European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 21, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Two Cross country skiers make their Way past Lac noir in France s Vosges mountains. Alsace serves up diverse skiing by Leah Larkin features editor Alsace is a part of France known to Many for its excellent wines Fine restaurants and pretty scenery. It s not the kind of place that brings to mind mountains Snow and skiing. Yet the Vosges mountains in this northeastern Corner of France just across the Rhine from Germany s Black Forest Are a Winter sports Paradise. Peaks As High As 1,300 meters about 4,000 feet. Downhill ski resorts with a variety of slopes and lifts. Cross country ski centers with elaborate networks of prepared tracks. The downhill skiing can t compare with that in the Alps but it s enough to keep an advanced skier Happy for a weekend and beginners and intermediates entertained for an entire week. All Levels can easily be satisfied with the Cross country tracks that wind around lakes up mountains into the forests and Down into valleys and Fields. And no one can complain about the prices real bargains Are to be found. The Only problems might be Snow and crowds. Sometimes there is just not enough White covering the terrain so it s Best to Check on Snow conditions before packing your skis and setting off to these French mountains. When the Snow is plentiful so Are the people on weekends that is. Because of their proximity to Strasbourg and Colmar Vosges resorts Are popular with Day and weekend skiers. Even if weather and Snow conditions Are less than perfect or the lift lines too Long there is always the food reason enough to plan a Winter Holiday in this Region of France. Eating in Alsace is Superb and not necessarily expensive. There Are six course gourmet dinners at fancy restaurants for less than $20 per person and three course dinners in simpler surroundings for about a. Alsatian Chou route sauerkraut with several different kinds of sausage and Ham is a delicious specially and a Hearty acres ski meal for hungry appetites. Reasonable and tasty meals arc available at the Fermi jul barges farm inns often found near the slopes. The farm inn in Stein Lubach near Markstein is the place to try another local treat Riga Bragelli a potato Ham mixture sure to Supply Nancy Karlsruhe Germany be Bonhomme Ger Ardmer co Marla Bresse be Markstein Zurich Switzerland skiers with the same stamina it gives Farmers. For dessert a la Alsace try fresh Munster cheese and or a fruit tarte. All types of accommodations Are available. Lodging in the hotel de la Poste old woodsy and full of atmosphere in the town of be Bonhomme with two meals per Day ranges in Price from 115 to 155 francs per person about $14-$20. A room in a forme Auberge or pension with three meals per Day is available in Many of the ski areas for As Little As $15 per person. For those who desire something More luxurious there Are modern Holls with Sauna and swimming pools such As the l hotel Des Vallies in la Bresse where accommodations in a double room with Bath and three meals a Day Range in Price from about $30 to $35 per person per Day depending on season. Package week offers that include hotel ski pass and some meals Are available in most areas. Rental equipment both Cross country and downhill is easy to obtain. Another advantage to skiing the Vosges if you live in Central Germany it won t take forever to get there. These resorts Are no More than a three to four hour drive from Frankfurt about half that from Kaiserslautern. Following is a run Down on Sony. Of the major Winter sports areas in the Vosges mountains be Bonhomme a Cross country and downhill ski area about a 10-minute drive up the Mountain from the town by the same name. There Are 10 Poma lifts that take skiers to the top of the slopes. Most of the runs Are in the Blue to red category beginner to intermediate although there is a Steep Black run advanced and a one Kilometre Long cruising run. Be Bonhom Rne has Snow making continued on Page 8 stripes magic the non Bur 21, its