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• o • o e ALYESKA GIRDWOOD, AK The mountain is a series of ridges and bowls with the outer areas consisting of steep open slopes, chutes and gullies. The north face of Mount Alyeska consists of more than 300 acres of dou- ble black diamond terrain, offering hard-core powder hounds a naturally segregated playground. Alyeska has gotten dumps of over 1,000 inches three of the last four years. Telephone, 907-754-1111 Website: www.alyeskaresort.com Snow Report, 907-SKI-SNOW Season, Mid November-Late May Ticket Price, $40 Summit Elevation (feet), 3,939 Vertical Orop (feet), 2.500 Terrain (acres), 1.000 Green/Blue/Black (percent), 11/52/37 Annual Snowfall (inches), 742 USA ALASKA Directions, Fly into Anchorage International Airport and drive 40 minutes south to the resort. ALPINE MEADOWS CALIFORNIA TAHOE CITY, CA Alpine Meadows sits on a ridge of mountains that merges into Squaw Valley, giving it some terrain similarities but a whole dif- ferent personality. The area has some of the most boarder friendly terrain and boundaries around the lake. Alpine Meadows' relaxed boundary policy allows riders access to some of the most beautiful backcountry riding in the area. Long trav- erses can make Alpine a bit friendlier for skiers but the back- country access is well worth the hike out. Telephone, 800-441-4423 Website, www.skialpine.com Snow Report, 530-581-8374 Season, Early November-Early June Ticket Price, $56 Summit Elevation (feet) , 8,637 Vertical Drop (feet), 1.802 Terrain (acres), 2,000 Green/Blue/Black (percent), 25/40/35 Annual Snowfall (inches), 496 healthy covering of trees right to the top of the Sky Express high- speed quad. The Nevada side has a more easterly aspect and more open terrain, above the band of canyons which character- ize the east boundary. You can always expect incredible views of Lake Tahoe and legendary tree and glade skiing. Telephone, 775-586-7000 Website, www.skiheavenly.com Snow Report 775-586-7000 Season, Late October-Late May Ticket Price, $57 Summit Elevation (feet), 10.067 Vertical Drop (feet), 3.500 Terrain (acres), 4,800 Green/Blue/Black (percent), 20/45/35 Annual Snowfall (inches), 360 Directions, Fly into Reno-Tahoe and drive 1 hour 30 minutes .. southwest, or fly into Sacramento and drive 1 hour 30 minutes ... to 2 hours east. KIRKWOOD KIRKWOOD, CA V ~ Speak to any snowboarder in the Tahoe region and many will ~ invariably say "Kirkwood" when asked for their favorite resort. The mountain is a special place that could easily be considered the largest natural terrain park in the US. The long arcing ridge line, which sits at high altitude (10,000 feet), contains steep chutes, wide open bowls, long gullies , crisp corduroy trail s, hair- raising cliff drops and huge wind lips. The mountain has a friendly atmosphere and everyone seems to be smiling all the time. Q Directions, Fly into Reno-Tahoe International Airport and drive ~ 45 minutes west or fly into Sacramento International Airport ~ and drive 1 hour 45 minutes east to the resort. o e BEAR MOUNTAIN BIG BEAR LAKE, CA Bear Mountain is as good as a day area get s. The mountain gets over 300 sunshine days a year so the pictures and footage always look fantastic. The resort boasts four terrain parks, the largest beginner area in the region and the highest lift-serviced peak in Southern California. Telephone, 909-585-2517 Website, www.bearmtn.com Snow Report 800-BEARMTN Season, Mid November-Mid April Ticket Price, $39 Summit Elevation (feet), 8.805 Vertical Drop (feet), 1,665 Terrain (acres), 748 Green/Blue/Black (percent ), 25/50/25 Annual Snowfall (inches), 100 Directions, Fly into Los Angeles International Airport or Ontario International and drive 1 hour 30 minutes to the resort. HEAVENLY SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA Situated on the south shore of Lake Tahoe, towering above the casino towers, Heavenly is an impressive mountain bisected by the CalifornialNevada state line. The Californian side has a Telephone, 209-258-6000 Website: www.kirkwood.com Snow Report 877-KIRKWOOD Season, Mid November-May Ticket Price, $54 Summit Elevation (feet), 9,800 Vertical Drop (feet), 2.000 Terrain (acres), 2,300 Green/Blue/Black (percent), 15/50/35 Annual Snowfall (inches), 550 Directions, Drive 3 hours from SF or fly into Reno-Tahoe International Airport and drive 1 hour 30 minutes to the resort. MAMMOTH MOUNTAIN MAMMOTH LAKES, CA There is speculation that this active volcano was responsible for the last ice age when it blew its top, and contemplating the enormity of the mountain, it seems plausible. This leviathan rises out of the I nyo National Forest and has something for everyone ranging from steeps, chutes and bowls to long stretch- es of perfectly groomed corduroy. Riding at Mammoth on a good powder day is something everyone should aspire to. Skiers tend to bump out a lot of areas and there are trees, cliffs and plenty of secluded routes left for searches. Telephone,800-MAMMOTH Website: www.mammothmountain.com Snow Report 888-SNOW-RPT Season, November-June Ticket Price, $60 Summit Elevation (feet), 11.053 Vertical Drop (feet), 3.100 Terrain (acres), 3,500 Green/Blue/Black (percent), 30/40/30 Annual Snowfall (inches), 384 Directions, Drive 5 hours from LA or f ly into Reno-Tahoe International Airport and drive 3 hours to the resort. e e 56 SNOW SUMMIT BIG BEAR LAKE, CA f} Snow Summit is a fine example of how to take an average moun- ta in with a less than average snowfall and create an excellent snowboarding environment. The four terrain parks will severely test and improve your riding skills. There are 6,000 feet of tabletops, drops, gaps and spines . The rest of the mountain, however, is not very steep and doesn't offer great freeriding pos- sibilities. On busy days things get as hectic as Disneyland, but • if being in the air is your concept of riding, then you should def- initely make the effort. Telephone, 909-866-5766 Website: www.snowsummiLcom Snow Report 888-SUMMIT 1 Season, Mid November- Mid April Ticket Price, $39 Summit Elevation (feet), 8.200 Vertical Drop (feet), 1,200 Terrain (acres), 230 Green/Blue/Black (percent), 35/40/25 Annual Snowfall (inches), 75 Directions, Fly into Ontario International Airport and drive 45 minutes northeast to the resort. SQUAW VALLEY OLYMPIC VALLEY, CA Squaw is a big brazen mountain consisting of a string of a sur- prising six peaks and ridges, with some of the most fearsome, in-bound terrain anywhere in the US. From KT22's vert to Snow King's trees and gullies, and over to Granite Chief's funky rollers and drops, Squaw's reputation is well earned. And that's with- out considering the acres of trails to tear apart between Squaw Peak, Emigrant and Broken Arrow. Throw into the pot one of California's best-kept fun parks and a razor-sharp pipe, both open 12 hours a day, and you've got a veritable bonanza. Go during the week to avoid the masses of SF-based weekend war- riors. Telephone, 800-545-4350 Website: www.squaw.com Snow Report 530-583-6955 Season, Mid November-Late May Ticket Price, $56 Summit Elevation (feet), 9,050 Vertical Drop (feet), 2.850 Terrain (acres), 4,000 Green/Blue/Black (percent), 25/45/30 Annual Snowfall (inches), 450 Directions, Drive 3 hours 30 minutes from SF or fly into Reno- Tahoe International Airport and drive 1 hour to the resort. SUGAR BOWL TRUCKEE, CA A 3-hour drive from San Francisco gets you to a crescent of steep alpine peaks that reportedly receives more snow than just about anywhere in North America. The bold claim is coupled with some seriously bold terrain, providing extreme lines down the cliff bands of Mt Lincoln to open bowls with tree clusters on Mt Disney. Add to this some backcountry opportunities when conditions are safe, and you have an all-round, boarder friendly mountain still enjoying low crowd pressures and a laid-back atmosphere. Telephone, 530-426-9000 Website, www.sugarbowl.com Snow Report 530-426-1111 Season, Mid November-Late April Ticket Price, $54 Summit Elevation (feet), 8,383 Vertical Drop (feet), 1.500 Terrain (acres), 1,500 Green/Blue/Black (percent), 17/45/38 Annual Snowfall (inches), 500 Directions, Fly into Reno-Tahoe International Airport and drive 50 minutes. ARAPAHOE BASIN DILLON, CO COLORADO Arapahoe Basin is the highest lift-serviced resort in North America and remains somewhat of an enigma due to the total lack of commercialization and the awesome high-altitude ter- rain . Known as "The Legend," its reputation for vicious weather and steep faces the clientele in the "die-hard locals" category. There are some good slopes for beginners and intermediates in the middle slice of the ski area, but the essence of A-basin is ~BLUE.COM Stats are great. but to really get the goods on North American ski culture read Steven Kotler's ''The Bump Brigade" at www.blue.comN 1N3/bump.

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