Two of our states got the bulk of the best skiing in the world: Colorado and Utah. And in the latter state there is one place that earns my plaudits as one of the best ski areas in the country. Alta. While resorts around the country like Vail and Mammoth have gone the way of glitz, turning their hills into settings from Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and increasing prices to stratospheric levels (it now costs $78 to ski a day at Mammoth), Alta has maintained the rustic charm that has made it the ski area of choice for most Utahans that I know.
This piece over at AP makes a better case than I can about why Alta is such an excellent place to ski. It’s not just that it’s cheaper. It’s the attitude and the vibe and the location (tucked away up in the Canyon). It;s also the policy of keeping out snowboarders and restricting the number of skiers on the hill. All these things, as you will read here, make Alta one of my favorite ski areas on the planet.
Minicountry Skiing. Hello, Andorra!
Some people say that Spain is the California of Europe: you can beach it in the morning and ski in the afternoon. Not that Spaniards would ever try to attempt such a packed schedule…
While you can ski in the Spanish Pyrenees, some people say that skiing is better in Andorra, one of those tiny countries in Europe, stuck between France and Spain. It only has 60,000 people (and the world’s highest life expectancy). You could probably meet all of them on the slopes. Everyone else will be in the stores…Andorra is a tax haven and tourists like to come here to buy booze and cigs.
This site offers good information on skiing. Sounds pretty affordable, too. Plus, it adds another easy country to your list. Not that you care about lists, of course.
Photo of the Day (12/25/06)
Here is one to Romania! It’s hard to believe they will be a part of the EU in no time…
I have never been but the mountains (Piatra Craiului) are supposed to be great. A few of my friends have gone there to hike and ski and loved it. Here is a photo of the countryside from Marek Wagner for the Czech travel mag Koktejl.
Romania and Bulgaria are the new hot places to travel in Europe. Adventure travelers fear that the EU membership will make them lose their edge. Real estate agents are buying property there like crazy because it’s still cheap but they know when those budget airlines start offloading (first students, bachelor party types, then families from Western Europe) by the thousands, it is officially over.
Snowboarder Jailed for Homicide on the Slopes
I’m not sure which scares me more; I could go to jail for snowboarding if I hit a skier, or I could die while skiing if I get hit by a snowboarder.
Sadly, this was the unfortunate reality for a Maryland snowboarder who slammed into 29-year old skier, Heather Donahue. The 18-year old snowboarder was traveling an estimated 45 mph when the collision occurred at Jackson Hole. Donahue suffered head injuries and died shortly afterwards.
The snowboarder, a student from Tufts University, pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and was sentenced to a year in jail and 240 hours of community service.
So be careful out there this season, folks, with whichever sport you embrace.
Colorado Snow!
Just when it seemed like all hope was lost, that there would be no snow this year, Colorado gets dumped on. Oh, the joy. Too bad I’m not heading there anytime soon, but rather will be in Mammoth lakes where the snow is frighteningly skimpy right now.
BUT, should Colorado be of interest, I offer herewith a few fun bits for your Web surfing pleasure. First a quick, but satisfying montage (via Boing Boing) of photos showing the blizzard of 2006 in action. And second a reader just sent in this handy map of Colorado ski areas. (Thanks, Tracy!)