Newsweek
Nov 1 2008

Time to Ski the World

With the global economy sinking along with the temperatures, there’s a
stronger desire than ever for escape. NEWSWEEK’s Winter Travel report
finds that the greatest treasures are sometimes located where tourists
least expect them.

By Eric Pape | NEWSWEEK
Published Nov 1, 2008
>From the magazine issue dated Nov 10, 2008

Winter vacations somehow seem more urgent than summer ones, coming as
they do with the holidays to rescue us from the drudgery of work,
school, darkness and cold. They fall into two basic categories: beach
getaways or winter adventures, both of which serve to warm us up and
bring us closer to the sun. Whether they involve splashing in the surf
or schussing down a slope, investigating ancient ruins or visiting
modern museums, these breaks offer relaxation, renewal and revelation
just when we need it the most.

Of all winter holidaymakers, few go to greater lengths to experience
the rush of discovery than extreme skiers. They might battle
treacherous mountain passes to be the first to ski the 4,300-meter
Mount Phangram in northern Myanmar. Or, hearing of heavy snow atop a
Hawaiian volcano, they hitch a ride up with scientists just so they
can slide down. Or maybe they travel thousands of miles to Bolivia’s
5,395-meter Chacaltaya mountain, or Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro (5,895
meters), to ride snow that is increasingly patchy. But even as bottom
snow levels creep up mountains, plenty of remote and unexpected ski
spots remain available to skiers in search of the slope less traveled.

Morocco: Getting Up the Mountain
Oukaimeden is North Africa’s largest ski station, home to the
continent’s highest lift. It may be just 74km from temperate
Marrakech, but it is perched in the Atlas Mountains where peaks rise
to 4,166 meters. Intrepid skiers can admire the meandering rock-laden
mountain range while tackling the 20 kilometers of ski runs. Despite
plans to complete a massive overhaul of Oukaimeden village, it is
recommended that skiers bring their own food. On the plus side, if the
lifts don’t get you where you want to ski, it is possible to hire a
transport donkey. (Skiing from mid-January through mid-February.)

Lebanon: Escape the Strife
Less than two hours’ drive north of Beirut, skiers can relish some of
the Middle East’s best skiing. The Cedars Ski Resort’which is largely
bereft of trees, let alone cedars’offers off-piste skiing and
high-altitude downhill runs. This season telescopes perched on a
terrace atop one gondola will provide a spectacular view of Cyprus
from 2,870 meters up. Those tired of skiing can enjoy a taster’s trek
through the wine country in the Bekaa Valley and the Mount Lebanon
area, or visit the Maronite monasteries and churches in the Qadisha
Valley. (Skiing from December to April.)

Cyprus: Mediterranean Skiing
The Mediterranean’s third-largest island may be famous for beach
parties and decades of paralyzing political division between the north
and south, but it has been an island ski center for more than half a
century. Despite Cyprus’s location, mountain weather can dip below
minus 5 Celsius. The Troodos Ski Resort (on Mount Olympus) features
four lifts. Tourists can ski in the morning, then spend the afternoon
swimming in the blue waters of the Mediterranean. (Skiing from January
to March.)

Armenia: At the Crossroads
A warm, generous country cursed by geography, Armenia isn’t exactly
the sort of place you expect to find snowy moguls. And yet in
Tsaghkadzor ("Canyon of flowers" in Armenian), the nation’s only ski
resort, skiers can venture down the mountain while admiring beautiful
Lake Sevan. Tsaghkadzor is surrounded by some of Armenia’s most
beautiful topography, with slopes rising up to 2,820 meters. (Skiing
from December to April.)