Airfare Alert for Winter Park, CO – March 2012

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Valarie

Cheap Flights to Denver and Winter Park, CO

Want to fly to Denver cheap? We’re here to help. Southwest is celebrating Leap Year with a 3 day sale through March 1st. Book a flight by 11:59 Pacific time to get deals starting at $69 one way to Denver. Plus, we found some more excellent bargains, including a flight from Oklahoma City for $119 RT, a flight from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for $120 RT and one from Billingham, Washinton for $180 RT. To get in on these and other deals, just click on the fares next to each city below, or go to www.airfarewatchdog.com to search for a flight from your city.

March Airfare Deals as of 2/29/12:

$161 RT	Albuquerque, NM (ABQ)
$138 RT	Amarillo, TX (AMA)
$220 RT	Atlanta, GA (ATL)
$180 RT	Bellingham, WA (BLI)
$119 RT	Bismarck, ND (BIS)
$160 RT	Bloomington, IL (BMI)
$209 RT	Boston, MA (BOS)
$120 RT	Cedar Rapids, IA (CID)
$160 RT	Great Falls, MT (GTF)
$225 RT	Greensboro, NC (GSO)
$161 RT	Houston, TX (HOU)
$162 RT	Las Vegas, NV (LAS)
$173 RT	Lincoln, NE (LNK)
$155 RT	Los Angeles (LAX)
$119 RT	Oklahoma City, OK (OKC)
$157 RT	Omaha, NE (OMA)
$155 RT	Provo, UT (PVU)
$200 RT	Rockford, IL (RFD)
$161 RT	San Antonio, TX (SAT)

Be sure to check with WPLCo for availability at a vacation rental in Winter Park, CO for your dates first, then book your flights! Search Winter Park Lodging Company now to see what options await you.

Powder Addiction Backcountry Cat Skiing

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Chris

Cat Skiing in Winter Park, CO

Who out there is a skiing junky? We have the fix for you powder junky. Powder Addiction Backcountry Cat Skiing is the skiing drug you are looking for. Powder Addiction operates on Jones Pass on the East side of Berthoud Pass and runs daily snowcat skiing trips.

Powder Addiction offers guided snowcat skiing and riding for the powder addict. The terrain consist of high alpine bowls, gladed meadows, rock bands, open chutes and gullies. The high altitude combined with good Northern exposure keeps the snow cold and light. Operating in the Jones Pass area with an operating permit of 2,600 acres, there is the powder, vertical and adventure for an epic powder experience. Holding true to powder addiction trips are run seven days a week.

All Powder Addiction cat ski trips include transportation to and from the Village at Winter Park, powder demo skis, safety gear, lunch, and 2 free beers at the end of the day, compliments of Steamworks Brewery.

The above was a trip of Winter Park locals and a couple of Winter Park Lodging Company staffers playing a day of hooky. It was a little windy for the ski trip but boy was there some fantastic un-skied powder. The guides at Powder Addition know how to get un-skied fresh powder shots while offering a safe and fun trip. In the video above you can see the small avalanche that went before our ski crew hit that slope.

If you have any inclination to do any backcountry skiing you should look into a cat trip with PA. An amazing ski will be had and it is such a different skiing experience than can be a had at Winter Park/Mary Jane ski resort.

Looking for lodging and a deal on your Powder Addiction trip? Make sure to book your Winter Park ski lodging with Winter Park Lodging Company. And also book your Powder Addiction trip with WPLCo to get the best deal through our EasySki concierge service.

Check out the Powder Addiction website to get the lowdown.

The Smokehouse BBQ Winter Park, CO

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Chris

Winter Park, CO Restaurants

BBQ Winter Park Colorado

Winter Park has a new restaurant that opened this past weekend. The Smokehouse is located right on US Highway 40 (main street) in the building that housed Pizza Hut until the end of last ski season. Being true to the Smokehouse name all meat served are dry rubbed and slow smoked with natural, untreated applewood.

There are approximately 25 tables in the snazzy redone dinning room and a bar serving beer and wine. Favorites look to be pork ribs, Texas Style Brisket and the pulled pork shoulder. The Smokehouse BBQ is available for dine in , take out with catering options available.

The Smokehouse is open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner.

The Smokhouse contact info:

phone 970.722.0227

website www.wpssmokehouse.com

Winter Park Resort Snow History

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Chris

Snowfall At Winter Park/Mary Jane

We have had an odd year of snowfall here in Winter Park, Colorado this 2011/2012 ski season but things are looking on the very bright side now, as this February been one snowy month. So far this year we have had 126″ of snow and that is low for this time of year. However, what a blessing this could turn to to be.

Winter Park and Mary Jane has averaged around 340″ of snow the past 11 years (during ski season). So what does this mean? Well, I’m reading the tea leaves with the idea that WP is in for some monster late winter and spring snowfalls. My prediction is that by the scheduled closing of WInter Park Resort on April 22 there will have been one 300″ of new snow at the Mary Jane snow station. That will be over 175″ of new snow in the next 10 weeks.

So look out! I’m saying we are going to have one of the best late winter anmd spring skiing seasons ever. We did all the snow dances, put the trail maps in the freezer and we are going to get the fluffy white snow falling all season long.

Here is snow history for last year and the ten years previous:

2010/11 SEASON
MONTH	SNOWFALL (INCHES)	PERCENT OF 10 YR. AVERAGE
October	18.0	246.4%
November	57.7	97.6%
December	51.1	82.8%
January	62.0	95.9%
February	58.6	101.8%
March	81.6	126.3%
April	59.0	156.9%
TOTAL	388.0	110.0%

And here are the previous 10 years of snowfall history at WInter PArk and Mary Jane:

PREVIOUS 10 SKI SEASONS

SNOWFALL (INCHES) / PERCENT OF 10 YR. AVERAGE
SEASON	OCT.	NOV.	DEC.	JAN.	FEB.	MARCH	APRIL	TOTAL
2000/1	3.0 / 58.9	76.2 / 120.1	82.1 / 135.8	45.4 / 66.9	65.5 / 114.6	57.3 / 84.8	32.5 / 85.3	362.0 / 100.5
2001/2	4.0 / 78.5	45.6 / 71.9	59.8 / 98.9	67.7 / 99.8	35.7 / 62.5	27.2 / 40.3	6.2 / 16.3	246.2 / 68.4
2002/3	28.2 / 553.3	71.6 / 112.9	52.0 / 86.0	37.6 / 55.4	68.1 / 119.2	114.2 / 169.0	39.0 / 102.4	410.7 / 114.1
2003/4	0 / 0	72.1 / 128.9	59.6 / 102.1	30.9 / 41.6	55.3 / 90.9	40.2 / 67.6	10.6 / 27.9	268.7 / 74.6
2004/5	18.0 / 365.8	48.2 / 75.6	38.3 / 63.4	47.5 / 71.3	43.1 / 75.5	68.1 / 102.2	29.5 / 79.4	292.7 / 82.0
2005/6	11.0 / 205.4	79.5 / 125.8	87.0 / 145.8	68.0 / 103.1	50.6 / 89.4	51.6 / 77.4	17.3 / 46.9	365.0 / 103.0
2006/7	42.0 / 758.3	28.2 / 44.2	54.1 / 89.3	28.2 / 42.7	69.6 / 123.4	46.7 / 70.6	33.7 / 93.0	302.5 / 85.3
2007/8	14.0 / 209.6	15.1 / 24.1	86.8 / 143.8	75.1 / 115.8	73.1 / 128.6	70.0 / 108.3	55.1 / 152.3	389.2 / 110.2
2008/9	7.0 / 101.4	34.6 / 56.5	93.2 / 152.4	73.5 / 112.8	59.3 / 103.4	41.2 / 62.7	70.0 / 190.5	378.8 / 107.0
2009/10	21.0 / 304.2	16.0 / 26.5	49.3 / 79.4	39.4 / 60.2	64.1 / 111.7	52.2 / 80.3	33.5 / 88.8	275.5 / 77.6
AVERAGES	14.8 / 121.5	48.7 / 118.5	66.2 / 77.2	51.3 / 120.8	58.4 / 100.3	56.9 / 143.5	32.7 / 180.2	329.1 / 117.9

So there is a silver lining to the slow snowfall start here in Winter Park: we will be getting a bunch of snow in the next two and a half months. Maybe some of the best ever spring skiing here in Winter Park, Colorado.

So make sure to get your Winter Park Spring Ski Lodging early and have some grate spring skiing fun.

NASTAR Winter Park Resort 2012

Posted on February 2, 2012 by Chris

NASTAR Ski Championships Winter Park, CO

The Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships and Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships combined to create The Championships presented by Nature Valley at Winter Park Resort, March 23-April 1. The NASTAR Championships are now a full week here at Winter Park/Mary Jane.

The NASTAR race course is a dual race course where skiers and riders can race side-by-side against friends and family or against the clock. The course is set on Lower Cranmer, just above Snoasis, making the race course accessible to all skiers and riders at an intermediate level or better. Groups of any size and nearly any skill level can enjoy a fun and spirited competition catered to their needs. Ski clubs and councils, business retreats, family reunions, school ski trips, and other groups should give our NASTAR race course a try. Using a pacesetting system, participants can compare their results to other racers of all ages and abilities from across the country as well as with members of the U.S. Ski Team.

NASTAR Winter Park Schedule of Events

March 23-25 The Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships
March 26 Return of the Champions Family Challenge and U.S. Ski Team reunion
March 27 U.S. Ski Team Pro-Am Team Race
March 28-April 1 Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships

NASTAR racers must qualify for the Nature Valley NASTAR National Championships within their age category, division and discipline at any NASTAR resort. There are more than 120 resorts that offer NASTAR racing and a top five rankings as of Feb. 21st at any resort qualifies racers for the Nationals. The overall Champions, fastest male and female, will earn forerunner positions for the Nature Valley U.S. Alpine Championships GS and a trip to a U.S. Ski Team training camp.

Winter Park Lodging Company is offering 5th night free on stays of 5 nights or more or 15% off 2 to 4 night stays. So, make sure to book your NASTAR Winter Park lodging with WInter Park Lodging Company.