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The Magic of the Mountains
By Amy Selby

The search for the ultimate powder, the allure of a hot tub after a full day on the slopes, endless backcountry, mountain views, double diamond slopes, hot chocolate and Irish coffees at the lodge and dazzling terrain—what’s not to love about snow skiing?

With the winter ski season in full swing, Today’s Chiropractic LifeStyle arranged a tour of ski resorts throughout North America. Through extensive research, we have found the ski resorts that offer unique skiing experiences in the following regions: Canada, Utah, Colorado, California and Wyoming. In each profile you’ll learn the character of each resort, stats on the mountains and local chiropractors in the area.

Dust off that snow gear and cash in those frequent flier miles—the mountains are calling.

Canada
Our friends to the North typically offer skiers a longer season—with some resorts with slopes open in April—good snow and a variety of terrain.

Whistler/Blackcomb
The Lay of the Land: Whistler/Blackcomb is two mountains connected by the pedestrian village known as Whistler Village. There is no shortage of skiable terrain here—there’s a whopping 8,171 acres to explore. There are more than 200 trails, 12 alpine bowls, three glaciers and 38 lifts. The resort is also known for its low altitude, which allows for easier breathing and warmer weather. Depending on the season, the bottom third of the slopes can be on the slushy side. Yet, with an average of nearly 400 inches of snow a year and the sheer abundance of trails, you won’t find the runs skied out. The one mile vertical rise is also impressive.

The Trails: If you like powder, this resort has it in spades. You have your pick of challenging trails for the advanced skier, and there’s plenty for the rest of us intermediate and beginner skiers. There are terrain parks, half pipes, tree forts, an adventure park for kids and even a chartered heli-skiing or boarding trip (a helicopter escorts you to trails beyond the lifts!).

Get Schooled: For the 2006 ski season, Whistler had 1,200 ski instructors on site. The resort also has three children’s base centers and special learning stations throughout the ski area. Parents can opt to enroll their junior (as young as 3 years old) and teen skiers in a ski camp. Childcare is available for infants and toddlers—3 to 48 months old.

Off the Slopes: Whistler Village is a pedestrian-friendly neighborhood with world-class dining options, trendy retailers, pubs and cafes.

Celebrity Appeal: Ever since Whistler was selected as the host of the 2010 Winter Olympics, the area has become the “it” ski destination in North America. Don’t be surprised if you see the likes of Justin Timberlake, Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell and Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins on the slopes.

Resort Contact Info: whistlerblackcomb.com; 888-403-4727

DCs In the Area: Village Centre Chiropractic & Massage, 604-932-2111, drpeterd@telus.net; Whistler Chiropractic, 604-932-1922, keithraywhistler@yahoo.com.

Mount Tremblant
The Mountain: The resort is nestled in the heart of the Laurentian Mountains, just an hour north of Montreal. The mountain is known for its abundant snowfalls and exceptional ski conditions from November to April.

The Skiing: Mount Tremblant has 94 runs carved into four faces of the mountain. There are trails for all levels of skiers, but the resort has a reputation as an expert skier’s mountain. Beginners can tackle the Nansen trail and leave the moguls on the Geant trail to the aspiring pros. Tremblant also has three snow parks designed with all skiers in mind. Visitors can find hidden trails, beautiful vistas and the secrets of the mountain on guided tours offered twice daily by local skiers.

On the Wild Side: Gravity Park, situated on the top of the mountain, gives snowboarders and extreme skiers access to a snow park with an Olympic-caliber half-pipe—the highest one in the East of North America.

More than Skiing: There is life off of the mountain. Village St. Jovite is a quick five miles away from the slopes and offers all the charms of an European village. Here you’ll find cobblestone walkways, cafes, shops and restaurants. The resort and nearby vendors offer dog sledding trips, ice climbing, snowshoeing, ice skating and snowmobiling to round out your alpine adventure.

Resort Contact Info: tremblant.ca; 888-738-1777

DCs in the Area: Dr. Francois Binette and Dr. Martine Desjardins, 819-429-5353; Dr. Pierre Moreau, 819-425-5269.

Utah

At first thought, Utah feels like a wallflower in comparison to hotspots such as Aspen, Vail and Lake Tahoe. Yet there are definite pluses for this region—an annual snowfall of 500 inches, quick access to an airport and affordable lift tickets.

Park City Mountain Resort
Claims to Fame: Park City is famous for a few things—it’s the home of the Sundance film festival, the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics and the Park City Mountain Resort. The resort has a variety of terrain that’s full of surprises (if you know where to look), more than 3,000 acres to explore and it receives consistently good snowfall. Plus, Park City has been rated as a top ski town by Skiing magazine.

Improvements for the 07/08 Ski Season: The resort has invested nearly $5 million into the park, resulting in brand new terrain, a redesigned trail map, a new heated resort plaza, installation of Fast Tracks lanes at King Con lift, expanded snowmaking and environmental initiatives.

New Runs and Lifts: Motherlode Meadows is a new area between the Single Jack and Sunnyside runs for intermediate and advanced skiers and riders. The new trail off of McConkey’s lift brings the run count to 106.

Bowled Over: The best view at the resort isn’t accessible by one of the 15 chair lifts. Skiers can hike up Pinyon Ridge to enjoy the views atop Jupiter Peak. From there you can access Jupiter Bowl, Scott’s Bowl and the double diamond Blueslip Bowl (not for the faint of heart).

And the Award Goes To: Transworld Snowboarding magazine has named Park City’s terrain parks as “Terrain Park of the Year” for four years in a row. The resort’s four terrain parks feature 30 jump features, 60 jibs and more for the 07/08 season. A must-see is the Eagle Superpipe—site of the World Superpipe Championships.

Resort Contact Info: parkcitymountain.com; 435-649-8111

DCs in the Area: Park City Chiropractic, 435-649-1017; Cofer Chiropractic, 435-649-1542, drcofer.com.

Snowbird
Snowbird Stats: The resort is in the heart of the Wasatch-Cache National Forest in Little Cottonwood Canyon. On a clear day, you can see Salt Lake City from Hidden Peak (the top of the resort). Snowbird has 2,500 acres to play in with 11 lifts, including one aerial tram, serving 89 runs. The tram fits 125 people and covers 2,900 vertical feet in seven minutes. The lifts can move 17,400 skiers uphill an hour. The longest decent on the mountain is Gad Valley at 3.5 miles.

Take Me Higher: The first thing you’ll notice about “The Bird” is the vertical. Snowbird has the largest vertical rise in Utah, giving it seemingly bottomless powder and steep terrain. The best place to experience the drop—take the tram up and ski down.

Not for Beginners: A close neighbor to another top resort, Alta, Snowbird is known for its challenging brand of skiing. There are enough intermediate runs to entertain average skiers. This isn’t the best resort for boarders, either. The focus is on the skier, but there is a terrain park with medium jumps, a super pipe and rails.

For the Non-Skier on the Trip: The resort’s Activity Center arranges tours for all levels of snowshoers and the spa offers packages incorporating an afternoon of showshoeing with a spa treatment. If you want a break from the slopes, there’s ice skating, tubing, snowmobile tours, shopping and the resort’s Adventure Lecture Series.

Premiere Powder: Utah is known for its 500-inch annual snowfall. Cottonwood Canyon benefits from ideal geography and a lake effect, resulting in dry powder, envied worldwide. Conditions permitting, the ski and board season is mid-November through mid-May.

Resort Contact Info: snowbird.com; 801-933-2222

DCs in the Area: Dr. Mark Dudley, 801-359-3995; Dr. Humble Finsand, 801-523-0073; Dr. Jeremy Westerman, 801-966-2804, wellness-chiropractic.com.

Colorado
This state is the quintessential ski country. Summit County is legendary within the skiing community as home to four major ski resorts, including Keystone and Copper Mountain.

Keystone
Three Mountains Means More Fun: Dercum Mountain, North Peak and Outback Mountain make up the resort—the three mountains are stacked one behind the other. The terrain gets more challenging from mountain to mountain. Dercum has green and blue trails, plus the A51 terrain park. You can access North Peak, the middle mountain, by hitching a gondola from the top of Keystone. North Peak has a mix of blue and black diamond trails. Outback is the furthest back and has amazing bowls with above tree line skiing. The resort has five alpine bowls total.

By the Light of the Moon: At most resorts the slopes close at sundown. Not at Keystone—when the sun goes down, the lights come on. Keystone is the only resort in Colorado with night skiing and it boasts one of the largest night parks in the country—17 trails and the A51 terrain park are open at night.

New for 07/08 Season: The resort’s four-star spa added five new treatment rooms, including an aromatherapy tub, Vichy shower and a couples room. Skiers and boarders will find nearly 300 acres of added terrain in the Upper Independence Bowl. The site is accessible by hiking or taking a snowcat. The resort has also widened many trails and added new snowmaking technology.

Boost Some Air: Keystone’s A51 terrain park has something for every boarder. For the new season the park has improved the jump line, new snow features, more rails and an expanded beginner park, named the Incubator.

Resort Contact Info: keystone.snow.com; 877-753-9786

DCs in the Area: Dr. Jeffrey Auth, 970-262-7929, jauthdc@msn.com; Dr. Ivo Waerlop and Dr. John Asthalter, 970-513-9234, summitchiroandrehab.com; Dr. Kelvin Washington, 719-836-2273, dwashington897@amigo.net.

Copper Mountain
Separate, but Equal: In an unusual, yet harmonious layout, Copper Mountain’s terrain is segregated into beginner, intermediate and advanced/expert terrain—each located on different parts of the mountain. Thanks to the separation, beginning skiers won’t slow down or be intimidated by the expert skiers. And, everyone can enjoy ample terrain fit for their level.

Copper’s Stats: The mountain, just 75 miles from Denver, has a vertical drop of 2,601 feet and it receives 282 inches of snow a year. Skiers have their pick of 126 marked trails with 22 lifts providing access throughout the resort. The longest run is Soliloquy to Roundabout, 2.8 miles.

Less Time in Line: Every visitor appreciates Copper Mountain’s Beeline Advantage. The advantage is specially designated lines at the resort’s most popular lifts, resulting in less time in line and more time on the mountain. The Beeline Advantage is a part of ticket packages and sells for $20 at the lift ticket window. The best way to avoid lines without the Beeline, is start in the East Village or High Point in Union Creek. Also, the back bowls typically have fewer lines.

A Green Resort: Copper Mountain is 100 percent wind powered. The resort is purchasing renewable energy certificates to reduce the environmental impact of its electricity usage on lifts, snowmaking and facility operations.

Earn CE Credit: The Colorado Chiropractic Association is hosting its annual ski seminar at Copper Mountain on Jan. 31-Feb. 2. DCs can earn 16 hours of education and the two hours of documentation required by the Colorado Board of Chiropractic Examiners. After your seminar you can hit up the slopes, shops and restaurants of Copper Mountain. For more information, visit coloradochiropractic.org.

Resort Contact Info: coppercolorado.com; 888-841-2481

DCs in the Area: Global Family Chiropractic, 970-668-3233, higleychiropractic.com; Chiropractic Health, 619 Main St., 970-668-3299; Summit Mobile Chiropractic, 970-468-9555.

California
The iconic image of California is sun, waves and surfboards. Ski resorts like Heavenly and Squaw Valley reminds us that California is not only surf city, but a haven for skiers and boarders.

Squaw Valley USA
Towering Tahoe: This is one of Lake Tahoe’s most celebrated resorts. With six peaks in 4,000 acres and a 2,850-foot vertical lift, Squaw’s terrain seems endless. There are more than 170 trails, 16 bowls and a state-of-the-art lift system moving 49,000 skiers per hour. The resort benefits from great weather conditions—an average of 460 inches of snow and more than 300 days of clear, sunny skies.

New and Improved: The Shirley Lake detachable quad lift has been upgraded to a high-speed six pack lift. The park’s superpipe, the Riveria has been surrounded by lights, and now it’s the only night-time access superpipe in the state.

Take the Cable Car: Cable cars aren’t only in San Francisco, you’ll find them at Squaw too. As one of the resort’s most popular attractions, the Cable Car offers spectacular views up 2,000 vertical feet to the resort’s High Camp Bath & Tennis Club.

Expert Terrain: If you’re looking to test your skills, try the KT-22 and Granite Chief. This back area tempts advanced skiers—expect a thrill ride and a good workout between the steeps, turns and drops.

Resort Contact Info: squaw.com; 800-403-0206

DCs in the Area: Dr. Lewis Grove, 530-583-2225, grovechiropractic.com; Dr. Tim Schroeder, 530-583-7477, drtim@balancedoctor.com.

Heavenly
The View is Worth the Trip: True to its name, Heavenly is known for its scenic beauty. The view of the Sierra Mountains from Lake Tahoe is enough to take your breath away. Aside from the sights, the resort is the largest in the region, featuring a large network of trails, the highest elevation and longest vertical drop in the area.

Terrain and More Terrain: This resort is so huge, it’s in two states—California and Nevada—and covers 4,800 skiable acres. The variety of trails welcome all levels of skiers.

Après Ski: There is a point when the slopes are closed. Heavenly offers plenty of choices for family entertainment—dog sledding, ice fishing, mountaineering, indoor tennis, ice skating, sleigh riding, snowmobiling, tubing, horseback riding and more. For the 21 and up crowd, there are casinos on the Nevada side of the resort.

Tree-Skiing: Heavenly is expanding its reputation for tree-skiing. New for the season, the resort has strategically thinned trees along three new trails in the Olympic Express. Cloud Nine, a blue trail, is perfect for cruising. Bohemian Grove is an advanced, gladed run with a more natural tree-skiing feel. Nevada Woods is for the expert skier and its full-on tree-skiing.

Adventure Peak: With the family in tow, sometimes it’s nice to trade in the skis for a snow bike, tube or sled. Adventure Peak is accessible by a 2.4-mile gondola ride up the mountainside. At the Peak, there’s plenty to do with equipment rentals, a restaurant, kid’s tubing park and the Sky Flyer, a 3,100-foot zip line with a 525-foot vertical drop.

Resort Contact Info: skiheavenly.com; 775-586-7000

DCs in the Area: Drs. David and Karen Borges, 530-544-5800, borgeschiro.com; Dr. Harvey Cohen, 530-543-3287.

Wyoming

This Western state is where the buffalo roam and the skiers leave the city life to play on the slopes. The two resorts covered in this region are located in the Grand Tetons of the Rockies.

Grand Targhee Resort

Little-known Gem of the Tetons: When people ski Wyoming, they usually have one resort in mind: Jackson Hole. Grand Targhee Resort is the neighboring ski resort on the backside of the Grand Tetons. You won’t find the crowds, which leaves plenty of fresh tracks for everyone.

Two Mountains and 3,000 Acres: Grand Targhee is made up of two mountains: Fred’s Mountain and Peaked Mountain. Fred’s Mountain has 1,500 skiable acres—400 acres groomed, the rest is powder runs—63 trails and four lifts. The longest run is Teton Vista Traverse at 2.7 miles. Peaked Mountain is reserved for snowcat powder skiing. If you’re a beginner or hit the blue trails once in a while, stay on Fred’s Mountain. Peaked caters to advanced intermediate and advanced skiers.

Cat Skiing: If you’ve got the skills, a guided cat skiing tour is a must-do at Targhee. There are two tours daily and each tour is reserved for 12 lucky skiers. The adventure takes you on a guided tour of a huge powder reserve through north-facing bowls, gladed cruiser trails and steep treed pitches. Next to the amazing powder is the view of the Tetons—this will be the hallmark of your trip.

For the Family: Grand Targhee is nicknamed “Grand Foggy,” visibility can be an issue. On foggy days, it’s best to stay low on the mountain. Thankfully the resort receives more than 500 inches of snow a year, so there’s plenty to play in on the lower part of the mountain. Your family can also enjoy three freestyle terrain parks, a tubing park, an outdoor heated pool and hot tubs, the village at the base of the mountain and other mountain activities.

Resort Contact Info: grandtarghee.com; 800-827-4433

DCs in the Area: Dr. Morgan Barkdull, 208-354-8010; Davis Chiropractic Center, 208-787-1199.

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
A Free-For-All: Jackson Hole has a reputation as a destination for the experts, but the resort offers terrain and trails for every ability level. There are 116 named trails on the resort, but marked trails have little meaning at the top of the resort’s two mountains. The high terrain is loaded with free skiing opportunities, but it’s best if you’re an intermediate or advanced skier. Beginning skiers will enjoy the Rendezvous Bowl. The best view has been reported at the top of Rendezvous Mountain.

Go Backcountry: Throughout the resort’s mountains, named Apres Vous and Rendezvous, there’s 2,500 acres of in-bound terrain for downhill, cross country, snow boarding and free-heel skiing. Jackson Hole’s unique open backcountry gate system grants skiers and boarders access to more than 3,000 acres of backcountry.

Mountain Dining: There are plenty of fine dining experiences on the mountain and within the area. The resort’s newest restaurant, Couloir Restaurant and Bar, is accessible by a scenic gondola ride. Skiers can enjoy a lunch menu, a five-course fixed-price dinner menu and amazing views on the heated outdoor deck.

Live Green: Since June, Jackson Hole has been purchasing renewable energy credits to offset all of its energy usage. The first eco-boutique hotel, Hotel Terra opens this December at the base of the resort. The hotel offers luxury accommodations within a sustainable building. For more information, visit hotelterrajacksonhole.com.

Resort Contact Info: jacksonhole.com; 888-DEEP-SNO

DCs in the Area: Dr. Christopher Koch, 307-733-5559; Jackson Family Chiropractic, 307-733-3386; Dr. Lisa Brady-Grant, 307-739-0553.