Before this weekend, all my best skiing experience had come from either the Alps or the Pacific Northwest (e.g., Whistler, Oregon). I had never skied in the Rockies before. How is skiing in Colorado different from skiing in the Alps? I had to find out.

I am happy to report I just got back from a 5-day "research trip" to Colorado. The highlight of the trip was, of course, skiing Vail. To really generalize, based on skiing only Vail, I would say that skiing the Alps is very comparable to skiing the Rockies in that both have great conditions, extensive slopes, sunny weather. There are, hoverer, some differences that could make or break the deal for some people.

Cost

A one-day Vail ski pass is $92. That is just ridiculously expensive. Not only that, the price is the same whether you start at 8 am or 11 am. All they do is half day, afternoon discounts. Contrast that with Verbier, a comparable mountain in the Swiss Alps. One day ski pass goes for $64 Swiss Francs ($63). Kaprun, a ski resort in Austria, sells their day passes for 35 Euro ($55) for adults and discounts for teenagers and kids. And that's with the Euro being at its all time high.

I realize that skiing in the US is generally more expensive that skiing in Europe. Why? I am not sure. Less competition perhaps? All I am saying is that $92 for a day of skiing is excessive and makes skiing a type of elitist sport way beyond reach of an average American. A ski weekend for a family of four would be too expensive to even think about. That's a shame, because--if you ask me--skiing rocks.

The good news is that there are people selling buddy passes and discounted tickets everywhere in Vail. I don't know how legal it is, but it may, I hear, be possible to buy a day pass from a random person for about $40, which is much more reasonable than $92.

If you don't own your own equipment, you have to add another $30-60 for a set of boots, poles and skis or snowboard. The Vail Sports center right by the ticket counter offers a special package for about $50, where you can try different kinds of equipment all day long, for only one run each if you want. This is a good way to test what skis you like before actually buying a pair. Equipment rentals are everywhere in the village and their prices are about the same. To get the best deal (but not the best equipment) the local Sports Authority rents packages from only $20/day.

Ski conditions

Like I said, skiing Vail is comparable to skiing in the Alps. Colorado is supposed to have 300 days of sun. I can't confirm that because we only had one day of sun out of 5. I can't really comment on the weather because I didn't spend enough time in Vail.

This season was supposed to be one of the best seasons the locals can remember, with over 425 inches of snow. Usually, they get about 350. We did get about 10 inches of new snow just in the last few days, which made it amazing, especially if you consider it is April. In sunny weather, you almost need it to snow every night. The sun warms the snow and when it freezes, the slopes get icy immediately. If it doesn't snow enough, sunny weather in the mountain is a bad thing. That is why spring skiing can be tricky.

The other problem with spring skiing in Vail is that they close the season so early. This year's season will close this coming weekend although they have enough snow to last for a another month. Apparently, they must close it because the workers they hire have fixed-term contracts and don't want to extend them at will (and don't forget visa issues for the foreigners). The good news about skiing Vail this week is that they reduced the price of a day ski pass to $75.

Vail has some of the best bowls and moguls I have ever seen. I have to say the area that they groom in Vail is incredibly large. The lifts, on the other hand, could use an upgrade. There is only one gondola, from Lionshead Village. The rest are your typical quads, and not even the "bubbles," where you get a clear plastic bubble over you to protect you from the wind and snow.

Ambiance

I never quite understand why so many Northern American ski resorts try to look like Alpine villages. It is kind of silly. Why not invent its own "mountain look"? I remember that I first learned the English word "contrived" when I was in Whistler village; it's how Lonely Planet described the village.

"Contrived" is what best describes Vail, as well. Faux alpine-type buildings with pseudo-Bavarian window treatments. When I first walked into the square at Lionshead village, I couldn't believe my eyes. It was kind of like being in a Disneyworld version of Innsbruck. Everything is meant to look authentic, but it is a little too new to be authentic. (see photo)

That said, there are a few great little cafes and restaurants, both in Lionshead Village and in Vail Village (they are only about a mile apart). The French deli in the center of Lionshead square makes great coffee. People love the German place in Vail Village, Pepi's, but I just couldn't bring myself to actually eat German food (which is so similar to my native Czech cuisine) in Colorado.

Last, but certainly not least, the apres-ski possibilities are great. No need to say more.

Mountain photo: kw baker, Flickr

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Greetings from Vail. In case you haven't heard yet, the skiing here is pretty awesome. The season has been the best "anyone can remember", I keep hearing from people.

Sadly, it has also been one with the most recorded deaths. On Friday, a man in Aspen jumped off a cliff and died. Yesterday, a 32-year-old Denver-area man in Vail became the 17th skier or snowboarder to die on the Colorado slopes this season, Denver Post reports. The man died after a skiing incident on an intermediate run called The Wuides in Blue Sky Basin at Vail. I am not sure what happened, all I know from the news that the skier was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident. Helmets can only do so much, I guess.

The prior record was tied last weekend when a Kansas man became the 16th death on the slopes. The previous record for deaths was 16, set in the 2001-2002 season. And there's still great snow and skiing here until at least April 13th...let's hope that's it for fatal accidents this year.

Be safe out there. The bottom areas get icy. More on that later. I'm kinda busy conducting "apres ski" research right now.

Photo: Sweet and Bitter

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I am in Colorado this weekend. (Stay tuned for a ski dispatch.)

I have to say I was impressed by Colorado the minute I got off the plane. Check out the conveyor belt they have at Denver airport? Yes, they really put skiing first, don't they. Instead of collecting your skis or golf bag at various stages of decomposition at the "over sized baggage claim," you can just collect them right out of the spinning ski conveyor belt.

I have never seen a ski conveyor belt before. Thought I would share. Clearly, I am easily impressed.

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Sure, we've all thought about it and some of us do it often. Getting high on your holiday trip can be pretty fun, in fact. I mean really high, above 11,500 feet (3500 m). Not everything cool is on a beach at sea-level. Ruins in the Andes, trekking in the Himalayas and chasing back country powder are a few things you have to get high, to do. These trips are all "dream vacations," so why risk a problem with altitude sickness?

High altitude is considered to be 1500 - 3500 m (4950 - 11,500 ft) while very high altitude covers 3500 to 5500 m (11,500-18,050 ft). Anything above 5500 m falls into the extreme altitude category. Altitude sickness is not related to physical fitness and can have some deadly consequences, if not recognized and treated promptly.

Accute Mountain Sickness generally includes symptoms of headache, worse at night or during straining, nausea/vomiting and dizziness. The symptoms are often described as a "bad hangover".

Some conditions associated with more severe forms of altitude sickness or AMS (acute mountain sickness) include HACE (high altitude cerebral edema) and HAPE (high altitude pulmonary edema). These conditions involve swelling and fluid accumulation in the respective tissues. Swelling of the brain, as seen in HACE, can present as marked stupor and confusion. HAPE, with fluid collecting in the person's lungs, often starts as a cough followed by progressive shortness of breath.

As with most things, prevention is better than treatment. Prevention of AMS and it's associated conditions centers around a slow, gradual ascent to altitude. This gives the body a chance to acclimatize and adjust to the physiologic demands of life at the new altitude, even if only for a few hours or days. This can be a problem for people traveling by car or plane to an area of high altitude, simply because they ascend very rapidly.

Symptoms of AMS can begins quickly, in as little as 2-3 hours after arrival to altitude, which means you can get off your plane and begin to feel bad, even before you arrive at your hotel! In an ideal world, all travelers going to higher altitude will be able to have a slow and controlled ascent, gaining no more than 600-900 m (1,980 to 2,970 ft) per day. However, this is not always practical. Anytime there is suspicion of an altitude related illness, stop ascending, immediately. If symptoms do not improve, consider a descent to lower altitude, for a few days of further acclimatization. Some expedition physicians also believe that most all medial problems, at high altitude, are to be considered AMS until proven otherwise.

There are a few medications used to combat AMS and a few good arguments, both for and against their use. The medicine that is most commonly used is called Acetazolamide. This medicine causes an acidosis, designed to combat the alkalosis caused by hyperventilation at high altitudes. Designed to be taken a few days prior to ascent, during the time at altitude and for a few days after descent, Acetazolamide is both a prophylactic medicine as well as a treatment. There is some controversy over the ideal dose to be used and I consider this article a good source of information, along with an article that favors a higher dose.

Against Acetazolamide Use:

Everything in life is a trade off and medicine is a perfect example of this. Side effects of Acetazolamide include a metallic taste, especially with soda, and frequent urination. Acetazolamide is a sulfa-based drug and allergic reactions can occur. Some studies have show than judicious exercise, on the first few days of arrival to altitude, can be effective in AMS prevention and that only 25% of travelers to resort communities at 8,000 and 12,000 feet have altitude illnesses.

For Acetazolamide Use:

A dream vacation can be ruined by many things and with 25% of travelers in an high altitude zone experiencing AMS symptoms, why risk spending your trip with a headache, or worse. Most vacation trips to high altitude zones last 7-10 days and Acetazolamide is a cheap and very effective medication for control and prevention of AMS.

Some other treatments for AMS, HACE and HAPE include dexamethasone and inhaled asthma medications like salmeterol. For the hard-core out there, Gamow bags can be used, especially on mountaineering expeditions. Ginko Biloba is also currently showing promise in AMS treatment/prevention.

As with most travel-related illnesses, prior proper preparation prevents poor performance. Understanding altitude illness and being aware of it's symptoms can help with early recognition and treatment, thus preventing a ruined trip and health risk. To learn more about AMS check out these sites:

The International Society for Mountain Medicine

The High Altitude Medicine Guide

CDC Traveler's Health Yellow Book: Altitude Illness

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What is going on the roads of Central Europe this week, exactly? On Friday, I blogged about the Czech 100+ car pileup on the country's major highway.

Today, AP reports that 50 to 100 vehicles slammed into each other earlier today in snowfall on an autobahn in western Austria. The accident happened on the westbound A1 autobahn between the towns of Seewalchen and St. Georgen.

Some victims are apparently still trapped in their vehicles because rescue efforts were hampered by snowfall. One person is reported dead, according to Reuters.

When going spring-skiing, watch out for spring-snowstorms. (Optimism aside, it is best to keep those winter tires on through April.)

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It has been a great year for skiing. In the US at least. In Europe, it has actually been terrible.

US ski reports are predicting it will be a great spring skiing season as well. According to USA Today, a bunch of resorts are extending their seasons:

In Colorado, three resorts -Purgatory, Monarch and Wolf Creek- have extended their seasons into April, and Arapahoe Basin probably won't close until early June. Oregon's Mount Bachelor is supposed to have the best skiing in years this year and will be open through mid-May. In California, Lake Tahoe has had a lot of snow this year and Alpine Meadows, which stays open well into May, January snowfall was almost double the norm. Great conditions are reported from New Hampshire's Wildcat Mountain Ski Area, as well. The resort won't close until early May.

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If you think sledding using a flying saucer is a thrill--I do, the thing can spin, there's a sled out there that adds a whole new experience to winter sports. Mad River Rocket makes maneuverable adventure sleds that help you get a feeling you've turned into Superman. You don't really leap over tall buildings, but flipping, dipping and darting through trees, over ditches, up embankments, down snow covered stairs, human-made hills and naturally formed mountains is on the menu--if it's covered with snow, you're in luck.

Extreme sledding is one of the latest trends that has turned the thrill of childhood into a sport that can send adults hearts' racing. Here's a video to show just what a Mad River Rocket sled can do plus an ABC News article that details its wonder. What isn't shown is how the sled can also be used to tow gear if you're hiking in the winter. The company's Web site details more extreme sled info with loads of photos. [Thanks Davis Cox for the tip!]

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On your trip to the slopes for some much needed excitement and adventure, you awake to find fresh powder. Lots of it, too. You begin to head for the runs and realize that in your excitement, you've forgotten your gloves. No matter, you think, I have to get out there! A few hours later, your hands begin to blister and get numb. What do you do?

This is a common situation and one that I have seen happen all too much. The condition is frostbite and it can not only slow down your trip, but can cost you your extremities!

This is a condition where the tissues of the body, generally the fingers and toes, begin to actually freeze. This can cause massive damage to the tissue and sever cases, beside being very painful, can require amputation of necrotic (dead) tissue.

There are two conditions to know, frost nip and frostbite. Frostbite is the worst and most severe form, characterized by destroyed tissue and numbness. Blister formation and muscles damage are also common. Frost nip is less severe and does not destroy the tissues.

Nobody sets out with a goal to get frostbite. To prevent this, keep your body core and your extremities warm. Stay well hydrated and avoid tight or constricting clothing. Mittens work better than gloves, for cold weather hand protection. Also, on longer trips, avoid over-washing the hands and feet, as this removes the skin' naturally protective oils.

Keeping your body warm and healthy is the secret to having a good cold weather trip. Remember, bring spares of gloves and warm socks, and try not to get so excited about your trip that your forget them in the hotel.

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Last night I did some Ohio skiing. It was nothing like this high speed ski experience of Balkan ski champion Cristo Angelov when he took on one of the ski trails at Borvovets in Bulgaria--not even close. Borovets is Bulgaria's oldest winter resort. First , there are moutains. Snow Trails, where I went near Mansfield, about an hour north of Columbus, has what I would call mountain-like hills. The higher mountains in Ohio are to the south when you hit the Appalachians.

Taking a high speed ride with Cristo is a thrill. The angle is from his perspective so it seems like you are doing the skiing. All you see of him is his shadow. Sections of this YouTube video posted by skivid look a bit like an arcade game. I kept expecting people to get knocked over with some sort of graphic noises to show their demise. No accidents, but once Cristo does give a "Don't move warning."

This YouTube ski video from Snow Trails posted by welljei two weeks ago shows the contrast between the two skiing experiences. There was more snow last night, though. Plus, it was dark. Still it was fun, and for those who are interested in a low key, easy to get to ski experience in the Midwest, I do think it's worth heading there.

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1. Don't get on a ski lift.
2. Never go skiing. Ever.
3. Why are you even leaving the house? It's much safer inside...

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In a part of the world famous for its snow and magnificent mountains, I was quite surprised to learn that there is only one ski resort in all of Alaska.

There is more than one place to ski, of course, but the Alyeska Resort in south-central Alaska is the only place considered a proper resort -- you know, with rooms at the base of the ski lift and snow bunnies frolicking in the hot tubs.

The only problem is that few people outside of Alaska even know about its existence. But that's all about to change according to a recent article in USA Today. That's because the owners of the resort are investing $25 million to expand and improve facilities and to re-groom the 1,400 acres of trail to create more friendly slopes (currently 37% of the trails are black diamonds -- good news for hard core skiers but rather scary for amateurs such as myself).

Although the resort still remains "off the radar" in the lower 48, it's only 40 miles south of Anchorage and therefore rather easy to get to. Perhaps not as easy as Whistler, for example, but it is still worth the journey before everyone else discovers it.

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Hope everyone had a happy Turkey Day! If you watched the Macy's parade yesterday, be sure to check out Jamie's post where she got the inside scoop from a balloon handler's perspective. And of the many things I was thankful for his Thanksgiving, one of them was that I didn't have to fly this holiday. I'm wondering if the extra airspace Prez Bush opened over the Eastern corridor eased air traffic at all; we'll find out soon, I'm sure.

Also this week:

• Neil told us how to buy goods that have been confiscated by the TSA. If anyone finds a deal on my confiscated Aveda shampoo, let me know.
• Jamie gave us the good news that skiing opened early in Vermont this year. Especially considering there's still no skiing in South-central Alaska, that's great news for North-easterners. Think snow!
• Martha discovered that even though Michelin's stars are usually concentrated in the Western world, this year Tokyo has snagged the highest number.
• Leif boasted of his super-heroic battery-whispering (and killing) ways. If you travel with lots of gadgets, check out his post.
• Finally, Grant produced a guide to getting better airplane seats. If you're traveling over the holidays, read his guide, score a sweet seat, and stretch out those legs!

Happy Friday! And if you celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday, happy digesting!

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The weather this year has been cooperating with Vermont--at least so far. I've read that Mount Snow opened last weekend. Other Vermont ski resorts opened this weekend, as well. Apparently, this is the earliest people have been able to hit the slopes in Vermont in almost 10 years. With the Thanksgiving weekend coming up, and the winter holidays close behind, I can imagine the resort owners and the people who work there are feeling gleeful. There are 20 Alpine ski resorts in the state, so if you can't find a place to ski, you're not looking that hard. The Web site "Ski Vermont" lists all of them.

Here are a few that are open already:

1. Mount Snow just made fresh snow. Check out the deals. Kids 5 and under, ski for free and there's a 10% military discount.
2. Killington is the largest resort in the eastern United States. There's a ski package you can buy to cut down costs.
3. Okemo Mountain was named good for families by Ski Magazine. Here kids 6 and under can ski for free. If you buy a 3-day or more lift ticket, you can ski at two other resorts, Mt. Sunapee in New Hampshire and Stratton Mountain, also in Vermont, during that time frame pn the same ticket. Neat. Mt. Sunapee is not open yet. Stratton is scheduled to open November 21.

With the ski season upon us, expect more Gadling coverage. Here is a link to some past posts. Neil has one later today on a place where skiing is perhaps the last thing you'd think about when planning a trip there.

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