Greetings, Rocky Mountain Sliders!

It's really beginning to look a lot like Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa out there. Mountain towns are bedecked with lights and trim, restaurants are starting to feature special holiday menus, folks are grinning broadly, Colorado conditions are supreme, and Santa hats and mistletoe crowns are making regular appearances on the slopes. Oh, and then there's all that snow, and there's more on the way! In fact, it’s BLIZZARDING on the Continental Divide at the moment! You may think, though, that because the holidays are nearly upon us that all the properties are booked. Well, you're almost right, but if you know where to look, you'll still find deals on last-minute lodging and lift tickets, and if you can be a little bit flexible in your arrival and departure dates, your chances of enjoying the mountains the end of this year will increase significantly.

Thought o' the Ski week: Nature has no mercy at all. Nature says, “I’m going to snow. If you have on a bikini and no snowshoes, that’s tough. I am going to snow anyway.” Maya Angelou.

Tip o' the ski week: Airfares. Sometimes you just wish you could hop Santa's sleigh, eh? Well, take a gander through www.cheaptickets.com for last minute fares into Colorado, no booking fees here, or www.hotwire.com. And for the long-term, consider subscribing to your favorite major airlines newsletter. They'll offer last-minute airfare specials to their e-mail audience only, and some of the rates are Holiday Friendly! Consider www.ua.com, www.continental.com, www.delta.com for starters.

HERTZ ALERT<*>HERTZ ALERT<*>HERTZ ALERT!!!!! Did you know Hertz was the first corporation to offer rental cars (and that would be a Model T, for those of you into detail). Did you know Hertz Corporation developed and first used the idea of a credit card? Well, they're at it again, and just in time for the holidays - through a unique partnership with Denver's Specialty Sports Ventures and Vail Resorts, now guests will be able to rent mountain sport equipment including skis, snowboards, boots and kids' equipment, and purchase discounted lift tickets at the DIA Hertz Rental Car location. AND, they've just completed a comfy lounge where guests can change into their ski clothes, take a shower, or relax for a bit before and after hitting Colorado's Mighty Slopes. When you consider time is money, this is a real saver for all! www.hertz.com

And this week's winners of the Rocky Mountain Random Slide Pick to receive TWO FREE LIFT TICKETS EACH are:
jlipsky [at] cms.hhs.gov
fenright [at] jeffco.k12.co.us

CONGRATULATIONS to our loyal readers, and contact slidecheap [at] aol.com to claim your prize! If you're not an e-mail member yet, join the fun at www.slidingonthecheap.com! It's a win/win situation! And we'll see you on the slopes!

Sooooo, here's this week's scoop on Santa's Wild Holiday Ride! Fasten your seat belts, 'cause it's a good one!

AHHHH-BASIN: Now if Santa and Mrs. Claus each purchased the still-available-but-not-for-much-longer A-Basin Bonus Pass for $199 each, they'd be able to each bring four of the eight tiny reindeer for only $32 per deer. Guess we know where they'll be! So, join 'em! Get your Bonus Pass, get four of your buds together before December 20, and ride the snow tide down the Basin! All those bodies will need to crash somewhere - low-cost dorm-style accommodations at the Alpen Hutte Youth Hostel in Silverthorne, $27/pp/pn! Who knows, you might wake up snuggling Blitzen! www.arapahoebasin.com

ASPEN RESORTS: Aspen/Snowmass Highlands/Buttermilks Last minute pre-holiday specials on Aspen's Virtual Hostel - Pokolodi Lodge (near Snowmass), standard room $59/pn through 12/21. Limelight Lodge, two blocks from Silver Queen Gondola, standard room $68/pn through 12/19. Snowmass Mountain Chalet, near you-know-where, run of the B&B $89/pn through 12/19, includes full hot breakfast and hot soup lunch. Beat the holiday crowds and prices at www.aspensnowmass.com

COPPER MOUNTAIN: Put this under your tree, and put one in your own pocket as well: 4-passes for $89!!!! Available, while supplies last or until December 20, whichever comes first, at King Soopers in the greater Denver area. Buy 50 bucks worth of groceries and get an additional $10 off! Rooms available over the holiday season for $109/pn/do and last-minute, pre-holiday hotel rooms going, going, going for $84/pn/do. Be first with the camera to snap Santa's big red yard sale down the Hill Metallica! www.coppercolorado.com

CRESTED BUTTE: Hallelujah! The Butte-i-ful Crest has done it again! Join their e-mail club, get all the latest scoop on deals, snow, and events, and as a Thank Ewe, they'll give you even BETTER deals on lodging and lifts! Like, um, $169/pp for three nights at the Sheraton and two days lift tickies?!?! Shoot, skip the pb/marshmallow sammies for Santa, put this deal on his plate, and he'll REALLY think you've been nice this year! www.skicb.com

DURANGO MOUNTAIN RESORT/PURGATORY: Do-rango's gotten a little elfish with this one - Learn to Ski/Ride for $129/pp/pn, and the munchkins put three nights lodging, three days lift tickets, three days rentals, three breakfasts, and three lessons into that little stocking! Got plans Christmas Day? Go early, and grab the two nights lodging/two days lift tickets pre-holiday deal for $59/pp/pn, good through 12/19. Follow Rudolph's nose to www.durangomountainresort.com!

LOVELAND: Oh come, all ye faithful, to the Land of Love, where you can still pick up at-window lift tickets for only $29, but only until 12/20 when thereafter they go up to $43. Buy a Frequent User Card for $31, never pay more than $34 for an adult daily lift ticket, and every fifth day is free! Activate it before 12/21, and you're FIRST day of riding is free! www.skiloveland.com

MONARCH: Ski and stay packages at the Monarch Lodge, only $49/pp/pn, but not for much longer! Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Santa's on his way at www.skimonarch.com!

SKI COOPER: This is UNBELIEVABLE! Season Passes to the Home of the 10th are still $199. The little town of Leadville nearby is a terrific place to hang, and both Chicago Ridge Snowcat Tours and the Tennessee Pass Cookhouse and Cross-Country Trails are unbeatable. I can't understand why even SANTA would want to pass this one up! www.skicooper.com.

STEAMBOAT: Ninety-two inches of snow to date. Welcome, Holiday Snow! Book a vacation at Das Boot by 12/24 and receive 2500 bonus air miles on American, Northwest, or United. Want to keep your feet on the ground? Try a guided snowshoe adventure to Ragnar’s, where for $35 you'll enjoy a gourmet lunch, gondola ride, guided tour, lunch, and glass of wine, reservations 24 hours in advance please at 970-879-0740. Otherwise, it's www.steamboat-ski.com.

TELL-U-RIDE: Santa has teamed up with Mother Nature to bring over a FOOT of today freshies to I-can-tell-u-ride, on top of the double-sleigh-deep base! And you can find a great deal on lodging in Montrose, just an hour away from downtown Tell-U-Ride, fer instance at the Best Western Red Arrow, $69/pn, and better yet, only $50/pn at the Comfort Inn Montrose! Worth the drive up the hill. www.tellurideskiresort.com

VAIL RESORTS: Beaver Creek, Brecken-fridge, Keystone, Vail Frisco Lodge is still sporting rooms with driving access to all resorts, through 12/23, for only $50/pn, but only through the Last Second Club. Where to sign up? At www.skitown.com. You'll need cheap lift tickies as well, and the Perfect 10 card is still available for only $329. Get ten days of riding at all Vail resorts PLUS Ahhhh-Basin PLUS Heavenly in CA. Must purchase by 1/31 of oh-three. Keystone's definitely in the holiday spirit, offering peak-season lodging at the Inn at Keystone for $99/pn, and you'll also get your Adventure Passport that includes FREE adventures like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, guided tours, NASTAR racing, and wine tasting. Go wine tasting first, and NASTAR will become a REAL adventure! www.snow.com

WINTER PARK/MARY JANE: The 4-day Pass is still available, for a limited time only and ONLY at Front Range King Soopers, for $99/adults, $49/kids under 13. The new, improved, 99.9% guaranteed shredding fun Rail Yard Terrain Park is open, so there's the value in yer face! And now, Kids Ski Free! One FREE child (ages 13 and under) lift ticket with every adult ticket of 3 days or more, based on4 nights lodging, 3 days lift ticket, from $362 per adult. Where else would Santa go but www.winterparkresort.com?

WOLF CREEK: It is one of the last resorts in the nation to offer ONLY natural snow. Ladies' Day is Thursday, 12/19, $21 lifts with a $23 lesson! Summit base depth, 70", midway 56", new snow, 20". Go here for more: www.wolfcreekski.com

WYOMING: JACKSON HOLE: There are some superb, air-inclusive packages to the Leader of the Steep. Consider from $599/pp/do, including R/T air from Chicago, four nights lodging, three days skiing, airport transfers, and shuttle transport, good 1/6/03 - 2/14/03. www.jacksonhole.com

GRAND TARGHEE: Yaga, Yaga, Yaga! $69/pm Sunday-Thursday on select Teewinot Lodge rooms. Well, Christmas is on a Wednesday, people! www.grandtarghee.com

NEW MEXICO: TAOS: Last week, as you recall, Taos Ski Valley magically picked itself up and moved to Arizona. Well, we're pleased to report that the Taos locals missed their fantastic chutes so much they convinced the mountain to move back to its rightful home in New Mexico. And the deals are no less spectacular as a result. Enjoy extreme savings at this extreme resort. Call 800-723-8267 to book your room the same day you're staying at Adobe & Pines Inn and receive a $30 discount off luxury suites regularly $150 and up. It's that simple. Reserve at the Adobe and Stars B&B, 800-211-7076, within 48 hours of arrival and save $20-$60 per night on your stay (3 night maximum discount). Ski, eat, sleep, ski, and repeat when necessary at www.taos.org.

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