GOING DOWN ON SNOW
Gay Ski Trips Won’t Leave You Cold
BY RICK GIA
With winter upon us, now is the perfect time to start planning and enjoying your snowy vacation. Ski towns attract a more trendy, cultured and diverse crowd. Not only are North American resort destinations well known for their awesome skiing, they are also famous for their gay-friendly communities. From the Colorado Rocky Mountains to the Canadian hills, there are many places to call your winter wonderland.
With two gay ski weeks each year -- Ascent and Winterfest -- Lake Tahoe has risen to become one of the country’s leading queer ski destinations. Tahoe is divided by the California/Nevada state line, but you’ll find more of the gay-oriented happenings on the California side. The exception is the area’s only gay bar, Tahoe Underground (formerly Faces), on the Nevada side.
If you’re looking for the celebrity-studded image of ski resorts you see in magazines, Colorado’s Aspen might be your kind of town. There’s something here for everyone, from challenging ski slopes to wine tastings and opera, from hot dog carts to haute cuisine. Gay-friendly Aspen is consistently rated one of the world’s top ski areas by ski and travel publications, and many lodges here have ski slope access literally out the back door. Aspen, and nearby Snowmass, offer slopes for just about every level of skier, but experts tend to gravitate here. Other top Colorado queer destinations include Vail, Telluride and Steamboat Springs.
For a more relaxed atmosphere, head to the opposite coast to Stowe, a popular gay destination in Vermont, which combines a classic 200-year-old village with Mt. Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak. This unique juxtaposition imbues Stowe with a character reminiscent of great European mountain resorts. Vermont has long opened its arms to gay and lesbian travelers. The liberal nature of this state far exceeds all others. As proof, Vermont is the first and only state in the U.S. to legally recognize civil unions for same sex couples. (gostowe.com, vermontgaytravel.com)
Back across the country, don’t forget about New Mexico’s Taos Ski Valley (taosskivalley.com). This liberal village, nestled on Wheeler Peak, is always ready to welcome the gay traveler, although, there are no particular gay areas. Taos is less about shopping and clubbing and more about enjoying some of its 72 skiing runs.
If you are looking for organized and planned vacations, here are some popular gay ski weeks this season.
UTAH GAY & LESBIAN SKI WEEK
Jan. 3-7, Park City, Utah: Best known for being the host to the Sundance Film Festival, Park City hosts the first gay and lesbian ski week of the new year. (gayskiing.org; 877-429-6368)
ASPEN GAY & LESBIAN SKI WEEK
Jan. 14-21, Aspen, Colorado: For more than 30 years, as the first official gay ski week, Aspen Gay Ski Week has gained the reputation of hosting the most exclusive and explosive winter entertainment. Jam to world renowned DJs, dive into indoor and outdoor pool parties, and share in debauchery that will take you into the morning hours just in time to hit the slopes. If you’ve never been to Aspen for Ski Week before, this will be the one not to miss. (gayskiweek.com)
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