U.S. Kids Free at Two Canadian Resorts
Big White (www.bigwhite.com) and Silver Star (tel. 250/558-6023; www.silverstar.com) sister resorts in British Columbia are offering free flights on Alaska/Horizon, free lodging and free lifts for children 11 or under -- one child per fully paid adult. Flights must originate on the US mainland. Packages must be booked through Silver Star Holidays (tel. 800/663-4431; info@silverstar.com) or Big White Central Reservations (tel. 800/663-2772; cenres@bigwhite.com). Offer is not valid between December 21, 2007 and January 3, 2008, and seats are limited. It runs through April 5 at both resorts.
Crested Butte Brings Back "Ski Free"
After a six-year hiatus, Colorado's Crested Butte Mountain Resort (tel. 800/810-7669; www.skicb.com/) reprised its too-good-to-be-true Ski Free deal. Between November 25 and December 15, skiing and riding are free. Just go to the ticket office for a free lift ticket, no strings attached. Lodging is at its least expensive during that period too, both at the resort and down valley in Gunnison.
On-Mountain Dining at Jackson Hole
There will be a whole lot of cooking going on for three long-awaited dining options at the 9,095-foot top of the Bridger Gondola at Jackson Hole, Wyoming (tel. 888/DEEP-SNO or 307/733-2292; www.jacksonhole.com): the Couloir Restaurant for fine dining (five-course prix fixe dinner) and fine lunching on a heated deck with views of Corbet's Couloir, Jackson's legendary super-steep run, self-service lunch at the Bridger Restaurant, and quick and casual fare at the Headwall Deli.
New Intermediate Bowl Skiing at Big Sky
Lone Peak, at 11,166 feet the highest point at Montana's Big Sky (tel. 800/548-4486; www.bigskyresort.com) becomes more hospitable to intermediates with the addition of the Dakota triple chairlift to access 212 newly opened acres below Liberty Bowl. This mountain sector known as the called Dakota Territories is mostly low-angle open-bowl terrain funneling into well-spaced, natural glades bordering the more challenging Bavarian Forest. Both parcels contain natural rollers and kickers.Park City Simplified
The complicated terrain of Park City Mountain Resort, Utah (tel. 800/222-PARK; www.parkcitymountain.com) becomes more manageable thanks to new color-coded trails keyed to seven distinctive zones around the mountain, displaying the amount of terrain for all ability levels in each. Park City Mountain Resort is also outfitting the King Con lift with Fast Tracks for quicker access onto the mountain. Fast Tracks, a shortcut through the lift lines, is currently available at PayDay, Eagle, Bonanza and Silverlode lifts.
Southwestern Luxury -- Expanded
El Monte Sagrado (tel. 800/828-8267; www.elmontesagrado.com), a superluxe Southwestern-style resort retreat in Taos, New Mexico, has added 48 spectacular guest rooms, each with a patio or private courtyard, a pueblo-style working gas fireplace and BOSE sound system. The restaurants and galleries near Taos's Plaza are nearby, and Taos Ski Valley is about 25 miles away. Packages including ski lifts, lesson, dinner in the four-diamond De La Terra Restaurant, selected services at on-site Living Spa and other extras are available. El Monte Sagrado is more luxurious than anything up in the Ski Valley.
Hassle-Free Equipment Rental
Ski Butlers (tel. 877/754-7754; www.skibutlers.com) offers top-quality adult and children's ski and snowboard rentals delivered to your hotel or condo when you arrive at your Rockies resort. Just bring your boots and use their well-tuned boards, or rent a package including boots. Adult ski/boot/pole packages start at $29.70 per day with 7-day advance reservations. Ski Butlers serves Park City and Salt Lake City; Colorado's Summit Country (including Breckenridge, Keystone and Copper); the Vail Valley (including Beaver Creek and Arrowhead); Aspen/Snowmass, and now, Jackson Hole.
Black Iron Bowl Debuts at Telluride
Come January, Telluride Ski Resort, Colorado (tel. 800/778-8581; www.tellurideskiresort.com) expects open Black Iron Bowl, a high-expert area named after an old mining claim. Take Chair 12 (the Prospect Lift), hike out on Prospect Ridge and drop into one of eight backcountry-style runs with vertical drops of up to 1,000 feet. The terrain comprises European-style faces, open glades and steep chutes and is therefore only for strong experienced skiers and snowboarders.
Sun Valley's Dollar Mountain Upgraded
Experienced skiers and snowboarders visiting Sun Valley, Idaho (tel. 800/786-8259; www.sunvalley.com) head for big, bold Bald Mountain, but beginners and small children are at home on the gentle, open slopes of nearby Dollar Mountain. Two new high-speed quad chairlifts replace the old Quarter and Dollar lifts, doubling uphill capacity. Some 60% of the terrain will now be under snowmaking.
Deer Valley Debuts Lady Morgan Bowl
Deer Valley, Utah's (tel. 800/558-DEER; www.deervalley.com) new Lady Morgan chairlift ascends from the Empire Canyon area to access more than 200 of acres (65 of them gladed) including nine new runs. Lady Morgan Bowl is mostly for intermediate and advanced skiers (no snowboarding permitted at Deer Valley).
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