Month: October 2018

Welcome back to Skiing Through Life! This week we’re jetting out to California to look at some of the US’s most scenic skiing. Heavenly Ski Resort, more commonly known as Lake Tahoe ski area, sits in south Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border, right in the middle of the El Dorado-Toiyabe National Forest. Throughout the resort, beautiful views of Lake Tahoe are almost always visible. The striking blue of the lake in the background, against the glittering white snow makes for a picture-perfect ski getaway.

Level of Difficulty

The terrain at Heavenly Resort is like nothing else with the most skiable acres at Lake Tahoe. Guests at this resort can enjoy 3500 vertical feet of pure powder and a huge feature is crossing state lines while you’re skiing! Luckily for intermediate skiers, 62% of the trails at Heavenly are category blue which is a huge difference from most resorts on the west coast. 8% of the trails are beginner trails and then 25% are black diamond with the remaining 5% being double black diamonds. There are 97 total runs at this mountain, 2 terrain parks and the longest run is 5.5 miles! Heavenly consists of 2 main mountains with their base areas up at 7170 feet and their summit being 10,067 feet.

Family-Friendliness

With 70% of the runs at this mountain categorized as intermediate skiing level or below, this mountain is absolutely a perfect destination for either families with young kids or guests just learning how to ski. Intermediate runs can also be great for those who are a bit timid when skiing out west. It’s important to acknowledge that blue trails on bigger mountains are typically the equivalent of black runs on smaller mountains, so when confident east coast skiers trek out to the west, these blue runs can be a great place to start off. One of the biggest guest services that Heavenly boasts is their day care center. It’s conveniently located in the California Base Lodge and there are multiple options when dropping off your kids such as one-on-one nanny services to ski lessons mixed with day care services.

Apres-Ski Activities

Apres-Ski activities at heavenly include everything from horse-drawn sleigh rides to the ultimate spa treatments, to shopping along the edge of gorgeous Lake Tahoe. For actual activities, Heavenly boasts sleigh and carriage rides, a cinema, a bowling alley, an escape room, and even an Italian music lounge. If looking for some great grub after a long day of skiing, you can choose from a steakhouse, a lakefront cafe, multiple bars, or even a latin restaurant. If these options don’t excite, there are over 20 more options for quick food like a donut shop to fine dining at a seafood restaurant. One of my favorite things to always look for at a ski resort are the spas because I can always guarantee that I’ll be sore after the first couple of days out skiing. Offering over 5 spas in the area, the most popular spa Heavenly guests flock to is BioSpirit. Lastly, the shopping in the main village at Heavenly is sure to excite us ski fanatics. Cecil’s Plaza in the village offers many different ski gear stores such as Oakley, Patagonia, the North Face, and demo gear shops.

Weather/Snowfall

Heavenly, even being in California, is able to boast an average of 360 inches of snowfall per year with 300 of their season’s days being bluebirds. Heavenly even offers a text service that will keep you up-to-date with the mountain conditions. The mountain releases daily snow reports and if there’s a sudden shortage of snow, their snowmakers are able to cover 73% of the entire mountain.

Accessibility

Because the east is known for its icy terrain, many people will fly out to Heavenly to ski in the west coast powder. If flying into the resort, guests can come into the Reno/Tahoe International Airport or the Sacramento International Airport. If flying into the first location, guests can jump right on Highway 580 and arrive within an hour. The best part of flying into the resort is that if you present your boarding pass and an ID to someone at guest services, you’ll receive a free afternoon lift ticket to ski that day from 12:30-4:00! To learn more about this opportunity, click here.

Overall, Heavenly offers a huge opportunity for skiers to take their technique from a beginner skier to an intermediate or even advanced level because of the huge amount of intermediate terrain offered here. It’s a great location for families and it’s scenic skiing views are something everyone should experience at least once.

Welcome back to Skiing Through Life! This week we’ll be traveling down to New Mexico. Now I know what you’re thinking, New Mexico? Really? Isn’t it too warm there? Well, despite popular belief, New Mexico has some of the best skiing in the country. Taos  Ski Resort, nestled in the mountains of the Taos ski valley, is one of the most authentic skiing experiences North America has to offer. This authenticity is seen with Taos’s motion to prohibit snowboarding up until 2008! Not that they had anything against snowboarders, but again, this is a very authentic ski location which means it’s rooted in tradition and history. And if history tells us anything about snow sports, it’s that snowboarding wasn’t always highly-regarded by the community. With that bit of history, let’s get started!

Level of Difficulty

Taos, like many resorts out West, has some very daunting back bowls, but also some spaces for beginner skiers. 15% of Taos’s runs are green runs and 18% of them are intermediate runs, so about a third of the runs are perfect for type I and type II skiers. Taos’s trail percentage is actually majority expert runs with double black trails coming in at 37% and 30% of the runs being advanced. This isn’t bad for intermediate skiers because

if you’re there for an extended period of time, finding a less difficult advanced run will be easy, considering how many options there are. Unfortunately there’s only 1 terrain park but on the bright side it is in the middle of an intermediate trail which means that landing tricks will be easier because of the decreased incline of the landing zones. Coming back to the expert and advanced runs, the majority of expert runs will be off the Highline Ridge and the West Basin Ridge, located behind the first main peak. With these runs, skiers have to be extremely cautious about avalanche conditions. To actually get to these runs, skiers have to take a lift up to the top of the highest peak, Kachina, and then

ski along a ridge trail, traversing the top of the mountain range. The one run where avalanche danger would be most prevalent is the single run that starts at the top of Kachina Peak at over 12,000 feet. Because of this danger, Taos does daily avalanche control and then releases an avalanche report for the day so that skiers can go at their own discretion.

Family-Friendliness

With a mountain of this size (111 trails!), Taos is able to incorporate 15+ ski “lesson” programs. These programs range from women-specific programs, to a Ski Week program designed for participants to make life-long ski friends, There are also programs specifically for “steeps and bumps” and sunrise skiing. Taos certainly puts a new spin on the words “ski lessons”. While adults are busy making all of those friends during ski week, they can enroll their kids in the same program, just for younger people. Taos also has Child Ski Week which helps them meet other kids on the mountain and allows them to take part of the tradition that’s been at Taos since its early years. Taos additionally offers childcare for kids 2 months old through 3 years old. The childcare center is newly renovated, and exciting programs are planned for the kids who are brought here during the day. Lastly, Taos has an adaptive program for disabled skiers and snowboarders. All people enrolled in this program are given an individual instructor to ensure one-on-one safety and supervision.

Apres-Ski Activities

One of the stand-out aspects of Taos Resort is that it has one of the few sustainable ski lodges in the country. The Blake, which sits at the center of the bottom of the mountain “redefines future development”. The lodge has been awarded LEED Silver certification and has a geothermal heating and cooling system. By 2020, it is estimated that Taos will have reduced its greenhouse gas emissions by 20%. In addition to this impressive lodging option, Taos has many different restaurant options such as quick ski-in ski-out cafes and luxury restaurants such as 192 at The Blake. Fun outdoor activities include Big Al’s snowmobile tours, cross country skiing through the Enchanted Forest, horseback rides and llama trekking (when the snow isn’t too deep), and lastly, Ojo Caliente which is a mineral springs resort and spa. Although this spa is about 30 miles south of Taos, it’s worth the drive because of the 11 revitalizing mineral pools it offers.

Weather/Snowfall

Because it is so far south, Taos does not receive as much snow as some of the resorts up north but it does receive a good amount. Typical snowfall for Taos is around 120 inches per winter. In past years, Taos’s snowfall had been all over the place, some winters the largest snowfalls have been in the spring, around March and April, and other years, the biggest snowfalls have been in December and January. It varies from winter to winter, but it’s sure that this resort will never be short of snow because they do have snow machines along their trails.

Accessibility

The two major airports near Taos are Santa Fe Airport which is 100 miles away from the resort and Albuquerque Airport which is 159 miles away. Both of these airports service major airlines. The closest airport to the resort is Taos Regional Airport which is just 19 miles away. This airport is for private and charter flights if coming in on private aircraft. There is also Taos Air which services flights from Dallas Love Field Airport and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. If driving in to the resort, Taos suggests taking the High Road, literally. This byway is known for its scenic spans through the desert, mountains, and tiny Hispanic villages established in the 1600s and 1700s.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a resort deeply rooted in tradition, Taos is for you. They have programs that have been around since the resort’s beginnings and if you’re a classic skier who doesn’t like to deviate, make this your mountain.

Welcome back to Skiing Through Life! If you’re an avid skier, you’re probably wondering why I haven’t covered one of the most popular ski destinations not only in the US, but in the world. Well, the reason I haven’t covered a resort in Colorado yet is because I couldn’t choose one to write about because there’s so many great resorts! But alas, I have chosen and this week we’ll be looking at the Kardashian’s dream ski escape, Vail Ski Resort in Colorado. Yes, as you can imagine, Vail resort is quite expensive to ski at because it has all the luxury to please even the Kardashian Family. But, one thing to keep in mind, not everyone is obligated to book a full week of private lessons and rent a 20 person ski chalet when they come to visit Vail. It can be expensive, but only if you make it. With that in mind, let’s get started!

Level of Difficulty

With a whopping 195 trails on this mountain, Vail is one of the largest ski resorts in the world. About 50 percent of these trails are labeled beginner/intermediate and 50% are advanced. The resort is spread over 6 bowls, 2 main ski areas, and 1 basin. 2 of these bowls are considered “back bowls” because they’re located on the back side of the mountain and both of these bowls only consist of advanced, gladed terrain. The 2 main ski areas are located at the bottom and mid-mountain, and both contain green, blue, and black diamond trails and the lower area also has a terrain park. Within the 4 other bowls, most of the terrain is going to be dominantly intermediate and advanced but there are certainly bunny slopes for beginners and also backcountry skiing that is accessible for experts by heli-ski companies.

Family-Friendliness

As almost every mountain does, Vail Resort offers private ski lessons and group ski lessons but what sets them apart from most resorts are their signature programs. One program called DEVO is focused around young children learning everything from skiing in different conditions (backcountry, groomed, etc) to learning to race and using the terrain park. Another highlighted program is Ski Girls Rock which is a camp that takes place 4 times over the winter and works to improve girls’ self esteem, social skills, group skills, and of course, skiing skills. Lastly, the mountain offers a program called Ski Younger Now which teaches people who learned to ski in the 70s and 80s, how to use more modern ski equipment and ski with lower impact on their bodies. In addition to these 3 programs and others, Vail also has ski lessons for disabled skiers through their adaptive lesson program. Overall, Vail has lessons for everyone in the family and again, 50% of their trails are green and blue trails which is perfect for the kids!

Apres-Ski Activities

If you’re a member of the skiing world, you probably know that people flock to Vail sometimes specifically for the apres-ski environment. Even if you don’t ski, you’d still have a great trip because there’s so much to do off the mountain! With 9 signature restaurants, it’s hard to choose which one to go to! One restaurant, Vendetta’s is a favorite for ski patrol and instructors to hang out at after work which allows guests to mingle and talk over dinner with the employees. The mountain also boasts 9 clubs/bars. In addition to this, Vail has the legendary Vail Village which has a small-town ambiance with boutiques, restaurants, bars, and luxury hotels such as Vail’s own Four Season’s Resort.

Weather/Snowfall

Considering that Vail is pretty far west out in Colorado, it does receive a considerable amount of snow. Getting over 300 inches of snow last year, Vail certainly has lots of powder skiing which is especially great for backcountry skiers. Vail gets the bulk of this snowfall in January through mid February and last year, they got some of their biggest snow totals in March which is awesome for their spring skiers!

Accessibility

One thing that’s a major concern for many skiers coming out to Vail is how to get to the mountain considering it’s up in the Rocky Mountains. But have no fear, Vail is very accessible with 3 options for flying in to the resort. If coming from far away such as the East coast, guests can fly into Denver International Airport which is just a 2 hour drive away from Vail, and there is also a smaller regional airport, Eagle County Regional Airport which is just 30 minutes away. If flying in via private plane, Vail Valley Jet Center is perfect and offers amenities such as cleaning private jets.

Overall, Vail is the ultimate luxury ski escape and while highly recommended for families because of its great learn-to-ski programs, many young couples also flock here for a romantic winter honeymoon!

Welcome back to Skiing Through Life! This week we’re back to the US. I thought it would be a great idea to focus on the ski resort where I basically grew up. Although I’ve skied frequently in Vermont and even been out West, I’ll always keep Pennsylvania’s icy, man-made snow-covered slopes in a special place in my heart. Because it’s the closest mountain to where I live that has lots of trails, Camelback Mountain in Tannersville, PA is my home resort. Camelback Resort is situated in the Pocono Mountains of eastern Pennsylvania as one of the largest ski resorts in Pennsylvania. Keeping with the original 5 categories (level of difficulty, family-friendliness, apres-ski activities, weather, and accessibility), let’s get started!

Level of Difficulty

Although Camelback only has 37 trails, its 6 black diamond trails will give you a (ski) run for your money! 2 of these black diamond runs are double black diamonds and what makes them so challenging is that the trails do tend to be very narrow at the top, so skiers have to watch out for others around them and make sharp turns. Both of the runs also have mogul sections on the side which makes the normal skiing area even more narrow. Other than these 6 advanced trails, Camelback offers great cruising trails such as Nile Mile. This will take you all the way from the top of the mountain to the bottom on a blue run and will drop you in front of my favorite restaurant, Trail’s End Pub and Grille. For people trying skiing for the first time, the green run, Sunbowl is perfect for you! The run is 2 times the width of a normal ski trail and has 2 of its own lifts to take you back to the top. Camelback also boasts a fantastic ski school with private and group lessons for both adults and kids. With 11 green runs and 12 blue runs, Camelback is perfect for the beginner and intermediate skier.

Family-Friendliness

One of the biggest new marketing tactics for Camelback Resort is the fairly new addition of Aquatopia inside the Camelback Lodge. Although I only live about an hour from Camelback, I’ve stayed at the resort twice and it is w

ell worth it! With this being said, the nursery in the lodge is great for families with kids that are too young to ski or just don’t want to. The nursery takes care of kids from 1-6 years old for a full day so that parents can explore the mountain. In addition to the nursery, Camelback also offers snow-tubing so that if kids get tired from skiing or snowboarding, they can sit back and slide down the mountain instead.

Apres Ski Activities

Weather/Snowfall

Considering Camelback’s location, the resort does not receive nearly as much snow as resorts out West and resorts in VT, NH, ME, etc. To be quite honest, Camelback does not offer the best skiing conditions and there have been many a time where I have skied under their snow makers and then tumbled down the mountain because of the slippery artificial snow, but when the resort is in peak snow-fall season around the end of January-February, the slopes do not disappoint. Overall, if you’ve skied out West, you might be cringing for a while until you get used to slipping while you’re supposed to be gripping but Camelback is overall the best snow-making resort you’ll find in Pennsylvania. Snowfall here will usually start anywhere from early November to mid-December but temperatures typically stay in the 20s-30s which makes for slush-less trails.

Accessibility

Because Camelback is so close to New Jersey, if coming from out of state, visitors can fly into Newark Airport (in NJ) and then drive out. It’s about a one-hour drive from my home in mid/northern NJ and about a 2 hour drive from Newark. Other options include flying into smaller airports or even private airports around Camelback’s area. If driving from New Jersey into Tannersville, the drive is absolutely beautiful throughout all of the seasons because of the pass through the Delaware Water Gap and one of the perks of driving in are the multiple outlet stores along the way!

To say that this mountain is oriented towards family fun is an understatement!

Welcome back to Skiing Through Life! I’m so excited to share this next ski area with you because this week’s resort is actually 6 resorts combined! This week we’re going to switch it up a little bit and learn about each of the 6 resorts that comprise the Chamonix-Mont Blanc Valley in France! Located in south-eastern France, this gorgeous valley holds 10 different ski areas! For the daredevils who venture to Chamonix, there are 4 altitude ski areas which are situated higher up in the mountains that sit above and surround Chamonix valley. These resorts include: Brevent-Flegere, Les Grandes Montets, Balme-Vallorcine, and Les Houches. Although we won’t be exploring these resorts in this post, they’re definitely worth checking out here. The 6 other resorts that makeup this skier’s paradise are Le Savoy, Les Planards, Les Chosalets, La Vormaine, La Poya, and Le Tourchet.

Le Savoy

Starting with Le Savoy, this resort is located in the heart of Chamonix valley and is best for beginners. The area features 2 drag lifts and a rolling carpet which are both specifically tailored to beginner skiers. Another big feature of this ski area is its focus on children’s skiing, featuring a ski kindergarten. The area’s snow is majority artificial but they do offer extensive parking space and in addition to kindergarten ski school, they have Club Enfants for children age 3 to 12 learning to ski.

Les Planards

The second resort we’ll talk about is Les Planards. Similar to Le Savoy, this ski area is also good for beginner skiers but offers something for the intermediate levels too. The area also has a a drag lift but then also features a chairlift with service to multiple intermediate runs and even a slalom course for races and contests. As an addition to the area, Les Planards is also home to the Chamonix Alpine Coaster Luge.

Les Chosalets

Moving on to the third ski area, we land at Les Chosalets. Similar to the first two ski areas, this resort is perfect for families. It has lots of beginner slopes and has cheaper lift tickets than some of the other ski areas. The one thing that sets this area apart is a restaurant they have which allows guests to dine in a glass igloo decorated with lights and a Christmas tree during the holiday season. The restaurant is best enjoyed at night because of the see-through glass panels that allow a 360 view of the sky and the bright lights hung throughout the igloo!

Vormaine

As the fourth featured ski area, Vormaine ski resort is perfect for beginner skiers and snowboarders. This area is where you’ll find many people taking up snowboarding for the first time. Vormaine also offers a private area just for freestyle riding which includes small features for beginners learning tricks. Considering that Vormaine is in the bottom of the valley (as are the other 5 resorts), it also has a kindergarten ski school with mellow runs.

La Poya/Le Tourchet

Lastly, ski areas La Poya and Le Tourchet both offer ski schools with their easy slopes. La Poya area is family-run, accessible by train, has snow-shoeing trails through forest landscapes, and is a great spot for beginners and new intermediate riders. Le Tourchet is set right in the middle of Chamonix village and features an ice rink, holiday torchlight descents by ski instructors, and free night skiing every Thursday which includes wine and hot chocolate!

Overall, these 6 valley resorts are perfect for family fun or for people just getting started with skiing!