For skiers and snowboarders things are going downhill faster than the economy, thanks to the snowy Northwest. Entrepreneurs Greg and Kara Whittaker of Alki Kayak Tours have capitalized on the snow and those itching to head for the hills. Their new business, Seattle Ski Shuttle, transports passengers via 11-passenger van from both the Fauntleroy Ferry and Seacrest Water Taxi docks to the Crystal Mountain, Snoqualmie Summit, and Alpental slopes.

Beginners are welcome, and you can snowboard, rent inner tubes, and snowshoe, too. But these activities do offer a slippery slope.

"I snowboarded the first half of the day on the west side, then took a spill around noon and spent the rest of the afternoon with the ski patrol," said Mica Rabchuk, of West Seattle, who still sounded upbeat about her trip to Alpental.

"It's insane," said Greg Potts, also of West Seattle, who unloaded his skis on top of the van after returning on the same trip. "It was on the verge of being epic."

"I came here for the snow, mountains, and beauty," remarked Martha Goodwyn who moved to Seattle from Chicago five years ago. Greg and Kara take great care of you. Kara worked with me on snowboard basics. It was my first time."

Said Kara, "The best thing about riding our ski shuttle is you don't have to chain your tires, don't have to drive, and you can sleep on way home."

Regular prices are $35 to Crystal Mountain and $30 to the Summit at Snoqualmie. Frequent rider discounts can be applied with the purchase of 5 or more rides. Riders along the Fauntleroy route can be picked up with enough notice. Other pickups are available in West Seattle for an additional $5._ Greg said that If interest is there, additional shuttles will be put into operations for the NW Intermountain Resorts.__More information is available at www.seattleskishuttle.com or by calling 206-953-0237.