MERCHANTS REJOICE OVER GOLD RUSH HOLIDAY

Thousand dollar-plus ski suits vanished off sports shop racks like spring snow under a warm chinook. Skis and snowboards, even snowshoes, sold out in many popular models. "Price was no object," said one longtime local sports retailer, who declined to be identified (hint: initials "M.C.") "One woman from Houston bought seven ski suits, one for each day of the week so she wouldn't have to ski in the same color twice in the same vacation. Another old dude from Phoenix bought every Extra Large Patagonia shirt in the store. The customers were great--it was like having ten thousand Santa Clauses come down the chimney, with sacks full of money!"

A local liquor store owner, another old-timer, said top-dollar champagnes and single-malt Scotches were walking out of his place by the caseload. "They must have been swimming in the stuff!" he exulted. "Talk about partyers-these people were ready to rumble, big-time! I had to start rationing the Brut and gourmet tequilas to two bottles a customer by 10:30 New Years Eve, and we still ran out of a few things before we were through."

Happiest of all Merchant Kings was realtor Erik Fallenius, who sold three houses to a couple from Los Angeles. "They wanted a place in Mountain Village, another in town, and one in between up at Last Dollar Development. What could I say?" Fallenius is on his way to Hong Kong, to buy a couple of items of antique jade to add to his growing collection. "Hey, I'm celebratin'!" he exclaimed. "Why not? I've got my eye on a Sung Dynasty dragon, spinach green, two inches long--it's a steal at $275,000."