Greetings, Rocky Mountain and Wild, Wild West sliders!

We know you made some superb New Year's Resolutions. One of them was a promise to yourself to ski more. Another was a promise to save money. Am I psychic, or what?!? You've come to the right place, then, because the January deals are pouring in faster than snowflakes in a blizzard! Don't wait until June to start fulfilling your resolutions, 'cause the only snow available then will not be in our Rockies! Get the best in the Wild, Wild West while it's still absolutely, unequivocally THE BEST!

Thought o' the Ski Week: Who are you going to believe? Me or your own eyes? Groucho Marx (hint, hint!)

Tip o' the Ski Week: We yakked a bit last week about hydrating, this week we'll talk about staying warm when it's below freezing, because if you're cold, there goes the fun on the hill. Three points of your body need constant care and coverage - head, hands, and feet. You'll lose a considerable amount of heat by radiation from the top of your head, so wear a warm hat. In fact, bring a second one and be certain you have a waterproof hood on your jacket. Two pair of gloves are always good - a wicking, thin liner glove (windproof is the boss!) and a heavier, waterproof shell for the outer layer. Socks are key as well - they need to be thin enough to give you that sweet contact with the fit of your boot, but made of something that retains heat and allows moisture out. Check either your local sporting goods store or ski shop on the hill - they'll likely offer socks made specifically for skiing and riding. Buy a pair of silk socks (see www.landsend.com for the best price) and you'll beat the cold at its own game!

Weather outlook from our friends at Weather.com: It's all good! Wednesday/Thursday, sunny and dry, although cooler on Thursday. Friday through the weekend - SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS! Varying depths based on orographic conditions. Stay on top of the up-to-date weather conditions and snow report with our happy sponsors at www.weather.com.

AHHHH-BASIN:
See, they've got this great link on their website called "Hot Deals." And they are. Consider their $150 package that'll get you parallel skiing intermediate runs in not time. Includes an Ahhh-basin season pass (that's worth it right there!), up to 5 2-hour lessons, and rental equipment. The East Wall isn't open yet, but be ready for her when she is, then ride the Freshies Above All at www.arapahoebasin.com.

ASPEN RESORTS:
Aspen/Snowmass Highlands/Buttermilks The Stonebridge Inn is at it again - dropped their standard room rate from $229 to $99/pn, no minimum stay required, includes sauna, hot tub, continental breakfast, and easy access to the slopes. Even more economy minded are the studio and 1BR apartments at the Chalet Lisl, starting at $115/pn. Reserve your equipment online, 7-days in advance and you save an automatic 15%! You'll need performance gear, though, 'cause Highlands is 100% open! It's true at www.aspensnowmass.com!

COPPER MOUNTAIN:
Colorado's largest Skeeway on the Freeway (in fact, the largest resort in Summit County!) is really making those resolutions a reality. January lodging specials at the Hill Metallica include hotel rooms for $89/pn, must book within 14 days, or the ski free/stay free deal where you get 4 nights lodging/4 days lift tickets for the price of three each! That figures out to $89/pp/pn, based on quad occupancy in a 2BR condo (where you can cook your own meals and save there, too!). They're bending over backwards at www.coppercolorado.com! *THIS JUST IN AND HOT OFF THE PRESS: Got a Season Pass for Copper? You can now OFFICIALLY use it at Winter Park (and vice versa), and it's a direct-to-the-lift deal! No vouchers, no ticket lines, just present your Copper Pass to any of the happy lift ops at Winter Park, and you're ALL OVER IT!

CRESTED BUTTE:
Well, if your resolutions include a holiday at The Butte-I-ful, you're in luck! Buy your lift tickets 14 days in advance, and save anywhere from $3-5/day! AND, kids ages 5-16 still pay their ages per day! Save more bucks and enjoy a butte-I-ful 1/2 hour ride up the hill when you stay in the town of Gunnison. This lively little college town has it all, including the Super8 starting at $31/pp/pn/do, or the Holiday Inn Express starting at $41/pp/pn/do. Check rates and availability at hotelsandmore.com, or go straight for the Big Guns at www.skicb.com!

DURANGO MOUNTAIN RESORT/PURGATORY:
Do-rango'll Do You Right with their Learn to Ski/Ride packages. Stay three nights in a mountainside studio with a friend, you each get 3 days lift tickets, 3 days of lessons, and 3 days rental equipment, all for $129/pp/pn. Do what you Do so well at www.durangomountainresort.com

LOVELAND:
Ongoing reason #685 to skip the Ice-enhower Tunnel: the Land of Love's Three Class Pass. If you're a beginner, take three lesson packages that include instruction, lift ticket, and equipment rental, with their ski school, and as a big Thank Ewe, they'll GIVE you a FREE season pass! Feel the Love at www.skiloveland.com.

SILVERTON MOUNTAIN:
Now, for some strange reason, lodging rates DROP in Silverton during winter season. I guess most people think it's a summer-only recreation district. Boy, are THEY wrong! Ride this Land of the Ski, Home of the Brave with your expert guide for $99/day, Thursday - Sunday, and save big-time on lodging. Consider the Triangle Motel, (970) 387-5780, rooms starting around $40/pn. More lodging links at www.silvertonmountain.com!

SOL VISTA:
This weekend, families can enjoy the Totally Insane Winter Blast. All events are FREE, and include scavenger hunts, family abominable bowling, an orienteering quest, treasure hunts, a Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream party (brrr!), and lots of other winter games. Stay an extra day for free - buy 2 nights lodging/2 days lift tickets, and get the 3rd of each for FREE, starting as low as $46/pp/pn! It's all at www.solvista.com.

STEAMBOAT:
Kids AND grandkids ski free! Kids under 5 ski free anyway, but those ages 6-12, when accompanied by either paying Mom/Dad OR paying Grandma/Grandpa, ski free as well! Build family values at Das Boat! www.steamboat.com.

SUNLIGHT MOUNTAIN:
In the words of the late, great John of Denver, "sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy." Locals on the shoulder of Sunlight also make the resort very happy, so they're celebrating this Friday, 1/10, with $5 lift tickies during Skier's (and Rider's) Appreciation Day (bring your local ID)! Even better, all proceeds go to the United Way fund. While you're ditching work/school/responsibility, stay on the move with the Ditch Fun Cup Race, beginning at 1 PM. Can you ski through gates with an egg on a spoon? You won't know until you try at www.sunlightmtn.com.

TELL-U-RIDE:
Purchase your lift tickets online at least 7-days in advance, and the longer you stay, the more you save, up to $8/day! Buy a 4-or-more day pass, and they'll keep your feet toasty with a FREE pair of Thorlo socks! You will, of course, need a place to stay, so here's one even better - book with ResortQuest Telluride (www.resortquesttelluride.com, save %15 on lodging, AND get daily lift tickets for $39! They'll Tell-U-More at www.tellurideskiresort.com.

VAIL RESORTS:
Beaver Creek, Brecken-fridge, Keystone, Vail They're pulling out the stops on the steeps at Vail, shredders. Learn to ski with the First Time series. Newbies only, but what a deal - get three lessons for skiing or boarding for the price of one! $155 for those 15 and older gets you 3 consecutive days of Vail's expert instruction, 3 days of lift tickets, and 3 days of rentals. Already shred with the best? Consider the Mid-Winter Escape Package, starting at $457/pp/quad occupancy in a 2BR condo, for the ENTIRE package, and includes 4 nights lodging, 3 days lift tickets, full day lesson OR guided tour, ski/board demo day, dinner at TWO of Vail's premier restaurants, a night of activities at Vail's Adventure Center, local bar specials, and free schwag. Valid most of January at www.snow.com.

WINTER PARK/MARY JANE:
It's all open - Janeside, Parkside, Parsenn Bowl, Vasquez Ridge, AND Vasquez Cirque. You're going to want to spend as much time all five mountains as possible, and Winter Park knows that! Book a studio condo at the ski-in/ski-out Iron Horse, sleeps 3, for $79/pn! That's less than $30/pp! Stay at the Super8 in downtown Winter Park, $96/pn/do, and get either 2 ski/board rentals from the Ski Broker OR a $30 dinner voucher for either the Great Divide or Smokin' Moe's (mmm, yum, steak or ribs, steak or ribs?!?!?!) Some restrictions apply, but it's all good at www.winterparkresort.com! BULLETIN, BULLETIN, BULLETIN! If you missed the announcement on the Copper
paragraph above, it's worth repeating. Got a Winter Park Pass? You can use it now at sister resort Copper Mountain (and vice versa)! Two great resorts for one great price! It's direct-to-lift, so there's no fuss, no muss. And this is just the beginning!

WOLF CREEK:
Sunday, January 12th is College Day! Get half-price lifts (that's $21.50) with a valid college ID! Does that include college professors, too? Ask 'em at www.skiwolfcreek.com.

WYOMING:
JACKSON HOLE:
When they say snow at the Go Big or Go Home Resort, they mean EPIC amounts. FIFTEEN FEET have fallen to date, and conditions are cold, soft, and deep. To celebrate, they're offering $79/pp/pn lodging/lift deals, based on 2 people in a 1BR ski-in/ski-out property for one night. One-day adult lift tickies are up to $61, so that means $18 for the room! However you do the math, it's still steep and deep at www.jacksonhole.com.

GRAND TARGHEE:
Okay, so your legs are wobbling from all those jump-turns at Jackson and you'd like a day to do some casual turns and rest the muscles. Grand Targhee's your answer, and they'll even shuttle you by charter bus from JH! $61 will get you R/T transportation plus a single-day lift ticket to the 'Ghee. Call (307) 734-9SKI to make your reservations by 9 PM the day before travel. January last-minute lodging deals also abound at www.grandtarghee.com.

NEW MEXICO:
TAOS:
In case you didn't know, the Loop de Chutes is Ski Magazine's #1 Editor's Choice for 2002, across the boards! They also received Gold Medals for both challenge and terrain. You know what that means - COWABUNGA! Git yer ya-ya's out without gittin' yer wallet out too many times - stay at the Inn on the Rio B&B, pay for 2 nights, get the 3rd night free, and ask about their lift-tickie inclusive packages, and that's not the only great deal at www.taos-pillow-packages.com! Ski, eat, sleep, ski, repeat when necessary at www.skitaos.org!

BACKCOUNTRY NEWS:
This weekend, Berthoud Powder Guides are sponsoring a Level I Avalanche course, starting Thursday eve, 1/9, 7 PM, at Icebox Mountain Sports in Fraser, then moving to the hill for field training and exercises Saturday and Sunday, 1/11-1/12. Course fee is $200. Participants will learn the basics of slope and snow conditions, avalanche danger indicators, survival tactics and equipment. Thursday eve's 90-minute classroom presentation is free. Contact the gang at www.berthoudpass.com.

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