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Skiing in Vail
Vail, a purpose built resort with a definitive European style, offers the single largest ski area in the United States. It differs from other ski resorts in Colorado in so much that it was not an old mining town, just an area of beautiful mountains in which someone saw the skiing, and indeed the business, potential. So the town of Vail was born, with its Swiss style chalets, charming pedestrian centre and with the general Alpine feel of a traditional resort set against the Rocky Mountains. Vail today is an extremely popular ski resort, with 193 trails over its’ 2100 hectacres, mainly catering for the expert skier, but encapsulating the entire skiing experience, with beautiful scenery, fantastic shopping, gourmet dining and a colourful bar scene.
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Skiing in Vail – The Mountains
The skiing in Vail is justifiably fabulous. At a height of 2475m, its’ snow coverage is reliable, almost 350” annually, and the area is so vast that it never seems that busy. The area has 3 distinct ski areas, the Front Face, the Blue Sky Basin and the Back Bowls. Beginners can come to Vail and receive expert tuition at any of the three ski schools, and can delight in taking the main lift, the Eagle Bahn Gondola, which is heated, lit and filled with music, to the nursery slopes. From here, the number of green runs is fairly limited, but the easy trails down the Front Face are long and wide and perfect for perfecting technique. For intermediates and advanced skiers, the choice become more difficult, as there is almost too much to cover in a week – the red runs of the Front Face with their steep descents and tree-lined trails, or the Blue Sky Basin, with its’ secluded north facing slopes, which, when groomed, offer an intermediates’ paradise, exploring the back country. The majority of the runs are black, over 50%, and include skiing in the famous Back Bowls, which stretch over almost 10km of challenging off-piste and advanced skier terrain. Vail boasts a number of terrain parks, with half-pipes and jumps for the snowboarder.
Skiing in Vail – The Après-ski
Skiing in Vail attracts many well-heeled visitors, who come to stay in the luxury hotels, dine in the gourmet restaurants and drink and be seen in the exclusive bars and nightclubs. That said, Vail really has something for everyone, with a wide choice of accommodation available, from the aforementioned 5 star hotels, to condos and basic B&B’s, and dining and entertainment - ranging from traditional Western bull riding in bars to exclusive lounge and piano bars. Off the slopes, visitors to Vail can ice-skate, snowmobile, ski bike, snowshoe or take a sleigh ride or a dog sled. For activities off the snow and ice, try the local spas and health clubs or take a course at the Vail Cookery Course. Children and families will love the Adventure Ridge at Eagles’ Nest, with its’ activities just for kids, such as the snowmobile track, ice rink and snowmobile track.
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