THE LAST RESORTS

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Aspen, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass



There may not be a better-known ski area than Aspen, but there are many areas known to be better for those who don’t know how to ski-30 percent of the terrain is rated as more difficult and the rest is most difficult. Full-day adult lift tickets are among the priciest at $27. But Aspen, of course, is as famous for attitude as it is for altitude. The picturesque town at the base of the mountain looks as if it came off a Hollywood back lot -with a few of the glamorous stars thrown in. Novice skiers will appreciate the miles of gentle terrain offered by Buttermilk. The full-day adult lift ticket at Buttermilk is $26.

Two new trails and some gladed terrain have been opened this year at Aspen Highlands, the ski area that boasts the highest vertical rise in Colorado (3,800 feet). More than 60 trails are served by 12 lifts. On a Highlands family plan, two parents and all children (18 and under) can ski for a set rate that can save hundreds of dollars.

At Snowmass, almost all the lodging is mountainside with ski-in and ski-out convenience. Hot tubs and heated swimming pools abound. More than 60 percent of the trails are wide open, intermediate skiing, which appeals to families. There are 11 double chairlifts, two triple chairs and one platter pull serving more than 1,500 acres of skiing and four on-mountain restaurants. A Snowmass full-day adult lift ticket is $26.

Flights to Aspen-Highlands-Buttermilk-Snowmass from Denver are available on Aspen Airways and Rocky Mountain Airways with hourly flights during winter’s peak season to Sardy Field, about two miles from Aspen. Trailways offers daily runs to and from the Denver airport and Aspen bus depot. Or take the train: Amtrak runs from Denver to Glenwood Springs.

In Aspen, call (303) 925-1940 for information or (303) 925-9000 for reservations. In Snowmass, visitor information is 923-2000; reservations, 923-2010.



Breckenridge



This resort can make some Texas-style boasts: more advanced trails than any other Colorado ski resort, the largest cross-country skiing center in the state, the largest snowmobile touring center in the world and snowcoach tours of old mining camps.

A third mountain-Peak 10-opens its slopes this year, bringing the number of trails to 110, with more than 50 miles of skiable terrain for all levels. And 15 lifts can put 20,000 skiers there per hour. An adult full-day lift ticket will set you back $26. Ski The Summit packages, valid at Brecken-ridge, Copper Mountain, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin, are available; the four-day adult lift ticket is $88. Breckenridge is 85 miles from Denver and 105 miles from Colorado Springs. Breckenridge boosters say air service is just around the corner, but currently, the only way to get there is by car or bus. For information, call (303) 453-6018.



Vail and Beaver Creek



Trendy Vail has long been known for its aprés-ski entertainment; this year, the attention is on the slopes, in the form of an added 75 acres of new ski trails and four new quadruple chairlifts, including the Mid-Vail Vista Bahn, a covered quad lift from Vail Village to Mid-Vail.

Now, 18 lifts serve 60 miles of slopes and trails on one mountain, including two vast bowls for advanced powder skiing. The terrain, including 703 acres of bowls, is graded 33 percent easiest, 36 percent more difficult and 31 percent advanced.

Just 10 miles down the road is Beaver Creek and its pedestrian village (no cars allowed) at the base of the lifts. Ski-area promoters say that it was designed to eliminate lift lines with five triple and three double chairlifts serving 670 acres of trails. An attractive feature here is the extensive beginner and intermediate terrain at the summit. At many resorts the easy slopes are near the base, but at Beaver Creek, beginners get the same spectacular view as the hot shots.

At either area a full-day adult lift ticket is $27. A Beginners Only Package at $35 offers lift ticket, group ski lesson and voucher for $5 worth of ski rental. All multi-day tickets are interchangeable between the two areas. A shuttle between Beaver Creek and Vail costs $1 each way. Rocky Mountain Airways has direct flights from Denver to Avon, 10 miles from Vail, on 50-passenger Dash 7 aircraft. Trailways buses make the run from Denver. For Vail, call (800) 525-3875; Beaver Creek, (800) 525-2257.



Winter Park and Mary Jane



One of Colorado’s largest and oldest ski resorts has just added two new quad chairs and 26 additional acres; now, the two adjoining mountains provide 826 acres of skiing terrain (25 percent easiest, 45 percent intermediate and 30 percent advanced). The 17 chairlifts can whisk 23,000 skiers per hour to the tops of the runs. But the Apollo Flats teaching area has its own, slower-moving lift. And there is even one lift-the Galloping Goose-built especially for those of us who don’t think we could ever, ever learn to ski but want to try just a little bit.

Although full-day lift tickets are $22, no tickets are required for the Goose. Most of the tough runs are on Mary Jane, where 65 percent of them are the steep, moguled routes that experts love and peanut-hillers fear.

These mountains are only 67 miles from Denver’s Stapleton Field and are served several times daily by Winter Park Express Bus and Trailways. Texas skiers can be on the slopes the same day they leave home and get in a morning of skiing before they return. Winter Park offers accommodations for 8,000 guests and all may be booked through Winter Park Central Reservations-(303) 726-5587.



Steamboat Springs

A new triple chairlift in the 400-acre Sunshine Bowl carries 1,800 skiers per hour to its 1,400 acres and 91 runs. (Over half of the runs are rated intermediate.) An adult full-day ticket is $25, discounted to $23 in the value season, November 22 through December 13 and April 6 through 13.

Steamboat has room for more than 14,000 skiers, and in addition to the many saunas and hot tubs scattered around town, there are those famous hot springs pools for which Steamboat Springs was named.

Steamboat Airport, 157 miles from Denver, is five miles from the base of the mountain. Rocky Mountain Airways provides several flights daily. For reservations, call (303) 879-0740.



Keystone

Going straight to the top makes a beginner feel like a pro right away. And no matter how the skis behave, the exhilaration of the Keystone scenery at this altitude is worth the trip. Here you can triple your fun: Ski three mountains-Keystone, Arapahoe Basin and North Peak-for the price of one lift ticket ($26 for full-day adult). Additional terrain is open on North Peak this year, bringing the total to 1,300 acres of skiable country. This is the second season for North Peak, which is 78 percent advanced with 1,620 feet of steep and bumpy vertical.

Keystone Resort holds a four-star rating from Mobile Travel Guide and five diamonds from the American Automobile Association for its 152-room lodge and more than 900 condominiums and private homes.

Arapahoe Basin, North America’s highest lift-served ski area, offers skiing into June, with above-timberline, open bowl powder. Keystone has opened 200 acres for night skiing this season, and for those who prefer their sliding surfaces more horizontal, there is day and evening ice skating on Keystone Lake, which claims to be the world’s largest outdoor maintained skating facility.

Keystone is 75 miles from Denver. Bus and chauffered van shuttle services and rental cars are available from Stapleton Field. In Keystone, free shuttle bus service provides transportation throughout the resort and to all three ski areas. For information, call (303) 468-2316.



Copper Mountain



This resort has enjoyed increasing popularity over the years with skiers of all levels. The mountain is sectioned according to skill: On the west side, beginners have 21 trails and 25 percent of the mountain; intermediates have 28 trails and 40 percent; the advanced allotment is 24 trails and 35 percent. Intermediate to advanced skiers can ski in the above-timberline, 50-acre Union Bowl. New trails and two new chairlifts bring the total acreage to 1,160, served by 19 lifts. Adult full-day lift tickets are $26. Ski the Summit tickets for 4 of 5 days are $88 and are good for Copper Mountain, Breck-enridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin. The resort’s planned village at the base of the mountain has 35 restaurants and shops, plus ice skating on a lighted rink on Westlake.

Copper Mountain is 75 miles from Denver and 90 miles from Colorado Springs. Commuter airline connections are available at Stapleton on Rocky Mountain Airways, which flies to the Avon Airport, 35 miles west of Copper Mountain. Bus service from Denver is by Trailways. Call Copper Mountain Resort at (800) 525-3878.



Crested Butte

The big news here is that American Airlines has direct flights from D/FW to Gunnison, 30 miles from the Crested Butte slopes. This kind of availability opens the door to North Texas skiers. But even when Crested Butte was hard to get to it was worth it- short or non-existent lift lines, even on holiday weekends, were the norm, not the exception.

There are 6,400 beds at the mountain base and surrounding area. Extensive crosscountry ski programs are available on 13 kilometers of maintained trails. Moonlight tours, instruction and guide service are available. All-day adult lift tickets are $22.

In addition to the 420 acres of maintained slopes served by 10 lifts, adventurous advanced skiers can jump into the Outer Limits, more than 400 acres of steep and deep untracked powder. Breakdown on the groomed terrain is 27 percent beginner, 53 percent intermediate, 20 percent advanced. Call (303) 349-2222.

Purgatory

Here’s another remote area that boasts quick access to the slopes. The 630 acres of trails, located in southwest Colorado near Durango, are served by four triple chairlifts and five doubles. The resort has added 120 acres of intermediate and advanced tree and glade skiing. For beginners, Purgatory has several gentle slopes and a separate seven-acre area for learning the basics without getting caught in the backwash of more accomplished skiers. Intermediate skiers have 50 percent of Purgatory at their disposal; advanced, 30 percent. The all-day adult lift ticket is $22. For reservations at Purgatory or in Durango, call (800) 525-0892.



Monarch

Hidden 11,000 feet up on the Continental Divide in the San Isabel National Forest, little-publicized Monarch offers four double chairlifts and 46 trails on 700 sub-alpine acres: 20 percent easiest, 52 percent more difficult, and 28 percent most difficult. Monarch Lodge, three miles from the ski area, is the only game in town. It has 100 guest rooms, plus restaurants and bar facilities. It’s 21 miles from Salida, 157 miles from Denver and 120 miles from Pueblo. Air travel to Salida is by charter service or Trailways bus. An adult all-day lift ticket is $18. For reservations at the lodge, (800) 525-9390.



Powderhorn

Located on Grand Mesa, the largest flattop mountain in the world, Powderhorn is known for its glade skiing and remoteness. Intermediate skiers will enjoy long cruising runs over 65 percent of the mountain; 15 percent of the runs are rated easiest and 20 percent are most difficult. Two double chairlifts and two pomas handle the uphill activity. A full-day adult ticket runs $18 on the weekends and $15 weekdays. Limited slopeside shelter is available in condominium units and a lodge. Other rooms are available in Grand Junction, 45 minutes away. For reservations, call (800) 824-8939.



Telluride

Telluride, an old mining town in the San Juan Mountains, ranks among the fastest-growing areas in Colorado, with four new chairlifts, 100 acres of runs and a regional airport-all open for business this year. Telluride now has nine lifts, serving 43 trails over 640 acres of skiable terrain: 15 percent easiest, 50 percent intermediate and 35 percent advanced. A full-day adult lift ticket is $22. Expected to begin service in time for the Christmas vacation, Trans-Colorado Airlines will make two flights daily from Denver (335 miles away) and two from Albuquerque (300 miles) to Telluride’s new airport. -Compiled by Thorn Marshall



and Beyond



BUT COLORADO DOESN’T have the corner on skiing the West. Texans are notoriously adventurous, always seeking to broaden their horizons and conquer the next frontier.



California



ALPINE MEADOWS

Overlooking the north shore of Lake Tahoe, Alpine Meadows has the longest ski season in the Lake Tahoe area, running from November to the end of May. An adult all-day lift ticket is $22. Alpine Meadows is also the site of the increasingly popular Corporate Ski Challenge. Since its inception in 1980, the Corporate Ski Challenge has provided a forum for executives to combine their athletic prowess with their competitive spirit. More than 150 corporations participate, involving over 1,200 contestants. This season’s challenge will be March 3 through 9. For more information, call (415) 893-4135. Alpine Meadows is only a 60-min-ute drive from Reno. (916) 583-1045.



HEAVENLY

Straddling the California/Nevada border, this is America’s largest ski area. The ski season here lasts a full six months and the slopes afford spectacular views of Lake Tahoe, the Nevada desert and the Sierras. There are seven casino hotels and many other accommodations at the base of Heavenly and more than 200 hotels, motels, condos and private homes in South Lake Tahoe. Shuttle buses run to and from the slopes. The slope breakdown is 25 percent beginner, 50 percent intermediate and 25 percent advanced, making Heavenly a great family spot for skiers of all levels. Twenty-six lifts provide an uphill capacity of 26,000 skiers per hour, and snowmaking covers the entire California side. The adult all-day rate is $24. Heavenly resort is just minutes from Lake Tahoe Airport and 55 minutes from Heavenly. Call (916) 541-1330 or (702) 588-4584.



SQUAW VALLEY

If you like lots of elbow room, this area has thousands of skiable acres on five Sierra peaks overlooking Lake Tahoe. An annual snowfall of 400 inches makes beautiful powder under the warm California sunshine. The slope breakdown is 30 percent beginner, 40 percent intermediate and 30 percent advanced. There are 27 lifts including a tram and a six-passenger gondola that provide an incredible uphill capacity of 33,624 skiers per hour. An adult all-day lift ticket will run you $26. Squaw Valley is 45 miles west of Reno where you can take a bus or get a rental car. Call (916) 583-6985.



Idaho



SUN VALLEY

Celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, world-renowned Sun Valley is known for its short lift lines and celebrated guests. The most attractive feature of Sun Valley is that the entire resort is under one management; all purchases and lodging can be put on one tab. The Sun Valley ski school boasts 180 instructors for skiers of all levels. To get there, fly to either Boise, Idaho, or Salt Lake City, Utah, then take the commuter Horizon Airlines to Hailey, Idaho. A complimentary limousine service will take travelers the final 12 miles. Daily buses run from Boise. For reservations, call (800) 635-8261.



Montana



BIG SKY

With 400 inches of snow annually, this southwestern Montana resort provides a lengthy season for those who just can’t get enough. The season starts in October and ends in early May. Big Sky has two gondolas, three double chairs, one triple chair and a rope tow providing an uphill capacity of 7,400 skiers per hour. If wildlife and nature are more your speed, Yellowstone Park is 47 miles to the south. Big Sky is about 40 miles south of Bozeman, Montana, which is serviced by Northwest Orient, Frontier and Western airlines. The resort is an hour away by bus or rental car. For reservations, call (800) 548-4486.



New Mexico



ANGEL FIRE

Noted for its lack of crowds and beautiful New Mexico scenery, Angel Fire is a good stop for the intermediate alpine and nordic skier. There are 20 miles of cross-country trails and 28 miles of downhill runs throughout the resort. For lodging, the Starfire Lodge features one- and two-bedroom suites. All lodging is within walking distance of the slopes. The slope breakdown is 36 percent beginner, 45 percent intermediate and 19 percent advanced. Six chairlifts provide an uphill capacity of 8,100 skiers per hour. Angel Fire has 15 percent snowmak-ing and an adult all-day lift ticket is $20. There’s a shuttle service that runs through the area from 7 a.m. to midnight. Angel Fire is 150 miles north of Albuquerque. Call (800) 545-7856.



TAOS

Tucked away in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the excellent late-season powder here makes Taos popular for spring skiing. All of the resort lodges are within walking distance of the slopes, with more accommodations in Taos. The slope breakdown is 24 percent beginner, 25 percent intermediate and 51 percent advanced. Seven lifts provide an uphill capacity of 7,000 skiers per hour. An all-day lift ticket is $23. Located 150 miles from Albuquerque, Taos is serviced by JetAir. Call (800) 992-SNOW.



Utah



ALTA

Alta is for the hard-core skier. The yearly snowfall of 500 inches can hardly be topped. There are eight chairlifts that provide an uphill capacity of 8,500 skiers per hour, and an adult all-day lift ticket is a mere $13. Alta is just 45 minutes from Salt Lake City by car; express buses run from the Salt Lake City airport to Alta, and bus services run from all major Salt Lake City hotels to Alta. For reservations, call (801) 742-2040; for information, call (801) 742-3333.



DEER VALLEY

This luxury resort in Utah’s Wasatch Range provides attendants who unload and stow your gear, watch your skis, then load up again. Officials here say they want to provide as pleasant a ski vacation as possible. There are eight chairlifts and the mountain is limited to 3,000 skiers per day. The slope breakdown is 15 percent beginner, 50 percent intermediate and 35 percent advanced, with an all-day ticket at $29. Deer Valley is a 45-minute drive from Salt Lake International Airport and shuttle service is available. Call (800) 223-7414 or (801) 649-1000.



PARK CITY

Utah’s largest ski area covers 2,200 acres of skiing terrain on the eastern slopes of the Wasatch Mountains. Park City is an old mining town, and, the story goes, in the 1800s, more than $400 million worth of silver ore was taken from Park City’s mountains. Park City’s 82 designated trails offer terrain for all levels of ability. Thirteen chairlifts and a gondola provide an uphill capacity of 18,700 skiers per hour. All-day adult rate is $26. Park City is 27 miles east of Salt Lake City and 40 minutes from the airport by the available shuttle service. Call (800) 222-7275.



SNOWBIRD

Snowbird is owned by the oldest man ever to climb Mount Everest, Dallas businessman Dick Bass. Dick’s first resort has an annual snowfall of 500 inches and extended spring skiing with reduced rates through mid-June. There are 13 restaurants and lounges with live entertainment. The slope breakdown is 20 percent beginner, 30 percent intermediate and 50 percent advanced. The all-day rate is $25. Just 31 miles from the Salt Lake International Airport, bus service from the airport makes rental cars unnecessary. For information, call (801) 742-2222, for reservations call (800) 453-3000.



SUNDANCE

Owned by The Sundance Kid himself, Robert Redford, Sundance boasts a back-to-nature approach. As Redford boasts, “Sundance is nature. No condos, malls, boutiques. And no hype!” Just this year, Sundance added a new lift that has opened a new side of the mountain, giving the resort an uphill capacity of 4,400 skiers per hour. The all-day rate is $20. One hour from Salt Lake City International Airport, you’ll need a rental car to get to Sundance. (801) 225-4107.



Wyoming



JACKSON HOLE/TETON VILLAGE

“If there is a better place to ski in the United States than Jackson Hole, I haven’t seen it,” says Jean-Claude Killy of this resort near the National Elk Refuge, the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Park. Jackson Hole spans two mountains and offers 100 miles of bows, chutes, traverses and machine-groomed trails. An adult all-day lift ticket is $22. Jackson is 12 minutes from the resort and is served by air direct from Denver and Salt Lake City. Call (307) 733-4005.

-Compiled by Alan Peppard