Dreaming of your on private ski resort?

How many times have you dreamed of taking some time away from the office to relax and ski the untouched stashes of powder only you know about? Maybe your dream is to reconnect with your kids, grandkids, your wife or that special someone in your life? You can already feel the rewards of open slopes and no lift lines followed by a few quiet drinks and a romantic dinner. Maybe you'll have the opportunity to meet up with some friends or business associates or make new friendships with people who share your passion for the outdoors, excellence and the personal success that you value so highly. Unfortunately however this peaceful dream has little in common with the reality of crowded skiing at many of the mega resorts of today.

First of all, there is no powder left. Thousands of skiers have already hit the slopes and skied everything out days before your weekend visit. The stress from the traffic jam on the last few miles to the resort is only exceeded by the full parking lot and the lines to check into your hotel or condo. When you finally reach the slopes and the lift lines are running 30 minutes as you fight to maintain your place in line with the many teenagers, ski school kids and snowboarders.

Your children or grandchildren you brought with you seem to find another place in the line and that is the last you see of them as some pretty rough snowboarders have hooked up with your teenagers and you'll be lucky if they get back to your condo by bedtime. The quiet drinks are interrupted by a major bar fight with a few drunk college football players fighting over some girls. You grin and think back to your college years but then notice, the girls look familiar and they turn out to be your daughters who you were hoping to build a better relationship with over the weekend. Finally the romantic dinner you have planned with that special someone, even if you have been able to arrange reservations at the perfect location, often dissolves into a shouting contest over the noise of the crowded restaurant.

If you ski often you're aware of how seldom ski week meets your expectations. Obviously weather always plays an important part in the overall experience but nothing one can do about this variable. However the rest of the potential nightmare can be effectively solved. How?

There are two to choose from. One is a very exclusive destination resort in the heart of the Montana Rocky Mountains called The Yellowstone Club. The other is The Bear Creek Mountain Club in Plymouth, Vermont is perfect for a weekend getaway from New York, Boston or Washington DC.

Both resorts will make your dream of the perfect ski week a reality. Each offer a limited number of skiers, no lift lines, trails groomed to perfection, fine dining, entertainment and service surrounded by other skiers and ski country club members who have similar values, goals and accomplishments as yourself.

The Bear Creek Mountain Club is open for skiing from Thursday through Sunday. It has a mix of 51 acres of terrain for all skier levels with 1,300 feet of vertical, 15 trails and 1 lift. They limit the number of skiers to 450 people per day. You will be surrounded by friendship, quality and service. Enjoy dinner and drinks in the spacious clubhouse and you can stay on site starting next season.

Memberships start with a deposit of $9,000 for a single and $13,500 for a couple with annual dues approximately 10% of the initial deposit. If you live in the northeastern U.S., you can make your ultimate ski dreams come true at the Bear Creek Mountain Club.

The Yellowstone Club with 42 ski runs and 2,200 acres of ski terrain is truly a western ski paradise for those who can afford it. Imagine your own personal 2,700 vertical feet, 400 inches of snow annually and eight chairlifts with usually less than 200 people on the entire ski mountain.

The views of the expansive private resort are only exceeded by the convenience of ski-in/ski-out from your private home or residence, fine dining, entertainment, spa services, and the abundance of personal attention. At the end of ski season get ready for hiking, golf, fishing and other summer pastimes as the resort moves into the summer mode of operation.

None of this comes cheap and due to its location, The Yellowstone Club is far more than a home away from home. The member deposit is $250,000 with annual dues currently $16,000 and members are required to purchase a condo in the Warren Miller Lodge or build a private home. The club is a dream of Tim Blixseth, a Montana timber entrepreneur, who envisions a low-key family-oriented environment. "We have a simple motto," he says, "check your ego at the gate and pick it up when you leave. If you can't accept that, then you shouldn't apply."

I believe following Tim's advice will go a long way toward building your perfect ski dream. If you find yourself dreaming of your own private ski resort away from the crowds then consider the benefits of buying a membership at either the Bear Creek Mountain Club or the Yellowstone Club.

Note, this article was written back in 2003 and the fees have probably changed since that time.

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