Greetings, Rocky/San Juan/Elk Mountains sliders!

March came in like a lion and is still roaring in the Colorado mountains. While other resorts throughout the country start winding down and offer "ego" snow coverage, Colorado is just revving up with the biggest snowfalls of the season. The storms blowing through this past week have accumulated an additional 3+ feet of tru-pow and the conditions are the best they've been all season! The deals are still accumulating as well and I think you'll find lots of possibilities, even at this last minute, for great spring break sliding without costing you an arm and a leg and half your annual income!

As great as conditions are, however, reality says we have to start looking at closing dates - the Aristotelian clock will always beat out the Natural one (sigh). General closings are mid-April, some resorts close a week earlier, some later. I'll mention the dates so you can begin your countdown of the 2001-2002 season and know there are only so many days of stellar riding left - the beauty in Colorado is that it will be good to the last cliff drop! And next week's newsletter will cover the Spring Specials that only Colorado resorts can offer! Remember also to check previous editions of the newsletter at www.slidingonthecheap.com. for endless promos and suggestions!

Tip o' the Ski Week: Again, savvy readers save the day and the dollar! Having trouble finding equipment at this late date? Many Colorado resorts offer online/off-site packages, discounts, and reservations for boards and riders of all shapes and sizes. Visit www.rentskis.com. to find gear waiting for you at Aspen, Beaver Creek, Breck, Copper, Crested, Keystone, Snowmass, Steamboat, Tell-U-Ride, Vail and Winter Park. Their buzz-phrase - rent online, not in one. There's also Mountain Sports Outlet (970-262-2836) in Silverthorne, just off the I-70 in the heart of the Rockies and near a dozen resorts. If that doesn't work and if you're traveling through the Denver Metro area and can pick your gear up on the way, try Breeze Ski Rentals at www.breezeski.com.

Co' Sno' Repo': No blarney on this one, the forecast for Saint Patty's Day weekend is that lovely four-letter word, SNOW. White gold, Colorado tea, looks to be blasting us beginning today (the Shakespearean clouds are louring over the Continental Divide) and through next week. Ides of March begone! - visit our happy sponsors at www.weather.com. or view the ongoing and immediate forecasts on the Weather Channel.

Thought of the week: May the snow rise up to meet you, may the sun be always at your back, and may you be three days in Colorado tru-pow before the devil even knows you're gone!

A-BASIN: Nothing to shake a free-heel at, A-Basin is offering an intensive
Telemark clinic March 16/17. $60/single day, $100/weekend will buy you one or two full days of fast-paced tele instruction for intermediate/advanced knee-benders, including video analysis, lunch, awards party, and a full day of bumps, chutes, powder, and glades, AND adult lift tix on top of it all are only $25! Remember if you're a beginner rider, 5 bucks will get you an all-day pass on the beginner lift. www.arapahoebasin.com. Final runs May-be May 5.

ASPEN/SNOWMASS: Affordable Aspen is at it again, and with the 30" of
fresh last week, it's the place you'll want to be. Pokolodi Lodge in Aspen or the Snowmass Inn in the village are each offering standard rooms for $119/night, no minimum stay. For more lodging specials (including some five-star homes), visit www.aspensnowmass.com. and hit the Specials link. And if you buy a multi-day pass and don't use it all, you'll receive an RSVP (Return Skier Visit Program) credit good for the remainder of this season and on into next. More details at the Lift Tickets link on the home page at www.aspensnowmass.com. Final runs April 14.

BRECKENRIDGE: Lodging deals are still as attractive as the mountain - $129
per 1 BR condo, $159 per 2 BR condo, 3/12-3/22, Sun-Thurs only and ya gotta say SteepSavers! Call 1-800-333-8833 for reservations. When you've turned and burned as much as your legs will take, the Park Avenue Pub features a $2.95 apres-ski happy hour appetizer buffet in addition to $2 Coors Lights. Catch some rays on the deck overlooking Maggie Pond at Quandary Grille, with Clam Bake Fridays from 4-6pm (weather permitting). Hop on the Colorado Adventure Mobile to Breck this Saturday - $15 R/T includes transport, beverages, and a whole lotta relaxin'! www.breckenridge.snow.com. Final runs April 14.

COPPER: Still offering incredible lodging deals, stay in a premium hotel at
the "Hill Metallica" for $89/pn/do through 3/20. Anytime Airfares are still as low as ever, from $295 R/T Chicago/Den, no Saturday stay required, book anytime! www.ski-copper.com. Final runs April 21.

CRESTED BUTTE: Shake your chute thang on the Butte-e-ous Ski Jet, R/T
Denver/Gunnison, only $199/pp/do and including two nights lodging at the ski-in/ski-out Sheraton Mt. Crested Butte, one day lift ticket, air and transfers. Get your Butte there any night of the week and extend your stay up to 7 days - call 1-800-643-9516 for reservations and details. For a limited time (that would be 3/17-4/2), book the Sunscreen Required Special: three nights lodging and a two day lift ticket, land packages starting at $171/pp/do. Visit www.cbmr.com. for more hot deals! Final runs April 14.

ELDORA: Purchase next season's pass now, $299/adult, $225/college, and ski
the remainder of this season for FREE! www.eldora.com. Final runs April 14.

KEYSTONE: Save up to 60% on lodging by booking with Keystone Resorts within
21 days of arrival. You also get FREE activities like ice skating, cross country skiing, and wine-tasting with your Mountain Passports! And Party with St. Patty apres-ski Saturday in the streets of River Run from 2-6pm with food, drinks, music and more! www.keystone.snow.com. Final runs April 14.

LOVELAND: The Land of Love is the only CO resort offering the Flex Pass -
ski four consecutive hours, start time of your choice, for $32. If you're coming for a long, Love-ly break, consider the Six Pack of lift tix for $198, best used before 4/1 (no fooling) as lift tix prices drop dramatically for April. Need Next Year Gear? The Loveland Sports Shop's end-of-season sale runs now through 3/31, and everything in-store is marked 20-50% off. www.loveland.com. Final runs April 14.

PURGATORY MOUNTAIN [at] DURANGO MOUNTAIN RESORT: Do-Rango with the Spring Break
Slopeside Deal through 3/24: get lift & lodging $99/pp/pn, based on maximum occupancy in a 1BR condo with fully equipped kitchen, wood-burning fireplace, and access to pool & hottubs. Call 888-WOW-SNOW for information and reservations, then take the long run to Hades! www.durangomountainresort.com. Final runs April 7.

STEAMBOAT: Visit www.skitown.com. and click on the Last Second Club link
to view some incredible lodging specials, f'rinstance, stay at a Steamboat Resort Timber Run condo for $57/pn! Better call now before they're all booked up! Stop by the Demo Center at the yurt at the top of the gondola for some great end-of-season ski deals! Don't miss live stand up comedy at The Bear River Bar & Grill every Friday and Saturday night - for only $15 you will see two of Denver's hottest comedians AND be treated to an appetizer buffet. And for St. Patty's day, groove to the FREE Shenanigans concert at the base of Headwall at 3:30pm. www.steamboat.com. Final runs April 14.

TELL-U-RIDE: If you thought the Last Second Club deals were good for
Steamboat, visit the Tell-U-Ride properties! Check out these Texas-sized deals in Lyle Lovett (you can have my guy but don't take my boards!) country - Bear Creek B&B, $93/pn, Fall Line condos, $105/pn, hotel accommodations at the New Sheridan, $108/pn. And if you have a Telluride Card, you can bring THREE friends this weekend and you'll all ski for only $44/pp/pd. www.telski.com. Final runs April 7.

VAIL: Still cookin' with their bookin', stay at Lionshead for $144/pn or,
better yet, book a Westwind deluxe 1 BR condo $240/pn (jam 'em in, and it's $60/pp/pn), 3/12-3/20, lower rates for midweek stays. You'll want to book lodging Friday night so you can catch the annual Ford Cup action at Golden Peak on Saturday - watch Seattle's favorite radio therapist, Kelsey Grammer, and some of your other favorite stars (maybe even Eastwood hisself!) compete against one another on a dual slalom course. I wonder what Dr. Crane would have to say about Dirty Harry...... www.vail.snow.com. Final runs April 14.

WINTER PARK: Winter Park Mountain Lodge still has weekend rooms available
for the month of March starting at $95/pn. The property is a stone's throw from the resort and home to WP's only micro-brewery, Moffatt Station. And there's FREE live music apres-ski Janeside every Saturday afternoon! www.skiwinterpark.com. Final runs April 14.

BACKCOUNTRY: The buzz is all about Colorado's newest resort, Silverton Mountain - check out the latest Powder to the People report at www.powdermag.com. Built for advanced/expert riders ONLY, with just one lift the resort sports more available acreage than the Butte, Tell-U-Ride, or A-Basin. www.silvertonmountain.com.

Till next week, stay low, stay smart, and stay luz,
Your Robin Hood of the Rockies,
Martha
skibabeage [at] hotmail.com