"Endless Winter Snow"

Whistler - Blackcomb
Groundbreaking took place on May 15 and excavation for each lift terminal will take place until mid-June. "There’s lot of action on the ground and behind the scenes and we are looking forward to a successful production season this summer," says Rick Temple, Peak to Peak Project Manager for Whistler Blackcomb. "While we work to ready the mountain, crews are busy in Austria and Quebec in full production for the steel tower components to be erected this summer."
Whistler Blackcomb will install Towers 2 and 3 this summer. Tower 2 will be located on Whistler and Tower 3 will be located on Blackcomb, with a span of 3.024km/1.88 miles between them.
"The Peak to Peak Gondola construction project is the largest of its kind in North America,” said Doug Forseth, Senior VP of Operations at Whistler Blackcomb, "yet it occupies the smallest ecological foot print of any project we’ve done yet on the mountain. The estimated 2.5 hectare foot print requires a significant logistical command of our existing resources for transportation and construction.
"We are committed to working with Whistler Blackcomb in minimizing the ecological impact," said Stefan Huter, Doppelmayr Project Manager.

**

About.com sent this
Four Wyoming resorts are going on the auction block. Deer Haven, Meadowlark and Big Horn Ski Resort will all be sold to the highest bidder and the Wilderness Ranch will have a minimum bid requirement. Should you be curious, you can bid on the whole lot or individually. This will be an "absolute" auction on June 26th where there is a guarantee that the high bidders or bidder will get the properties for whatever the amount of the successful bid is. The only restriction (aside from the reserve bid on Wilderness Ranch) is that the prospective new owner will have to be approved by Bighorn National Forest officials because three of the resorts operate on forest lands with a permit.
So, if you are thinking about printing your own season tickets, be sure you don’t have any outstanding arguments with the Bighorn National Forest people.
In case you’re wondering, yes, it is illegal to tinkle in Bighorn National Forest streams

***
For the dogs,...

US Ski Assn - Photo
No kidding, bring Fido, Fluffy, or even your parrot or ferret ( you weisel you ) and for $25 you get the pet’s picture on a Squaw Valley Season Pass. Squaw Valley’s hiking trails are dog-friendly and in summer, leashed dogs and obedient pets – yes, even the parrots or ferrets, are welcome to ride the Cable Car to 8,200' to take in the views. Why the Cable Car? Hey, can you imagine what an 8,000' hike does to little ferret legs? After a good hike, bring your dog or cat (sorry, no parrots or ferrets) to visit Tails by the Lake, a dog and cat specialty shop in the Village at Squaw. Show your pet’s Squaw Pet Pass at Tails by the Lake and receive 10% off dog and cat foods.
The proceeds of the Squaw Pet Pass benefit the Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe and
Squaw Valley Avalanche Dog Rescue
www.squawdogs.com
..support your resorts' canine crew!

Falls Creek - Australia
Today's Weather mostly cloudy
Snow Depth Avg 26 cm
Snow Depth Fresh 4 cm
Road Condition Open - snow on road
Temperature O/Night -5.6C
Temperature Current -3.7C
Alpine Skiing Conditions Fair
Alpine Snow Cover Limited
Alpine Snow Conditions Fresh
Alpine Grooming Limited, overnight
Snow Making Status Operating
Terrain Park Status Closed

www.fallscreek.com.au/

***
FESTIVAL KITZBüHEL

KitzbuhelMarketing Photo
From 18 to 23 June 2007 the Kitzbühel Golf Festival will enter its fifth round. If you wish to tee-off on the Streif, enjoy culinary delicacies at the Gourmet Tournament or quite simply try to win the tournament: here you will have the opportunity to let it all out on the "greens":
www.kitzbuehel.com

***
Do you ski on Grass!
www.grasski.de/english/
Intl. Grass Ski Assn.

***
Need a lift _ Ropeway

WINTER PARK, COLO., - The "Panoramic Express" is the name selected for the new $8 million detachable six-pack chairlift that began construction this week on Winter Park Resort's Parsenn Bowl. The new Leitner-Poma state-of-the-art chairlift will hoist skiers up to approximately 12,060 feet above sea level making it the highest, high-speed six-pack chairlift in all of North America.
Given the timing of this new chairlift addition, Winter Park skiers and riders will have the unique opportunity to catch a glimpse of this environmentally sensitive construction project taking place now instead of while the resort is closed over summer months. Construction of the Panoramic Express will incorporate the use of helicopters and over-snow equipment all designed to minimize ground disturbance.
Last summer, Winter Park Resort added the new Eagle Wind chairlift as part of its parent company, Intrawest ULC's, continued commitment to invest $50 million over 10 years. The early construction effort of the new Panoramic Express is just the next step in the evolution of changes taking place at Winter Park Resort.
Working in close collaboration with its partners at the U.S. Forest Service, the Winter Park Mountain Master Plan Phase One Environmental Assessment was completed last year paving the way for major improvements such as the Panoramic Express. With this completed Environmental Assessment, Winter Park Resort can offer more access to its terrain through upgrades such as the Panoramic Express for Winter Park/Mary Jane loyalists and guests.

Zermatt
In the summer of 2007, the Gornergrat – Hohtälli cable car is to be replaced by a medium-difficulty (red) piste from Hohtälli (3286 m) to Kellensee (2913 m). This new link will shorten transfer times significantly and greatly facilitate access to the Gornergrat from the Rothorn Paradise. Construction work on the new chairlift The old two-seater chairlift from Sunnegga to Findeln is to be replaced by a comfortable, four-seater chairlift from Sunnegga Paradise to Findeln and from there to Breitboden (2534m) in time for the winter season 2007/08. The new chairlift will have a capacity of 2,000 people per hour and 20 supports as well as an underground station at Sunnegga Paradise. Once in Breitboden, the Riffelalp (2211 m) or Gant (2223 m) stations of the Gornergrat Bahn can be reached via the existing pistes. New low-floor twin-drive railcars The Gornergrat Bahn’s four new low-floor twin-drive railcars went into operation at the start of the winter season 2006/07. The new railcars, which cost a total of CHF 26 million, provide visitors in both summer and winter with a standard of comfort in keeping with the times: a lightweight body making for higher speeds, pneumatic cushioning, excellent sound-proofing and thermal insulation, extra wide doors, a low-floor zone in every train, panorama windows for superb all-round views and windows that can be opened to facilitate photography – these are just a few of the many outstanding attributes of this new rolling stock supplied by Stadler of Switzerland. With their special fire prevention features and three independent braking systems, the new railcars have set new standards with regard to safety as well. The new trains have been approved for maximum speeds of 30 km/h uphill and 27 km/h downhill.
www.ropeways.net

***
Alyeska
Be the first one on your block to pick up your 2007-2008 season pass. Season passes go on sale this Friday, June 15.

Passes are available online or by calling the ticket office. The multi-million dollar mountain upgrades begin this week and are sure to make your 2007-2008 ski and snowboard experience the best one ever.
www.alyeskaresort.com

***

Testa Grigia OPEN

Swiss Budget Hotels
Over 200 hotels in 150 cities throughout Switzerland - more than 10'000 beds - booking
www.rooms.ch

***