"Endless Winter Snow"

Snow Alert -

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Ski New Hampshire
We got up to 10 inches of additional fresh snow yesterday - it just keeps pounding us! To give you an idea, some of our ski areas have received about 8 feet of snow so far this winter!

www.skinh.com

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Austria Info - Office of Tourism

The Stubai Glacier represents one of the most extensive all-year-skiing areas in the Eastern Alps with 68 miles of slopes and off-slope tracks of all levels of difficulty and a 2.8 mile high altitude cross country slope.

The glacier ski area is complemented by the lifts on Neustift`s local fun mountain, the “Elfer” ski resort. Neustift is known far and wide for its beautiful ski tours. You can also use more than 2,8 miles of cross country tracks, wander along two winter hiking trails or enjoy a ride on one of the numerous natural tobbogan runs, among them the longest natural tobobban run in Austria.
EVENT
Jan 20-23,2006: Stubai Cup

Approximately 100 youth hostels in all of Austria are open to everybody. Groups and those travelling alone are advised to book in advance.

Each guest must present a valid International Youth Hostel membership card which can be purchased at any national Youth Hostel Association office.

Lists of youth hostels and detailed information can be found:
- at the Austrian Youth Hostel Association
- at the Österreichisches Jugendherbergswerk

Persons without an International Youth Hostel membership card need a guest card with a ”Welcome Stamp” at € 3,50 per night. Once the card has been stamped with 6 Welcome-Stamps, it automatically counts as a Youth Hostel membership card
Transportation by Rail
The Austrian Federal Railway network has a length of about 5,700 km and connects all major national and international cities.

Motorail Trains:
Motorail trains operate daily between
Vienna - Salzburg, Villach, Innsbruck, Feldkirch
Graz – Feldkirch
Feldkirch – Villach
Vienna - Berlin
Vienna - Hamburg
Vienna - Düsseldorf
On specific days also Vienna – Lienz, Vienna - Schwarzach-St.Veit.
In the summer motorail trains are also operated:
from Salzburg, Innsbruck and Villach to Germany, from Vienna to Italy, Slovenia, Croatia.

Vehicles may be transported on the Tauern train through the Tauern tunnel (Böckstein - Mallnitz-Obervellach, 12 km).
http://www.oebb.at/

www.austria.info/

Solden -Austria

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Mt Hood Meadows

IT'S THE STORM THAT KEEPS ON GIVING - MORE THAN 4 FEET OF SNOW THIS WEEK! A raging December storm has more than doubled Meadows' base depth and graced the mountain with light powder. And the storm isn't over yet. Meadows has some of the best snow conditions in the country - perfect for the holidays

PARK & RIDE OFFERED WEEKENDS & HOLIDAYS Our popular shuttle service runs weekends and holiday time frames - offering lift ticket and round trip ride for just $59. Three pick up locations conveniently located next to Tri Met Park&Ride facilities. Purchase your tickets online in advance through eTickets. In addition to Saturdays and Sundays, Park&Ride will run daily from December 26 - January 4 for the Holiday break.

THREE DAY FREESTYLE CAMPS OFFERED DEC. 26-28 & JAN 2-4 Freestyle ski and snowboard camps are offered for intermediate or advanced riders ages 10 and older. Each three day camp includes 5 hours of coaching (9am-12am, break for a one hour lunch, 1pm-3pm) per day with a park specialized instructor. Make reservations at 503.337.2222 ext. 419.

UPCOMING EVENTS 12/22-23 Lunch with Santa 12/26-28 3 Day Holiday KidsCamp 12/27-30 Bud Light presents the Moe Dixon Show 12/30 Women's Clinic 12/31 Widmer Brewing presents New Year’s Eve celebration – New Year’s Eve Buffet, fireworks at 10 PM, live music by “Design” from 9 PM – 1 AM
www.skihood.com

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Colorado Snow - Lifts Open
Arapahoe Basin 5/7 PP
Aspen Highlands 4/5
Aspen Mountain 6/8 PP
Beaver Creek 15/16 P/PP
Breckenridge 28/29 PP
Silverton Mountain 1/1 P
Steamboat 11/12
Vail 27/32

The North Face

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Snowbird
Snowbird Renaissance Center Presents An Everest Evening
Humanitarian and Seven Summiter Dr. Geoffrey Tabin to Speak Dec. 29
Snowbird, Utah – An Everest Evening with Dr. Geoffrey Tabin will take place at Snowbird, Saturday, Dec. 29, providing guests with a night of adventure, tales of humanitarian efforts and delicious food. Tabin, a professor of surgery and ophthalmology at the University of Utah School of Medicine and co-director of the Himalayan Cataract Project, was the first ophthalmologist to summit Mount Everest and the fourth person to reach the highest point of all seven continents.

Guests will experience Tabin’s presentation, “Impossible Dreams – The first ascent of the East Face of Mount Everest and eliminating preventable and treatable blindness,” which documents the Seven Summiter’s exploits on and around the world’s most challenging peaks and the creation of the Himalayan Cataract Project. Additional special guests include mountaineer and filmmaker David Breashears and expedition photographer Jimmy Chin.

In addition to Tabin’s presentation, An Everest Evening includes a prime rib and seared ahi tuna dinner, drinks and a silent auction. The auction will include a day of skiing with former Olympian and renowned big mountain skier Jeremy Nobis that will include four lift tickets, early Tram runs and lunch. An Everest Evening will take place in the Cliff Lodge Ballroom from 6-10 p.m., Dec. 29. A ticket to the event is $200 and tables of 10 are available for $2,000. For reservations and information on tickets call (801) 933-2147.

The highly sought-after expedition photographer Jimmy Chin will exhibit his work Dec. 28, 2007, through Feb. 16, 2008, at Snowbird’s Cliff Lodge. Images will be available for purchase to benefit Machik, a non-governmental, non-profit organization whose mission is to support innovative strategies that promote the sustainable development and strengthening of local communities in the Himalayan region and neighboring areas.

The Snowbird Renaissance Center (SRC) is a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization created to enhance educational and cultural opportunities at Snowbird. The SRC’s 2008 event line-up includes the presentation of musical performances as well as educational classes and other activities that foster appreciation and excellence in the arts, sciences and humanities. In addition, the SRC will assist in the preservation and beautification of our natural surroundings while providing the opportunity for physical development and recreation.

For media information contact Snowbird Public Relations Director Laura Schaffer at (801) 933-2047/ www.snowbird.com.

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Steamboat
MOTHER NATURE DELIVERS EARLY HOLIDAY PRESENT-A FOOT OF SNOW!
Friday, December 21, 2007
Mother Nature continues to generously share the holiday spirit throughout Steamboat as a foot of fresh Champagne Powder® snow blanketed Ski Town, U.S.A.®.

The National Weather Service has issued a snow advisory for the Steamboat Springs area until 6pm this evening. Forecasts are calling for snow to be heavy at times with significant accumulations especially over the northern mountain. The chance for snow will again develop over the northern mountains on Sunday including a good chance for snow redeveloping over the region again on Christmas Day. Longer range forecasts continue to show the area in an active weather pattern.

As of 5am at mid-mountain, Steamboat has received 9 inches of new snow in the past 24-hours and 12 inches of snow in the past 72-hours. With 5 feet of Champagne Powder® snow since Dec. 1st, the Steamboat Ski Area has enjoyed snow 16 out of the first 21 days of December
www.steamboat.com/

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My Switzerland
Customs, Market This is considered the biggest Christmas market in Switzerland, with roughly 120 vendors displaying their wares in the Obere and Untere Gasse alleys, on Ochsenplatz, Kornplatz and Martinsplatz squares. As in earlier years, the Chur old town association sticks to its traditional concept, allowing only handcrafted Advent and Christmas objects from the region for sale. The festive event is further enhanced with various musical presentations. The market takes place in the alleyways and squares of the old town of Chur and lasts on Friday from 14.00 to 21.00 hours, on Saturday from 10.00 to 16.00 hours. www.churtourismus.ch

OPEN SLOPES
4 Vallées - Mont-Fort
Adelboden
Celerina/Engadin
St.Moritz
Gstaad - Schönried
Klosters
Les Diablerets - Glacier 3000
Saas-Fee
Wengen
Zermatt

www.myswitzerland.com
also see
http://www.sbb.ch Swiss Rail for travel assistance

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Val d'Isère - France
Val d'Isère fills the tank with animations and events with each week: - the night ones of Thursday, - animations of snows. And throughout the season of many events like: -
February 2, & 3 2008 world cup of Alpine skiing - From the 3 to 6 the Mars 2008 "Big Day Out" (Competition of snowboard and ski freestyle) -
From the 11 to March 13, 2008 the 9th Festival "the Traditional ones of Valley of Isere" (Festival of classical music) -
From the 7 to April 10, 2008 "Scara" (international Competition of Alpine skiing for the 12 to 15 years) -
From the 15 to April 17, 2008 15th Festival "MUSICAVAL" Festival of chamber music -
From the 21 to April 24, 2008 the 12th Festival "Ventures and Discovered" (international Festival of film on the adventure and the discovery).

www.valdisere.com

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Sugar Bowl - Ca

Sugar Bowl's Mountain Sports Learning Center (MSLC) is offering three 1-day camps with focus specially designed for active, energetic women who are eager to improve their skiing and snowboarding skills.
Each day clinic includes a morning yoga session, 4 hours of on-the-snow training with Sugar Bowl's top female certified instructors, lunch, wine tasting & massages for only $140 per day or $240 for two days! This program will challenge you, improve your performance, and will be tailored to the participants needs for that session. Instruction Dates: 12/22/07, 1/25-26/08, or 3/7-8/08.

www.sugarbowl.com

*** Closed for the weekend, Gone skiing !