The "Mammoth" in Mammoth Mountain, California actually comes from the 19th century gold rush, when a group of prospectors among the clamoring hordes founded the Mammoth Mining Company. But with winter -- and a yearly average of 400 inches of snow -- rapidly approaching, the kind of mammoth you should be concerned with right now is the resort, its luxury, its skiing, and the fun you can have with all of those.

The Westin Monache Resort in Northern California is Mammoth Mountain's only 4-star resort, and it intriguingly lists "excellent soundproofing" as one of its signature features. When you're finished testing your bedside klaxons, you'll find it is also just steps from the mountain's 15-passenger express gondola that will begin the trip to 3,500 skiable acres and 3,100 vertical feet of skiing at a maximum altitude of 11,053 feet.

At the conclusion of exploring any of the 150 named trails you can head back to your suite -- the resort has 230 of them in studio, 1- and 2-bedroom varieties, each one benefiting from a kitchen and a fireplace, and that Heavenly Bath (you'd never guess how good a second shower head can make you feel; it's almost like being tenderly scrubbed to by mermaids... or so we've imagined). Regardless of whether you brought your own skis or snowboard or used the on-site shop's pro fitments, the ski valet will be happy to relieve you of your equipment and prepare it for the next day's adventures, 24 hours a day.

Book a package before November 5 and you could save 25% on your winter getaway. Direct air service on Horizon Air begins December 17 from some West Coast and Nevada cities, and the Village Ski Back Trail should open around that time as well, so you can glide straight from the mountain into the base Village. The only thing you'll need to worry about then is getting back in time for the Korobuta pork chop in a cognac demi-glaze at Whitebark and saving room for s'mores...

For those priced out of Aspen or Vail, Winter Park, Colorado may offer a quieter and more economical alternative. Winter Park boasts the closest ski area to Denver and offers year-round recreation including mountain biking and fishing, kayaking or boating on nearby lakes.

Intrawest is developing three projects in the area: Fraser Crossing, Founders Pointe and The Village Lofts. Fraser Crossing and Founders Point are value-priced properties with prices ranging from $244,900 to $649,900 for the fully furnished, studio , one or two-bedroom residences.

The Village Lofts, which are expected to be ready for occupancy in May, provide a more exclusive experience at the base of the mountain. The Lofts are 14 townhome-style condominiums, located above the Village at Winter Park complex of restaurants and retail shops. The three- and four-bedroom luxury residences are available in one- or two-story floor plans with combined kitchen, dining and living areas. Amenities include stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, Toto, Jado and Kohler bath fixtures, jetted tub, balconies with village and mountain views, single car private garages and gas fireplaces. Prices range from $945,000 to $1,349,000.

Just a year ago I was writing about booming sales at the Tamarack Resort in Donnelly, Idaho. Now a Wall Street Journal article reports that the luxury ski resort is in big trouble now that financing for the project has dried up.

Tamarack was welcomed with acclaim when it was announced in 2003 and so far buyers have committed more than $500 million for condos, houses and building sites bringing a big rush of Aspen-style prosperity to the area. Tennis stars Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf were attached to building a luxury hotel complex, the Fairmont Tamarack Local stores and restaurants flourished, jobs abounded and rents rose. But last winter the building slowed. The ski town's lifts still ran but tourism fell and unemployment rose.

Things started to go south around a year ago when the investor who had already put up money for the Fairmont Tamarack decided not to put up any more money for the project. This led the developers to slow construction. Combine this with the nationwide real estate droop and you have a recipe for a boom town gone bust. Tamarack went into default on its loan payments to the Credit Suisse bank and business entities involved in the project have filed for bankruptcy. Credit Suisse then followed with a foreclosure suit and is now looking to take over Tamarack's majority-ownership stake. The town, which was once a timber town and was hoping for an economic resurgence is now grappling with seeing tourism cut in half and the eyesore of an unfinished base village for the ski resort. The resort still expects to run lifts over the winter but the dream of a new prosperous winter resort town in Idaho is dead for the moment.

Tanavista is the latest development in the increasingly luxe Mammoth ski resort town in California. Tanavista is a quarter ownership resort development for second homeowners. There will be 45 residences located on the Sierra Star golf course and within walking distance to The Village at Mammoth which offers shopping and restaurant options. The properties include one to three-bedroom residences ranging from 775 square feet to over 2,000 feet. The homes feature large expanses of glass with wood elements to give the development an Alpine village feel. Shared amenities include an owner's lounge, games room, fitness room, den and an outdoor hot tub. Quarter ownership entitled you to one quarter of the home's time each year (13 weeks per year plus special arrangements for the Christmas holiday season ever four years). The quarter share can be rented out or sold by the owner. The homes are professionally managed and maintained with all expenses shared by the owners. Prices start at just under $200,000 per share and the homes should be ready in 2009.

Mosaic at Blue, the planned co-tel at the Village at Blue Mountain, a resort 90 minutes from Toronto will be the site of the first branded spa from Intrawest, the developer of destination resorts. The spa will cater to skiers who will be able to take off their ski togs, put on their robes and head to the spa to have those sore muscles immediately attended to. The 5,000 square-foot spa will have its own heated swimming pool, a lap pool, all-season hot tub and a fitness center. The first phase of Mosaic at Blue goes on sale next month. The units start at around $200,000 and owners can put their units into rental programs or exchange time at other Intrawest resorts. There are 20 different floor plans from basic studios to three bedrooms and the suites will have gas fireplaces, balconies or terraces, and will be fully furnished down to the linens and cutlery. They are expected to be ready for occupancy in June 2007.

[via The Globe and Mail]

The latest Hard Rock co-tel has been announced. The new project will be created in partnership with Intrawest Corporation at the Copper Mountain Resort in Summit County, Colorado. The project will be the first joint venture in the partnership which was announced last summer to create Hard Rock hotels at Intrawest properties. The hotel will have around 320 residences, a spa, exterior hot tubs, a restaurant, apres ski bar and a heated multi-level swimming pool with an outdoor bar. Instead of a ski butler, there will be "ski roadies" to help guests with their gear. Construction on the Hard Rock Hotel Copper Mountain may begin next year.

CNN uncovers another luxury ski option in Vail. The Game Creek Chalet is 10,500 up in the mountain and can only be reached by Sno-Cat. The chalet sleeps eight and comes with a personal valet who serves champagne. Dinner can be prepared by a private chef or eaten at the Game Creek Club. The chalet is ski-in, ski-out and rents for $2800 per night with a two-night minimum. The chalet includes a hot tub to soak away your pains and there is a private ski instructor available. The price also includes lift tickets, which is a good thing given the fact that Vail offers the most expensive skiing in the country.