Where to lie low from the snow

Schussers and snowboarders can come in from the cold this season at several new places in Western ski resorts. Among them:

Marriott’s Timber Lodge and Marriott’s Grand Residence Club in South Lake Tahoe, Calif., both near the gondola that takes skiers to Heavenly Ski Resort. The Timber Lodge is a traditional time- share, and the Residence Club offers “fractional ownership,” but both of the recently opened accommodations also offer single-night lodgings.

The lodge, when completed, will have 261 units (131 will open initially), and the club, 199. Through Dec. 14, rates for by-the-night bookings begin at $79 midweek and $99 on weekends. The resorts offer a health club and heated pool.

For information, call (800) 845-5279, www.mvcirentals.com.

Heavenly Ski Resort is now owned by Vail Resorts, which plans $40 million in improvements in the next five years. The season begins Nov. 22. For information on ski conditions: (775) 586-7000, www.skiheavenly.com.

A Ritz-Carlton hotel in Bachelor Gulch, part of the Beaver Creek Mountain ski area about 20 miles from Vail, Colo.

The 237-room hotel, which takes its architectural inspiration from several western national park inns, is scheduled to open Nov. 21.

The resort has a 21,000-square-foot spa and is about 10 miles from two golf courses -- one already open and the other set to open in 2003. For animal lovers, the resort also will have a resident dog, a yellow Lab named -- surprise -- Bachelor.

Introductory room rates through Dec. 12 begin at $175. For reservations or information: (800) 576-5582, www.ritzcarlton.com.

Connected by tunnel to the hotel is the Ritz-Carlton Club, which offers fractional ownership in its 54 two- and three-bedroom residences. It is scheduled to be completed in December. Prices begin at $180,000, which entitles the owner to 21 days per year. For information: (800) 278-0121, www.ritzcarltonclub.com.

Beaver Creek Mountain is scheduled to open Nov. 23. The resort reported receiving about 23 inches of new snow as of last week and was making more. For information on ski conditions: (800) 404-3535, www.beavercreek.com.

Two condominium projects at Mammoth, set to open in February.

The 77-unit Lincoln House and the 89-unit White Mountain Lodge are part of a nearly billion-dollar upgrade by giant Intrawest Corp. designed to turn Mammoth into the next Aspen, with new retail shops, bars and restaurants at the base of a new 15-passenger gondola. The gondola’s debut has been delayed because key parts were caught in the West Coast shipping snarl, officials say. No new date has been set.

Rates at the condos will begin at $310 a night. For information: (800) 626-6684, www.intrawestmammoth.com.

Mammoth Mountain was to have opened Thursday. For information on ski conditions: (888) 766-9778, www.mammothmountain.com.