South Lake Tahoe - Under blue skies at Heavenly ski resort in the Sierra Nevada mountains, Steve Rowelo tromped through the slushy snow sporting a blond, curly wig, black fish-net stockings and a red and black can-can dress.

Behind him, rainbow flags - long a symbol of the gay community - fluttered in a crisp breeze as 150 skiers, some in costume like Rowelo, milled about at an after-ski party drinking beer and munching on sandwiches.

Rowelo, 43, was one of an estimated 1 000 people taking part in a recent gay and lesbian ski week, just one small part of the worldwide $55-billion gay travel market.

Gay travel industry on the rise, continued