Tourist Office

Loveland Ski Area
PO Box 899
Georgetown
Colorado
USA
CO 80444

Telephone: (303) 5693203
Website: www.skiloveland.com

Description

The tenth largest resort in Colorado and one of the highest in the world. A bigger mountain than Aspen with more snow than Steamboat. Loveland installed the world’s highest quad chair, and probably the world’s highest chair for the ’98 – ’99 season and in the process overtook A Basin as having the highest lift in North America (6th in the world).

Review

In the late 1930′s a group of adventurous skiers headed along the Continental Divide towards what is now known as Loveland and became the first to enjoy some of Colorado’s world famous powder snow. Al Bennett, Loveland’s original owner, is said to have built the first lift from spare parts and sheer tenacity. The current owner, Chet Upham, brought his passion for skiing and engineering expertise to Loveland when he became a partner in the Loveland Ski Tow Company in 1956. In the late 1960′s Loveland was one of the first ski areas in Colorado with an extensive snow-making system, highlighting one of the many technological improvements which he implemented during his association with the resort.

Traditionally, Loveland is one of the first ski areas to open each year and one of the last to close with the season running from mid-October to mid-May enjoying an annual average snowfall of 10m/33ft. A local favourite for decades, Loveland is really 2 areas with one ticket serving both: Loveland Valley and Loveland Basin which are connected by a chairlift and both have their own base area facilities. The resort has a reputation for great snow, reasonable prices and friendly staff, there’s room for everyone, and the attitude is relaxed – the Loveland state of mind.

The 10th largest resort in Colorado and one of the highest in the world, Loveland installed the northern hemisphere’s highest quad chair for the 1998/99 season and in the process overtook Arapahoe Basin as having the highest lift in North America (6th in the world).

Situated on the Continental Divide which runs along the crest of the Rockies from British Columbia, through the United States and continues into Mexico and Central America, Loveland’s 1,365 acres of varied terrain, split between the Basin and Valley areas have kept the faithful coming back for over 60 years. Loveland ski area is situated in North Central Colorado 56 miles west of Denver, the Mile High City and state capital, while the City of Loveland (Sweetheart City) is 45 miles to its north.

The City was named after W A H Loveland, a retired Army general and ex-railroad president so this is probably where the ski area’s name originated. Loveland has become a popular Valentine’s Day destination with dozens of couples tying the knot en masse at the top of the mountain. Couples are required to be either skiers or boarders so they can get back down the mountain afterwards!

Nearest accommodation is in Georgetown 19km/12 miles or Silverthorne 19km/12 miles both historic mining towns dating back to the late 1800′s when mining camps boomed in Colorado after the discovery of gold and silver in the area. Some of the towns are still inhabited but many have become ghost towns.

keywords

Loveland Basin Valley Ski Area, Cllear Creek, Continental Divide, Colorado, Rockies, Rocky Mountains, Rockys

Tourist Office

Sunshine Village
Sunshine Village, Box 1510
Banff, Alberta
Canada, TIL 1J5

Telephone: (403) 762 6500
Website: www.skibanff.com

Description

With slopes facing in all directions, Sunshine is one of North America’s oldest resorts, dating back to 1928. Yet it has recently invested heavily in massive infrastructure improvements and renovations. It’s even added a third mountain, Goat’s Eye, served by some of the continent’s fastest high-speed detachable quad chairlifts. The resort also boasts Banff’s largest ski rental shop and the only ski-in, ski-out hotel. The snow record is so impressive that snow-making would be regarded as throwing money away. The resort has terrain to suit all abilities. For advanced skiers and snowboarders the Delirium Drive, is the ultimate front-country adventure, with pitches of 40 degrees and vertical footage of 1919 feet. Delirium will be located on the north face of Lookout Mountain.

Review

There are few true ‘ski towns’ around the world, especially those with a choice of top ski areas on their doorstep, each with independent ownership. Austria’s Innsbruck, Utah’s Park City, New Zealand’s Queenstown and Argentina’s Bariloche are some of the few examples, Aspen grew up that way but with all the ski areas nearby now owned by one company some feel the character there has gone. Not so in Banff, where the Mount Norquay is the nearest to town and offers flexible skiing by the hour if you just have a little time to spare for a few turns. If you are planning a full day of skiing or riding there is much more terrain available at Sunshine Village and Lake Louise – generally regarded as one of the world’s most beautiful ski areas. Banff came in to being in 1883 when three railway workers building Canada’s first trans-Continental railway staked a claim on the hot springs area that bubbled up there. It was named by a Canadian Pacific employee after his home area of Banffshire in North Eastern Scotland, although it doesn’t look much like it! Two years later the railway was competed and soon afterwards the Canadian Pacific railway Company built the incredible Banff Springs hotel and Canada’s first national park was established, “the rest is history”. The town has a reputation also for being extremely good value and having genuinely friendly inhabitants. It’s particularly impressive that they manage to keep cheerful when you consider the 7600 ‘Banffites’ have to keep smiling at more than three million visitors a year. The snow on the surrounding mountains is known for its quality and abundance which help Sunshine and Lake Louise to open from early November to late May every year – one of the worlds longest ski seasons. The experience of being able to spend the day in true wilderness terrain or modern ski areas and then the evenings in a lively resort also appeals to many. The success of Banff as a world leading ski destination was laid out more than a century ago when Swiss mountain guides led parties of climbers on first ascents of the surrounding peaks and traversed prehistoric glaciers. In leather bindings and wooden skis they discovered untracked snow in wide-open bowls and meadows, laying the groundwork for what was to become a viable ski industry. Settling in Banff and Lake Louise the pioneers helped build trails then roads through the raw, rugged and largely uninhabited landscape and eventually they established hotels and businesses.

keywords

Banff, Goat’s Eye, Lookout, Standish, Bow Valley, Sunshine Village, BC, British Columbia, Canada, Rockies, Rockys, The Rocky Mountains

Tourist Office

Vail Resorts
PO Box 7
Vail
Colorado
USA
CO 81658

Telephone: (970) 4765601
Website: www.snow.com

Description

The largest single ski area in the USA with the most high-speed detachable quads on one mountain. Regarded by many as one of the world’s top five all round ski resorts.

Review

One of the world’s most famous resorts and for many the top resort in North America, Vail is a surprisingly young resort, conceived in 1962 by a gentleman called Peter Seibert. In being wholly purpose-built rather than claiming some tenuous link to the ‘Old West’ it differs from many other famous Colorado ski resorts.

It’s different again from the other Colorado resorts that have been started from scratch in that Mr Seibert did a rather nice job – creating a US resort with an Alpine village feel and an ambience that the majority of North American ski centres sadly lack. He was helped on his way by the first business owners in the area – many of them from Austria and Germany, anxious to recreate a little of what they missed from home. The centre of what is now a town has been pedestrianised, further enhancing the holiday atmosphere.

Due to its incredible success the resort has inevitably spread out along the sides of the I 70 valley in both directions, with modern developments linked by an efficient shuttle bus to the central Vail Village. More than 4000 staff are now employed by Vail Resorts alone. The resort has also spawned new resorts such as up-market Beaver Creek and the developments at Arrowhead and Bachelor Gulch, as well as buying up near neighbours in recent years, including Breckenridge and Keystone – creating a very appealing group resort lift ticket in the process.

Indeed Vail is marketed very much as a ‘Valley’. Apart from the resort’s own developments they include revitalised original settlements such as the former rail centre at Minturn, home of quaint art galleries and a winery and the tiny community of Redcliff, an 1890s gold-mining centre in a picturesque canyon over Battle Mountain Pass.

Avon, between Vail and Beaver Creek (10 miles/16km apart) has developed from a ranching community into the administrative and commercial heart of Vail Valley. Beaver Creek, still marketed alongside Vail, has very much established itself as a unique resort in its own right whilst the newer-still Arrowhead, closest to the local Eagle County Airport, is centred around a Jack Nicklaus-designed Country Club of the Rockies. Because of Vail’s phenomonal success, building in the area shows no sign of slowing, to the alarm of some locals and environmentalists from outside the area who are becoming increasingly vocal in their concerns of ‘over development’.

In common with other Western North American resorts Vail gets huge powder snow falls each season, in Vail’s case averaging 27 feet / 842 cms per annum.

keywords

Colorado, The Colorado Ticket, USA, Blue Sky Basin, Beaver Creek, Vail, Rocky Mountains, Rockys, Rockies

Tourist Office

Mount Hood Ski Bowl
PO Box 280
Government Camp
Oregon
USA
OR 97028

Telephone: (503) 3372222
Email: knorton@skibowl.com
Website: www.skibowl.com

Description

The largest night skiing area in the United States, with 34 illuminated trails. Also the closest ski area to Portland. Night skiing daily to 10/11pm. The Outback offers over 300 acres of steep bowls, gnarly chutes, and open glades. A short push and a quick boot up Treviso’s traverse will take you to the top of Tom Dick Peak. Ski lifts run from 0900 to 1600 Monday and Tuesday, and 0900 to 2200 the rest of the week.

keywords

Mount Hood Ski Bowl, Oregon, The rocky Mountains, Rockys, Rockies, USA

Tourist Office

Bridger Bowl Ski Area
15795 Bridger Canyon Road
Bozeman
Montana
USA
MT 59715

Telephone: (406) 5872111
Email: skitrip@bridgerbowl.com

Website: www.bridgerbowl.com

Description

Known for grooming quality and mogul cutting. Wide variety of terrain, and ultra-light snow.

keywords

Bridger Bowl, Montana, Gallatin, USA, Rockies, Rockys, Rocky mountains

Tourist Office

Big Sky Ski & Summer Resort
PO Box 160001
Big Sky
Montana
USA
MT 59716

Telephone: (406) 9955000
Email: info@bigskyresort.com
Website: www.bigskyresort.com

Description

A new tram into the top of Lone Peak gave Big Sky the biggest lift-served vertical in the USA in 1995 (a title since taken by Snowmass in 1997), and the area has won numerous awards for its uncrowded slopes and non-existant lift lines/queues. There’s an average of less than two skiers per acre on the busiest days and the longest lift lines are reportedly to the free breakfast buffet at Huntley Lodge where up to 927 guests may be served. The resort still holds the world record as the place where the most vertical feet have been skied in one day, by local Rusty Squire who made 220 helicopter ascents to claim his title. There is skiing on two lift-linked mountains for all standards and good facilities for ‘boarders and telemarkers. The steepest route down is Castro’s shoulder, with a 50 degree pitch, while the Big Couloir run down from the tram has pitches of around 42 degrees nd is 2600 feet long. There are numerous accommodation options for all tastes and budgets, including the slopeside Huntly Lodge, Snoshore and Snowcrest Lodge condominiums. The resort’s biggest project has been the construction of the 45 million dollar slopeside Summit Hotel. Big Sky is located close to Yellowstone National Park.

Review

It was Chet Huntley, the late NBC newscaster who conceived and built Big Sky and was responsible for its opening in 1973. After his death in 1974 it was bought over by Boyne USA, a Michigan-based corporation which also owns a chain of other mountain ski and golf resorts across the United States including Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands in Michigan, Brighton Resort in Utah, Crystal Mountain in Washington and Gatlinburg in Tennessee. The family-run corporation started in 1947 and is still run by Everett Kircher and his family. Located in the southwest corner of Montana, Big Sky is surrounded by the magnificent Gallatin Range of the Northern Rockies. With its spectacular natural beauty its not surprising that Robert Redford chose the Gallatin River to film his classic movie “A River Runs Through It”.

Skiing is on two lift linked peaks, Lone Mountain which resembles the Matterhorn and towers at a height of 3398m/11,150ft and Andesite Mountain at 2682m/8,800ft . Lone Mountain peak is definitely a serious skiers’ mountain but the lower levels are perfect for intermediates. The Mountain Village sits at 2286m/7,500ft and Meadow Village at approximately 1890m/6,200ft. The average winter temperature hovers around 20º F while summer temperatures generally climb into the upper 80′s. With very little humidity, the snow is extremely light and fluffy averaging around 10m/400 inches annually.

The Lone Peak Tram gave Big Sky the biggest lift-served vertical in the USA in 1995 (a title since taken by Snowmass in 1997), and the area has won numerous awards for its uncrowded slopes and non-existant lift lines/queues. The 15-person Dopplemayr tram carries passengers 3,300 vertical feet at a rapid 4.5 minute pace to the summit of Lone Mountain. There’s an average of less than two skiers per acre on the busiest days and the longest lift lines are reportedly to the free breakfast buffet at Huntley Lodge where up to 927 guests may be served.

The resort still holds the world record as the place where the most vertical feet have been skied in one day, by local Rusty Squire who made 220 helicopter ascents to claim his title. Skiing for all standards on two lift-linked mountains and good facilities for boarders and telemarkers. The steepest route down is Castro’s shoulder, with a 50 degree pitch, whilst the Big Couloir run down from the tram has pitches of around 42 degrees and is 2,600 feet long. Big Sky boasts one of the longest runs in the States – the run down from Liberty Bowl to the Base Area being 6 miles long.

Numerous accommodation options to suit all tastes and budgets, including the slopeside Huntly Lodge, Shoshone and Snowcrest Lodge condominiums. The resort’s biggest project has been the construction of the 45 million dollar slopeside Summit Hotel located less than 300ft from two high speed quads and a gondola on what might be the last best place for slopeside lodging in the Rockies.

Big Sky is located close to Yellowstone National Park which has the world’s greatest concentration of thermal springs including their Old Faithful – popular with tourists as the most frequently erupting geyser in the park. Tourist hot spots include Yellow stone Lake, the largest mountain lake in the northern hemisphere and the Old Faithful Inn, the largest log structurein the world and a National Historic Landmark. Built in 1904 of ageless knotty pine logs and other indigenous materials, the lobby rises 85 feet above a massive fireplace of native stone. Like Yellowstone, its totally unique.

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keywords

Big Sky Ski and Summer Resort, Montana, Gallatin Valley, Spanish Peaks, USA, Rockies, Rockys, Rocky mountains

Tourist Office

Silver Mountain Ski Area
610 Bunker Avenue
Kellogg
Idaho
USA
ID 83837

Telephone: (208) 7831111
Website: www.silvermt.com

Description

Silver Mountain has the only gondola in Idaho State. Accommodation and facilities are in the town of Kellogg.

keywords

Silver Mountain, Shoshone, Idaho, USA, Rocky Mountains, Rockies, Rockys