Tired of Hitting the Slopes Alone?

By Keith L. Fanta, President, Chicago Metropolitan Ski Council

Years ago I found myself in a unique situation where I loved to ski, but none of my friends were skiers. I managed to get out to the slopes, but being alone I knew I was missing something. Skiing isn’t a team sport, but I could see that it had an important social aspect. Then I discovered my first ski club (in the days before boarding became popular, they were known only as ski clubs).

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Come On In, The Water’s Fine

By Rick Heinz, Editor, Midwest Skier Magazine
While representing my club at ski and snowboard shows, I’d frequently be asked by other people in their 20s, “What ages are your club members?” The truth they’re trying to dig up is that the majority of members are baby boomers. It is true for just about all the clubs, but it is not a reason to shy away.

Ski and snowboard clubs might not appear to be the idyllic social outlets for us millenials, but if you’re passionate about the sports, it is really the best way to enjoy them aside from moving out West. Clubs do all the hard work for you by getting lift tickets, plane tickets, lodging and ground transportation. They also save you money by taking advantage of group rates. Since clubs aren’t around to make a profit, the savings are passed down to the members.

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Crested Butte

By Randy Mink

Crested Butte Mountain Resort is moving forward with improvement projects for the 2008-2009 winter season after experiencing its snowiest winter on record last season, with a total of 421 inches of snow and an unprecedented 100-inch base on closing day. New this winter are increased airline service and facility upgrades.

American Airlines will add direct service from Chicago to complement its current Dallas daily service, and United will expand service with three flights daily from Denver, connecting to hundreds of flights worldwide.

After months of research and development, Crested Butte has a new brand positioning expressed in the tagline “Inspire your Passion.” The promise of “inspiring your passion for adventure” and its implications will be seen resort-wide. Beginning with a new marketing and advertising campaign, the brand will also be reflected in various areas of the resort, from signage to employee uniforms.

The kids ski school will see the greatest physical transformation. The new Kids Base Camp program will engage kids through exploration and adventure on and off the mountain. From a new entrance to remodeled kid-friendly bathrooms and play areas, the space will be completely revamped.

The Treasury Center building in the base area will be redesigned to improve a number of guest services. The Crested Butte Ski and Snowboard Rental Shop will be moved to a slope-side location. The rental shop and a new retail store will include top-of-the line rental skis and snowboards.

The rental shop’s former location will be transformed into a “Pizza Zone.” Fresh, pizza, beverages and snacks will be available in the lower level of the Treasury Center to eat on the run or to sit and enjoy. The Outpost building in the base area will be redesigned and opened as a day lodge.

Also new this winter will be a central ski valet and overnight ski, snowboard and boot valet service. The service is free to all hotel guests and to others for a nightly fee and will feature ski-in ski-out access. The ski valet service pampers hotel guests from lobby check-in to hotel check-out with seamless handling of ski and snowboard equipment.

The Lodge at Mountaineer Square, Elevation Hotel & Spa and the Grand Lodge were recently accepted into the prestigious Preferred Hotels group. Elevation Hotel will complete a $25-million remodel that will include all 260 luxury rooms, the spa and fitness center and new Atmosphere Restaurant & Bar.

Snow Igloos, Crested Butte’s fun addition to the mountain experience, will sprout up around the resort for après-ski cocktails and adventure play areas for the kids. The solid snow structures will be at Kids Base Camp and mid-mountain outside the Ice Bar Restaurant.
On-mountain improvements will include expanded terrain off the Headwall lift into the Teocalli bowl area in what is known as Teo-2 and Teo-2.5, adding expert terrain to the mix. Crested Butte’s commitment to providing world-class terrain park and pipe facilities continues with new features in the DC Terrain Park and the addition of a new intermediate terrain park.
Contact: (800) 810-7669; skicb.com.

Ski News- Spring 2009

Michigan

Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville recently opened Crystal Spa, which offers a full menu of services including massage, body treatments, facials, manicures and pedicures. Other features include a meditation lounge and outdoor meditation garden with hot tub (available year-round), manicure and pedicure area, and locker rooms with heated floors, steam rooms and infrared saunas that use less power while providing deeper tissue penetration than traditional saunas. The 18,500-square-foot, LEED-certified facility also has a fitness center with state-of-the-art cardio and strength-training equipment, indoor pool with lap lanes, hot tub, and an indoor and outdoor motion studio. The spa has 12 treatment rooms and a variety of treatments to choose from. Contact: 231-378-2000, crystalmountain.com.

Minnesota

Lutsen Mountains in Lutsen has made some recent new additions. A new triple chair lift increases the uphill capacity on Eagle Mountain by 30% and provides express service to Eagle’s North Face expert runs. The Plunge, the near vertical drop on the North Face of Moose Mountain, has re-opened and is the steepest run in mid-America with a 90% slope and winch-cat grooming. Eagle Ridge Resort has added a two-bedroom, one-and-a half bath luxury suite with convenient ski-in/ski-out access as well as 12 new one-bedroom luxury condos with upgraded features such as Silestone countertops, steam showers, stainless steel appliances, fireplaces and private balconies. There are also three new spas in the Lutsen area that offer a variety of services, including massages and other treatments. Contact: 218-663-7281, lutsen.com.

Wisconsin

The remodeled Historic Stone Chalet at Granite Peak, at Rib Mountain State near Wausau, features a new upstairs lounge area with mountain views, two stone fireplaces and weekly entertainment. The chalet also has additional downstairs eating, plus new changing areas and restrooms. Also new at Granite Peak is the large outdoor patio with a fire ring and an outdoor grill serving bratwurst on Saturday nights and holidays. A second high-speed lift is planned for 2009-2010, with ski-in/ski-out resort lodging planned for 2010-2012. Contact: 715-845-2846, skigranitepeak.com.

WEST

California

North Lake Tahoe businesses and organizations are planning a large-scale, season-long celebration to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the 1960 Olympic Winter games held in Squaw Valley and along Tahoe’s West Shore from Homewood to Tahoma. The Olympic Heritage Celebration, which takes place Jan. 8-17, 2010, will have planned events including races, celebrations, parades, interpretive tours and reenactments. The anniversary event will also provide awareness and fundraising for the Squaw Valley Olympic and Winter Sports Museum, which is in the planning stages. Contact: 1960winterolympics.com.

Northstar Resort in Truckee has made many improvements for skiers and riders. Enhancements include an extension of ski trails and the express quad lift on Lookout Mountain, new snowmaking systems, tree thinning for improved glade skiing, increased lift capacity, and the widening of the ski area boundaries which increases the resort’s acreage by 414 acres to a total 2,904 acres. Also available for guests at the resort are 150,000 square-feet of retail space at the Village at Northstar, which has 35 unique shops, galleries and dining options. When guests want to wind down, they can visit Balance Holistic Health at the Village, which offers services including massage, aromatherapy, yoga, thai chi and other wellness therapies and classes. Contact: 800-466-6784, northstarattahoe.com.

Kirkwood Mountain Resort in Kirkwood has added two new lifts that will give access to 700 acres and 1,350 vertical feet of skiing and snowboarding. There is also a lift for beginners called the Wonder Carpet lift in Timber Creek Base Area, which helps newcomers learn how to ski at their own pace and is a great place for the family to ski together. Contact: 800-967-7500, kirkwood.com.

Canada

Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH) in British Columbia is offering visitors a deal for the 2010 season. If guests book with a deposit by June 15, 2009, they will receive a guest lodge credit of CAN $100/day booked. For example, if a guest booked a seven-day trip, he would receive a credit of $700. The credit can be used for anything visitors choose, including the bar, massages, extra heli-skiing meters and the shop, and is good at 11 of CMH’s 12 lodges. Contact: 800-661-0252, canadianmountainholidays.com.

Colorado

Telluride Ski Resort recently unveiled its Revelation Bowl and Lift on the east side of Gold Hill. The bowl is for advanced and expert skiers and riders and offers a vertical drop that is now one of the largest in North America, at 4,425 feet with 3,845 vertical feet lift-served. Along with a 400-acre expansion this year, there is a new Bear Creek Overlook observation deck at the base of the bowl where skiers and riders can relax and enjoy the view of Telluride Valley. The resort has also opened two new luxury hotels, the Lumière Telluride and Capella Telluride, as well as several new restaurants. Contact: 970-728-6900, tellurideskiresort.com.

Idaho

Sun Valley recently relocated its Sun Valley Nordic Center to the new 58,000-square-foot Sun Valley Club in the backyard of the world-famous Sun Valley Lodge. The new center offers cross country skiers a number of new features, including a restaurant, indoor and outdoor bar, men’s and women’s lockers and lounges, equipment storage, repair and rental. There are also two outdoor heated pools, ice-skating, elegant dining, exclusive shopping and village ambiance. The Sun Valley Club is located one mile east of the Sun Valley Village; free bus service is available. Contact: 800-786-8259, sunvalley.com.

Utah

The Canyons Resort in Park City has made several improvements for this season. A new ski lift called the Frostwood Pulse Gondola transports guests staying in the Frostwood area to the base of the Flight of the Canyons gondola. As part of the Iron Mountain expansion plans, the new Timberline Lift will go from the base of Tombstone to a half mile below the DreamCatcher lift and will be used to access Tombstone from the DreamCatcher area at the end of the day. In order to open up more tree skiing and riding, trees will be gladed in areas such as Mystic Pines off of Peak 5. Snowmaking will be increased by 30%, and the grooming fleet has increased by 25% with an upgrade of snowmaking and grooming equipment. In the next year the resort will begin construction on an 18-hole golf course. Contact: 435-649-5400, thecanyons.com.

Wyoming
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village opened its highly anticipated aerial tram in mid-December. Better known as “Big Red,” the tram can carry 100 passengers and soars 4,139 vertical feet in the air in nine minutes until it reaches the 10,450-foot summit of Rendezvous Mountain. The tram comes after two years of construction and claims the longest continuous vertical rise in North America. At the summit, hiking trails can be found in every direction, and Corbet’s Cabin will be open all summer, with beverages and snacks available to enjoy on the deck while taking in views of the Snake River Valley below. A new viewing station at the top will allow for 360 aerial views of Wyoming and Idaho. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort will open for the summer season on May 23. The aerial tram will operate daily until Sept. 27. Contact: 888-333-7766, jacksonhole.com.

EAST

Maine

Mt. Abram Ski Resort in Bethel has more than doubled its skiable terrain with a new policy called “Boundary to Boundary.” Skiable and rideable terrain has gone from 250 acres to 650. There are groomer trails for every level rider as well as 400 more forested acres packed with powder stashes, steeps and cliff drops. The new policy means riders and skiers can’t lose their ticket for skiing off the trails in the trees. Contact: 207-875-5000, mtabram.com.

Vermont

Stowe Mountain Lodge recently opened and is located at the base of Spruce Peak Mountain in Stowe. The lodge offers skiers and snowboarders the opportunity to take advantage of the slopes without having to wait in any lines. Guests are able to send their equipment from home through the resort’s ski valet service and have it waiting for them when they arrive. The resort will also bring up the equipment to the chairlift or gondola whenever guests are ready to ski. Other services include “ski sherpas” heating ski boots and tuning equipment as well as lift tickets, lessons and rentals being secured in advance. Contact: 800-253-4754, stowemountainlodge.com.

Airboarding takes slope-sliding to a whole new level at Smugglers’ Notch Resort, “America’s Family Resort.” A-shaped and similar in size to a water raft, an airboard is an inflated sled steered by shifting body weight from side to side, thereby engaging the urethane grooves on the underside that act as edges. A wrist strap keeps the device connected to the rider in case of a tumble. Legs and feet can also influence the airboard’s downhill path. There are sizes for adults and kids. The afternoon family activity at lift-served Morse Highlands starts with a short instructional class. Guests must be 10 years old, 48 inches tall and wear a helmet. Smugglers’ Notch is consistently rated No. 1 in family programs by SKI magazine. Contact: 800-419-4615, smuggs.com.

Keystone Resort

By Jennifer Wessner

One of Vail Resorts’ five premier ski resorts, Keystone stretches seven miles along the Snake River, over three mountains, 3,128 vertical feet, 3,148 acres of terrain, and three villages with shops, bars, restaurants and accommodations.

Located near Dillon in Summit County, Colo., Keystone boasts 125 trails and 20 lifts, including two gondolas. Offering the longest ski day in Colorado from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., it also offers the largest night skiing operation with nine trails and a designated Night Park.

Whether you prefer green beginner runs, intermediate blues perfect for gentle carving, or adrenaline-inducing double black diamonds, the resort has runs for all levels of skiers. The three mountains that form Keystone are Dercum, North Peak and The Outback. Dercum Mountain is home to the Schoolmarm Trail, a gentle groomed 3.5-mile run perfect for beginners. North Peak offers long bump runs with varying levels of difficulty. The Outback, with an elevation of 11,980, is home to the North and South bowls. Opened in 2007, the Independence Bowl offers a “backcountry-light” experience with 300 acres of expert-only hiking and snowcat skiing.

Although traditionally a family resort, Keystone has been gathering a following of snowboarders and freestyle skiers with its two award-winning terrain parks. Ranked #1 by Transworld Snowboarding Magazine and #2 by Freeskier Magazine, Keystone’s A51 Terrain Park has two half-pipes, including a superpipe, rails, barrels, boxes and big air jumps. A51 Incubator, a second beginner-friendly park, is positioned directly across from the main park, giving everyone the opportunity to indulge their inner daredevil.

There is no shortage of kids programs at this family-friendly resort. Ripperoo & Friends Adventure Zones is a dedicated children’s park on Dercum Mountain, conveniently located near the beginner area off of the Schoolmarm Trail. Named for the children’s ski school mascot, the kids’ area has runs for both the complete beginner and intermediate skier and rider. Adventure Point, a tubing run located at the top of the River Run Gondola, has five lanes for guests of all ages. The resort even has a five-acre lake that is transformed every winter into the largest Zamboni-maintained outdoor skating rink in North America.

When the slopes close, the resort has numerous other attractions to keep visitors busy. The three villages around the base of the mountain have many shops and restaurants perfect for après-ski relaxation. In the summer, Keystone offers water sports in its small lake, mountain biking and hiking on over 60 miles of trails. There are two highly ranked golf courses on the grounds of the resort. Fly-fishing, horseback riding, and whitewater rafting are available as well.

Lodging options at the resort range from traditional hotel rooms to mountain base condos. The Keystone Lodge and Spa is a Four Diamond AAA-rated hotel with a 10,000-square-foot spa. For less traditional accommodations, visitors can stay at the Ski Tip Lodge, an old 1880s stagecoach stop that now is a bed & breakfast.

Keystone Ski Resort entered the 2008-2009 season with the state-of-the-art, eight-passenger River Run Gondola. In addition to replacing the old six-passenger gondola, the new gondola was moved into River Run Village, bringing skiers and snowboards closer to the mountain.
Contact: 800-344-8878, keystone.snow.com

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Schweitzer Mountain: The Crowning Glory of Northern Idaho

By
Rick Heinz
Skunk Hollow Ski and Snowboard Club
&
Barry Burke
Chicago Friars Ski and Bike Club

Tucked away near the tip of Idaho’s chimney lies a winter destination well known to Northwesterners but relatively unknown in the Midwest. The secret is now slipping out after Schweitzer Mountain Resort’s 2008 familiarization trips for ski club representatives. With 300 inches of annual snowfall, 82 trails, 2,900 acres, a 2,400-foot vertical drop, crowdless lift lines and beautiful views of Lake Pend Oreille (pronounced Pon-der-ay), Schweitzer Mountain Resort should be on every club’s to-do list.

The mountain can be best described as two bowls. It is advertised as having 20 percent beginner, 40 percent intermediate, 35 percent advanced and 5 percent expert-marked trails. Schweitzer’s design is very efficient, making it a cinch to get around. Five lifts service the mountain with an additional one when needed and a T-bar over the weekends. There are no slow green cat tracks, which would make most skiers and especially snowboarders happy. Beginners have their own area near the base and out of the way of faster traffic.

Schweitzer has an abundance of groomed runs. Crews groom over 30 miles of runs through the night. The morning grooming report shows which runs were groomed and how recently. For the courageous, they even groom a couple of black diamonds, and yes, they are really steep. Steep powder, open bowls and excellent trees round off the resort’s terrain. Tree skiing is so great that Skiing Magazine recently rated Schweitzer No. 3 for tree skiing. As if all of that isn’t enough, there are 2,000 additional acres of guided cat skiing through Selkirk Powder Company.

Recent Improvements
If you have been to Schweitzer before, you’ll notice some changes. Two high-speed quads now take the place of the original Chair 1 double. Night skiing is now available Fridays and Saturdays. The old lodge building was torn down to build the more spacious Lakeview Lodge, which is home to Taps Lounge and some food vendors. Not that long ago the Green Gables Lodge and attached restaurant were renovated and are now called the Selkirk Lodge and Chimney Rock Grill. Also not that old is the six-pack chair dubbed Stella on the backside of the mountain. You will think you are in the waiting line for Great America’s Viper roller coaster as you enter the only themed chairlift in the United States. This surge of changes and improvements reflects a promising future for Schweitzer.

Just a two-hour drive from Spokane International Airport, Schweitzer offers transportation shuttles to any one of its six slopeside or in-town properties. The Selkirk Lodge offers hotel-style rooms, some with a wet bar, microwave, refrigerator, kitchenette and jetted hot tub. Also in the village is White Pine Lodge, offering fully furnished, condominium-style units with full kitchens, living rooms and fireplaces. The only drawback for clubs may be that all of the beds at the White Pine are queen- or king-size. Both of these lodges have access to heated outdoor pools and hot tubs. Homes and condominiums are available outside of Schweitzer Village, but staying slopeside far outweighs staying in town.

Schweitzer Village may be small, but it has enough dining options to please all tastes. Chimney Rock Grill offers fresh regional cuisine from steaks to top-notch seafood. It serves breakfasts on weekends and can cater buffet- style meals to groups. A few small coffee shops scattered about sell pastries and other simple breakfasts. For lunch, the most popular place would be the cafeteria in the Lakeview Lodge, but there is also Pucci’s Pub and Alpenglow Deli & Ice Cream, both in White Pine Lodge. For a pizza fix, there is Thor’s Pizza and Sam’s Alley. Potatoes are the specialty in Idaho, so ski over to the back bowl and try a baked potato from The Outback. Enough options in the village make it easy for those not interested in providing their own food.

The town of Sandpoint will not disappoint. Only a half-hour drive from the resort’s village, it is a good place to go for pubs, restaurants and art studios. Sandpoint is also home to Coldwater Creek’s flagship store, complete with a cozy wine-tasting bar that can be rented out for large groups. Store hours in Sandpoint, a beach town at heart, do not cater well to après skiers and snowboarders, so if you really want to go shopping while on a ski trip, you’ll have to cut your time on the mountain early. For a local favorite, try Eichardt’s Pub for local brews, billiards, shuffleboard and darts. Don’t stay too long, or you’ll have second thoughts about returning home.

Schweitzer Mountain’s accommodating staff can put together a package for your group with the exception of airfare. Arrangements can be made for trips to town, buffet meals, activities and guided tours.

It is hard to come up with a reason for not going to Schweitzer. This is a mountain that can meet the needs of all skiers and snowboarders. Visit Schweitzer.com and see for yourself.

New and Noteworthy: East

Skiers considering a visit to Mount Snow in Vermont will enjoy the benefits of recent additions to its snowmaking system. Now skiers and riders can take advantage of earlier opening and later closing dates with more terrain and more homemade “powder days” in ideal conditions, thanks to 101 energy-efficient Polecat fan guns from SMI Snowmakers, Inc. Not only do these fan guns provide better skiing for visitors, but they are also environment-friendly, requiring less compressed air than traditional guns and less energy. This considerable investment gives Mount Snow the most fan guns in New England. Contact: 802-245-7669, www.mountsnow.com.

For the first time in 10 years, Snowshoe Mountain Ski Resort in Snowshoe, W. Va, has added new trails to its existing slopes. Serviced by the Soaring Eagle Express high-speed quad, all three runs are marked for expert skiers. Visitors to Snowshoe who stay in the new South Mountain neighborhood now have ski-in/ski-out access to the trails from the gated community.

Although these new trails are not suitable for beginners, Snowshoe has enhanced the experience for novice skiers with a new Magic Carpet lift that will increase the mountain’s uphill capacity by 1,500 skiers per hour. Contact: 877-441-4386, www.snowshoemtn.com.

Changes have been made to the intermediate terrain at Lake Placid’s Whiteface Mountain in New York. Paron’s Run and Excelsior saw considerable transformation with corners and trails widened between the two for easier transitions, and a new connector to Lower Cloudspin was made to increase visibility and leave more space for maneuvering the slopes.

Whiteface also added a lift-serviced half-pipe and for kids, a more convenient connector between the Bunny Hutch Triple Chair and Kids Kampus Bronze Trail, complete with more snowmaking. Contact: 877-754-3223, www.whiteface.com.

A number of ski resorts in New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington Valley are beginning new green initiatives to reduce carbon footprints, including Jackson XC in Jackson Village. It has a new half-million-dollar grooming system that makes more efficient use of natural snowfall while potentially extending its ski season and reducing overall fuel usage.
Adjacent to Mt. Washington Valley, Shawnee Peak in Bridgeton, Me., recently announced a plan that will offset 100 percent of the 1,800 tons of carbon emissions it produces each year through wind power, carbon sequestration, recycling and more. Its new snowmaking pump delivery system contributes to the conservation program by increasing uphill water capacity by as much as 40 percent while saving energy through automatic pressure controls, start/stop sequencing, programmable logic controllers and variable speed technology.

New and Noteworthy: Midwest

Skiers this past season at Chestnut Mountain Resort in Galena, Ill., took advantage of its enhanced snowmaking capabilities. As part of the final phase of its three-year snowmaking expansion, 10 Super Pole Cat Snowmaking Machines and a 300 HP Vertical Turbine Pump were added to the state-of-the-art system, which includes 70 strategically placed snowmaking machines and five 300 HP Vertical Turbine Pumps that cover over 60 acres of terrain. With guns that can pump 5,000 gallons of water per minute, Chestnut is now able to open every run in less than 48 hours of snowmaking, giving skiers the opportunity to hit the slopes sooner. Contact: 800-397-1320, www.chestnutmtn.com.

At Mount Bohemia in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, two new sections have been added to the mountain this year. Now the Outer Limits, over 100 acres of inbounds backcountry skiing, has 17 new runs that are longer and more challenging than ever before. The chutes, cliff drops and half-mile wide forest will test even expert skiers and riders, and a new section of terrain on the north face of the mountain boasts the best snow on the mountain. Mount Bohemia offers all-natural runs for very advanced or expert skiers and riders and claims the highest vertical drop (900 feet) and deepest powder in the Midwest. Contact: 906-360-7240, www.mtbohemia.com.

Caberfae Peaks Ski and Golf Resort, just west of Cadillac, Mich., made a number of improvements for the 2007-08 season, including expansions to the Mid-Canyon terrain and Upper Easy Street for greater maneuverability on the slopes and better access from the Shelter and Clubhouse chairs. Eleven snowmaking towers and more portable SMI fan guns were added, bringing the total number of snow guns to over 100. Caberfae’s Mackenzie Lodge is newly renovated, including each of its 36 rooms, and a full-service dining area was created to better serve skiers off the slopes. Contact: 231-862-3000, www.caberfaepeaks.com.

Crystal Clear Views in Northern Lower Michigan

On Michigan’s Western coast, four hours north of the Windy City, ski and winter sports enthusiasts will find the Midwest’s Number One Ski Resort, according to Ski Magazine – Crystal Mountain.

Sitting on 1,500 acres, Crystal Mountain is a family-run operation, continuously held by the Petritz family since 1966. Tradition and harmony with nature are held dear by the family, as witnessed by the attention to detail found throughout the resort, focus on environmentally friendly practices and absence of over-the-top commercialism that’s all too familiar at mega-ski resorts.

Though Crystal receives on average 120 inches of snow annually, the resort has continually increased its snowmaking capability over the last decade, thus reducing its reliance on natural snowfall and improving the rate that it can open and maintain skiable terrain. The 126 snow guns can blanket the mountainside whenever Mother Nature doesn’t live up to her end of the bargain.

Nine lifts carry skiers to 45 skiable slopes, 27 of which are lighted for nighttime skiing. For boarders, three terrain parks, Super Park, Halfpipe and Giggles round out the fun. Abilities of all age levels are welcome here – 25 percent of slopes are Green, 49 percent Blue and 26 percent Black. If cross-country skiing is your bag, 40 kilometers of groomed trails await.

Accommodations for All Budgets
One special aspect of Crystal is the extraordinary assortment of lodging choices for groups. Set within pedestrian-friendly “neighborhoods,” choices include standard hotel rooms, condominiums, cottages, or mountainside or mountaintop townhomes or resort homes for rent. Those who enjoy true ski-in/ski-out accommodations will fall in love with the mountaintop townhomes, where you can literally walk out your back patio and ski down the mountain.

What’s New?
Resort developments are ongoing, including a $10-million expansion announced this past January. The centerpiece of the expansion is a new 18,500-square-foot, full-service destination spa with 12 treatment rooms, private locker rooms, a manicure and pedicure area, and an outdoor meditation garden. Residentially, The Bungalows at Crystal Glen are in the works, featuring ski-in, ski-out accommodations at the base of Buck slope. These new projects represent the latest steps in Crystal Mountain’s master plan, Emergent Directions. Upon completion of the spa, Bungalows, and an alpine slide, Crystal will have invested over $50 million in resort expansion and improvements in the last decade.

For more information on Crystal Mountain, call 800-968-7686, or visit www.crystalmountain.com.