Take a Snow Day
After Friday, the holidays are officially over, which means all those family-oriented activities you've been doing since November are, too.
But you don't have to succumb to the boredom that sets in with the return to normal. Declare a family snow day. Take one day and dedicate it to a wintery getaway with the spouse, the kids, even the family dog.
"A lot of people who come up here come to get away from the whole Strip thing," says Johanna Nichols, manager of Mount Charleston Lodge. "You come up here and it's just mellow. It's kind of like going to Montana for the day, only it's 40 minutes away."
The lodge serves as a de facto information center for those who visit the mountain, Nichols says, with people also using it as a base for their excursions. Families bring their sleds to ride down the slopes or hit the hiking trails with snowshoes. Many invariably end up sitting around the roaring fireplace in the lodge and drinking hot chocolate, she adds.
January should be a great month for winter fun on the mountain, says Craig Baldwin, spokesman for the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort, since El Nino weather conditions brought snow.
"We have a lot of options for people," Baldwin says. "January is going to be fabulous."
This season, the ski resort has made it easier for people to get up the mountain by offering a daily shuttle for $20 round trip. It helps to alleviate congestion, traffic and pollution on Mount Charleston, Baldwin says. And the ski bus is a great alternative for those who aren't prepared to drive on the mountain. A host rides along to answer any questions.
Reservations are recommended, Baldwin says. Call 645-6053 or visit the Web site at skilasvegas.com. The shuttle departs from Town Square, 6605 Las Vegas Blvd. South, at 7:15 a.m. daily and from the Lodge at Tenaya, 5717 Sky Pointe Drive, at 8 a.m. daily. It brings riders back to those locations about 6 p.m.
People often come up the mountain unprepared for the drastic weather difference, Baldwin and Nichols say, so they offer tips for those who are new to Mount Charleston or have never been when snow is on the ground.
Dress appropriately. That means layers, Baldwin says, and wear shoes with good traction and support. Bring a change of clothes and an extra pair of socks in case you get wet in the snow. If you forget something, the Lodge's gift shop sells gloves and snow sleds.
Also wear sunscreen and eye protection because, even though it's winter, the sun still shines and creates a glare on the snow. Be prepared for the altitude change, too, Nichols says. It's more than 7,000 feet and the oxygen is thinner. That can make you fatigued or winded easily.
If you want to try your hand at skiing, you don't have to buy all the equipment. The Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort rents ski pants, jackets, nearly everything a person needs to wear and use for hitting the slopes. The resort offers skiing and snowboarding on a variety of paths for all levels of ability, Baldwin notes. And for those who don't know how to ski, instructors are on site, as well.
Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@ reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564.
A SNOW DAY ON MOUNT CHARLESTON
THE LAS VEGAS SKI AND SNOWBOARD RESORT
Snow kids: On weekends and holidays, kids ages 4 to 12 get lessons, lunch, free time and a lift ticket for $125.
All-mountain team: Five weekends of advanced snowboarding and skiing on various types of terrain. For ages 8 to 16 years.
Diva's clinic: Thursdays, an all-women's clinic geared toward intermediate level snowboarding and skiing.
Easy 1,2,3 program for entry-level skiers: Six hours of instruction, equipment rental, use of the slopes and ski lift for $115 total. On the first day, two hours of instruction, skiing equipment and lift ticket, $75. Once that day is completed, come back for day two at $40. Day three is free.
The Mount Charleston Lodge
If you want to make a snow day and night out of it, the Lodge rents individual log cabins. Single occupancy cabins go for $135 during the week and $165 for doubles. On the weekends, it's $200 for singles, $240 for doubles.
