Physicians' Travel and Meeting Guide - November/December 2007 - (Page 5) Ski Resorts Scenic Seattle Ridge is in Sun Valley, Idaho. a $900 a shot 50-year-old Macallan. “Nobody has ordered it yet,” confessed the bartender. Insider Tip: Want time off from the slopes? With the Lift Ticket Exchange Program, visitors can redeem multi-day lift passes for other activities such as ice skating, cross-country skiing, meals, or a massage. Contact: (800)786-8259; www.sunvalley. com Ski Tour skiercross competition—a boisterous race that rejuvenates Sun Valley’s soigné image. Simultaneously, Sun Valley honors its history as America’s oldest winter resort. Visitors feel like they’ve stepped back in time as they walk through Sun Valley Lodge, which is hung with photos of Lucille Ball and Bing Crosby, or skate on the ice rink where Sonja Henie filmed Sun Valley Serenade in 1941. Nearby the town of Ketchum retains nineteenth-century buildings from its days as a silver-mining center. The hottest gathering place in town is what everyone calls “the martini bar,” but is officially named Cavallino (380 North Leadville Avenue; 208-7267665). Guests can enjoy signature drinks such as blood-orange cosmo or one of the 40 single malt scotches—including foot crest of Peak 8. From here they can plunk into 550 acres of above-timberline chutes and bowls once earned only after a 45-minute trudge. “Umbaga.” “Umbaga-eh.” It’s a Breckenese greeting that translates as “Do you love to ski?” and “Yes, I love to ski!” With the new gondola and chair, enthusiasts have even more to admire about this mountain montage spread across four peaks. Snowfall averages 300 inches annually, and Breckenridge’s base elevation—9,600 feet—stands higher than summits at Squaw Valley or Sun Valley. Breckenridge is one of four Colorado ski areas owned by Vail Resorts (the others being Keystone, Beaver Creek and the eponymous Vail). A quiet Breckenridge street. Breckenridge, Colorado Why Now: From town to the top of the Ten Mile Range, the $20-million BreckConnect Gondola, which debuted in 2006, links the nineteenth-century silver-rush settlement of Breckenridge with its namesake mountain in just a tenminute ride. The highest lift in North America, the Imperial Express (opened 2005) lofts snow riders to the 12,840 • November/December 2007 • PhysiciaNs’ Travel & meeTiNg guiDe sun VallEy REsoRt jEFF sCRoggins/Vail REsoRts The ski area has two facets. “Downstairs”—the mid and lower mountain— offers novice and intermediate cruisers. Meanwhile the “upstairs” pinnacles hurtle into double-black-diamond runs with names such as Vertigo and Psychopath, bringing unbounded thrills of cliffs and cornices within the bounds of trail maps. More improvements are coming, with new base villages planned for Peak 7 and Peak 8. Making it easier and safer to learn to ride jumps, rails and boxes, a new terrain park progression system on Peak 8 dedicates separate pods to beginner, intermediate and expert features. http://www.sunvalley.com http://www.sunvalley.com
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