Best of the High Country
Best of Winter 2005
The tops of the peaks - Each year we ask Mountain Living readers to tell us about their favorite mountain places and events—everything from romantic getaways to ski resorts, golf courses to scenic drives, hiking trails to restaurants and so much more.

In this issue we feature your top choices and the editors’ picks, providing you with a look at the very best of what the High Country has to offer. There’s a lot to love about the mountains, and we heard from many of you about the what  makes life so special here—the crisp, clean air, the incredible variety of outdoor activities, the abundance of wildlife and, of course, the wonderful people who choose to make a life here. One of the greatest things about this annual issue is that it helps us to remember the things that make living in the mountains so magical. And it provides us with a long list of recommendations, suggestions and fresh ideas that encourage us to try new places or revisit old favorites.

Photo courtesy of Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise
Best Sleigh Ride

Lake Louise, Banff, Alberta, Canada Traditional horse-drawn sleighs glide through Banff’s pristine alpine wilderness, across Lake Louise and beneath Victoria Glacier. Sleigh rides depart daily from the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. (403) 762-5454 or fairmont.com/lakelouise.

To Beano’s Cabin, Beaver Creek, Colorado Enjoy a moonlit sleigh ride through the forest up to this elegant cabin restaurant tucked high atop Beaver Creek Mountain. (970) 949-9090 or beavercreek.snow.com.

Heavenly, Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada Borges Sleigh Rides’ famous Belgian Blondes and Bashkir Curleys draw riders over the meadows and through the woods. Camp Richardson Corral has sleigh rides along the shores of Lake Tahoe. sleighride.com or skiheavenly.com/activities.

Other favorites: National Elk Refuge, Jackson, Wyoming; Warm Springs Creek, Sun Valley, Idaho; Devil’s Thumb Ranch, Winter Park, Colorado. 

Photo courtesy of Winter Park Resort
Best Kids’ Ski School

Winter Park Resort, Colorado Beginners learn the basics on Mount Maury, then transfer to the mountain via snowmobile. All programs are guaranteed to advance ability. (800) 729- 7907 or skiwinterpark.com/skischool.

Northstar at Lake Tahoe, Truckee, California Ranked by Ski Magazine as one of the country’s best kids’ ski schools. Choose from half-day, full-day or package lessons. (530) 562-2471 or northstarattahoe.com.

Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada Choose from daily lessons or weeklong Adventure Camps. (800) 766-0449 or whistlerblackcomb.com/kids. 

Other Favorites: Buttermilk, Aspen, Colorado; The Canyons, Park City, Utah; Keystone, Colorado. 

Best Night Skiing

Brighton Resort, Utah  More than 200 lighted acres (22 runs), plus night skiing and snowboarding lessons. (800) 873-5512 or skibrighton.com.

Keystone Resort, Colorado With 15 trails, a lighted half pipe and a terrain park, Keystone is Colorado’s largest night skiing and snowboarding destination. (877) 625-1556 or keystoneresort.com.

Mt. Hood SkiBowl, Oregon Night skiing here is only $20—an incredible value given that SkiBowl offers late hours, 34 lit runs and two fully-lit terrain parks for skiers and snowboarders. (800) SKI-BOWL or skibowl.com.

OTHER FAVORITES: Park City Mountain Resort, Utah; Bogus Basin, Boise, Idaho; Whistler Blackcomb, BC, Canada.

Best Undiscovered Ski Resort

Powder Mountain, Eden, Utah Locals have skied  here since 1972 and call it “Pow Mow.” The weekend lift tickets are about $40. Relatively few slopes are groomed, the chair lifts are slow, and there’s still one T-bar, but more than 500 inches of Utah’s famous powder falls here annually. (801) 745-3772 or powdermountain.com.

Photo courtesy of Telluride Ski Resort
Best Ski Resort

Telluride, Colorado Renowned for its steeps and bumps, Telluride boasts some of the best black-diamond terrain in the country and an astonishing vertical drop of 3,530 feet. The thrill seeker will want to check out the mountain’s heli-skiing operation where miles of untouched powder await.  (866) 287-5015 or tellurideskiresort.com.

Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia, Canada Already considered the crown jewel of North American ski resorts, Whistler strives to best the competition again by introducing 1,100 acres of new terrain, including serene backcountry bowls and the launch of a Superpipe, lit for night skiing and snowboarding.  (866) 218-9690 or whistlerblackcomb.com.

Jackson Hole, Wyoming This snow season marks the resort’s opening of the “Crags” terrain. The new territory provides an additional 200 acres and 1,000 vertical feet of expert terrain. The resort town pairs rugged with refined—world-class dining and shopping and theater. (888) DEEPSNO or jacksonhole.com.  

Mt. Bachelor, Oregon  No matter what your snow sport is—cross-country skiing, snowboarding or tubing—Mt. Bachelor delivers with an average of 370 inches annually. Seventy-one runs satisfy skiers of all levels. The Snowblast Tubing Park will keep the kids entertained for hours.  (800) 829-2442 or mtbachelor.com.

Other Favorites: Aspen, Colorado; Sun Valley, Idaho; Alta, Utah; Copper Mountain, Colorado; Heavenly, California; Angel Fire, New Mexico.

Best Après Ski

39 Degrees, Sky Hotel, Aspen, Colorado  Hailed as “The hottest place in town to cool off,” 39 Degrees is the ultimate end to an exhilarating day on the slopes. A crackling fire, comfortable couches and delectable drink and dining menus spice up Aspen Mountain’s  after-hours scene.  Located inside the ultra-hip Sky Hotel, 39 Degrees is “the place” to see and be seen.  (800) 882-2582 or theskyhotel.com.

Lone Eagle Lounge and Grille, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Incline Village, Nevada Unwind among panoramic scenery, open wood beams and rock fireplaces right on the shores of Lake Tahoe. Relax in the great room with cocktails before indulging in Continental cuisine in the restaurant. Whipping up dishes such as Venison Medallions and Vegetable Tagliatelle, the display kitchen is entertainment in itself, but the grill also features live entertainment. (775) 832-1234 or laketahoe.hyatt.com.

OTHER FAVORITES: J-Bar, Hotel Jerome, Aspen, Colorado; The Owl Bar, Sundance Resort, Utah; The Boiler Room, Sun Valley Village, Idaho.

Editor’s Pick

Haute Hut Tour
CB Mountain Guides, Gunnison-Crested Butte, Colorado  Glide silently through back- country valleys with an experienced guide. Stop along the trail to warm up with a hot drink and gourmet snack. In the evening, relax with a glass of wine while your guide prepares a five-course candlelight dinner in your small, charming cabin deep in the Elk Mountains. Wake up to fresh powder and a cup of freshly brewed coffee. (970) 349-5430 or crestedbutteguides.com.

Coolest Overnight
Aurora Ice Hotel, Chena Hot Springs Resort, Fairbanks, Alaska This hotel has six bedrooms (the beds are covered with fur throws and pillows) and an ice bar with sparkling ice-crystal chandeliers and an ice-block fireplace. The martinis are served in glasses made of ice. (907) 451-8104 or chenahotsprings.com.