Big Sky
Second Deepest November on Record A November to Remember. Now for a great December, snow still flying, get here today.
The snow amounts are impressive, but according to Ski Patrol, the stability of the snowpack is creating this epic season of skiing. The snow fell early, and the water content was heavy, creating a solid base that adhered to the ground. With a week of warm temps prior to Thanksgiving, the snow was able to set up. Then starting opening weekend, the weather turned back to winter with the light, soft powder skiing snow covering the first layer. If you had the ability to design the perfect snowpack, you’d be looking at the conditions we’ve received so far this year, said Tom Thorn, Big Sky Snow Safety Assistant Director. “When the snow, the temps and the wind all work together, this mountain produces incredible skiing, just ask anyone who skied the Tram on Sunday.”
Big Sky eclipsed the 100-inch season to date snow total by Thanksgiving weekend. The forecast is calling for continued snow through the week and even into early next week. The area is operating nine lifts with over 1,800 acres of terrain with plans to open more terrain later this week.

Photo Credit: Big Sky Resort
Big Sky

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Chamonix
The Chamonix Valley is approximately 20 kilometers and nestled between the towering Mont-Blanc range to the south and the Aiguilles Rouges mountains to the north. The birthplace of mountaineering over 200 years ago, Chamonix is still considered the ultimate place to be for all those who share a love of nature and the mountains.

Photo: Camile Liparoti
New for Christmas 2005 : A 6 seaters detachable chairlift on the Flégère ski area (Flégère - Index).
Opening date : The resort will open its slopes on Saturday 17th December and will stay open until 8th May 2006. Depending on the snow conditions, the ski area of Grands Montets could open on the 3rd December.
n.c. cm at 3000 m
80 cm at 2000 m
65 cm at 1250 m
last snowfall : Dec, 8th > 600 m
Events
• December :
- 7th, 8th, 9th : The 7th tourist summit meetings.
- From 22nd to 28th : Christmas Market
- 24th : The arrival of Father Christmas : sound and light show
- End of december : corrida de Chamonix : running competition

• January :
- From 2nd to 15th : Russian weeks

Chamonix Fr


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Olympic Venue Review
Lake Placid
The third Winter Olympics, in 1932, were held in Lake Placid, New York State, a town of fewer than 4,000 people. Faced with major obstacles raising money in the midst of a depression, the president of the organizing committee, Dr. Godfrey Dewey, donated land owned by his family to be used for construction of a bobsleigh run. Sonja Henie defended her figure skating title, as did the French pair of Andrée and Pierre Brunet. However Gillis Grafström was thwarted in his attempt at winning a fourth gold medal, placing second behind Austrian Karl Schäfer. Billy Fiske of the United States won a second gold medal in the four-man bobsleigh. One member of Fiske’s team was Eddie Eagan, who had won the light-heavyweight boxing championship at the 1920 Antwerp Olympics. Eagan remains the only person in Olympic history to earn gold medals in both Summer and Winter sports.

17 NOCs (Nations)
252 athletes (21 women, 231 men)
14 events

Credit: IOC/Olympic Museum collections
Olympic Organization

For todays information on winter sports at Lake Placid
Whiteface

Mammoth Mountain
Want more snow - you got it! Three inches have accumulated thus far and it's still coming down. This storm is expected to linger over our mountain through Friday morning.
With a 2-3 foot base of powder, packed powder, man-made and machine-groomed snow, 16 lifts are expected to run today including Stump Alley Express, Facelift Express, Roller Coaster, Chair 5, Thunder Bound, Chair 8, Gold Rush, Discovery Chair, Chair 12, Eagle Express, Canyon Express, Schoolyard Express, the Upper and Lower Panorama Gondola and the Village Gondola. Of course this is wind and weather permitting.
There will be even more room to play this weekend. We plan to open Chairs 13, 14 and 22 on Saturday, December 10. We've got steeps, trees and room for speed.
Base Depth : 2-3 feet
Storm Total : 3 inches.
Today's Snowfall : 3 inches.
Surface Conditions : Fresh Powder,Packed Powder,Machine Groomed,Obstacles Exist

Mammoth Mountain

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PARK CITY Slab slide
A sizeable slide let loose in No Name Bowl on the east side of the Park City ridgeline last week, nearly burying four people. The experienced backcountry skiers ignored the signs of a weak early season layer and took two runs without incident. Like they say, the third's the charm. About a 600-foot slab peeled off and took one skier for a 1,200-vertical foot ride to meet his buddies below. No one was injured but all four were either partially buried or mostly buried. The two semi-stuck guys dug themselves out and rescued the others. Don't let the lure of freshies with your buds affect your avalanche awareness!


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Jackson Hole Gives Back After a record-breaking opening day, Jackson Hole has decided the locals there deserve a treat. They have opened 100 percent of their mountain and lift ticket prices will remain at the discounted early season pricing until Dec. 16th! Guests can enjoy mid-season conditions with awesome powder for only $50 for a 1-day lift ticket vs. the normal $70.
past 72hr): 9" (23 cm)
Base Depth: 21" - 50" (53 - 127 cm)
Surface Snow: Packed Powder, Machine Groomed Runs Open: 58
Jackson Hole

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Kirkwood
100% OPEN W/ ALL LIFTS TURNING ON SATURDAY, DEC. 10TH!
We recieved 3-4 inches of snow since yesterday afternoon, and it's still snowing! Weatherman says we may get a little more before we're through. Doesn't really matter for this weekend; we're in great shape with the snow we have right now (but freshies never hurt!).
We will be spinning all lifts on Saturday, and with 2,300 acres of terrain ranging from gentle groomers to hair raising steeps, there is endless terrain for all levels to explore. From the top of Thimble Peak to the bottom of Timber Creek, we have great coverage and tons of real snow - cold, chalky and soft - to play in.

Reminder, Expedition: Kirkwood, California’s only resort based backcountry education program, teaches skills needed for backcountry skiing and riding. Seasoned Kirkwood ski patrollers and certified guides lead all programs. which include necessary backcountry specific equipment, including avalanche beacon, probe and shovel.
New Snow
(past 24hr): 4" (10 cm)
(past 48hr): 4" (10 cm)
(past 72hr): 0" (0 cm)

Base Depth: 18" - 36" (46 - 91 cm) Surface Snow: Powder, Packed Powder, Machine Groomed, Skiers Packed Runs Open: 24
Lifts Open: 5/12

Kirkwood

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Air France
New York to Paris: $165* one-way!

And also more special offer to Europe, here a sample fares as of December 6th, 2006
Philadelphia Zurich $175**
Chicago London $179**
Washington, DC Barcelona $207**
San Francisco Geneva $215**
Boston Budapest $224**
TERMS and CONDITIONS APPLY
The Holidays are just around the corner, and Air France is already giving out gifts! This fare is valid from December 7, 2005 until March 31, 2006!* Tel: (800) 375-8723 (for U.S. residents only

Air France - The Lowest Air Fares to Europe
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Kashmir

Riding with the Kashmir Powdercats not only provides you with expert local knowledge of snow and the available terrain, but importantly offers co-ordinated return transport from the off-piste routes which descend through the forests to the floor of the Tangmarg valley below Gulmarg. While Stage One of the gondola does offer protected riding in bad weather, the descents to the valley significantly broaden your range of options in the event that a big storm sets in, and temporarily "whites out" operation of Stage Two of the gondola during your stay.
Ski Himalaya

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