5 Powder Destinations – Ski
By Bec Jones

Mt. Baker – Washington

Mt. Baker in Washington has the best lift tickets in North America according to the Ski Area Management Magazine and also has holds the World Record for the highest snowfall in a season with 1,140 inches (2,896 cm) for the winter of 1998-99. With an annual average snowfall of 647 inches (1,638 cm), a vertical rise of 1,500 feet (455 m), 8 quad chairs, 2 rope tows, 31 % expert terrain, 45% intermediate and 24% beginner terrain, Mt Baker could be the ultimate powder destination in the world today!

Alta Utah

Alta Ski Resort is located in Utah on Wasatch Mountains just east of Salt Lake City (Winter Olympics 2002). Alta is one of the oldest ski resorts in America, opening it;s first lifts in 1939. Unfortunately, Alta is also one of the three remaining resorts in America that prohibits snowboarders! The other two resorts are Deer Valley and Mad River Glen in Vermont.

Alyeska Alaska

When you talk of powder, you have to have some mention of Alaska. Home of big mountain heli skiing and snowboarding, Alaska is also home to some fantastic resorts. One of the more popular resorts is Alyeska. With an impressive 643 inches of snowfall each season at the top of the resort, it is no wonder.

Kirkwood Resort California

Kirkwood Mountain Resort is situated to the south of Lake Tahoe. A popular destination for skiers and snowboarders from California or around the world with a average annual snowfall of 472 inches. One of the main features of Kirkwood that make it so attractive is the 2 mile ridgeline at the top of the resort making it perfect for camera crew to film cliff drops and steep chute runs. Kirkwood is also one of the larger resorts in the Lake Tahoe region.

Niseko Japan

Niseko, Japan or as it is becoming known worldwide as – Jpow. What was once a sleepy village on the Northern Island of Hokkaido is now a very quickly developing international ski resort as the world wakes up to the amount of snow Japan and especially receives and with the fantastic, culture and Niseko Accommodation options. With an average season ranging from mid November to mid May and an average annual snowfall of approximately 600 inches, Niseko is a powder mecca! Providing a more affordable travel alternative for residents of Australia, New Zealand and other close Asian countries, Niseko Japan is sure to continue to grow as the word spreads around the world of stories and photos of this unique Japan ski village.

My name is Bec Jones and I love to ski in Niseko and other areas of Hokkaido

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bec_Jones

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Where Should a New Mountain Climbing Enthusiast Begin?
By Eric Winters

If you have tackled the gym indoor climbing wall and find yourself yearning to get out there and tackle a real mountain, you need to be prepared! Mountain climbing isn’t for wimps! You should invest in some real outdoor mountain climbing training!

Two places that offer real world training and are great for those beginner mountain climbing enthusiasts are Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainier, both located in Washington. You can find actual mountain climbing training camps that last up to two weeks and offer training for all levels of climbers.

Mt. Baker stands 10,770 feet and Mt. Rainier stands 14,411 feet tall. These are said to be two of the best places for new mountain climbers because they have relatively easy routes to the top. Now don’t assume that means they are EASY, they still require training and experience, but are among the mountains listed as “Beginner Mountains”.

Mountain climbing does require equipment as well. Be prepared to spend around $300 for an ice-axe, harness and crampons (strap on steel spikes for additional traction on ice). These are just the basics that a beginner to should have.

As your skill level increases your equipment needs will as well. Extreme winter clothing, oxygen and camping equipment do add up quickly. Mountain climbing is not known for being a cheap sport! However, it is known for being one of the only sports that can truly make you feel at one with nature and is a total body experience. Reaching a summit can be a life changing experience and anyone that has done it once will surely do it again!

Looking to learn more about mountaineering? Find out how you can climb Mount Kilimanjaro or Mount Everest in no time.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_Winters

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The countdown towards the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games is getting lower and I’ve been anticipating them for the past few years. Living in Bellingham, Washington, I’m, almost, literally across the street from the Bellingham International Airport.

Interstate 5, is right outside my front door, and I enjoy watching the traffic, from my kitchen window, as I do the dishes. I’ve been looking forward to those days in February, when Olympians and celebrities would be driving past.

I know that this is going to sound funny to some folks, but I’ve been imagining them, the caravans of high end luxury SUV’s, Lincoln Navigators, MKTs and Towncars. And maybe those aren’t high end vehicles to those high falutin’ people out their driving their Mazarati’s, but to me…

My vehicle is a 1973 Chevy pick up truck – and I must say it is the best vehicle that I’ve ever had, and I’ve owned it longer than any brand new car that I’ve had. For a couple of reasons, 1) The trade in value isn’t very good. 2) I don’t have the money for payments. And let’s just throw #3 in there for good measure 3) I don’t want to make payments on anything!

But..I’m going to digress here, intentionally, if I had the cash or made the money and desired to make payments I’d want a Lexus GX’s with “dynamic radar cruise control”.

I know that 2012’s coming and the electromagnetic shield or whatever is going to put anything electronic to a hault, moments before we’re all fried, but before that day – I sure would like to own one.

Back on track, I-5, my moving picture window scenery, will be a red carpet for those driving up from California, or being picked up at Seatac, or bustling out of the Bellingham International Airport.

Alas, after all my planning, and dreaming, what happens? My one and only child and her husband, decide that they want to give me a grand daughter instead. And, my 5-year-old, grandson, my heart and soul, eagerly awaits my arrival along with his baby sister.

Sigh…I tried to convince them to move from Long Island, New York, here to beautiful Bellingham, WA, which would give me the opportunity to enjoy both my stationary sight seeing and guessing who’s in that vehicle as well as savoring time with my grandson and devouring my new granddaughter…obviously, it didn’t work.

Safe travels to those who are driving North on I-5. BTW, I’m the big house just South of the I-5 Auction Barn, just before you pass North Star Rocks and the Slater Road Exit.

Peace!

Napolitano tours new Olympics center in Washington

By GENE JOHNSON July 27, 2009

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• TravelSmart 2010 Update: Start planning to leave vehicles behind for 2010 Winter Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies (newswire.ca)

While there are youtube videos that actually show my house as they’re landing, this one doesn’t. BUT, the person filming it gives a narration as to showing you where I-5 is, and my house is just beyond the hill.

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Living in Bellingham and travelling to New York a couple of times a year, I HAD been taking a bus down to Seatac, believing that was the most cost effective way to travel.

Surprise! WRONG! If you’re planning a trip – check out flights out of Bellingham FIRST! Air travel out of BLI is actually very competitive with taking the shuttle bus to Seatac.

Flying into Bellingham Airport – Youtube

I recently made reservations, round trip from Bellingham to Kennedy for about $300. Utilizing Priceline, was fast and easy. It didn’t require me making multiple reservations.

Having the experience of doing my own price comparisons of the various airlines, because there’s nothing better than getting the best deal going (in my book), I now know that all the time that I wasted trying to save money could’ve been used making a whole lot more money.

I no longer attempt to do a cost analysis, price comparisons, and attempting to be diverted around the country to save money – Now, I simply go to Priceline and get ‘er done in a few minutes and spend the rest of my time on the phone making plans with my grandson on what we’re going to do once I get there!

You really have to check out priceline first.  Even if you want to compare prices, check priceline, because in my book, they are the ones to beat.

My Airline Opinion

Personally, I love Jet Blue.  I have enjoyed every flight that I’ve ever been on, even though I heard all the horror stories about being stuck on the tarmac for hours at a time, I just can’t imagine that my Jet Blue would ever be in that position.

On the other hand, I’d heard such wonderful things about VirginAmerica that I paid extra to fly Virgin America instead of Southwest.  Not only did I pay more money to fly VirginAmerica, Southwest Airlines flies out of Mac Arthur Airport, which is 20 minutes away from my family, whereas Virgin America was out at Kennedy Airport.

I thought I was going to be pampered and comfortable.  I knew that it would be better than Jet Blue, look at the reputation that VirginAmerica has, right?  Virgin America was the most humiliating experience that I’ve had traveling.

Being a voluptuous 300 pounds, I asked the attendant when I boarded for a a seat belt extension.  I used to be embarrassed to have to ask for one,  and I thought that I had gotten over that a few years ago.  I’d simply make a request as I boarded and the attendants have always been considerate and handed it to me with no fanfare.   The attendant actually started to argue with me that I wouldn’t need one.   Avoiding a scene, I asked that they’d simply humor me.  So, here’s the good news, the attendant was right, I didn’t need one!  Finally, an argument that was able to handle quietly, and one I would have loved to have had to lose!

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