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The next Ice Age may be coming A few years ago, after Whistler had thumped Vail in the magazine ratings for another year, representatives from Vail came to town to look around.

The next Ice Age may be coming A few years ago, after Whistler had thumped Vail in the magazine ratings for another year, representatives from Vail came to town to look around. Part of their tour was an overview of the area from a helicopter, including flying alongside the Cheakamus Glacier and tours of the glaciers on top of Blackcomb and Whistler. When the tour was over one of the Vail people commented, "Well, I guess we need a glacier." In the midst of the recent merger of Vail Resorts and Ralcorp Holdings it has come to light that they are trying to create a glacier for skiing in Colorado. Arapahoe Basin one of the three ski resorts owned by Ralcorp, has been working to create a "glacier" for several months now. The goal is year-round skiing, something no Colorado resort currently offers. The "glacier" is being created high on the mountain through a combination of snowmaking and chemicals, such as salt. The idea is to create an ice field that will survive year-round and become a training centre for various ski and snowboard teams. No word yet on whether Vail is planning a glacier.