$imply skiing: Deals abound for budget-conscious skiers

Snow has been falling in the mountains since October, the holidays crowds will soon be gone, and it?s time for Colorado residents to start thinking about hitting the slopes.
But skiing and snowboarding are expensive, and it?s hard to enjoy a few days of winter fun without spending a lot of money. Daily lift ticket prices now average more than $60, not to mention the $25 it costs to rent equipment and another $20 for a hamburger, fries and a soda for lunch on the mountain.
There are some common-sense ways to save money, such as packing a lunch and…