DENVER -- We all know the price of buying a ski lift ticket at the window is getting very expensive. Now here's a way to ski four days this winter for just $10: buy the "gems card".

The gems are Colorado's 9 smallest ski areas: Arapahoe Basin, Echo Mountain, Eldora, Loveland, Monarch, Powderhorn, Ski Cooper, SolVista Basin and Sunlight. I've actually skied at 7 of these 9 resorts. While they're smaller, the skiing can be a lot of fun without the long lift lines of some of the larger resorts.

A gems card allows the holder one free ski day at Echo Mountain between Dec. 02-18, 2009 or April 01-16, 2010. A free lift ticket for SolVista Basin in January, except 01/01-01/02 or 01/16-01/18, 2010. A free weekday lift ticket for Ski Cooper in February, except 02/13-02/15, 2010. And a free ski day at Monarch Mountain in April.

The card is NOT transferable. Each person must have their own card and photo ID may be required.

The "gems" card also includes several discounts during the ski season including:

Arapahoe Basin:

Half-off one full price lift ticket (Monday - Friday), Nov. 02 - Dec. 18, 2009*. Valid Once.

$10 off adult full-day lift ticket

$5 off child/senior full-day lift ticket *Half-off not valid 11/25/09 - 11/27/09.

Echo Mountain:

$89 Three-pack adult lift tickets

$35 adult full-day lift ticket

$24 youth (6-12) lift ticket

Buy 1 adult lift ticket and get a youth ticket free; Valid Wednesdays ONLY

Eldora Mountain Resort:

$15 off adult lift ticket

$10 off child/senior lift ticket

2 for 1 adult lift ticket (Monday through Thursday).

*All offers are not valid 12/26/09 thru 01/03/10.

Loveland Ski Area:

$38 adult lift tickets

$17 child lift tickets

2-for-1 adult lift tickets (Monday through Friday)*

*2-for-1 ticket, buy one at regular price, get second one free; Not Valid 12/21/09 - 01/01/10.

Monarch Mountain:

$10 off all full-day lift tickets*

*Not valid 12/25/09-01/02/10, 01/16-01/17 2010, 02/13-02/14 2010, 03/12-03/22 2010.

Powderhorn Resort:

$10 off any lift ticket Valid 2 times

Ski Cooper:

2-for-1 adult lift ticket (Monday through Friday)*

$34 adult full-day lift ticket (Saturday & Sunday)*

$18 child full-day lift ticket (Saturday & Sunday)*

*Not valid 12/26/09 - 01/03/10; 2-for-1 buy one at regular price, get second one free

SolVista Basin:

2-for-1 adult lift ticket*

2-for-1 child lift ticket*

*All offers not valid 12/26/09-01/02/10, 01/16-01/18 2010, 02/13-02/15 2010; 2-for-1 buy one at regular price, get second one free

Sunlight Mountain Resort:

$38 adult full-day lift ticket*

Buy one adult full-day lift ticket, get one child (12 & under) lift ticket free*

*Not valid 12/21/09 - 01/03/10, 02/13-02/15 2010, 03/15-03/28 2010.

For details, exact dates/rules and to buy the card, visit the gems card Web site.

If you see a deal, let me know! E-mail me Deb Stanley (Deb_Stanley@kmgh.com).

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