Aspen/Snowmass Launches Luggage Express
The new Aspen/Snowmass Luggage Express (tel. 800-679-3146; www.stayaspensnowmass.com/luggage) offers several air and ground shipping options via UPS. Pricing is by zone and weight of item and includes up to $1,000 in insurance coverage.
Copper Busts Out with Buster Series Clinics
Copper Mountain, Colo. (tel. 866/841-2481; www.coppercolorado.com) introduces first-of-its-kind Buster Series specialty clinics that are designed to help skiers and snowboarders master specific terrain: trees, bumps, deep powder or smooth groomers that invite deep-carved turns. Buster Series clinics are offered Saturdays and Sundays and $90 and up.
Crested Butte Introduces Backcountry-Style Program
Crested Butte's new Adventure Guide program (tel. 800/444-9236; www.skicb.com) lead groups of no more than five into the Colorado resort's steep and deep terrain that is inbounds but calls on backcountry equipment and skills. Half-day, full-day, and two-day sessions are offered. All include use of a backpack and other necessities needed to hike and exploring the mountain. Anyone interested in acquiring more backcountry skills can also learn to use transceiver, probe and shovel. Groups head for the challenging terrain of the North Face of secret powder stashes on the lower mountain. The guides are certified by both the Professional Ski Instructors of America and the American Mountain Guides Association.
Two-Day Heli-Ski Program in the Canadian Rockies
Heli-skiing has traditionally been either a one-day or a one-week activity with a set maximum vertical per day and surcharge for anything more. Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing (tel. 800/661-9170; 250/673.8381; www.wiegele.com) this season offers a two-day option with unlimited vertical in the Monashee and Cariboo Ranges. The package includes an overnight in a handcrafted log lodge near Blue River, B.C., with sauna and whirlpool; meals; two days of heli-skiing; use of personal safety gear.
Luxury Property Includes Free Skiing at Jackson Hole
Spring Creek Ranch (tel. 800/443-6139, 307-733-8833; www.springcreekranch.com), a beautiful 1,000-acre spread on a butte west of the town of Jackson, has a Ski Free package all winter long. Starting at $190 nightly, it includes accommodations in a deluxe fireplace room, ski shuttle to and two lift tickets per day at nearby Jackson Hole and daily breakfast for two at Granary restaurant. The Ski Free promotion is available all season long.
First Full Season with Snowboarding at Taos
Taos Ski Valley (tel. 800/517-9816; www.taosskivalley.com) began permitting snowboarding at the end of last season, so 2008-09 is the first full winter with single-plankers on the slopes. It means more traffic in the Out-to-Launch terrain park that previously had skiers only.
High-Tech "Ski Map" to Debut at Connected Montana Resorts
The SatSki (tel. +44 7795 528 995; www.satski.com) interactive ski map, in operation in more than 50 European ski resorts, makes its U.S. debut in Montana at Big Sky (tel. 800/548-4486; www.bigskyresort.com) and Moonlight Basin (tel. 888/362-1666; www.moonlightbasin.com), whose interlinked terrain is skiable on a single lift ticket. It puts a real-time, touch-screen GPS ski map and resort directory in a skier's hands in place of a conventional paper trail map. The SatSki application is available either on units available for rent in the resorts, or downloadable onto mobile phones, including GPRS/GPS mobile phone, PDA and such smartphones (e.g., iPhone). The color display shows the user's current location, provides live statistics and even records the day's skiing for replay either in 2-D or in 3-D via Google Earth. With SatSki, skiers can also receive live instant messages such as emergency alerts, weather forecasts and updates on lift or slope closures.
New & Renovated Hotels in Telluride
Accommodations in glamorous Telluride, Colorado (tel. 800/778-8581; www.tellurideskiresort.com) get a further boost into the stratosphere with the opening or reopening of a trio of luxury properties. In town, the landmark New Sheridan Hotel (tel. 800/200-1891; www.newsheridan.com), built in 1891, reopens following a $7 million renovation of its 26 rooms, two suites and public spaces. In Mountain Village, Capella Telluride (tel. 970/369-0880; www.capellahotels.com) becomes this super-deluxe chain's first U.S. property when it opens in February with 86 rooms, 14 suites, sleek Suede Bar, Onyx Restaurant, and host of other amenities including what promises to be an extraordinary spa with particularly personalized service. The nearby Lumière Telluride (tel. 866/530-9466; www.lumierehotels.com/telluride/), a boutique property, debuted with 30 studios to three-bedroom suites.
Gray Line's New Airport Transportation to Copper Mountain
With Vail Resort Inc.'s purchase of Colorado Mountain Express, Gray Line (tel. 877/277-3690; www.grayline.com) is now providing transportation between Denver International Airport and Copper Mountain that departs every two hours and costs $65 each way. Grey Line's Mountain new service to Aspen/Snowmass was previously reported here.
Four-Area Salt Lake Pass Includes Daily Bus Transport
The Super Salt Lake Pass (www.ski-saltlake.com/superpass2008-09/) is valid for all-day ski passes at Alta, Brighton, Solitude and Snowbird, and also travel on the city's TRAX light rail system and UTA bus transportation from the valley directly to these four ski resorts. Note that Alta prohibits snowboarding, the Brighton ticket includes night skiing until 9pm and at Snowbird, it is also good on the resort's aerial tram. Adult prices range from $114 for two days to $336 for six days.
Crested Butte Adds Backcountry Skills Program
In Colorado, Crested Butte Mountain Guides (tel. 970/349-5430; www.crestedbutteguides.com) introduces a new Adventure Guide Program provides instruction in backcountry skills and safety. The "classroom" is ungroomed inbounds terrain at Crested Butte Mountain Resort (tel. 800/810-7669; www.skicb.com). Included is day use of an Osprey backpack. Also available are Backcountry Access Tracker transceivers, probes and shovels. Rates are $380 for a morning guide, $400 for a afternoon, $610 for all day and $1,070 for a two day immersion that includes authentic out-of-bounds backcountry skiing and riding. The first day covers backcountry skills and equipment, such as skinning, transceiver operation, and safety procedures, and on day two, participants put the skills to use beyond the ropes.
Lift Connection Links the New Westin Riverfront and Beaver Creek
The Riverfront Express Gondola at the doorstep of the recently opened Westin Riverfront in Avon provides a direct lift connection to the slopes of Beaver Creek. The 210-unit hotel (tel. 866/949-1616; www.westin.com/riverfrontavon) has studio through three-bedroom suites, the 23,000-square-foot Spa Anjali and fitness center, a large outdoor pool, a Westin Kids Club and the heralded Restaurant Avondale (tel. 970/790-5500; www.avondalerestaurant.com) operated by Vail Valley star chef Thomas Salamunovich and serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The super-green property is Colorado's first luxury hotel to be built to LEED certification standards.
Free Night at Jackson Hole's Hotel Terra
From January 4 though March 31, guests at the Hotel Terra (tel. 800/631-6281; www.hotelterrajacksonhole.com) can stay four nights for the price of three. Located in Teton Village at the base of the resort's new aerial tram that began operating on December 12, the year-old, hip Hotel Terra includes the state-of-the-art Chill Spa, the casual Terra Café and the casual Italian fine-dining restaurant called Il Villagio Osteria. Both restaurants and the spa use natural ingredients, respectively, for cooking and treatments.
New Comfort at Two Older Snowmass Properties
When Snowmass, Colorado (tel. 866/352-1763; www.snowmassvillage.com) announced the long-awaited development of Base Village that is set to launch this season, many older properties embarked on upgrades that ranged from major makeovers to minor tweaks. Among the latter, the slopeside Silvertree Hotel (tel. 800/837-4255; www.silvertreehotel.com) and adjacent Wildwood Lodge (tel. 800/837-4255; www.wildwood-lodge.com) have invested in guest comfort, upgrading bedding and window treatments, and improving the spa and Brothers Grille.