Make Keystone your ski hub/ Nearby resorts and towns host half a

Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jan 5, 2003 by THE GAZETTE

With 1,600 lodging options, Keystone Resort has es tablished itself as a paradise for the destination travel er.

But you can stay there and use it as a base camp to visit other ski areas and nearby attractions over a weekend.

Check out these options: Ski Breckenridge in the morning, then head back to Keystone. A one-day lift ticket is good at both re sorts, and since Keystone lights up 235 acres for ski ing and riding at night, save it for last. The two re sorts are only about 15 minutes apart. Plan it right, and you can be on the slopes for almost 11 hours.

Ski your legs off. Copper Mountain is only about 20 miles away; Vail and Beaver Creek about 30 miles beyond that.

Try your snowshoe legs. The White River Nation al Forest, which surrounds Breckenridge, contains miles of snowshoe trails.

Favorites include the Peaks, just up the road from the resort's Peak 8 parking area (watch for the park ing lot and sign on your left), and Boreas Pass (head south on Colorado Highway 9; turn left on Boreas Pass Road and drive to the large parking area).

Both trails are also great for cross-country skiing. Take a stroll around Dillon Reservoir. This is a bike path in the summer and much of the winter when it isn't covered with snow, but it makes a great walking path as well. Park in Frisco behind the ele mentary school (watch for signs).

Plan around a festival.

Jan. 18-19: 16 th annual Copper Mountain Snow board Series, featuring giant slalom, slalom on half pipe, slopestyle and boarder cross; (866) 841-2519.

Jan. 25: 27 th anniversary Colorado Governor's Cup; Nordic and snowshoe races at the Frisco Nordic Center; (970) 668-0866 or www.active.com. Jan. 2-Feb 2: Take Your Daughter to the Slopes Week: Parents and daughters will receive special dis counts on lift tickets and lessons at Breckenridge, Copper Mountain and Vail; www.snowlink.com. Jan. 28-Feb. 1: 13 th annual International Snow Sculpture Championships in Breckenridge. Teams from all over the world compete in this premier snow art competition. Championships Feb. 2; (970)453-2913. Feb 3-9: Ullr Fest, a weeklong celebration in Breck enridge dedicated to the mythical Norse god of win ter. Includes an ice skating party, a bar series, kids' games.

Feb. 8-9: 33 rd annual Frisco Gold Rush, oldest citi zens' cross- country ski race, at the Frisco Nordic Cen ter. Also snowshoe races and kids events and ice sculpting event. (970) 668-5276, Ext. 3076, or www. townoffrisco.com.