope. Available in 146, 153 and 160 lengths. K2's popular ladies skis feature the best skis for women on the market. This special offer is available through Sun and Ski Sports online store. Mountain Sports Club members use your coupon and save another $10 on this ski and binding package.
Features:
MOD Technology
Triaxial Braided
Tecnical Specs:
Dimensions: 119/72/103
Performance: 30% ungroomed/70% groomed
Radius: 13m @160
Construction: Torsion Box
Core: Bioflex Fir/Spruce
Known for the easy and forgiving nature, the Sweet Luv ski and binding package is ideal for any recreational skier. With its blend of Bioflex core and 72mm waist width, the skier can effortlessly initiate a turn and ski any slope. Available in 146, 153 and 160 lengths. K2's popular ladies skis feature the best skis for women on the market. This special offer is available through Sun and Ski Sports online store. Mountain Sports Club members use your coupon and save another $10 on this ski and binding package.
Features:
MOD Technology
Triaxial Braided
Tecnical Specs:
Dimensions: 119/72/103
Performance: 30% ungroomed/70% groomed
Radius: 13m @160
Construction: Torsion Box
Core: Bioflex Fir/Spruce
On snow demos February 7, Keystone Resort, Colorado
It was clear leaving Boulder but just after Georgetown on I 70 the wind kicked in and by the time I was approaching Loveland pass the snow was howling and dumping. Loveland Pass was closed so that option to drive into Keystone pass Arapahoe was gone. Onward through the tunnel to Silverthorne, take the first exit and head up to Keystone.
I had expected more snow on the hill based upon the drive. Arrived by midday with the plan to test the Dalbello Kryptonite Pro & Dalbello Il Moro ski boots. Last year I was duly impressed with the Dalbello Rampage and I am in search of a new boot. The Kryptonite, which was the model suggested proved too stiff for me and I swapped out for the Il Moro which was much more to my liking. The bling/bling looks are probably a little over the top with the chains and gold for my fashion taste, but still a very good fit and great performing boot.
The conditions were good, but not completely soft and buttery. There were patches of hard packed out snow with sections of easy carving soft snow. On the ski side I was able to get the K2 Apache Recon out and the Rossignol Z 15. Each performed well in the hard packed, groomed and soft snow. Look for more extensive comments tomorrow. I am skiing and riding with the test team from Ski Chalet, Sun and Ski Sports and Ski Stop. I have skied and tested with this retail group before and they have agreat feel for the market. Comments started with the Volkl line of the Unlimited 50 and the Volkl 12 Foot Tiger Shark receiving high marks. They had each switched these out and were impressed with the holding an edge, power through soft broken snow and skiing very smoothly in varied conditions.
Visiting Keystone Resort to ski or snowboard this winter? Make sure to purchase you lift tickets in advance and save with a Mountain Sports Club membership. Purchase your tickets at least 7 days in advance and save up to 30%. Mountain Sports Club Members save even more with member’s only promotions code.
It was clear leaving Boulder but just after Georgetown on I 70 the wind kicked in and by the time I was approaching Loveland pass the snow was howling and dumping. Loveland Pass was closed so that option to drive into Keystone pass Arapahoe was gone. Onward through the tunnel to Silverthorne, take the first exit and head up to Keystone.
I had expected more snow on the hill based upon the drive. Arrived by midday with the plan to test the Dalbello Kryptonite Pro & Dalbello Il Moro ski boots. Last year I was duly impressed with the Dalbello Rampage and I am in search of a new boot. The Kryptonite, which was the model suggested proved too stiff for me and I swapped out for the Il Moro which was much more to my liking. The bling/bling looks are probably a little over the top with the chains and gold for my fashion taste, but still a very good fit and great performing boot.
The conditions were good, but not completely soft and buttery. There were patches of hard packed out snow with sections of easy carving soft snow. On the ski side I was able to get the K2 Apache Recon out and the Rossignol Z 15. Each performed well in the hard packed, groomed and soft snow. Look for more extensive comments tomorrow. I am skiing and riding with the test team from Ski Chalet, Sun and Ski Sports and Ski Stop. I have skied and tested with this retail group before and they have agreat feel for the market. Comments started with the Volkl line of the Unlimited 50 and the Volkl 12 Foot Tiger Shark receiving high marks. They had each switched these out and were impressed with the holding an edge, power through soft broken snow and skiing very smoothly in varied conditions.
Visiting Keystone Resort to ski or snowboard this winter? Make sure to purchase you lift tickets in advance and save with a Mountain Sports Club membership. Purchase your tickets at least 7 days in advance and save up to 30%. Mountain Sports Club Members save even more with member’s only promotions code.
The annual ski and snowboard pilgrimage to the City of Sin in the desert has come and gone at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. For 4 days and nights the equipment and apparel companies introduce and woo the retailers with the hot new goods for next year. Lots of parties with the top athletes, models, plenty of booze for everyone’s taste.
What’s hot and worth taking a good look at for next year:? Maybe it is clothing with built in heating elements. One company we saw first at the Salt Lake City Outdoor Retailer Show was Adventure Action Gear. The product had a cleaner and more polished presentation than others companies vieing to break into this new product niche.
Knee Binding – this new innovative binding promises to flat out revolutionize alpine bindings. Look for more details at www.kneebinding.com. The early promotional tag is - "Knee-friendly." Proven. Claims of lateral heel release, without pre-release. Having had a total of 7 knee and ankle surgeries I look forward to seeing this binding in the market. Stay tuned as we find out more.
We will report more as the first prototypes are available but they promise to make certain injuries obsolete with a new release mechanism to assist backward release falls.
The biggest after Vegas story was on the apparel side on the business. Pre show there were rumors of something big happening with Spyder Clothing, as we go to the show nothing had been announced. Then this past week the word was released that Spyder had in fact purchased Cloudveil out of Jackson Hole. It will be interesting to see how they are able to grow this brand and stay true to its specialty and technical core. Can they take Cloudveil the next level and approach a Marmot in terms of size and market reach?
The mood was update given there has been snow across the country in a manner that has not happened for at least 2 decades. It clearly demonstrated the ski and snowboard industry needs snow more than a good economy. Not only were the ski and snowboard companies reporting a good year but snowshoe, nordic and backcountry companies all have had a good winter. What this means for the consumer is do not expect a large selection of closeouts in the summer sales.
With most companies selling their inventory clean there were much less deals available for retailers who specialize in offering these discounted deals on skis and snowboards. The new product sure looks appealing. On the ski side it keeps looking like the specialty boutique brands started by the likes of Armada, Line, Goode and others are continuing to eat market share from the larger more established brands. Twin tips are reported as the fastest growing category of ski and performance ladies skis are also a growing market.
Check out some of the photos in the photo gallery from the various booths and around the SIA show. Lots of color, fashion and excitement abounds in the ski and snowboard industry.
Do you like to watch YouTube? Are you constantly updating your profile on MySpace? Well, if you didn't know the Mountain Sports Club has our own social network and media center called MyMountainSportsClub. Members can view and upload photos and videos, post blogs and reviews, and even create groups to notify other members of upcoming mountain outings. Not only can your share your mountain adventures with other mountain enthusiasts but posting and uploading might just get you noticed for some free Schwag!
Member chilly has posted several great blogs and photo galleries and was chosen as one of our November winners. Check out his pictures and stories!
Member marnelong shared some great pictures with us of her son’s snowboarding birthday at Sunlight. Since we know what this mountain enthusiast likes to do in her spare time the MSC team was more than happy to hook her up as our December winner of a pair of tickets to Sunlight!
Do you have any photos, videos, reviews or blogs you’d like to share? Get them posted and increase your chance at being selected as one of our Mountain Sports Club Schwag winners!
One of the best skiing weekends is quickly coming up and the Mountain Sports Club team wants to make sure all our members have a great time! Here's spotlight of all the resorts and coupon deals that are happening during President's Weekend. Some offers have holiday blackouts but these resorts are welcoming members to use the coupons and discounts available.
Alaska
Alyeska Resort - Save $8 on an Adult lift ticket!
California
Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts - Half Price lift tickets!
June Mountain Ski Area - Save $10 on an Adult lift ticket! Additional offers available.
Colorado
Crested Butte Mountain Resort - Save $9 on daily Adult lift tickets! Additional offers available.
Loveland - 2 for 1 lift tickets, save big.
Monarch - Save $8 on Adult lift tickets! Additional offers available.
Ski Cooper - Save $6 on an Adult weekend lift ticket! Additional offers available.
Powderhorn Resort - Save $7 daily on an Adult full day lift ticket!
Maine
Shawnee Peak Ski Area - Get $6 off an Adult weekend/holiday lift ticket!
New Hampshire
Tenney Mountain Ski Area - 2 for 1 lift tickets on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays!
Pats Peak Ski Area - Get $5 off weekend/holiday lift tickets!
Pennsylvania
Ski Denton - Save $5 on weekend/holiday lift tickets!
Shawnee Mountain - Get $5 off an Adult Weekend/Holiday lift ticket!
Vermont
Magic Mountain - Save $10 on weekend lift tickets!
Alaska
Alyeska Resort - Save $8 on an Adult lift ticket!
California
Mt. Baldy Ski Lifts - Half Price lift tickets!
June Mountain Ski Area - Save $10 on an Adult lift ticket! Additional offers available.
Colorado
Crested Butte Mountain Resort - Save $9 on daily Adult lift tickets! Additional offers available.
Loveland - 2 for 1 lift tickets, save big.
Monarch - Save $8 on Adult lift tickets! Additional offers available.
Ski Cooper - Save $6 on an Adult weekend lift ticket! Additional offers available.
Powderhorn Resort - Save $7 daily on an Adult full day lift ticket!
Maine
Shawnee Peak Ski Area - Get $6 off an Adult weekend/holiday lift ticket!
New Hampshire
Tenney Mountain Ski Area - 2 for 1 lift tickets on Sundays, Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays!
Pats Peak Ski Area - Get $5 off weekend/holiday lift tickets!
Pennsylvania
Ski Denton - Save $5 on weekend/holiday lift tickets!
Shawnee Mountain - Get $5 off an Adult Weekend/Holiday lift ticket!
Vermont
Magic Mountain - Save $10 on weekend lift tickets!
Not a Mountain Sports Club Member yet?
Register now with our New Year’s special for only $10.95! Use promo code feb08.
Use the Mountain Sports Club membership once and it’s paid for…
Use it often and save hundreds…
The team at Mountain Sports Club has been getting some questions lately from members having some challenges navigating the Travel Desk. Mountain Sports Club is constantly updating and working to improve our member’s experience on our website. Your feedback is important to us! In the near future we will be making some changes to our Travel Desk but until then, here is a How To Guide to assist our members in getting the best value from the Mountain Sports Club Travel Desk.
While some resorts have given us great coupon deals on single lift tickets that our members can print out other resorts have pre-purchase discount tickets through the Mountain Sports Club Travel Desk.
Whenever you see a coupon like this:
Simply click on the Travel Desk button at the top right of the page.
Scroll down to the middle of the page and click on “Book Tickets and Attractions”. From here you can scroll down and click on your destination. Once you have selected your destination you will be taken to the next page.
Check to make sure the dates listed are correct. If not, select "Modify Search/Change Dates".
To choose your lift ticket packages, click the “Book Now” button.
The next page will list all the different packages available for your resort. From here, use the pull down menu to choose the amount of packages you wish to purchase.
Next click “Save and Keep Shopping” if you are buying packages to different resorts or click “Continue With Reservation” to check out.
The next page allows you to review your purchase and also gives you the option to “Keep Shopping”. In the lower left is a box where you can enter your Special Offer Codes that you receive each month in your Mountain Sports Club email for additional savings. Click “Continue Reservation”.
You will then be asked to enter your Name, Email address and Phone Number. This information is necessary because once you complete your purchase you will be emailed a voucher. Do not forget this voucher when you go to your resort! You must print it out and present it at the lift ticket office in order to get your lift ticket passes.
Lift ticket packages must be purchased at least 7 days in advance of the date you wish to be skiing. So you will need to plan ahead.
Here is a list of current resort that have packages through the Mountain Sports Club Travel Desk: Heavenly Ski Resort, Squaw Valley USA, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Northstar-at-Tahoe, Mt. Rose, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Breckenridge and Keystone, Beaver Creek and Vail, Tamarack Resort, Big Sky Resort, Moonlight Basin, Taos Ski Valley, Park City Mountain Resort, The Canyons, Deer Valley, Wolf Mountain, Stowe Mountain, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Whistler Blackcomb, Sun Peaks Resort
We at Mountain Sports Club hope this guide will assist you in your travel preparation and that you have a wonderful mountain adventure!
While some resorts have given us great coupon deals on single lift tickets that our members can print out other resorts have pre-purchase discount tickets through the Mountain Sports Club Travel Desk.
Whenever you see a coupon like this:
Simply click on the Travel Desk button at the top right of the page.
Scroll down to the middle of the page and click on “Book Tickets and Attractions”. From here you can scroll down and click on your destination. Once you have selected your destination you will be taken to the next page.
Check to make sure the dates listed are correct. If not, select "Modify Search/Change Dates".
To choose your lift ticket packages, click the “Book Now” button.
The next page will list all the different packages available for your resort. From here, use the pull down menu to choose the amount of packages you wish to purchase.
Next click “Save and Keep Shopping” if you are buying packages to different resorts or click “Continue With Reservation” to check out.
The next page allows you to review your purchase and also gives you the option to “Keep Shopping”. In the lower left is a box where you can enter your Special Offer Codes that you receive each month in your Mountain Sports Club email for additional savings. Click “Continue Reservation”.
You will then be asked to enter your Name, Email address and Phone Number. This information is necessary because once you complete your purchase you will be emailed a voucher. Do not forget this voucher when you go to your resort! You must print it out and present it at the lift ticket office in order to get your lift ticket passes.
Lift ticket packages must be purchased at least 7 days in advance of the date you wish to be skiing. So you will need to plan ahead.
Here is a list of current resort that have packages through the Mountain Sports Club Travel Desk: Heavenly Ski Resort, Squaw Valley USA, Kirkwood Mountain Resort, Northstar-at-Tahoe, Mt. Rose, Sierra-at-Tahoe, Breckenridge and Keystone, Beaver Creek and Vail, Tamarack Resort, Big Sky Resort, Moonlight Basin, Taos Ski Valley, Park City Mountain Resort, The Canyons, Deer Valley, Wolf Mountain, Stowe Mountain, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Whistler Blackcomb, Sun Peaks Resort
We at Mountain Sports Club hope this guide will assist you in your travel preparation and that you have a wonderful mountain adventure!
Not a Mountain Sports Club Member yet?
Register now with our February special for only $10.95! Use promo code feb08.
Use the Mountain Sports Club membership once and it’s paid for…
Use it often and save hundreds…
Looking for a great value skiing and snowboarding in the Colorado front range? The Mountain Sports Club has just posted a great value in the form of new lift ticket discount and coupon for skiers and snowboarders. The new discount Loveland coupons are perfect for those looking to stretch the ski budget for the balance of the 2008 ski and snowboard season. Loveland Ski Area now offers skiers and snowboarders 2 for 1 lift tickets with their Mountain Sports Club membership.
Sitting high on the Continental divide, just off of Interstate 70, Loveland enjoys one of the longest ski and snowboard seasons in the Colorado and the nation. The season starts in October and ends in early May. With abundant snowfall there are many great powder days still left. The 2 for 1 coupons are valid all season and represent a $54 savings and value. With other areas breaking the $90 price this may very well be the best value in skiing and snowboarding anywhere.
Loveland Ski Area offers terrain for everyone. Great groomers, a dedicated beginner area, bowls, steeps, bump sand great hiking access. Get to Loveland Ski Area and enjoy another great Colorado winter ski and snowboard season.
Register for your Mountain Sports Club membership now and save. Special introductory offer only $10.95 for one year. Use promotion code loveland and take advantage of this great savings - register now and start saving, includes choice of one year subscription of either Freeskier, or Snowboard, magazine at this great discounted price. Use it once it is paid for, use it often save hundreds. Regular membership price is $29.95.
Posted January 26, 2008
Sitting high on the Continental divide, just off of Interstate 70, Loveland enjoys one of the longest ski and snowboard seasons in the Colorado and the nation. The season starts in October and ends in early May. With abundant snowfall there are many great powder days still left. The 2 for 1 coupons are valid all season and represent a $54 savings and value. With other areas breaking the $90 price this may very well be the best value in skiing and snowboarding anywhere.
Loveland Ski Area offers terrain for everyone. Great groomers, a dedicated beginner area, bowls, steeps, bump sand great hiking access. Get to Loveland Ski Area and enjoy another great Colorado winter ski and snowboard season.
Register for your Mountain Sports Club membership now and save. Special introductory offer only $10.95 for one year. Use promotion code loveland and take advantage of this great savings - register now and start saving, includes choice of one year subscription of either Freeskier, or Snowboard, magazine at this great discounted price. Use it once it is paid for, use it often save hundreds. Regular membership price is $29.95.
Posted January 26, 2008
June Mountain located in the Californa Sierra Mountains, now offers skiers and snowboarders discounted lift tickets and savings to Mountain Sports Club Members. Skiers and snowboarders can now save $10 daily on Adult or Young Adult lift tickets with MSC membership. Save $5 off teen, youth or senior tickets with the discounted coupons available for premium members.
June Mountain is in the Eastern Sierra peaks, past its bigger sister, Mammoth Mountain. The runs for beginners are wide open and tantalizing; plenty of intermediate terrain and challenge. It's great for families, too. All the trails eventually end up at the Chalet. The skiable terrain covers 500 acres on a 2,589-foot vertical drop. The top of the mountain is 10,135 feet.Mountain Sports Club members now save on lift tickets daily at June Mountain. Use the discounted coupons as a premium members and save on your lift tickets when skiing and snowboarding at June Mountain in the California Sierra Mountains.
Not a member? Register now and save on lift tickets with discount coupons at June Mountain and other ski and snowboard resorts nationwide.
June Mountain is in the Eastern Sierra peaks, past its bigger sister, Mammoth Mountain. The runs for beginners are wide open and tantalizing; plenty of intermediate terrain and challenge. It's great for families, too. All the trails eventually end up at the Chalet. The skiable terrain covers 500 acres on a 2,589-foot vertical drop. The top of the mountain is 10,135 feet.Mountain Sports Club members now save on lift tickets daily at June Mountain. Use the discounted coupons as a premium members and save on your lift tickets when skiing and snowboarding at June Mountain in the California Sierra Mountains.
Not a member? Register now and save on lift tickets with discount coupons at June Mountain and other ski and snowboard resorts nationwide.
Sunlight Mountain Resort in Glenwood Springs offers one of Colorado's most affordable and enjoyable family ski and snowboard destination. Combining the skiing and snowboarding with the option of soaking in the Glenwood Springs Hot Sulphur Springs is a great ski and snowboard vacation destination. The Mountain Sports Club promotion includes includes a 2 for 1 lift ticket coupon as a great discount and incentive. With savings like this members are sure to visit this popular Colorado ski destination.
Now combined with a new FREE learn to ski or snowboard lesson the Thursday value is exceptional. All beginner skiers and snowboarders are welcome!
Sunlight Mountain Resort will offer free half-day lessons to beginner level skiers and snowboarders on Thursdays to beginners! Sunlight will offer free lessons on 1/17, 1/24 and 1/31. Ski and snowboard lessons will begin at 10AM and all guests should sign up at the Ski School window. the free lessons are on a first come first serve basis and will be limited to 20 skiers and 20 boarders. Guests that need rentals should arrive by 9AM to make sure they have time to make it through the rental shop. Lessons are limited to persons age 7 and older. Free lessons do not include lift tickets, rentals, food or any other services.
Not a Mountain Sports Club Member? Register now and save on lift tickets, lodging and more for only $10.95 for one year. Use promotion code jan08 till january 31, 2008.
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