Best of the High Country
Best of the High Country 2003
Readers’ choices and editors’ picks of the very best of the high country

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Every year we ask our readers to tell us about their favorite mountain places and events— romantic spots, ski resorts, dude ranches, family vacations, scenic drives, art galleries and much more.

In this issue we feature our readers’ choices and the editors’ picks of the best of the high country.

BEST OF WINTER

Best Ski Resort
Vail Resort , Vail, Colorado  With over 5,000 acres of skiable terrain, 193 trails and 33 lifts, Vail is a veritable skier’s paradise, offering something for everyone. Vail is also seeing the best ski conditions of the past decade, is an easy drive from Denver International Airport and offers great lodging, shopping and restaurants. For vacation information, call (888) 222-9324 or visit vail.snow.com.

Deer Valley Resort,  Park City, Utah  Home of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, Deer Valley is now the “Official Venue of the 2003 Ski Vacation.” Offering light snow, limited lift ticket sales and great grooming, this resort is the place where vacation memories are made. Call (800) 424-3337 or visit deervalley.com.

Steamboat Resort, Steamboat Springs, Colorado  Steamboat is celebrating its 40th anniversary and is offering some great vacation packages, as well as lots of fun events and activities for the entire family. The “Anniversary Extravaganza” will run January 17-21 and will feature daily après ski and evening music concerts, highlighted by a black tie event. Even if you can’t make it to the celebration, Steamboat’s legendary champagne powder is available all winter. Call (800) 922-2722 or visit steamboat.com.

Big Sky Resort,  Big Sky, Montana  Thanks to a cool fall, Big Sky Resort has been making snow since the end of October. Add to that several feet of natural light, dry snow, affordable lift tickets and lots of other winter activities like snow mobiling and dog sledding, and you’ll find lots of reasons to head to Big Sky country. Call (800) 548-4486 or visit bigskyresort.com.

Sun Valley Resort, Sun Valley, Idaho  Sun Valley is offering ten “Theme Weeks” this year, and you’re bound to find one that’s right for you. A New Year’s Special, a Ski Club Week, and two weeks just for seniors 60 and over are some of the special packages the resort has planned. And, as the name implies, the sun always shines here. Call (800) 786-8259 or visit sunvalley.com.

 Best Travel Tips
how to pack  Layers, layers, layers. Even though the winter mountains are cold at night, daytime temperatures can rise above 50 degrees.
don’t forget  The mountain sun is intense. Be sure to pack sunscreen and lip balm.
no-wait skiing  If you are driving to the mountains, you might want to rent equipment and purchase lift tickets before you go. Local outfitters have what you need, usually at discounted prices.

Best Kid’s Ski School 
Copper Mountain, Colorado  Copper’s kids’ programs are always highly rated because they offer several comprehensive programs for every age and ability. (800) 458-8386 ext. 60101.

Vail Resort, Colorado  Vail’s programs group kids by age and ability, include supervised lunches and feature mountain adventures and treasure hunts. (970) 476-3239.

Taos Ski Valley, New Mexico  Their nationally recognized Kinderkäfig program offers child care and ski programs for all ages. (800) 347-7414.

Deer Valley, Utah  Reservations are essential at this popular program, loaded with lots of unique activites. (888) 754-8477.

Heavenly, Lake Tahoe, California  This charming resort offers a slew of of programs, including those for children who have some skiing or riding experience. (800) 243-2836.

Best Après Ski
After a day on the slopes, one must find a place to meet—or make—friends for a drink and a little something to nibble on. The Little Nell, Aspen, is all at once charming, elegant and hip. The Greenhouse, Little Nell’s casual bar, serves drinks and food until midnight. (970) 920-4600 or www.thelittlenell.com. About 40 miles south of Lake Tahoe is the Kirkwood ski area and the Kirkwood Inn, situated in a historic log cabin along scenic Highway 88. (209) 258-7304. When in Utah, the place to gather is the Troll Hallen Lounge in the European-inspired Stein Eriksen Lodge, Deer Valley.  Enjoy après ski around a toasty fireplace. (435) 649-3700 or steinlodge.com. A little further north you’ll find British Columbia’s Chateau Whistler, and the luxurious Mallard Lounge and Terrace. Unwind in front of the fireplace and gaze on magnificent Whistler Mountain while enjoying a martini or vintage wine and world-class entertainment. If you’re off the slopes early, the lounge serves traditional afternoon tea. For something a little more down to earth, The Mangy Moose, Jackson, Wyoming, has cold beer, good service (even when it’s crowded) and an eclectic variety of live entertainment. Located in Teton Village, (307) 733-4913.

Best Snowshoeing
Rabbit Ears Pass, Steamboat Springs, Colorado   Use the trails marked with blue diamonds on the west side of the pass. For maps and info: www.fs.fed.us.

Up to Beano’s Cabin, Beaver Creek, Colorado  Snowshoe through pine and aspen forests up to this log cabin for a five-course dinnner. (877) 354-0061.

Donner Summit, Tahoe Donner, California  100 kilometers of trails, a lodge with a café and California’s only lighted trails. xcski@tahoedonner.com.

Northstar, Lake Tahoe, California  Take the gondola up the mountain to the Nordic Ski and Snowshoe Center. Bring your snowshoes or rent. Walk on trails of varying degrees of pitch and difficulty in 50 kilometers of nordic terrain. (530) 5620-2475.

Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, Colorado  The forested and varied terrain east of the Continental Divide has prime conditions from eary fall through late spring. explore-rocky.com.

Editor's Pick
Best night skiing 
Silver Star Mountain Resort, British Columbia, Canada, is one of Canada’s top resorts and offers night skiing Thursday through Saturday. (800) 663-4431.

Keystone Resort, Colorado, has 13 trails open daily until 8 p.m., including a lighted halfpipe and terrain park. (888) 222-9324.

Big Mountain Resort, Whitefish, Montana, offers free night skiing with a regular lift ticket. (800) 858-3930.

Best Private skiing
Lost Trail Lodge, Lake Tahoe, California, is a snowbound mountain lodge accessible only by helicopter (from Reno, Tahoe or Truckee) or snowcat. The log lodge holds 8-12 people and comes with a personal chef and the use of a snowcat to take you to the top of the your private mountain. Book through Zolo Trips. (800) 657-2694.