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The Ferrari Chairlift has been reopened in record time at Passo Rolle, after being sabotaged.

Ski map of Passo Rolle and San Martino di Castrozza. The Ferrari Chairlift has been reopened in record time at Passo Rolle, after being sabotaged.

The Ferrari chairlift has been reopened in record time at Passo Rolle, after being sabotaged. – from Adige News.

Almost in record time, the Ferrari chairlift reopened yesterday, after the sabotage that risked compromising the winter season.

Two weeks ago, the San Martino Rolle spa planters, the company that owns part of the Passo’s facilities as well as the ski areas of Ces and Colverde-Rosetta, were preparing to start the ski season. A bad surprise, however, had forced them to stop one of the lifts. It was the morning of December 1, when, after a routine check, the lift maintenance personnel discovered that the rope that supports the Ferrari chairlift was sabotaged.   Two of the strands, that is, the tangles of metal wires that make up the string, were cut with a battery-operated disc wheel. Given the rarity of the tool in question, it was immediately clear that this was the work an expert hand. A few days later, another ski area lift, the Paradiso chairlift had an attempt of sabotage.

The Ferrari Chairlift has been reopened in record time at Passo Rolle, after being sabotaged. Photo: Val di Fiemme. Passo Rolle. Trentino Marketing.
The Ferrari Chairlift has been reopened in record time at Passo Rolle, after being sabotaged. Photo: Val di Fiemme. Passo Rolle. Trentino Marketing.

This attack left lots of anger amongst the personnel of Passo Rolle. The workers did not get discourage but this drawback but worked together non-stop with the companies and technicians charged to quickly restore the damaged plants.

Help came also from other tourist destinations. The replacement rope came from Andalo, in Trentino. Yesterday morning the Ferrari chairlift returned to work. However, this is a temporary solution: in spring the rope will have to be replaced completely.

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2018/19 Mountain Dining News and Events at Aspen Snowmass

Photo: Aspen Snowmass. 2018/19 Mountain Dining News and Events at Aspen Snowmass

2018/19 Mountain Dining News and Events at Aspen Snowmass

Aspen Snowmass on-mountain dining establishments announce 2018/19 winter news and events calendar.

Mountain Dining News

Sustainable and Local Food

Aspen Snowmass works closely with local purveyors to ensure that food at on-mountain restaurants is fresh, local and sustainably sourced. All hot-dogs, hamburgers and chili meat are sourced from local, grass-fed beef and on-mountain chicken products, including chicken fingers, come from Boulder Natural Meats. In addition, Aspen Snowmass works with other local sources such as Crystal River Meats, Mountain Primal Meats, Erin’s Acres Farm, Wild Mountain Seeds, Louis Swiss Pastry, Rock Bottom Ranch, Shining Mountains Farm, Colorado Pastured Pork and more.

Photo: Aspen Snowmass. 2018/19 Mountain Dining News and Events at Aspen Snowmass
Photo: Aspen Snowmass. 2018/19 Mountain Dining News and Events at Aspen Snowmass

Kid’s Cooler On-Mountain Lunches

This season, Aspen Snowmass is updating the Kid’s Cooler on-mountain lunches to include healthier options. Selections now include hummus, carrots, edamame, fresh fruit, yogurt and applesauce. Kid’s Cooler lunches are available at the Cliffhouse, Bumps, Elk Camp, Merry-Go-Round and Ullrhof.

A Commitment to Composting

On-mountain dining restaurants at Aspen Snowmass are committed to composting. Composting reduces dependence on fossil fuels and improves soil health which greatly decreases the need for chemical fertilizers. It also lessens waste sent to the Pitkin County Landfill, extending the landfill’s life. Aspen Snowmass has embraced composting at on-mountain restaurants, children’s ski school locations and hotels. Bumps, the Cliffhouse, Two Creeks, Elk Camp and Sam’s Smokehouse compost both the front and back of house and Lynn Britt Cabin, Ullrhof, Up 4 Pizza and the Sundeck all compost in the back of house. Within children’s ski school facilities, both the Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center and the Hideout have implemented composting programs. The Little Nell, Limelight Hotel Aspen, and the Limelight Hotel Snowmass compost as well. By the end of the 2018/19 winter season, the vast majority of Aspen Snowmass’ waste will be composted.

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World’s Most Technologically-Advanced Chairlift Debuted at Big Sky Resort

Big Sky Montana photo. World’s Most Technologically-Advanced Chairlift Debuted at Big Sky Resort.

The world’s most technologically-advanced chairlift has debuted this past weekend at Big Sky Resort in Montana, USA.

On Saturday 15th, at approximately 10:30 a.m., Ramcharger 8, the first eight-seat chairlift in North America and the most technologically-advanced chairlift in the world, debuted at Big Sky Resort. “The upgrades unveiled today at Big Sky Resort mark a new age of lift technology in major zones of the mountain,” says Taylor Middleton, president and general manager of Big Sky Resort. Shedhorn 4, a new high-speed quad on the south face of the mountain, will also debut next week.

Big Sky Montana photo. World’s Most Technologically-Advanced Chairlift Debuted at Big Sky Resort.
Big Sky Montana photo. World’s Most Technologically-Advanced Chairlift Debuted at Big Sky Resort.

A HISTORY OF FIRSTS

“Doppelmayr and Boyne Resorts have been collaborating for over 40 years, and together have introduced many firsts to the ski industry,” says Stephen Kircher, president, Boyne Resorts. Boyne Resorts’ history of innovation in the ski industry includes introducing the world’s first triple and quad chairlifts and America’s first high-speed six-place chairlift. Ramcharger 8’s installation marks the fifth historic chairlift upgrade for Boyne Resorts. “We are incredibly proud to bring the first eight-seat chairlift to North America, setting a new standard for lift technology in the world,” says Kircher.

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Cresta Run: Women allowed to race iconic track in Switzerland

Cresta Run: Women allowed to race iconic track in Switzerland

The Cresta Run is allowing women to race this iconic track in Switzerland.

News from the BBC. 

After an 89-year ban was overturned, women will be allowed to race down the iconic Cresta Run toboggan track in Switzerland this season.

Women had been allowed to race with men on equal terms until the 1920s when it was deemed medically dangerous, due to be able to provoke breast cancer amongst other things, for the pressure of riding face down.

However at a St Moritz Tobogganing Club meeting members voted by a two-thirds majority to allow women to ride the Cresta Run again and become members.

Cresta Run: Women allowed to race iconic track in Switzerland
Cresta Run: Women allowed to race iconic track in Switzerland

“It’s a good step forward,” GB skeleton racer Jerry Rice told BBC Sport.

“They are moving forward and I agree that it’s time for the women to be able to slide like the men. I look forward to seeing women on the run.”

The St Moritz Tobogganing Club was founded by British Military officers in 1887.

Rice worked at the world’s oldest natural ice run for two seasons and reckons he has hurled himself down the 1,325-yard track up to 200 times.

“I got into Cresta through my dad, who was a member and had been for a number of years,” he said.

“I worked two full seasons and I’ve probably done between 150-200 runs.

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Vermont Lift Ticket Prices Up 6%-Read it Here.

Stratton Mountain- Vermont- Alterra Mountain Company Announces $181 Million in Capital Improvements for the 2019/2020 Winter Season.

Vermont Lift Ticket Prices are Up by 6% . The average weekend non-holiday adult ticket price is now $93.12.

Post from New England Ski Industry. Vermont remains the most expensive state in New England, as the average weekend full day adult lift ticket at a chairlift served area has climbed to $93.12. Six areas now have retail lift ticket prices greater than $100 per day.

Vermont Lift Ticket Prices. Vermont Lift Ticket Prices Up 6%.
Vermont Lift Ticket Prices. Vermont Lift Ticket Prices Up 6%.

Vail Resorts does not publish ticket window rates, so January 5th window prices referenced in the online store were used for Okemo and Stowe.

Stowe is once again the most expensive in the state, rising from $131 to $139. Killington and Stratton posted the largest increases, jumping 12% to $129 with new lifts being installed.

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Spot on Cervino Ski Paradise for the 2018-19 ski season

A skier with the Monte Cervino in its background. Spot on Cervino Ski Paradise for the 2018-19 ski season. Photo: Enrico Romanzi. Cervinia Ski Paradise.

What is new in the Cervino Ski Paradise for the 2018-19 ski season. Cervino Ski Paradise is comprised of 5 resorts, 3 districts and 2 nations (counting Cervinia, Zermatt and Valtournenche)

The ski lifts open early in Cervinia- by mid-October for the weekends and then they started on 27th October opening daily and they will remain opened until 5th May. This network of trails from both sides of the Monte Cervino -(or Matterhorn) allows you to never take your skis to admire the Cervino from both the Italian and Swiss sides, while being ‘captured’ to stop at any of the many rifugios for a quick warm up and to admire the views – people on both sides like to stop in Cervinia due to the rates being much cheaper in EUR than in CHF.

Fireworks with the Monte Cervino in the background. Photo Cervino Ski Paradise. Spot on Cervino Ski Paradise for the 2018-19 ski season.
Fireworks with the Monte Cervino in the background. Photo Cervino Ski Paradise. Spot on Cervino Ski Paradise for the 2018-19 ski season.

On top of Cervinia, Valtournenche and Zermatt, there are two other locations – Chamois, a magnificent village reached only by cable-car, and Torngon- a village that dominates the valley and is affectionately known as “pays du soleil” – or sun village. Both hamlets are more quiet, great places for families to stay and experience nature at first hand.

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Skiers over New Year prepare for a £450 wipeout at the car-hire rental desk

Skiers Over New Year Prepare for a £450 Wipeout at the Car Hire Rental Desk. Photo by Adrian - Unsplash - taken in Mont Saint Helens, USA.

Skiers over New Year prepare for a £450 wipeout at the car-hire rental desk. The findings of car hire excess insurance leading provider- iCarhireinsurance.com 

  • Sofia the cheapest place for ski car rental, and Geneva the most expensive
  • Excess insurance alone costs on average £170 across the destinations
  • Sat nav hire costs £90, extra driver costs £50, a child’s car seat costs £50 and roof rack £40

Before you’ve even made it to the slopes, prepare to be floored by up to £450 of extra costs when you pick up your hire car this New Year.

iCarhireinsurance.com, the leading provider of car hire excess insurance, researched the costs of five rental companies in six European ski gateways (i.e., Geneva, Grenoble, Innsbruck, Barcelona, Turin and Sofia) for a week’s hire from 27 December 2018 to 3 January 2019.

Photo: ICarhireinsurance.com - Skiers Over New Year Prepare for a £450 Wipeout at the Car Hire Rental Desk.
Photo: ICarhireinsurance.com – Skiers Over New Year Prepare for a £450 Wipeout at the Car Hire Rental Desk.

Extras from Europcar in Grenoble, France, were found to be the most expensive this winter. A medium compact car costs £358 for a week’s New Year hire (27 Dec to 3 Jan), and then at pick-up drivers are faced with an avalanche of extra costs totalling £454 i.e., £212 for excess car hire insurance to protect a customer against the first part of any insurance claim (i.e., £161 for super damage waiver and £51 for tyre and windscreen excess waiver), £71 for an extra driver, £55 for a child’s car seat and £116 for a sat nav.

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Aspen Snowmass Receives up to Eight Inches of New Snow Overnight

Photo: Aspen Snowmass. Aspen Snowmass Receives up to Eight Inches of New Snow Overnight.

Aspen Snowmass Receives up to Eight Inches of New Snow Overnight

Overnight Powder Pancake Day at Aspen Highlands

Aspen Snowmass Snowpack at 120% of Median

Aspen Snowmass welcomed eight inches of new snow overnight Wednesday at Aspen Highlands followed by Snowmass with seven inches, Aspen Mountain with five inches and Buttermilk with three inches.

Photo: Aspen Snowmass. Aspen Snowmass Receives up to Eight Inches of New Snow Overnight.
Photo: Aspen Snowmass. Aspen Snowmass Receives up to Eight Inches of New Snow Overnight.

Since Aspen Highlands received eight inches of new snow, it was announced as a Powder Pancakes day at the mountain. Free pancakes will be handed at Merry-Go-Round restaurant, located mid-mountain on Aspen Highlands, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. this morning. This takes place every time an Aspen Snowmass mountain receives eight inches or more of new snow overnight.

As of today, the Aspen Snowmass snowpack is at 120% of median with 3,960 acres of terrain open across all four resorts.

For the detailed snow report, visit www.aspensnowmass.com/our-mountains/snow-report.

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Mt Hood Meadows forced to evacuate skiers from chairlift due to a power problem.

Mt Hood Meadows in Oregon. Mt Hood Meadows forced to evacuate skiers from chairlift due to a power problem.

Mt Hood Meadows was forced to evacuate skiers from chairlift due to a power problem on Wednesday

As per the Oregonian, Mt Hood Meadows had to evacuate lots of skiers off a chairlift Wednesday after a power problem made the resort shut the lift.

Dave Tragethon, spokesman for Meadows said that ‘power fluctuations’ on the resort’s Blue chairlift made them switch to auxiliary power which was not enough to move the occupied lift. They then went to decide that the safest option was to evacuate the lift.

Mt Hood Meadows piste map. Mt Hood Meadows forced to evacuate skiers from chairlift due to a power problem.
Mt Hood Meadows piste map. Mt Hood Meadows forced to evacuate skiers from chairlift due to a power problem.

The lift was pretty full, with more than 150 people on board, as per what Tragethon said. It took 2 hours and 20 minutes from the closing of the lift until the last passenger was safely evacuated. No one was hurt, Tragethon said.

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Courmayeur Mont Blanc Funivie is opening two new slopes with amazing panoramic views.

Arp - Courmayeur Mont blanc Funivie - Photo: Lorenzo Belfrond. Courmayeur Mont Blanc Opening Days of Italian Ski Resorts.

Courmayeur Mont Blanc Funivie (Courmayeur’s lift company), will be opening this winter season two new slopes with priceless panoramic views.

Guests will be able to ski down the new Arp slope, which overlooks the wonderful southern side of the Mont Blanc. After the dismantling of the Arpetta ski lift, for decades, the only people able to enjoy the magnificent panorama of the 2,750 Arp ridge were free-riders, who did the off-piste routes reachable via the Arp cable car.

Courmayeur Mont Blanc Funivie is opening two new slopes with amazing panoramic views.
Courmayeur is renown for its territory for free-stylers, usually accompanied by Alpine Guides. Now, there will be two new pistes for expert skiers. Photo: Courmayeur Alpine Guides.
Courmayeur Mont Blanc Funivie is opening two new slopes with amazing panoramic views.

The new slopes consist of a section of a path that can be skied of about 700 m., which gives access to a north facing slope where a very challenging 600 m. long black piste, with a gradient of 70%m, has been created in addition to the numerous off-piste trails already in place.

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