Three of the Best USA Ski Resorts
If you’ve got a taste for the slopes and a love of the cold white
stuff, then a trip to the USA promises some unrivalled ski resorts. Let's
take a look at three great resorts you might not know about in order to
get you started.
Tamarack Resort, Idaho
Despite being dubbed one of America’s best ski resorts, Tamarack
has never had the international renown of similar locations. It tends
to attract professionals rather than the jet set – international
sports champions Andre Agassi and Stefanie Graf are both regular visitors.
“Tamarack Resort offers perfect skiing for the family with plenty
of space and different runs for skiers and snowboarders,” says Agassi.
“Stefanie and I spent most weekends here last season with the kids.
It is a fantastic resort which is gaining a great reputation for excellent
skiing and snowboarding and being recognised as one of America’s
finest.”
The mountain terrain is great for seasoned skiers. It boasts a 2,800
metre vertical drop, complete with seven lifts and 41 runs spreading across
1,100 lift-accessed acres. Snowboarders are also well catered for –
freeriders will love the ‘Hells Canyon’ SuperPipe, an Olympic-calibre
slope at 22-feet high and 45-feet long with an angle of 16 degrees.
Mount Baker
Truly undeveloped and uncrowded, if you want to feel like you have the
slopes all to yourself then Mount Baker is the place to go. The resort
only has a few lifts, but it gets more snow than any other in North America
so the tracks are always pristine.
Mount Baker holds a number of snowfall records, including a massive 303
inches in February of 1999. However, if it’s luxury accommodation
you’re after then you may do better going elsewhere – the
resorts has no base village or overnight accommodation and only one small,
but friendly, day lodge. In other words, skiers come to Mount Baker for
the snow, not for the social life.
Due to the powder snow and the lack of infrastructure, Mount Baker is
mainly suited to advanced skiers. Within the resort the largest vertical
drop is 1,500 feet, but off-piste skiers fitted with avalanche gear can
ski in stunning terrain just outside the resort’s boundary.
Crested Butte
Don’t be put off by the slightly unappealing name – Crested
Butte is a beautiful and unspoilt Colorado mountain town with access to
some of the steepest lift-served terrain in the USA. Author and extreme
skier Lito Tejada-Flores calls nearby resort Extreme Limits “the
best adventure skiing in the Rockies”, and off-piste skiers will
love the avalanche controlled but ungroomed slopes.
Unlike some of the more popular USA ski resorts, Crested Butte is not
right on the interstate – but if you’re serious about skiing
then this shouldn’t deter you. The resort is also great for less
experienced skiers, who can head to the 2,600 feet DC Canaan Terrain Park
to work on their skills.
Kids and absolute beginners will love the Kid’s Park, which includes
beginner features like rails, tabletops, rolls and a mini halfpipe. And
if your kids aren’t tired enough after a day of skiing, the children’s
tubing hill is available for nighttime tubing.
When the day is done there is plenty of opportunity to unwind and chill
out in luxury accommodation. The resort has a good mix of condominiums,
lodges, cabins and hotels to suit every budget. If you’re working
with limited funds then try Crested Butte International Hotel, which offers
dormitory rooms for incredibly cheap prices. Otherwise, The Ruby of Crest
Butte is a great upmarket B & B in a beautiful location, which gives
you the opportunity to sink into a hot tub when you get back from the
slopes.
Skiing holidays area reputed for their upscale prices; however, checking
out a comparison site like Travelzoo can put in the direction of cheap
flights.
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