DECEMBER 2007: BIZ LIFE, GETAWAYS
Mountain Home Lodge sits on a 20-acre meadow
in the Cascades, just outside of the Bavarian
town
of Leavenworth, Wash.
It’s big sky and high altitude on Moonlight
Basin’s 76 mapped trails, glades and bowls in
Montana.
The catskiing service at Powder Mountain in British
Columbia gives you a full day of private skiing with
as many runs as you can fit in.
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It's downhill all the way
You’re tired of the same old Oregon slopes. You want to
get away, but not too far. Our Northwest neighbors offer luxury
ski destinations just under the mainstream radar, providing an
excellent spot for some winter downtime.
Washington, like Oregon, doesn’t have full-scale hotels
directly on the slopes as many other mountain states do. This
works to your advantage if you’re looking for something
secluded. Mountain Home Lodge just outside of Leavenworth is
acclaimed by The New York
Times and Sunset magazine as one of the best
getaways in the West, nestled in the Cascades about 20 minutes
from Stevens Pass and Mission Ridge ski areas in Central
Washington. Mountain Home is a step up from the usual B&B
with 12 custom suites and a gourmet chef, a year-round hot tub
and a pack of snowmobiles.
A relatively new resort in Idaho is Tamarack in the Payette
River Mountains, an hour’s drive from Boise. The resort
has a bustling village of shops, and if shopping isn’t
your thing, a personal shopping service is available. In fact,
you can call ahead of arrival and have your rental stocked so
you don’t waste time getting to the slopes. Also in
Idaho, the Schweitzer Resort near Sandpoint in the panhandle
has a great reputation among skiers but remains relatively
unknown. The village sports a long list of eateries and an
artists’ studio.
If you’re looking for the thrills of the high Rocky
Mountains, Big Sky Resort in western Montana is a well-known
hot spot for skiers. But there’s a lesser-known, newer
and ritzier skiing area just a short drive away. Moonlight
Basin, at 11,000 feet, has the same snowfall and same scenery
as Big Sky, but without the crowds. Lodging options include
condos, penthouses, town homes, private homes and cabins. All
provide access to the resort’s spa, health center and
concierge, who can hook you up with a housekeeper, holiday
decorator, a dog sledding adventure or a day trip to
Yellowstone.
If it’s hard to break your habit of relaxing at Whistler
Blackcomb’s luxury hotels, you can still get away from
the British Columbia resort for an experience at Powder
Mountain Catskiing. This mountain boasts 40% more powder than
its neighbor and an authentic backcountry experience, with no
lifts and no lines. Welcome to your private skiing
world. AMBER NOBE
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