Swish new mountain restaurant for Killington next season

Killington in Vermont, the leading East Coast US destination resort for Brits not wanting to fly as far as the Rockies, is spending nearly $7m this summer on improvements for the coming winter, the lion’s share going on a spectacular new mountain restaurant. The resort’s old Peak Lodge, originally built as the return station for the resort’s first gondola more than 40 years ago, and the creation of a superb new mountain lodge.

More than a dozen North American ski areas open for July holiday weekend

11 ski areas in the USA and two in Canada will open for the coming holiday weekend in both countries. Friday July 1st is ‘Canada Day’ in Canada and Monday July 4th ‘Independence Day’ in the US. Although several resorts – most notably Mammoth in California thanks to its huge snowfalls and Whistler in Canada thanks to its glaciers – are usually open in July, never before has the total ran in to double figures.

Skier visits at Colorado resorts up this season

Skier visits at Colorado resorts this winter likely topped 12 million for the first time since the 2007–2008 season, the trade group Colorado Ski Country USA said Wednesday. Skier visits at Colorado Ski Country’s 22 member resorts were up 2.6 percent from last season, reaching an estimated 6.9 million, the trade group said.

Vail season passes can cost less than weekly lift tickets

Vail’s lift ticket pricing at its six resorts is among the most flexible in the worldwide ski industry. On the one hand the undiscounted, peak week, six-day pass for just one resort can be among the most expensive in the world at around $550 (approximately £350) for six days if you’re mad enough to walk up to the ticket window and just buy it.

Killington expands snowmaking and improves trails for 2011-12

Killington ski area in Vermont is spending $6.5 million this summer on resort improvements for winter 2011/12. Most obvious to guests will be a new tubing park which will ebut adjacent to East Mountain Road across from the Killington Grand Hotel using the Killington Golf Course Clubhouse as the operations base. In addition, the ski area, famous for many years for its massive snowmaking arsenal, is making a huge investment in its snowmaking system with new replacement snowmaking pipes, hydrants and valves.

More US resorts plan to offer skiing on Independence Day

Thanks to a record-breaking snow year, Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort in Utah is aiming to extend weekend winter operations through to the Fourth of July, conditions permitting. This would mark the third time in the resort’s 40-year history the season has closed on July 4th, matching the 1995 and 2005 record. The extension would also mark 202 days of skiing at Snowbird this season, surpassing the 2005 record of 201 ski days.

Californian ski resorts have over 500 inches of snow

A number of resorts in California have reported their snowfall totals have passed the magic 500 inches (43 feet/12.5 metres) mark in the past 24 hours. Squaw Valley and Northstar at Tahoe were amongst resorts to pass the 500 inch mark. In Squaw’s case still with two months of the season to go. The totals follow falls of at least 20 inches in the past 24 hours.

The huge snow totals are the result of a La Nina weather pattern from the pacific which has broughtregular abundant snowfall to the region for the past four months.

However further north resorts including Mt Baker in Washington state and Mount Washington on Vancouver Island in Canada have had more snow still, both reporting snow depths at present of around seven metre (23 feet)

The 500” plus benchmark has only been reached three times in the past 13 years and never before April at Squaw Valley’s 2010–11 winter season, the new snow is setting the Lake Tahoe resort up for a truly phenomenal spring skiing season.

Squaw Valley received 2 feet of snow in the last 24 hours, bringing the season’s snowfall totals to 518”. After a brief respite, a colder storm is slated to deliver an additional 1 to 2 feet of high quality powder on Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19 with snow showers predicted through Tuesday, March 22.

With a current base of 203” and more snow on the way, Squaw Valley USA is slated to have a phenomenal spring skiing season. Ranked one of the Top 5 Spring Skiing destinations in North America by The New York Times, Squaw Valley offers a mountaintop pool and hot tub overlooking the Sierra, incredible spring snow conditions and one of the longest ski seasons in the country. Squaw Valley boasts Lake Tahoe’s longest winter season with a scheduled closing date of May 8, 2011.

For skiers and riders looking to take advantage of the great conditions, the resort will be selling a discounted Spring Season Pass for $199, valid from April 11th through the last four weeks of the 2010–11 winter season.

http://www.visitcalifornia.com/

Canyons extends season after huge snowfalls

Canyons at Park City in Utah is the first US resort to announce an extended season following the huge snowfalls Western North America has received this winter. Utah’s largest ski resort, with 4000 acres of terrain and 180 runs, announced that it is extending its 2010/2011 season by a week to April 17, 2011.

“We have been delighted with our guests’ response to the unveiling of our re-creation projects which includes our new ‘Ski Beach’ base area, six new restaurants, new gondola portal, expanded terrain and the most technologically advanced chairlift in North America,” said Mike Goar, Managing Director of Canyons. “With all the work we did during the off-season to make Canyons the best resort in North America, we’re thrilled to be able to extend our ski season and allow our guests the opportunity to enjoy the new enhancements even longer.”

Canyons is so bullish on the new enhancements that in celebration, they are offering a special “You’ll-Love-It-Or-It’s-Free-Guarantee” offers a refundable lift ticket for guests not fully satisfied with their mountain experience and a $15 après ski dining credit. To qualify the Guarantee ticket must be purchased directly through the Canyons website.

Located in Park City, Canyons has already reported more than 270 inches of snow with forecasters predicting even more to fall later in the season.
“The ski conditions have been phenomenal,” said Goar, “and our improved snowmaking capabilities will allow us to extend our season and offer the best ski experience in Utah well into the spring.”

Canyons re-creation project marks the most extensive on-mountain enhancements of any ski resort in North America this season. This is the first phase of an improvement project and includes the new “Ski Beach” gathering area, the most technologically advanced chairlift in North America, a new direct-connect gondola located in the village centre, 300 acres of new terrain, new snowmaking capabilities, and the addition of several new dining venues including après ski favourite Red Tail Grill and two food carts, The Chocolate Bar and Twist. The second phase, including the opening of base area restaurant, The Farm will be unveiled later this month and into next season.

http://thecanyons.com/