These are the TENTATIVE trips for the 2008 - 2009 ski
year. We welcome your comments and suggestions on them.
UTAH CANYONS - DECEMBER 2008
This is a club trip between Christmas and New Year.
Alta, Snowbird, Brighton and Solitude are all on the
agenda.
Here is what they have to say about Snowbird...
One of the USA's great mountain resorts, Snowbird was developed by Dick Bass, a man of means who has climbed the highest peak on each of the seven continents.
The resort is more or less wedged into Little Cottonwood Canyon, and heavily fortified against avalanches. As a result, all the accomodations are very much slope-side, including the luxurious Cliff Lodge.
The spectacular views up and down the steep canyon walls can produce vertigo, and the cost of staying at Snowbird is said to have the same effect. Not recommended for the inexperienced or budget-minded (except as a day trip), Snowbird is tailor-made for the well-to-do and ready-to-rip. Snowbird is steep, deep and none too cheap, but absolutely worth the trip.
Here is what they have to say about Snowbird...
One of the USA's great mountain resorts, Snowbird was developed by Dick Bass, a man of means who has climbed the highest peak on each of the seven continents.
The resort is more or less wedged into Little Cottonwood Canyon, and heavily fortified against avalanches. As a result, all the accomodations are very much slope-side, including the luxurious Cliff Lodge.
The spectacular views up and down the steep canyon walls can produce vertigo, and the cost of staying at Snowbird is said to have the same effect. Not recommended for the inexperienced or budget-minded (except as a day trip), Snowbird is tailor-made for the well-to-do and ready-to-rip. Snowbird is steep, deep and none too cheap, but absolutely worth the trip.
TELLURIDE - JANUARY 2009
A charming former mining town, Telluride is a place
of spectacular scenery and often daunting terrain.
All this comes without lift lines, since Telluride's
southwestern Colorado location places it far from any
major city. As with several of the big western US
resorts, this is a tale of two bases - the original
historic town of Telluride and the modern, slopeside
mountain village. The resort's network of a dozen
lifts includes two high speed quads and one
high-speed, three-stage gondola transportation system
with two legs for mountain access. Free, guided
mountain tours are available for intermediates and
experts.
Off the slopes, Telluride boasts over 40 restaurants and bars, with everything from burger joints and Mexican food to top-of-the line bistros and classic American, Italian, and French cuisine.
Off the slopes, Telluride boasts over 40 restaurants and bars, with everything from burger joints and Mexican food to top-of-the line bistros and classic American, Italian, and French cuisine.
JACKSON HOLE - FEBRUARY 2009
This is a proposed LSSC trip for February.
There can be few more spectacular settings for a mountain resort than Wyoming's Jackson Hole, with the Teton mountains towering above. As thrilling as the view is, it only gets better when you and 62 other lucky souls board the aerial tram for the 12 minute ride to the top of Rendezvous Mountain.
Unlike most North American resorts, Jackson Hole is ready-made for free skiing. Trails have little meaning in the expanse of the resort's upper reaches. In this setting, skills count -- the high terrain at Jackson is best suited to advanced and expert skiers. Recent lift additions provide better access to the gentler slopes on the lower half of the mountain.
Because Jackson's base elevation is relatively low for the Rocky Mountains (6,311 feet, 1,924 meters), snow quality on the lower half of the mountain can be a problem. One solution is to spend a day or two at Grand Targhee, on the other side of the Teton mountain range.
Some lonely French-Canadian fur trappers named the Grand Tetons for their likeness to big breasts. Jackson Hole was originally named Jackson's Hole for Davey Jackson, a mountain man who trapped in the area during the late 1800's. "Hole" was a term used in that day to describe a high mountain valley.
There can be few more spectacular settings for a mountain resort than Wyoming's Jackson Hole, with the Teton mountains towering above. As thrilling as the view is, it only gets better when you and 62 other lucky souls board the aerial tram for the 12 minute ride to the top of Rendezvous Mountain.
Unlike most North American resorts, Jackson Hole is ready-made for free skiing. Trails have little meaning in the expanse of the resort's upper reaches. In this setting, skills count -- the high terrain at Jackson is best suited to advanced and expert skiers. Recent lift additions provide better access to the gentler slopes on the lower half of the mountain.
Because Jackson's base elevation is relatively low for the Rocky Mountains (6,311 feet, 1,924 meters), snow quality on the lower half of the mountain can be a problem. One solution is to spend a day or two at Grand Targhee, on the other side of the Teton mountain range.
Some lonely French-Canadian fur trappers named the Grand Tetons for their likeness to big breasts. Jackson Hole was originally named Jackson's Hole for Davey Jackson, a mountain man who trapped in the area during the late 1800's. "Hole" was a term used in that day to describe a high mountain valley.
BRECKENRIDGE - APRIL 2009
This is the OVSC spring trip scheduled for early
April. This is proposed and very tentative.
One of Colorado's most popular resorts, Breckenridge has expert skiing up to 12,998 feet if you are prepared to hike for it. With the addition of the 307 acres of 'expert only' terrain on Peak 7 a few years ago, Breckenridge now has four mountains, named Peaks 7, 8, 9 and 10. Peak 8, with half of the resort's 2000+ skiable acres, is largely classified as expert terrain. Peak 10 is also mainly for experts, with 63% of its terrain classified most difficult. Most of the gentler slopes are on user-friendly Peak 9 which has almost half of the resort's lifts and snowmaking covering a quarter of its terrain.
Breckenridge is not purpose-built, rather it is an original mining town with 171 listed buildings. The town was founded in 1859 and is the oldest continually inhabited community in the Colorado mountains. As you'd expect, there's a huge choice of things to do off the slope and a vast range of lodging options, with an accommodation capacity of 23,000. The variety of meals served up by the 50 or so restaurants in town is possibly unequaled at a North American ski resort. Dining options include Cajun, French, German, Hunan Chinese, Java, Mandarin, Mexican, Native American, Northern Italian, Organic, Rastafarian, Southern Italian, Sushi and Vegetarian.
One of Colorado's most popular resorts, Breckenridge has expert skiing up to 12,998 feet if you are prepared to hike for it. With the addition of the 307 acres of 'expert only' terrain on Peak 7 a few years ago, Breckenridge now has four mountains, named Peaks 7, 8, 9 and 10. Peak 8, with half of the resort's 2000+ skiable acres, is largely classified as expert terrain. Peak 10 is also mainly for experts, with 63% of its terrain classified most difficult. Most of the gentler slopes are on user-friendly Peak 9 which has almost half of the resort's lifts and snowmaking covering a quarter of its terrain.
Breckenridge is not purpose-built, rather it is an original mining town with 171 listed buildings. The town was founded in 1859 and is the oldest continually inhabited community in the Colorado mountains. As you'd expect, there's a huge choice of things to do off the slope and a vast range of lodging options, with an accommodation capacity of 23,000. The variety of meals served up by the 50 or so restaurants in town is possibly unequaled at a North American ski resort. Dining options include Cajun, French, German, Hunan Chinese, Java, Mandarin, Mexican, Native American, Northern Italian, Organic, Rastafarian, Southern Italian, Sushi and Vegetarian.