Planning your ski trip

Heavenly gondola. Photo by: The-Ski-Guru. Heavenly is another of the resorts that will roll out Emma later this season. Emma, the World's First Digital Mountain Assistant, Kicks Off the 2018-19 Winter Season in Beta at Keystone Ski Resort.

When should you start planning your ski trip? For me it should be at least six months in advance to your trip, more if you are planning to travel in school holidays.

If you are travelling in the shoulder season (low season), such as early December – before the 20th), January, March in Europe (not in the US and Canada as they have Spring Break) and April (outside of Easter weekend), you can plan a bit more on top of the time and maybe see how snow conditions are.

Ski Touring Vallée de Saint Bon - Les Trois Vallées.
Ski Touring Vallée de Saint Bon – Les Trois Vallées.

For me, I need to know I have a trip in sight to be able to cope with routine. I always have my winter trip arranged by July (we go skiing with the family in February), and I do reserve the flat we use year-on-year as soon as we leave the place when our week is finished- so I book it one year in advance! That is because I have such a great deal, and my kids love going back to the same place, that is a no-brainer.

So where to start for planning your ski trip?

Well, you can try to start thinking where you want to go. Talking of the Northern Hemisphere- if you live in the UK as we do – are you going to drive (so that is only Europe and it would be France, Switzerland, Italy and maybe the Pyrenees’ or Austria, or fly, where you can add also the US, Canada or Japan. You can see the different websites with information on resorts and try to sort what resort is for the type of skier/boarder you are, or which one caters a diverse group.

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The IKON Pass expands into the land of enchantment with Taos Ski Valley as its Latest Partner

Photo: Taos Ski Resort. Avalanche buries two near Kachina Peak.

The Ikon Pass announces that Taos Ski Valley in New Mexico will join the Ikon Pass community for winter 2018/2019, offering expanded access across the Rockies from British Columbia to New Mexico.

Taos is the southern gateway to the Rocky Mountains, nestled in an intimate valley where Spanish Colonial and Native American history meet a European village. The mountain boasts over 100 trails, including expert hike-to terrain on Kachina Peak. Taos Ski Valley is in the midst of a $300 million overhaul with new infrastructure and updated amenities, including the recently opened ski-in/ski-out hotel, The Blake, and a new high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2018/2019.

Taos is a favourite for those looking for some steep runs such as Kachina Peak.
Taos is a favourite for those looking for some steep runs such as Kachina Peak.

Continue reading “The IKON Pass expands into the land of enchantment with Taos Ski Valley as its Latest Partner”

IKON Pass announces unparalleled access to Utah with the addition of Solitude Mountain Resort and Brighton Resort

Solitude Mountain Resort - Photo by Solitude Mountain Resort. Alterra Mountain Company to acquire Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah.

Now Offering Five Destinations in Utah with the IKON Pass

Ikon Pass holders now have access to nearly 10,000 acres of terrain in Utah between Deer Valley Resort, Alta, Snowbird, and now Solitude Mountain Resort and Brighton Resort – the most terrain offered in Utah on any season pass.

Earlier this month, Alterra Mountain Company completed its acquisition of Solitude Mountain Resort located in Big Cottonwood Canyon just 34 miles from the Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) and less than an hour from Deer Valley Resort. The mountain offers skiers and riders 77 runs, three bowls, and a vertical drop of 2,030 feet across 1,200 acres, plus some of the most impressive off-piste terrain in the country. The quaint base village offers ski-in/ski-out accommodations along with year-round activities for guests.

Solitude Mountain Resort is the last mountain to be acquired by Alterra Mountain Company. They will be included within the IKON Pass.
Solitude Mountain Resort is the last mountain to be acquired by Alterra Mountain Company. They will be included within the IKON Pass.

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Vail Resorts closes its acquisition of Stevens Pass Resort in Washington

Cowboy Ridge at Stevens Pass, one of the areas bought by Vail Resorts in its last shopping spree.

Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) today announced that the Company has closed on its acquisition of Stevens Pass Resort in Washington from Ski Resort Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Oz Real Estate. The final purchase price, after adjustments for certain agreed-upon terms, was $64 million. Less than 85 miles from Seattle and renowned for its plentiful snowfall, the resort sits on the crest of the Cascade Range within two national forests – the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest on the west side, and the Wenatchee National Forest on the east.

Stevens Pass is the last acquisition of Vail Resorts and will be included in the EPIC Pass.
Stevens Pass is the last acquisition of Vail Resorts and will be included in the EPIC Pass.

The 2018-19 Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass, Epic Australia Pass, and Military Epic Pass now include unlimited and unrestricted access to Stevens Pass; the Epic 7 Day and Epic 4 Day Passes now offer seven and four unrestricted days respectively. Additionally, Whistler Blackcomb’s 5 Day and 10 Day EDGE Cards, which are available to residents of Washington State and Canada, allow pass holders to use two of five, or three of 10 days at Stevens Pass or any other Vail Resorts’ owned and operated ski resorts.

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Chapelco opened the ski season 2018.

Las Pendientes lodge by the side of Chapelco ski resort, great little place where to stay at Chapelco.

Ski trails opened between the 1250 and 1700 cotes. Chapelco is expecting big snowfalls in the next days now that they opened their ski season 2018.

Chapelco has opened its ski season 2018 with a classic winter day of fog and bad weather, the ski resort has opened its Cablecar, the Chairlift Graeff, the Chairlift 63 and the Chairlift Rancho Grande with 1000 visitors to enjoy the snow in the trails that go from Plataforma 1700 until the base of the chairlift Rancho Grande at 1250 m approximately.

Chapelco - Patagonia, Argentina.
Chapelco – Patagonia, Argentina.

With a temperature of 2 C, moderate winds and little visibility, Chapelco offered 35 cm of compact snow in its Platform 1600. All areas of Ski and Snowboard School, Nursery and Snow Kindergarden, dog sledges, snow shoes and snowmobile were open to the public. The equipment rental in the base of Chapelco and the photo service received as well the first visitants. All the mountain restaurants opened their doors and showed the World Cup games on big Led screens on HD.

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Own your own cat-skiing operation. Silverton Powdercats is for sale for USD 159,000

Silverton Powdercats is out for sale! Photo Silverton Powdercats

Have you ever fancied of owning a cat-skiing operation? Well, the idea is not that difficult if you can get yourself with USD 159,000. Silverton Powdercats, a guiding business that operates in the backcountry of the San Juan Mountains in Southwest Colorado, near Silverton, Telluride and Durango is up for sale for that amount.



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Cat skiing in Silverton opens the terrain to all advanced and expert skiers with backcountry equipment and guides. Own a snowcat operation in Silverton.
Cat skiing in Silverton opens the terrain to all advanced and expert skiers with backcountry equipment and guides.

 Note that Silverton Mountain is NOT for sale, only Silverton Powdercats that is one of the snowcat operations in the area. There are other snowcat operations that are not on sale and will keep on operating as usual.  

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ALTERRA MOUNTAIN COMPANY TO ACQUIRE SOLITUDE MOUNTAIN RESORT IN UTAH

Solitude Mountain Resort - Photo by Solitude Mountain Resort. Alterra Mountain Company to acquire Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah.

Alterra Mountain Company is to acquire Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah.  Alterra Mountain Company announced today that it has entered into an agreement to purchase Solitude Mountain Resort in Utah, which would bring the company’s total to 13 year-round mountain destinations throughout North America, including the world’s largest heli-skiing operation.



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“With its close relationship with Deer Valley Resort, Solitude Mountain Resort is a natural fit for Alterra Mountain Company, and a tremendous addition to our family of destinations. We are especially excited to expand our reach within Utah and offer another ski and snowboard experience in a state known for its exceptional snow and mountain culture,” said Rusty Gregory, Chief Executive Officer, Alterra Mountain Company.

Solitude Mountain Resort is the last mountain to be acquired by Alterra Mountain Company. They will be included within the IKON Pass.
Solitude Mountain Resort is the last mountain to be acquired by Alterra Mountain Company. They will be included within the IKON Pass.

Solitude Mountain Resort is located just 34 miles from the Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) and less than an hour from Deer Valley Resort, in the renowned Big Cottonwood Canyon. The mountain offers skiers and riders 77 runs, three bowls, and a vertical drop of 2,030 feet (619 meters) across 1,200 acres, plus some of the most impressive off-piste terrain in the country. The quaint base village offers ski-in/ski-out accommodations along with year-round activities for guests.

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Ski Portillo is opening on June 23rd with more than five feet of snow.

Skiers Looking Down at Hotel Portillo. Frank Shine 2

Ski Portillo is opening on June 23rd having received 16 inches of fresh snow over the weekend (nearly five feet to the date).

The recent storm that covered Portillo’s iconic ski runs is stirring anticipation and excitement amongst skiers and boarders across North America. An all-inclusive Ski Portillo vacation is something special, nothing to compare to other ski resorts experiences. It is like you are going to a private ski mountain, and is a perfect summer getaway for guests of the Northern Hemisphere to enjoy with family and/or friends.

Ski Portillo. Photo by Adam Clark. Skiing as if you were in your own private ski resort.
Ski Portillo. Photo by Adam Clark. Skiing as if you were in your own private ski resort. Ski Portillo is opening on June 23rd.

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Colorado resorts’ downhill ski visits down again in 2017-18

Loveland Ski Area - Powder Alliance. Several new resorts join the Powder Alliance for 2018-19 ski season

As per the Denver Business Journal, visits to Colorado resorts’ downhill ski visits are down again in 2017-18, but thanks to the late snowfalls, the numbers were not as bad as feared.

Vail, the renown resorts that gave name to the company that now manages the Epic Pass.
Vail, the renown resorts that gave name to the company that now manages the Epic Pass. Colorado resorts’ downhill ski visits down again in 2017-18.

Colorado Ski Country resorts have received 7.1 million visits to their 24 member resorts, a 2 % drop from the 2016-17 ski season. This was announced on Thuresday at CSCUSA’s annual meeting.



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Vail Resorts Inc (NYSE:MTN)- the operator of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone are not part of CSCUSA and have not announced the figures for its resorts, but said before that overall resorts in North America fell 1.9 % from the previous season.

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Vail Resorts to acquire Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Okemo Mountain Resort, and Mount Sunapee Resort , and also Stevens Pass Resort in a separate transaction.

Crested Butte is one of the last additions to the EPIC Pass. Photo: Crested Butte Mountain Resort.

• Vail Resorts will acquire Triple Peaks, LLC, the parent company of Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, Mount Sunapee Resort in New Hampshire, and Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado.
• In a separate transaction, Vail Resorts will acquire Stevens Pass Resort in Washington State.
• Upon closing, Epic Pass and Whistler Blackcomb Edge Card products will now include additional access to all four resorts for the 2018-19 winter season, providing even more variety and options in New England, Colorado, and the Pacific Northwest.
• Vail Resorts plans to invest $35 million in total capital across the four resorts over the next two years.

Crested Butte viewed from town- Photo b JC Leacock - Crested Butte Mountain Resort.
Crested Butte Mountain Resort viewed from town- Photo b JC Leacock – Crested Butte Mountain Resort, now recently purchased by Vail Resorts.

As per a new press release by Vail Resorts, as of today, June 4, 2018,  Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)  has entered into an agreement to purchase Triple Peaks, LLC, the parent company of Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, Mount Sunapee Resort in New Hampshire, and Crested Butte Mountain Resort in Colorado. The Company will purchase Triple Peaks, LLC from the Mueller family for a purchase price of $82 million, subject to certain adjustments. At closing, Triple Peaks will pay $155 million to pay off the leases that all three resorts have with Ski Resort Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Oz Real Estate, with funds provided by Vail Resorts.

Continue reading “Vail Resorts to acquire Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Okemo Mountain Resort, and Mount Sunapee Resort , and also Stevens Pass Resort in a separate transaction.”