Other Resources
Scott finds thigh-deep powder at Kirkwood in March. Photo by Charles Pilon.
We know how hard it is to find reputable resources on
the Internet, so we've done the research for you. We
want you to feel like you're floating through powder,
not wading through crud. These links are provided to
help you find what you want and need to know so you
can plan your adventure travel.
SmarterTravel.com
SmarterTravel.com is the best source on the Web for do-it-yourself travel planning. SmarterTravel.com is not a travel agency and it doesn’t book trips. It simply directs you to the best deals and resources on the Internet. The site addresses what is surely the biggest pain in planning your travel: finding the cheapest online airfare. It’s Booking Buddy allows you to enter your flight itinerary once and simultaneously search and compare prices from dozens of online travel providers such as Orbitz, Expedia and Priceline. Or use the last-minute Web fares search engine to find deals by departure airport or airline. You’ll find similar resources for booking hotels and car rentals as well. Travel advice from some of the best travel writers around cover breaking travel news, tips, strategies and features. Whether you want to find out how to get the maximum benefits from your frequent flier miles, or you need tips for planning your last-minute getaway, you’ll find it here.
Visit SmarterTravel.com
TripAdvisor.com
When you’re booking your vacation by yourself, you have lots of questions about lodging and dining options that would be difficult to answer if TripAdvisor.com didn’t exist. Type in the name of the resort or city you’re interested in and get linked to reviews for dining, lodging and attractions, plus travel deals, lodging discounts, flight information and more. TripAdvisor.com gathers reviews from consumers, as well as linking to online guidebooks that provide reviews of the establishment, so there’s less chance of being steered in the wrong direction. Not surprisingly, some establishments have more comments and reviews than others, but this is one of the more frequently used sites by consumers. It’s useful to have links to so many online guidebook reviews for particular restaurants and accommodations, since they round out the unbiased information you’ll find here.
Visit TripAdvisor.com
FirstTracksOnline.com
If you're an outdoor-sports news junkie, this is the site for you. First Tracks!! carries news and press releases from resorts, equipment companies, industry associations and more. The Bulletin Boards see a decent amount of traffic: The No-Bull Ski Reports, where skiers and riders post about conditions where they just skied, are incredibly helpful for planning your trips (especially day trips...should I go to Killington or Sugarloaf this weekend?). Many of the features on First Tracks!! are written by regular folks, not journalists, and they tell it like it is. It's like sitting on the chair with a stranger and getting the real scoop. Just note when the feature was written, as the older ones are a tad obsolete due to resort development.
Visit FirstTracksOnline.com
Avalanche.org (WestWide Avalanche Network)
Avalanche.org (WestWide Avalanche Network) is geared toward the professional avalanche community but anyone interested in avalanche and backcountry safety will find this site to be a wealth of information. It contains more than 40 years of avalanche data contributed by ski areas and highway authorities and updates about recent avalanches as they are reported. It carries up-to-date avalanche advisories and provides links to the regional avalanche information centers in the U.S. and Canada. The list of educational resources is exhaustive, including classes, online tutorials, literature and avalanche scene descriptions and pictures. Of note, on its homepage map, it also provides links to European Avalanche Services and New Zealand Mountain Safety Council if you are looking for information relating to those countries.
Visit Avalanche.org
SkiClinics.com
If you’ve always wanted to take a ski, snowboard or backcountry camp with big-name skiers, riders and mountaineers, then you’ll want to check out SkiClinics.com. While most camps target those at the strong intermediate level and better, camps are available for people of all ability levels. Find out about camps led by professionals who’ve made a name for themselves in their discipline, such as extreme skiers John and Dan Egan, Eric and Rob DesLauriers, and Kristen Ulmer; champion freeskier and mountaineer Kit DesLauriers (she recently became the first woman to ski Mt. Everest); or Olympic downhiller A.J. Kitt. You can join a pre-scheduled camp or book the pro of your choice for dates that fit into your schedule. All of the coaches have excellent reputations, so no need to worry about whether you’re going to end up with a “fly by night” operation. I've taken three clinics with the X-Team (John and Dan Egan, Eric and Rob DesLauriers and Dean Decas) and because of this crew, I found a new way to ski and enjoy the mountains. I can't say enough great things about them.
Visit SkiClinics.com
TheSkiDiva.com
Let's face it: It's hard to find women who love to ski. I'm talking women who think it, drink it, breathe it, live it. Yes, the younger generation is finding its place on the mountain, but those of us who grew up before Title IX, or while it was suffering its teething period, have had it pretty rough. Most of us have spent years skiing and riding with the guys, living that age-old adage: keep up or ski alone. And many women gave up on that game and dropped out...or only ski when they are forced to by their husbands and family. Well, women rejoice! There is a place for us on the Net, and it's called The SkiDiva.com. TheSkiDiva.com is a discussion forum that my newfound friend Wendy, the founder, says, is "for women who ski!" This is a brand new forum, in its infancy really, but it already has lots of spunk! I've made friends with women who have skied forever, women who are just learning, and women who have reached a point in their lives where they want to expand their skiing experience to include the whole mountain. This is the most supportive bunch of ladies I've ever met. Who says women are their own worst enemies? Not anymore! I encourage you to check out this forum and join the banter, the sisterhood and the knowledge that only women can share with each other. Lean about gear, resorts, ski technique, fitness, skiing together as a family and much more. And if you can figure out a way to make it happen, make sure to meet some of the ladies for a day of skiing—you might just make a lifelong friend...or two...or three. That's what I'm hoping for!
Visit TheSkiDiva.com
Kidz n’Snow
Despite the fact that skiing and snowboarding cater to a large family contingent, most ski and snowboard sites don't pay much attention to family concerns. That's why Kidznsnow.com is such a boon to parents. You'll also find links to the founder's other sites, all related to families, travel and outdoor recreational sports. Tammie Thompson, the site's founder, is a journalist and a mom...and she works with other journalists who are parents too. She and her staff have done all the research for you, so take advantage of it. Perhaps the best reason to visit the site: You'll find information about travel deals, resort specials and discounts, and even kids flying, staying and skiing free. But that's just the tip of the information iceberg. Which resorts have ski and snowboard programs for ripping teens to keep them from acting ho-hum-oh-so-glum during vacation? How do you introduce your kids to using terrain parks safely? How do you figure out what gear is best for your child? Whatever your burning question, you're bound to find the answer. The resort reviews are incredibly helpful: They tell you where on the mountain to ski and ride with your kids, what kid-friendly apres-ski programs the resort offers, what to do for fun off the slopes, and more. If your kid's a skier or snowboarder age 12 or younger, consider signing up for Rippin' Riders, the site's team of kids who test everything from gear to clothes to snow toys. It doesn't get any cooler than that!
Visit KidznSnow.com