Southwestern Americans prepare for ski holidays

Americans living in the southwestern states—particularly in

Texas—are making preparations to travel to the ski slopes during the holiday season. The majority of Texans look to some of the nearest ‘neighbours,’ such as Colorado, Utah and

New Mexico, when in search of skiing opportunities and winter sports resorts in general. In preparation for this migration of Texans, the Houston Chronicle is trying to help holidaymakers prepare for their vacation by offering them some key tips and suggestions when planning a trip. Perhaps most importantly, the Chronicle is reminding vacationers that the quality and quantity of snow is not equal at all major ski resorts in the

United States. For example, mountains in the state of

Utah tend to receive more snow (approximately 350 inches each year) than those slopes located further to the East. As such, those looking for the snowiest mountains should head westward. Additionally, the Houston-based paper is also encouraging its readers to consider a longer trip, up north to Canada, where there is an abundance of quality ski resorts and plenty of snow throughout the country, but especially in Alberta and

British Columbia.

Those planning a ski holiday should be certain to verify the quality of the slopes and the precise amount of snow fall by visiting www.skireport.com . This website provides updated information on resorts and regions throughout the country and can help avoid the disappointment of travelling to a resort only to find that the quality and quantity of the snow is not conducive to skiing. It is especially advisable to check this site if one plans on going on a trip in December, as it is still fairly early in the season and some resorts have yet to open. Additionally, those that have are sometimes only partially operational, with some ski lifts not yet functional.