Jackson Hole reservations offers $200 discount

Fly roundtrip to Jackson Hole and receive $200 off per person when you book a package that includes lodging and activities, such as lift tickets or snowmobiling.

This discount is available to all airline carriers, from all cities in North America including direct, non-stop flights from a dozen cities.

Book your Jackson Hole vacation package by Jan. 31. Book roundtrip airfare to Jackson Hole, minimum 5 nights lodging and lift tickets (minimum 3-day ticket) or equivalent winter activity and save $200 per person.

Offer is valid when booking flight, hotel and activity. Restrictions apply and availability is limited.  New reservations only. Discount will be applied to total package price, including taxes, fees and insurance.

May not be combined with any other special offers. Maximum 8 people. Valid dates of travel: January 8-31, 2014; March 17-April 6, 2014.

Call 888-838-6699 to book this exclusive offer, available only through Jackson Hole Central Reservations.

Vail Resorts’ Epic Pass adds access to Les 3 Vallees in France

Associated Press

Vail Resorts Inc. says holders of its Epic Pass also can get five days of skiing at Les 3 Vallees in France.

Next season’s pass already offered five consecutive days of access to the mountains of Arlberg, Austria, and five days at Verbier, Switzerland.

The $689 pass includes unrestricted access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Eldora and Arapahoe Basin resorts in Colorado; Canyons in Park City, Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area; Afton Alps near Minneapolis; and Mt. Brighton near Detroit. Vail Resorts operates all of those resorts except A-Basin and Eldora.

The competing $489 Rocky Mountain Super Pass Plus offers unlimited access to Winter Park and Copper Mountain, six days at Steamboat, three at Monarch, and five at New Zealand’s Mt. Ruapehu (roo-u-PAY’-hoo).

Information: www.snow.com

Sugar Bowl gears up for equipment and apparel sale on Labor Day weekend

If you’re looking for new equipment to use on the slopes this winter, it may be available at a steep discount during Sugar Bowl Resort’s annual Labor Day gear sale. The event takes place in the Truckee High School parking lot, Aug. 31 to Sept. 2.

Top name-brand ski and snowboard equipment – jackets, pants, gloves, under layers, helmets and, of course, skis and snowboards – will be available at 50 to 65 percent off last year’s regular retail prices. Brands include Arc’Teryx, Armada, Burton, Helly Hansen, K2, Patagonia and Volkl.

The sale runs from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. Truckee High School is at 11725 Donner Pass Road.

Passes for the 2013-14 season at Sugar Bowl and Royal Gorge Cross Country Ski Resort also will be on sale.

Information: www.sugarbowl.com

Buy Mountain High, get bonus days to ski and ride at 11 other resorts

postcard_finalOne pass, 12 resorts, $349. That sums up what Mountain High will be offering starting Aug. 31.

The resort’s VIP Season Pass includes an entire season of skiing and snowboarding at Mountain High plus free days at 11 other Powder Alliance resorts. They are Arizona Snowbowl; China Peak and Sierra-at-Tahoe in California; Crested Butte in Colorado; Schweitzer Mountain Resort in Idaho; Bridger Bowl in Montana; Angel Fire Resort in New Mexico; Timberline and Mt. Hood Skibowl in Oregon; Snowbasin Resort in Utah; and Stevens Pass in Washington.

If the pass is purchased by Sept. 10, Mountain High will include a free buddy ticket worth $69.

“This is an incredible deal and something no other Southern California resort can offer,” says John McColly, Mountain High spokesman.

VIP Season Passes are good any day or night Mountain High is open with no restrictions. Other benefits include free tickets to the North Pole Tubing Park, early-ups on select days, monthly discounts for family and friends, $10 off adult ski or snowboard lessons, 10 percent off the price of non-sale retail items, and the ability to track your days ridden and share them with friends.

The free tickets to partner resorts may be used any Sunday through Friday during non-holiday periods.

Mountain High also will be selling its traditional anytime season pass for $299 starting Aug. 31. That pass is valid only at the Wrightwood resort, and pays for itself in less than five visits.

Information: www.powderalliance.com and www.mthigh.com

Double the fun for half the price on the slopes at Bear Mountain, Snow Summit

Bear Mountain and Snow Summit have a midweek two-for-one lift ticket deal for Valentine’s Day. (Big Bear Mountain Resorts photo)

Bear Mountain and Snow Summit have a special lift-ticket deal for February, just in time for Valentine’s Day. Buy one ticket and the second one is free when they are purchased online.

“Last year, we had a couple get married on the top of Snow Summit,” says Chris Riddle, vice president of marketing for Big Bear Mountain Resorts. “We were thrilled to add a uniqueness factor to their big day. The Sweetheart Deal gives people the incentive to grab a partner for an out-of-the-ordinary date, with midweek skiing on our great snow conditions at half the price.”

The Sweetheart Deal lift ticket deal is available online only. Lift tickets are valid for use Feb. 12-14. The special is available for Adult and Young Adult tickets, and valued up to $118. Same day purchase is not available.

If the tickets are not used Feb. 12-14, they may be used on another day after paying the difference between the original purchase price and the prevailing rate on the new date that they are being used.

Sweetheart deals at Alpine Meadows, Squaw Valley for Valentine’s Day

Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley are offering lodging deals and a host of fun events for Valentine’s Day. Both resorts also will be distributing “I heart Squaw” and “I heart Alpine” buttons all day on Feb. 14.

Lodging packages: Couples can book the Lake Tahoe Lovers’ Getaway package and get a three-night stay, two two-day adult lift tickets and a private, full-day couple’s ski or snowboard lesson starting at $195 per person/per night. The Lake Tahoe Lovers’ Getaway package can be booked Feb. 13-16 for Valentine’s Day, though it is valid for stays through April 28. Package is based on availability and is subject to change. Information: 800-731-8021, visit www.squaw.com

Scavenger hunt: Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows will be hiding little red velvet bags around both mountains for all to find, weather and conditions permitting. The bags will be full of Valentine’s chocolates and candies, along with a few 2012-13 lift tickets. Scavenger hunt starts when lifts open at 9 a.m.

Singles on KT: Lift lines for male and female singles for those who want to meet their match on Squaw’s KT-22 chairlift. Lifties will be pairing up daring singles all day long from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Meet your match at Alpine: On Feb. 14 at Alpine Meadows, get a numbered sticker from guest services or from the lift ops at the Summit and Roundhouse chairlifts in order to find and meet your match. Keep an eye out for your matching number while you are skiing or riding, and if you find them, bring them to the Last Chair Bar to get discounted drink specials.

Super Sunday on the slopes: At Alpine, $49 for a lift ticket, then watch the 49ers

Alpine Meadows has great conditions, spectacular views and — on Super Bowl Sunday — $49 lift tickets to celebrate the 49ers playing in the big game. Liftopia and the resort’s website have more details on the special price. (Photo by Tom Zikas/Alpine Meadows)

In celebration of the San Francisco 49ers and Sunday’s Super Bowl, Alpine Meadows has $98 lift tickets for two people ($49 per person, good for Alpine only) available through Liftopia. After a day of skiing and snowboarding, settle in to watch the game at the Last Chair Bar.

Alpine and its sister resort, Squaw Valley, also are offering all passholders an opportunity to purchase two $49 friends or family lift tickets, valid on Sunday.

Alpine’s Super Bowl party game plan comes with food and drink specials and football squares. Buy a drink, get a square (maximum two squares per person) and cheer on your team. Prizes will be given at the end of each quarter. Food specials include $5 nachos and $5 wings at the Last Chair Bar. To learn more, click here.

Squaw is hosting what is being billed as the biggest bash in the Sierra for Sunday’s big game. Watch the 49ers battle the Ravens on a 16-foot by 21-foot, 49-panel jumbo screen at KT Base Bar. Festivities are planned throughout the day, including giveaways and promotions before, during and after the game. This event will be a major fundraiser for the High Fives Foundation. Click here for more details.

Information: www.skialpine.com

Skiers, snowboarders get a lift for less this month at Mountain High

Mountain High is taking up to 50 percent off the price of its lift tickets during February.

Express Pass Holders may use the coupon code FEBEXPRESS to receive an adult 8-hour lift ticket for $39. The discount is available through Feb. 28, but not valid President’s Day weekend, Feb. 16-18.

For those who don’t have an Express Pass, if they purchase an adult 8-hour lift ticket by Feb. 15 they will receive a free Express Pass plus a bounce back voucher for $39 that will be good for use on their next visit. The same restrictions apply for the bounce-back voucher (valid through Feb. 28, except Feb. 1618).

Mountain High’s Express Pass is the most sophisticated and environmentally-friendly lift ticket in snowsports, says resort spokeswoman Kim Hermon. The reusable, hard-plastic card can be encoded time and again with almost any Mountain High lift ticket and benefits include:

  • $10 off 8-hour, 4-hour and night ticket options, non-holiday.
  • Free 8-hour ticket (non-holiday) after every four visits.
  • Track days ridden, total runs, vertical feet and more.
  • Guarantee reservations in case of a sellout.

Forecasters are calling for a snowy month ahead, with off and on storms.

“February is likely to be a stormy month especially in comparison to the quiet January we’ve just seen,” says Chris Manly from Snowforecast.com.

Information: www.mthigh.com 

Shuttle between North Lake Tahoe ski/snowboard resorts — for free

A free ski shuttle is now ferrying visitors among nine North Lake Tahoe resorts.

The pilot program, which runs on weekends and holidays through March 31, aims to get skiers and snowboarders out of their cars and reduce travel hassles.

Participating resorts are Squaw Valley, Alpine Meadows, Northstar California, Homewood Mountain Resort, Sugar Bowl, Donner Ski Ranch, Boreal, Soda Springs and Royal Gorge.

For the schedule and details, go to www.laketahoetransit.com.

Big mountain for a small price at Mammoth Mountain

California’s only real big-mountain experience, now offered at small-mountain prices. For $199, adults get three days of lift tickets good for use 3 out of 4 consecutive days.

During this promotional sales period, through Feb. 10, the $66 Threedom Tickets are the best lift ticket value. Tickets can be used anytime through April 21, excluding Feb. 16-24.

Here’s the fine print: Skiers must purchase online or at Call Center, up to noon first day of use. Not available at ticket window. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Cancellation, credit and refund policy does not apply. Sale price applies for adults and seniors.

Information: www.mammothmountain.com