Last season, serious skiers headed West rather than ski in areas where snow levels were on the average 50 percent lower than in 1993-94.

Any skiers who finished outside the top 15 then ski in order based on their times from the first run.

Cross-country skiers often ski in during the winter.

Cross-country skiers can ski to the South Pole in a two- to three-week trip, camping along the way.

If a skier does not ski between the gates, they do not finish.

The association, which operates the hut, strongly recommends that only skiers of at least intermediate level in good physical shape attempt to ski to the hut.

On the high mountains the skiers skied weekdays and week-ends alike.

For the first time, skiers aged 70 and over and children under 6 can ski free.

This allows skiers to ski for part of a day or take only a few rides, and the tickets are good for the entire season.

In addition, those skiers who have used the ticket 10 times during the season can ski midweek for $15 a day.