Posts Tagged ‘skiing’
10 Best Places to Go Skiing & Snowboarding
I don’t know about you guys, but I LOVE skiing. LOVE IT. There is something about speeding down a hill at 50 miles per hour that makes me feel like I’m on top of the world. It’s the danger, the exhilaration, and the pure adrenaline that makes skiing one of my favorite things to do. I’ve tried snowboarding before, but lets just say it’s not my cup of tea. I spent the entire day on my back side. However, many of my friends think snowboarding is the ultimate thrill, so I’ll do them the honor of looking into some snowboarding destinations. What do I look for in a skiing/snowboarding trip? Big mountains, trails that are easy to navigate through, trails that aren’t too crowded, and little to no wait for the lifts. At one point I took a trip to Beech Mountain in North Carolina with my family and it was a nightmare. Everything seemed way overpriced, the rental equipment looked 20 years old, it was overcrowded, the food was sub-par and it was nearly a 30 minute wait to get up the lift. So I wanted to look at places that would be the exact opposite of that trip. You know, like places that don’t suck as bad as getting hit in the face with a 9 iron. I have done some research for both skiing and snowboarding destinations and I came up with these two lists that represent some the coolest places to go skiing/snowboarding in the United States.
Skiing Spots
Wolf Creek, Colorado
Wolf Creek is a really cool place to go skiing. I like this place because it has slopes for everyone. 55% of it’s slopes are for beginners and intermediate skiers, and 45% of it’s slopes are for advanced skiers and experts. It has “the most snow in Colorado” according to it’s official website. You can rent skis here for $15 per day for adults, and lift tickets are $54 per day for adults.
Mammoth Mountain, California
Just the name is enough for me. Enormous mountains, beautiful resorts, and special events are a few things that make Mammoth Mountain sound very appealing to me. You can rent skis here for $29 per day for adults, and purchase a lift ticket for $69 per day for adults.
Snowbird, Utah
Snowbird has everything: massive mountains, a good range of lodging packages, places for weddings and conferences, an elegant spa, as well as $72 for an all-day chairlift pass for adults. Ski’s can be rented at several local stores, with prices around $40 per set for adults.
Mt. Hood, Oregon
Mount Hood has 240 acres specifically meant for night skiing, 85 total trails, several restaurants and bars, and they even offer day care. Lift tickets will run $74 per day for adults, and ski rental packages at $39 for adults.
Bridger Bowl, Montana
Bridger Bowl has a fair amount of trails for each skill set, 50% are for beginners and intermediate skiers, and 50% are for advanced and extreme users. Single day lift tickets are $48 here, and $25 for rental skis.
Snowboarding Spots
Mt. Bachelor, Oregon
Mount Bachelor is great for free-riders. It contains crowd-free slopes which are sure to please any boarder. They also allow night riding, and snowmobiles can be rented here. A one-day lift-pass costs $52, and boards cost $36 to rent a board.
Mt. Baker, Washington
Mount Baker has 38 trails, with over 1000 acres of total riding area. It may not be the most convenient place (there is no lodging in the ski area), however it’s a pretty well-known spot for snowboarders. Lift tickets cost $51 during weekends or holidays, and they don’t display rental costs online.
Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Jackson Hole is an interesting resort, containing virtually everything a snowboarder would want, including cowboys and saloon bars. There are 111 trails and 2500 acres of total ride area, making this a pretty large area perfect for boarding. Lift tickets will cost you $70 for a day, and $37.50 to rent a board.
Heavenly, California and Nevada
Heavenly is located along the border of California and Nevada near Lake Tahoe, offering 4 resorts. It’s massive snowboarding areas span 4800 acres, and they boast a 5.5 mile long single trail. Lift passes go for $44 per day.
Beaver Creek, Colorado
This is the luxury resort that can only be afforded with the help of your parents. It is a very elegant and updated, and the only thing steeper than it’s mountains are it’s prices. It will run you $83.20 to rent a board here, and an additional $85 for a lift pass.
Alabaster
I’m reading Macroeconomics
How to Stay in Shape During Winter
Winter, the time of year when everybody stays busy and frozen. For those of us who go running a lot, it’s a time when we need to make changes in our workout routine to stay in shape. I personally find no joy in jogging while it’s 13 degrees outside. At the same time, I understand that if I eat 5 pounds of Halloween candy, 3 full plates of food for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and drink massive amounts of alcohol for New Years, I will put on a few pounds. Over the years, I’ve found a few fun ways to stay in shape during the freezing months of winter. Sections are broken down into 3 categories: diet, exercise, and fun activities. Check them out:
Diet:
1. Cut down on your diet. If you know you’re not going to have much time to workout, try to cut the portions of your meals. This way you won’t gain any weight, but you should try to stay active either way.
2. Drink water, lots of it. Drink a full 16-ounce glass of water before any holiday meal. This will make you eat less and help you avoid that feeling you get when you know you’ve had way too much to eat.
3. Diet-based New Years resolutions are a great way to begin the New Year in a clean and healthy way. Common diet based New Years resolutions that have worked for me over the years:
-I WILL stick to fruits and vegetables for snacking.
-I WILL drink more than 4 full glasses of water daily.
-I WILL eat 1 salad each day, without ranch dressing.
-I WILL NOT consume more than 2 soft drinks per week (Diet drinks still count!).
-I WILL NOT eat more than 1 meal of pizza per week.
-I WILL NOT partake in more than 1 night of alcohol consumption per week.
Exercise:
1. Stick to the basics. If it’s too cold to workout outdoors, do some of the more basic workouts, like: push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, doorframe pull-ups, etc. Aim for 30 minutes each day, or 60 minutes 4 days per week.
2. Find a dedicated workout partner or hire a personal trainer. Having someone else with you at the gym will help you learn new exercises, and it makes you more likely to go in most cases. Remember new workouts= new results, keep the body guessing.
3. If you’re sick of going to the same gym, try something new, like hot yoga. Chances are you will be able to find a place that offers hot yoga, which was designed as a rejuvenating exercise that strengthens the entire body, from head to toe. What’s better when its 20 degrees outside than doing yoga in 105 degree heat with 40% humidity?
Fun Activities:
1. Find a place to go skiing. Skiing is an excellent workout, and it’s exhilarating. It’s a fun way to get your blood pumping, and it’s good for cardio and fat burning. A man who weighs 180 lbs. will burn approximately 409 calories per hour, and a woman who weighs 130 lbs. will burn approximately 295 calories per hour skiing.
2. Try ice-skating. This is another fun way to do cardio exercise. Find an indoor ice-skating rink and it won’t be nearly as cold as the coldest months of winter. Ice-skating will help a 180 lb. man burn approx. 572 calories each hour, and a 130 lb woman burn approx. 413 calories per hour
3. My personal favorite: sledding. Find a huge hill and take a flat trashcan lid with you. Many people don’t realize how good of a workout this can be. It combines running/walking up hills, having fun, and cold beer. I’m telling you now that it’s ok to drink cold beer while you’re freezing. Sledding burns approximately the same amount of calories as ice-skating.
Calorie Data:
http://www.nutristrategy.com/activitylist4.htm
Alabaster
I’m reading Society: The Basics