Yesterday's snowfall in Portland reminded me that it's time for serious planning for a ski vacation this winter and Charlie Leocha's superlative annual guidebook is a principal resource I'll consult.

Charlie Leocha's annual book, Ski Snowboard America, is the bible of resorts across North America.
SCOTT ANDREWS PHOTO

The essential guidebook for planning a ski (or snowboard) vacation. Period.

Big Sky in Montana offers special deals to Maine Pass holders, and thus makes an especially attractive travel option. Let's look at some of the Big Sky info contained in this big guidebook. (Quotes in italic typeface.)

Big Sky in Montana offers specials for Maine Pass holders, and it rates seven pages in Charlie Leocha's Ski Snowboard America guidebook.
PHOTO COURTESY BIG SKY

Big Sky, with its impressive Matterhorn-shaped peak scraping the heavens at 11,166 feet, is a serious skier’s mountain from the summit, yet it has excellent cruisers closer to the base. Indeed, the intermediate groomers are such a delight that experts who wear themselves out on the tougher terrain still have plenty to grin about as they swoop down the lower trails with friends and family.

But Ski Snowboard America also addresses the needs of beginners:

Though not physically isolated from the rest of the terrain, the learning area, at Lone Mountain’s base, is away from high traffic until the end of the day. A moving carpet transports you up the slope to learn your first turns. For the youngest ones, a smaller moving carpet is in a fenced-off area in the base area used children’s ski school.

Amenities are extensively covered as well. About half of each resort's total space is devoted to matters of accommodations, dining, nightlife and overall gestalt. The Carabiner in the Summit Hotel rates high marks.

Ski Snowboard America gives good marks to the Carabiner in the Summit Hotel.
PHOTO COURTESY BIG SKY

The list price for this 544-page paperback volume is $24.95. Although Ski Snowboard America is sold in bookstores, Charlie also recommends Amazon.com, which offers a substantial discount.

Much the same info on all the resorts covered can also be obtained online at Charlie's companion website, www.skisnowboard.com.

Also note: Although Charlie is the top dog at Ski Snowboard America, most of the material on specific resorts is gathered, verified and reported by professional journalists who have been hired for this purpose.

In order to assure editorial independence, there are no ads in the book.

Also note: There are no photos. The pix on this blog page came directly by Big Sky.

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