Monday, October 30, 2006

Snowboarding on Washingtons Crystal Mountain

If you are in or near Washington State, you should
definitely check out Crystal Mountain. With an
elevation of 7004 feet and a vertical drop of 3102 feet,
Crystal Mountain actually sits below Mount Rainier,
which has a top elevation of 14,408 feet. Between
the months of November and April, several feet of
fresh powder falls on Crystal Mountain, due to the
cold Cascade storms common to the area.

This is rough terrain, and there is little offered to
beginners as far as the ease of the trails go. But
lessons are available, as well as rentals for snowboard’s and
other equipment. At Crystal Mountain, there are more
than 2300 acres and fifty trails, making this the largest
snowboard area in the state of Washington. There are ten lifts
available: 2 high speed six passenger lifts, 2 high
speed quads, 2 triple chairs, 3 double chairs, and 1
children’s surface lift.

The season runs from the middle of November to the
middle of April, when the most snow fall is
experienced. There are several places to choose for
lodging, meals, and nightly entertainment, but the
biggest attraction is the snowboarding, of course.

The Crystal Mountain Express Buss service runs on
weekends from the middle of December to the middle
of March. You will be picked up from your lodge and
dropped off at the base plaza – where you can begin
a full day of fun on the slopes. After a day of snowboarding,
you should definitely head over to East Peak
Massage & Fitness to take advantage of the hot tub,
sauna, showers, and even the game room. Massages
are also available, with a reservation.

If your kids aren’t quite ready for the black diamond
trails – but you are – you can register them in the
Kid’s Club. The Kid’s Club is open from 8am to 4pm
each day for children aged four to eleven years old.
The kid’s aged 4 – 11 will be supervised while they
snowboard on a ‘kid appropriate’ slope, and snowboarding
is also available for children aged 7 – 11 years old.
Your child will have fun, while being supervised and
taught. The cost of the care includes a four hour
lesson, a lift ticket, lunch, and supervision. Rental
equipment is available for the kids for an additional fee.

Everyone has fun at Crystal Mountain. It is a great
place for a family trip, but again, the slopes are
more for intermediate snowboarders and expert snowboarders –
although beginners will have fun as well. Just use
good sense, and avoid trails that you don’t feel like
your ready for.

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Oregon Snowboard vacations

Oregon is famous for the snowboard slopes found around the
state, and if you are planning a snowboard trip, you
should definitely consider Timberline Lodge, located
near Mt. Hood in Oregon. There is quite a bit of
history in the area, starting with the lodge that was
built during the Great Depression by a master
craftsman. The Timberline Lodge also has a bit of
more recent history attached to it. Part of the movie,
The Shining, was filmed here. Many of the ‘outside’
shots were done at Timberline Lodge.

The lodge is entirely hand made, and well preserved.
The hand woven draperies and the hand hewn beams
add to the rustic charm and history of the place. The
lodge sits in the middle of 1400 acres consisting of
35 trails. The trails are perfect for beginners,
intermediates, and experts. The top elevation at
Timberline Lodge is 8504 with a vertical drop of 2501.
There are six chair lifts to accommodate snowboarders.

One of the most unique things about Timberline is
that it is the one place in the United States that offers
year-round snow snowboarding. Palmer Snowfield is part of
the Timberline Resort, and it is permanently covered
with snow. Beginners are not always allowed on
Palmer snowfield – the conditions are considered
each day when making this determination.

snowboarding, snowboarding, hiking, snowshoeing, and
lodge tours are the main attractions at Timberline.
Here, it is all about the powder! Mt. Hood is an active
volcano which is considered to be dormant.
Occasionally, tremors are felt, and steam vents are
often visible. The Cascade Dining Room is open for
breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day, but the hours
do change with the seasons. Other fare can be found
at the Ram’s Head Bar, the Blue Ox bar, the Wy’East
Kitchen Cafeteria, the Market Café, and the Mt. Hood
Brewing Company.

Rental equipment is not available at Timberline. You
must bring your own equipment. However, smaller
items such as gloves and goggles can be purchased
at the lodge, along with some clothing items. There is
a snowboard and snowboard school on the premises, and
private and group lessons are available.

If the idea of a ‘rustic’ snowboard trip appeals to you,
as opposed to trips with accommodations that are a
bit fancier, then Timberline Lodge in Oregon is the
place to be! Again, it is definitely all about the history
and the powder here. However, whether you snowboard or not,
you must not miss the Magic Mile, which offers a
panoramic view of the Cascade mountains that cannot
be matched!

Saturday, October 28, 2006

Snowboarding on a budget

When you start thinking about snowboard trips, you will
find a lot of information about various resorts and
packages. Finding terrific trip spots isn't difficult,
however, finding snowboard trips that fit into your budget
can be a challenge.

To save money, look for lesser known resorts. This
doesn’t mean that these resorts won’t provide you
with a fun trip – it simply means that they aren’t
quite as well known as other resorts, and therefore,
the prices may be a great cheaper. Also look for snowboard
trip packages that will include your lodging, lift
tickets, lessons, rentals, and possibly even some
meals.

Be willing to make some sacrifices if money is a real
issue. For instance, instead of eating in an expensive
restaurant each night, eat cheaper fast food, or make
sandwiches in your room. Borrow equipment from
friends instead of renting it. Join a group for lessons
instead of taking private lessons. Don’t stay at a
lodge, stay at a motel farther away from the slopes
if necessary. There are numerous ways that you can
cut down on the expense of your snowboard trip. It is all about
the powder after all!

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Snowboard clubs

snowboard trips with snowboard Clubs

There are many different types of clubs throughout
the world. In fact, there is a club or organization for
just about everything that you can imagine! snowboarding is
no exception. snowboard clubs are a great way to learn new
things, and to go on snowboard trips with other
members. In fact, snowboard club members often get
discounted rates on snowboard trip packages.

No matter where you live, there is a snowboard club near
you. This is true even if you live in a place that does
not ever get snowfall! These clubs regularly get
together for trips to various mountains, snowboard areas,
and snowboard resorts. Some are local clubs, meaning that
the slopes that they snowboard on are within driving
distance, while others are more national or global,
which means that they not only snowboard locally, if
possible, but they also plan snowboard trips.

Again, members of snowboard clubs often receive deep
discounts on snowboard trip packages. Arrangements
are usually made through the club, so that everyone
is eligible for the discounts. The money that is
required from each member for the trip is usually
paid to the club, and the club passes the funds on
to pay for lodging, airfare, meals, lift tickets, and
other perks that are included in the trip. Because
arrangements are being made for a group of people
– which is usually fairly large – discounts are given.
This benefits all members of the club.

The discounts aren’t the only thing to be excited
about. These clubs get together regularly – even if
they aren’t getting together to snowboard. They join together
for other activities as well, such as cookouts and
fundraisers. Many snowboard clubs do annual fundraisers to
help less fortunate families and children at Christmas
time. Others do annual fundraisers to help preserve
the environment – which is usually a topic of great
importance to snowboarders who love being out in the wide
open spaces and fresh air.

While snowboarding is what brings these groups together in
the first place, it is not necessarily what keeps them
together. Their love of a common sport, and their
common interests and feeling of community is what
keeps them together – and it keeps them snowboarding
together for years and years. If you are a snowboarder, you
should definitely consider joining a club. It doesn’t
matter – in most cases – what level you are at.
Beginners are usually welcomed, and this is a great
way for beginners to quickly improve their snowboardlls and
techniques out on the slopes.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Snowboarding Michigan and the Nubs nob resort

If you will be in Michigan, you should definitely visit
Nub’s Nob snowboard Resort. Nub’s Nob has what is
considered to be the Midwest’s best snow, and the
resort has a reputation for being a family friendly
mountain. Generations of families have brought their
children here for their very first snowboard run.

The mountain layout is fairly simple with an elevation
of 1338 feet and a vertical drop of 427 feet. There are
43 trails serviced by eight chair lifts. Boasting one of
the best snowboarding and snowboarding schools in the
country, both private and group lessons are available.
If you are brand new to the sport, you can even learn
to snowboard free, and take advantage of Nub’s Cubs
Childcare Center while you learn.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking that intermediate
or expert snowboarders won’t find any challenges waiting for
them at Nub’s Nob! The terrain is varied, and you will
find challenges. Night snowboarding is also available. The
snowboard School offers training programs for advanced
snowboarders who are interested in racing, and many racing
events are held at the resort. You can signup for race
leagues at the resort, and many league events are
planned each season.

Equipment rental is available, and there is a General
Store right inside the lodge, where you can purchase
gloves, hats, and neck warmers among a variety of
other items. You should also visit the technology
center to have your snowboard’s tuned or repaired.

You won’t go hungry either! Nub’s Nob Cafeteria is
open for breakfast and lunch, and if you brought your
own lunch, you can eat in the ‘brown bag’ room.
Nub’s Winter Garden serves grilled burgers when the
weather allows. Pintail Peak Warming Hut is located
at the top of the Black Lift. Here, you can enjoy
amazing views while enjoying home made soups and
sandwiches.

Nub’s Nob is the place to go if you want to have a
great family snowboard trip – or if you are already an
expert snowboarder interested in racing and snowboardll events.
There is plenty to do and see. In fact, you may find
that you have a problem deciding which activity to
participate in first! Don’t worry about missing
anything, though – if you want to snowboard now and board
later, you can do that. Most events are planned for
the weekends, so arrange your schedule so that you
are able to attend or participate in the planned events.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Fun Valley Snowboarding

If you are looking for a great place to go for your
family snowboard trip, Fun Valley, Iowa is the place to
go. This resort caters to families and beginner level
snowboarders, but it is also great for intermediate and expert
snowboarders as well. There is something to suit all levels at
Fun Valley.

The top elevation at Fun Valley is 1201 feet, with a
vertical drop of 200 feet. There are six lifts, including
three chair lifts and three surface lifts. The new
learning center is something to see – and experience
if you are a beginner. Tubers and snowboarders are
welcome, and there is an excellent terrain park
available. Rental equipment, including tubes and boards,
is available.

Fun Valley offers outstanding group rates for groups
of ten or more. Birthday packages are also
outstanding for kids twelve and under. Every
Wednesday and Thursday night, the resort offers a
student night, with greatly reduced rates. Buddy Pass
Friday’s are also popular – bring your friends and you
will all save on lift tickets. Coca-Cola sponsors Sprite
Saturday’s at Fun Valley, where you can participate in
three activities for one flat affordable fee. Sundays are
Family Four Pack Day.

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Red River New Mexico Snowboarding

Red River, New Mexico is home to one of the most
popular snowboard resorts in the United States, and has
been for many decades. The resort offers six chair
lifts and one surface lift, and the trails are equally
divided for beginners, intermediates, and experts.

Top elevation at Red River is 10354 feet, and the
vertical drop down the face of the mountain is 1601
feet. Unfortunately, it doesn’t snow much, and about
85% of the powder is man made. There are 58 trails
scattered over 247 acres. Red River is called the ‘snowboard
town of the Southwest.’

The resort has three restaurants, all of which offer
fabulous fare. Lodging can be obtained in cabins,
chalets, inns, or private condominiums in the area,
and many lodging packages, as well as snowboard packages
are available through Red River Central Reservations.
Red River also offers snow pass rates which allow
children to snowboard for free, and teens to snowboard at reduced
rates. This is a great way to save money on your
family snowboard trip.

Red River also has a snowboard school, and group lessons
and private lessons are available. Even if you’ve never
snowboarded before, you will quickly be on the slopes after
your lessons. There are even lessons for
snowboarders, who are welcome on the Red River
slopes. You can also rent all of your snowboard and
snowboarding equipment for very reasonable rates.

The nightlife in Red River is also great. After a day
on the slopes, you can kick back and relax at the
lodge, or visit one of the taverns in the area. For the
younger crowd, there is a great game room located
right in the center of the town. One of the great things
about Red River is that everything is within walking
distance of the lodging areas, and shuttles are
provided for transportation to and from the slopes.

You can also enjoy taking scenic chairlift rides,
hiking, biking, horseback riding, camping,
snow-mobiling, and hunting. You can even take one
of the jeep tours to go see the abandoned gold mines
in the area. So, even if you don’t snowboard, there is still
plenty of fun to be had at Red River snowboard Resort.

Childcare is available while you spend your day on
the slopes. Your child will be well tended at the Li’l
Buckaroos Child Care Facility, and the center
provides lunch for your child as well. At Red River,
everything has been thought of and taken care of to
ensure that your snowboard trip is as enjoyable as
possible.

Saturday, October 07, 2006

Okanagan Snowboarding

The Okanagan mountains are on both sides of the US-Canada border
and offer many mountains with great snowboard potential.

Okanagan is a mountain range that runs through
valleys close to three mountain ranges.During the
summer this is the perfect place to do some camping,
but when winter hits you will have great snowboarding
weather and conditions. There are small resorts that
are scattered throughout the area. The climate here
will make for great snowboarding down the slopes and through
the trails.

These scattered resorts are very quiet and peaceful.
Lifts are available, but they are limited to specific
times and dates. These resorts have great snowboarding
around them, even though they are small. This area
of mountains offers the most consistent
weather conditions, and the resort offers lodging for
everyone that cares to stay - at a reasonable price.

The mountain ranges offer different trails and snowboardll
levels, but most of all they provide you with the
snowboarding trip of your dreams. During the winter,
temperatures in the Okanogan range often drop to
zero degrees. The items you bring will need to keep
you warm at all times and safe no matter which trail
you may choose to snowboard.

Friday, October 06, 2006

Snowboarding in Solitude Utah

If you are looking for the ultimate Utah snowboard trip,
Solitude Mountain Resort has everything that you
could want or need. During the early 1900’s, the
area was full of silver miners, who gave the area its
famous name. Today, the area is covered with
snowboarders – but the crowds are rather light.

The area became a snowboarder’s paradise in 1957. It was
developed by Robert Barrett, who made his fortune
as a uranium miner. He basically started developing
the resort because he was denied restroom privileges
at the snowboard area in Alta – because he was not a guest.

Now owned by a different family, the resort features
1200 acres of 63 runs for beginners, intermediate
snowboarders, and experts. There are eight lifts, including
seven chair lifts and one surface lift. The top
elevation at Solitude Mountain is 10036 feet, with
a vertical drop of 2048 feet.

There are five lodging options for guests, and
activities and events take place all throughout the
year. The resort looks like a Tom Kincaide painting,
and one can’t help but wonder if this is where some
of his inspiration came from!

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Snowboarding on Crystal Mountain

If you are in or near Washington State, you should
definitely check out Crystal Mountain. With an
elevation of 7004 feet and a vertical drop of 3102 feet,
Crystal Mountain actually sits below Mount Rainier,
which has a top elevation of 14,408 feet. Between
the months of November and April, several feet of
fresh powder falls on Crystal Mountain, due to the
cold Cascade storms common to the area.

This is rough terrain, and there is little offered to
beginners as far as the ease of the trails go. But
lessons are available, as well as rentals for snowboard’s and
other equipment. At Crystal Mountain, there are more
than 2300 acres and fifty trails, making this the largest
snowboard area in the state of Washington. There are ten lifts
available: 2 high speed six passenger lifts, 2 high
speed quads, 2 triple chairs, 3 double chairs, and 1
children’s surface lift.

The season runs from the middle of November to the
middle of April, when the most snow fall is
experienced. There are several places to choose for
lodging, meals, and nightly entertainment, but the
biggest attraction is the snowboarding, of course.

The Crystal Mountain Express Buss service runs on
weekends from the middle of December to the middle
of March. You will be picked up from your lodge and
dropped off at the base plaza – where you can begin
a full day of fun on the slopes. After a day of snowboarding,
you should definitely head over to East Peak
Massage & Fitness to take advantage of the hot tub,
sauna, showers, and even the game room. Massages
are also available, with a reservation.

If your kids aren’t quite ready for the black diamond
trails – but you are – you can register them in the
Kid’s Club. The Kid’s Club is open from 8am to 4pm
each day for children aged four to eleven years old.
The kid’s aged 4 – 11 will be supervised while they
snowboard on a ‘kid appropriate’ slope, and snowboarding
is also available for children aged 7 – 11 years old.
Your child will have fun, while being supervised and
taught. The cost of the care includes a four hour
lesson, a lift ticket, lunch, and supervision. Rental
equipment is available for the kids for an additional fee.

Everyone has fun at Crystal Mountain. It is a great
place for a family trip, but again, the slopes are
more for intermediate snowboarders and expert snowboarders –
although beginners will have fun as well. Just use
good sense, and avoid trails that you don’t feel like
your ready for.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Snowboarding in Alaska

Alaska, which has always been a source of awe and
mystery, has some of the best snowboarding in the world,
and the Alyeska Resort is one of the finest resorts
in the state. With a top elevation of 2751 feet and a
2501 vertical drop, the area gets an average of 631
inches of snow annually.

Although this is some of the best snowboarding in the world,
you won’t find the slopes overly crowded, and there
are no long lift lines. There are nine lifts, including
six chair lifts and two surface lifts, and one cable
car line. There are 68 trails for beginners,
intermediates, and experts, with the majority of the
trails designed for intermediate snowboarders.

Night time snowboarding is allowed, which makes your snowboard
experience more adventurous and thrilling. You will
see snow capped mountains, hanging glaciers, and
of course, the famous Northern Lights. This resort is
ranked number nine of the top twenty-five killer snowboard
trips by snowboarding Magazine.

The season begins at the Alyeska Resort in mid
November, and runs through mid April. This area of
Alaska boasts the longest daytime areas in the
United States, with approximately sixteen hours of
daylight each day during April. During December,
however, there are only about seven hours of daylight
– which makes night time snowboarding necessary if you
are going to get in the time that you want to spend
on the slopes.

The Alyeska Prince Hotel is the place to stay! Here
you will enjoy elegant rooms and fine dining. Nightly
entertainment is available as well. There are other
nightlife spots in the area as well, that are not
associated with the Hotel.

If tubing interests you, then visiting the Glacier
Tubing Park is an absolute must! Featuring two
lanes of terrain and a surface lift, everyone in the
family will enjoy spending time at the tubing park.
The Alyeska Terrain Park is a must for
snowboarding enthusiasts. Other winter activities
that can be enjoyed in and around the Alyeska
Resort include flight seeing, helisnowboardng, ocean
cruising tours, dog sledding, ice climbing, back
country snowboarding, mountaineering, and polar bear
viewing.

At the Alyeska Resort, the ultimate winter trip
can be experienced. Brave the elements, then return
to the Hotel for some pampering. Get a taste of what
Alaska is really like, and what snowboarding is meant to be!
There are activities for the entire family to enjoy, and
there are many area sights and attractions to be
enjoyed as well. This really is an awesome winter
family snowboard trip!

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Snowboarding at Big Sky

With all that Big Sky, Montana has to offer snowboarders, it
is amazing that so few know about its existence!
Known for its wide open slopes and short lift lines,
Big Sky snowboard Resort has one of the largest lift served
vertical drops in the United States. Over 5300 acres
of snowboard slopes and trails await snowboarders, with over 33 feet
of snowfall each season.

Big Sky snowboard Resort features twenty three lifts, 220
trails, and a 4350 foot vertical drop. The top elevation
is 11154 feet. Along with the snowboard lifts, there are also
two cable car lines available. While there are
beginner slopes, most of the slopes are geared
toward intermediate and expert snowboarders.

There are many places to lodge in Big Sky Resorts
Mountain Village, which rests at the foot of the
impressive Lone Peak mountain. Enjoy Sleigh Ride
dinners, ice skating, parties, snowmobile tours, and
a variety of community events. At Big Sky, there are
no strangers. Big Sky, Montana is one of the highest
rated snowboard Resorts in the United States, and there is
something here for everyone.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Snowboarding in Frost Free Mountain North Dakota

For the ultimate family snowboard trip, you must visit
Frost Fire Mountain in North Dakota. Located near
Walhalla, the resort features three lifts, including two
chair lifts and one surface lift, 25 acres, and ten trails
for beginners, intermediates and experts. The top
elevation is 1346 feet, with a vertical drop of 345 feet.

Although this is not a large snowboard resort, it is a great
deal of fun, and perfect for family snowboard trips. This
is the perfect place to bring kids to learn how to snowboard.
Both snowboard and snowboard lessons are available at
reasonable rates. There is a rental shop and snowboard
maintenance area on the grounds, and many motel
accommodations in the area to choose from. There
is a separate terrain park for snowboarders as well.

There are many restaurants to choose from, and you
can also visit the areas antique shops when you
aren’t busy enjoying the slopes. There are many
historical sites to see in the area as well, as
Walhalla is the second oldest town in the state of
North Dakota.