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A ski resort for every skill level

By David Glines, Special to Travel Watch

The snowy scenery's striking, the town's a blast, but you can barely make it down the bunny slope.

Let's face it. Whether it's too daunting or way too unchallenging, skiing's not a whole lot of fun if your skill level doesn't fit the terrain.

Check out these resorts, which offer something for everyone from the first-time skier to the downhill expert.

BEGINNERS

Smuggler's Notch, Vermont

It's known as a family and beginner's resort, but Smuggler's offers plenty of surprisingly challenging, Eastern terrain. No matter what level skier you are, family is truly the focus. The resort itself is not as big as Killington or Stowe, but it offers non-skiing day trips to other cities.

• Who's hanging out: Forty-somethings with kids.
• Nightlife: Drinking is not that big because of the family focus. Most folks grab dinner and then participate in adult activities like karaoke. Good dinner spots include Hearth & Candle and the Mountain Lodge Restaurant.
• Skiing bores you: If you want to quit after day one, warm up at the indoor swimming pool. Day trips include destinations like Montreal, the Ben & Jerry's factory or the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory. Arts and crafts classes held at the resort are also big for the non-skier, as are outdoor activities like snowshoeing and tubing
• Total trails: 72
• Trail difficulty: 25% expert, 53% intermediate, 22% beginner
• How wide: 1,000+ acres
• Vertical drop: 2,610 feet
• Highest peak: 3,640 feet
• Average snowfall: 271inches
• Long line factor: 9 lifts
• Snowboarding: Yes
• Price tag: Adults (19-64) $54, youth (7-18) $38, children (6 and under) free, seniors (65-69) $38, seniors (70+) free
• Season: November 29 to mid-April
• Lift hours: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Phone number: (800) 451-8752

Northstar, California

Nationally recognized as a kids' resort, Northstar appeals to the entire family. Since most of the terrain is skiable by all levels, sticking close is not difficult. The entire family can manage the terrain, and there is an excellent kids program at the ski school. Beginning adults also tend to enjoy the well-respected school. For boarders, Northstar this year added a 400-feet super pipe, which is the longest in Tahoe.

• Who's hanging out: Expect thirty- and fortysomethings with kids.
• Nightlife: Northstar is a stand-alone resort. Head six miles to Truckee for a lively nightlife. An impressive restaurant called Timber Creek manages to keep some folks close to home base.
• Skiing bores you: If you don't like mountain activities, you're out of luck. Like most resorts, you will find dogsledding, tubing, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. Snow-bike rentals add a unique on-mountain element -- think of it as a four-wheeler with skis instead of wheels.
• Total trails: 70
• Trail difficulty: 25% expert, 50% intermediate, 25% beginner
• How wide: 2,420 acres
• Vertical drop: 2,280 feet
• Highest peak: 8,610 feet
• Average snowfall: 350 inches
• Long line factor: 15
• Snowboarding: Yes
• Price tag: Adults (23-64) $57, youth (13-22) $47, children (5-12) $19, children (4 and under) free, seniors (65-69) $19, seniors (70+) $10
• Season: November 23-April 20
• Lift hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Phone: (800) GO-NORTH

INTERMEDIATE

Deer Valley, Utah

Deer Valley was host for the slalom, mogul and aerial events at the 2002 Winter Olympics. The resort prides itself on its service, food, beverage and groomed trails. As a good all-around mountain, Deer Valley fits well for skiers who can hold their own, but don't want to get too gnarly. Not confident in your skiing? Stick to the groomies and you'll be fine.

• Who's hanging out: Expect many families and vacationing destination skiers.
• Nightlife: Dinner's bigger than drinks for skiers here, but they usually head an hour away to Park City even for that. Also try Robert Redford's, one of Utah's most notable restaurants.
• Skiing bores you: Shopping on Main Street keeps everyone from 30-year-olds to grandparents entertained. Expect a variety of niche boutique shops.
• Total trails: 88
• Trail difficulty: 35% expert, 50% intermediate, 15% beginner
• How wide: 1,750 acres
• Vertical drop: 3,000 feet
• Highest peak: 9,570 feet
• Average snowfall: 300 inches
• Long line factor: 19 lifts
• Snowboarding: No
• Price tag: Adult (16-34) $ 67, youth (9-12) $36, children (3 and under) $18, seniors (65+) $46
• Season: December 7-April 6
• Lift hours: 9 a.m.-4:15 p.m. daily
• Phone: (800) 424-DEER

Copper Mountain, Colorado

To each his own: Copper's a segregated mountain that naturally partitions off beginners, intermediates and experts into their respective terrain. Experts frustrated with slow cruisers appreciate their corner of the mountain, just as beginners taking group lessons don't need to worry about banging into 60 mile-an-hour slalom racers. In town, the music scene is growing. Last year brought Maceo Parker and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band to town, and local troubadours picked up the slack in between.

• Who's hanging out: This is a locals' mountain, with plenty of Denver residents stopping by for a day or two. Copper's scene is not about being seen.
• Nightlife: Opening this winter is the new Lake Area, an entertainment-focused complex with an Irish Pub and a Russian vodka club.
• Skiing bores you: Go tubing on a rope tow or take a dinner sleigh ride to a miner's cabin, where a rustic Western meal awaits for you: Think gourmet smoked meats, not beans out of a can.
• Total trails: 125
• Trail difficulty: 54% expert, 25% intermediate, 21% beginner
• How wide: 2,550 acres
• Vertical drop: 2,601 feet
• Highest peak: 12,313 feet
• Average snowfall: 280 inches
• Long line factor: 23
• Snowboarding: Yes
• Price tag: Adults (13-69) $57, children (12 and under) $25, seniors (70+) free
• Season: Early November to mid-April
• Lift hours: Weekdays 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m., weekends 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Phone: (800) 458-8386

EXPERT

Alta, Utah

Powder, powder, powder. Alta is a no-frills, skiers-only mountain that racks in an annual snowfall of 500 inches and powder-worshipping diehards. Lighter and fluffier than the powder in Colorado, purists come to Alta to carve heavenly turns in the feathery fluff. Don't expect tourists. Don't expect ski bunnies. Don't even expect the latest ski apparel. Alta stays true to its family-owned roots and provides the best value at $40 in North America.

• Who's hanging out: Look around and you'll see locals and guys. Families stay at the lodge, but Alta draws mostly locals and powder buffs.
• Nightlife: Head to Snowbird if you're looking for nightlife.
• Skiing bores you: You're out of luck. Go to Snowbird.
• Total trails: 50+
• Trail difficulty: 35% expert, 40% intermediate, 25% beginner
• How wide: 2,200 acres
• Vertical drop: 2,020 feet
• Highest peak: 10,550 feet
• Average snowfall: 500 inches
• Long line factor: 8 lifts
• Snowboarding: No
• Season: November 20 to mid-April
• Lift hours: 9:15 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Phone: (801) 359-1078

Telluride, Colorado

Telluride is steep and deep. The famous run named The Plunge descends 3,140 vertical feet from the top of the Mountain into historic Telluride as a double diamond bump run. While renowned for its steep incline, intermediates can still ski enough runs to make the trip worthwhile. Getting to Telluride can be a bit tricky. There is a small airport near the town, but the closest major airport is Denver. From there, expect at least a six-hour car ride.

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