Catching Up Again
Whew! It is cold in New England!
I am not complaining. A look at the calendar and guess what? There are still plenty of days in this ski season ahead of us. With winter finally here to stay for a while ski season in going to really get into gear. Better late than never…
the S.G. in the trees and pow pow at Winter Park
The cold air coupled with some snow tonight into tomorrow should make for a pretty good weekend up north. I am heading to Mount Snow with a group of friends. Regardless of what new snowshowers the mountain may or may not receive, or how much terrain they have opened, it will be a good time. I suggest you all make some plans and do the same.
To help you deicde I sent out a feeler yesterday to many of the resorts in New England asking them for predictions of weekend terrain. I will post results tonight for your reading pleasure on Friday. At least those that get back to me… Finding a discounted rate on lodging should not be much of a challenge on Friday if you do not have plans yet, all things considered.
a look up at Peak 7 – Breckenridge
Ski Trip: Just do it. I did.
Eventually enough became enough and I needed a break for what we have been going through here in New England. What I really needed was to get away to some exceptional skiing and that is exactly what I found in Colorado.
Conditions out there are excellent right now; as good as the USA has presently!
I hit three mountains, all of which for the first time, in four days. Those were Winter Park, Breckenridge, and Arapahoe Basin.
In the next week or so I will provide a detailed write up on each of the ski areas. But in brief they were Awesome! Each had its own very unique feel and personality. When combined into one trip, this made for a sensational ski experience over a long four day weekend.
The Rundown: How I got this trip airborne and then downhill in less than a week.
Finding the flight is the most important part – short notice. Or plan a bit and think ahead (we still have over 2.5 months of ski season left). I started with sites like Orbitz and Hotwire to get a general feel for rates. Then I went directly to the airlines looking for deals. The winner this time around was Jet Blue.
Place to Ski: Once you know where you are landing (and when) then get out the map and start sizing up resort options. I went to Denver, CO so there were dozens to choose from witin a few hours drive. Pick the spot that works best for youself or your group.
Place to stay: With a general idea of where you plan on heading get on the internet and start exploring some of the resort websites. Most will have sections dedicated to lodging. But, I also like to call and speak with someone directly on the telephone. BE NICE – Pick their mind for a minute and who knows what you may find out. Do not worry though, you will find lodging even if you fly without anything booked.
The Ride: Once you know where you are heading then you can make the call between renting a car and finding some sort of ground transportation services. Price them out and make the best choice for yourself (renting a car is more expensive but offers you greater freedom and more options). If you are going to be staying at one resort that is pretty much self contained with a town/village you can probably get bye with using a service instead of renting a car. The airport websites and discount ones mentioned earlier are good places to begin the search for either transportation option.
the top of Arapahoe Basin
From there you are in good shape. Just make sure you get the time approved off from work and then begin the fun part of doing the research on your destination of choice. It is not hard to get a last minute ski trip together and it can be done affordably.
Any questions let me know via the Mail Bag.
(To the right of this blog page under my mug shot.)
Giddy up!
photos ~ S.G.
