One for the Record Books: Ski Season Extended!

With two feet of new snow since closing day, and more than three feet over the past three days, Vail will reopen for skiing and snowboarding Friday, April 19 through Sunday, April 21.

With two feet of new snow since closing day, and more than three feet over the past three days, Vail will reopen for skiing and snowboarding Friday, April 19 through Sunday, April 21.

Today, two days after the ski season ended, Vail Resorts made an announcement that set social media abuzz–they are extending the ski season and reopening the mountain for one additional weekend! What a fantastic way to close out the 50th anniversary. With two feet of new snow since closing day, and more than three feet over the past three days, Vail will reopen for skiing and snowboarding Friday, April 19 through Sunday, April 21. Here are the details…


As of today, Vail plans to provide skiers and snowboarders access to more than 2,400 acres of terrain and the following lifts this weekend:

 

  • Gondola One
  • Avanti Express Lift (#2)
  • Wildwood Express Lift (# 3);
  • Mountaintop Express Lift (# 4);
  • High Noon Express Lift (#5);
  • Born Free Express Lift (#8)
  • Northwoods Express Lift (#11)
  • Eagle Bahn Gondola

Lifts will open at 9 a.m. There will be no beginner terrain available.

Skiing and snowboarding at Vail this weekend will be free for 2012-2013 season pass holders. Lift tickets will be available for purchase at the Lionshead Children’s Ski School office and at the ticket office in Mountain Plaza for $50. A special $25 ticket will be available for guests who hold season passes from non-Vail Resorts owned and operated resorts. Guests will have the opportunity to apply their weekend ticket purchase towards the purchase of a Vail Resorts 2013-2014 season pass.

Vail Ski & Snowboard School
The Vail Ski & Snowboard School will be open for private lessons only based out of Lionshead and Vail Village.

On-Mountain Dining
Dining will be available at Mid-Vail, Marketplace at Eagle’s Nest and Buffalo’s.

UPDATE: In honor of this 50th anniversary ski season extension the Antlers is offering an extended winter special of $139 per night for Studio, 1 Bedroom  or 1 Bedroom Bunk Condo (Valid 4/19 – 4/22).

Vail grooming, Vail ski conditions March 1, reported by Antlers at Vail hotel

Here are the Vail ski conditions and Vail snow report for March 1st as reported by the Antles at Vail hotel:  Light snow, staying cold, 1-2 inches of new snow.  A few icy patches here and there but the snow is still soft, even in Vail’s Back Bowls.  Sunny skies and warm weather is predicted for this coming Tuesday and Wednesday before we get more snow again.  It is now March so get ready to bust out the sunscreen every other day between the snow.  Picture below is from the top of Chair 2 looking towards Gore Range and Chair #4.  Around 10 Vail groomers came by real quick.  Chris R.

Everyone out of the way !


Vail grooming operations in progress, one expensive cat

Vail ski conditions from the Antlers at Vail condos, February 19

Here is the Vail ski condition report from the Antlers at Vail condos for February 19th.  The skiing is GREAT!  Although we had been short on snow for the early ski season, the last two weeks have been really good.  Another 5 inches of snow reported today.  As I was heading up the Born Free Express lift I was having my doubts on the 5 inches, as it only looked like 3 inches down here in Lionshead.  Well, there was plenty up high.  Most of my runs were done in Game Creek Bowl ( see the Vail ski area map ).  It started snowing pretty good again around 3pm this Friday afternoon.  Chris R.

Some powder in Game Creek Bowl

More storm clouds rolling in from the West

A look back at some powder turns

Vail snow report and vail ski conditions Feb 16

Another 5 inches of snow today.  It is soooooo soft out there.  Still snowing lightly although they are calling for clearing skies by this afternoon.  Another storm predicted Wednesday night.  Now, you have all probably heard that parts of Colorado are a bit below average for snow this season.  And yes, this includes Vail at the moment.  If you are driving up from Denver, it can be very scary.  We made the trip from Denver early this morning (but still got on the lifts by 11:45).  There isn’t much snow along the road until you get to the top of Vail Pass.  Even near Copper mountain there wasn’t much there.  Thankfully the Vail Valley has been blessed as we seem to be getting the majority of the snow out of these recent systems.   So far this season Vail has had 172 inches.  Keystone 92 inches. Go figure.

Pictures from today (Tuesday) around 1pm

Game Creek Bowl

Chair 2 Vail

Sort of boring pictures but I was skiing by myself

Chair 3 Vail

Vail ski and snow conditions February 14

9 inches of new snow today and 14 inches in the last two days.  It is still snowing outside as of Sunday mid-day.  Things are soft up there (at least that is what the guests are saying).  Some of us hope to get up late this afternoon to make some runs, take some pictures and get you an updated report.

Vail snow and ski conditions February 8

Some of us locals can get pretty lazy mid-season and we can go a week without skiing.  Yeah, I know………  But it was good to get out there again.  Still no super huge dumps, but every three days or so we get another 3 inches or something.  Just enough to keep things soft and keep the skiing good.  The sun came out today and we had a trace of new snow.  Multiple runs in China Bowl.  If you stuck to the west facing slopes in China, the powder was still pretty soft.  Some misc. pictures using the camera phone below.  They groomed Headwall and Emperor’s choice in the back, which is where we spent most of the day.   I went skiing with Marilyn Levey from New York.  She took one of those Her Turn workshops through Vail this past weekend and raved about how great it was.  Check it out the link for more information.   Until next time…  Chris R.

Chair 17

Riding up Chair 17 after doing headwall

Buffalos

Buffalo’s, the best place to meet up with people and adjust your ski boots

 

I thought I had more pictures, sorry………

Midweek Visit to Vail Mountain

Since I had been feeling better  I took to the slopes February 2nd Tuesday morning. Wow, was I reminded of how great it is to be on Vail Mountain when there are no crowds! The Gondola, Game Creek, Chair 5, Chair 11 and Chair 4; no lines! It was heaven for those who have only hours before they have to work. My runs were in the glistening sun and as though I was all alone; it was one of my favorite days on the mountain. I hope your upcoming days here in Vail mirror my Tuesday morning and if you haven’t booked your accommodations here at the Antlers at Vail, well we’re here waiting 🙂

Going up Game Creek Express

Going up Game Creek Express

Taking in the sights on Lion's Way

Taking in the sights on Lion's Way

Happy, happy, happy

Happy, happy, happy

~ Aisha

Vail ski conditions February 1

Vail ski conditions February 1st:  Vail ski area reported 3 inches of new snow today.  It was sort of a surprise as down here at the base there was just a dusting of snow.  When this happens we figure there is only 3 inches up at the very top.  Well….  even at the base of the Avanti lift there was 3 inches and at the top there was 4-5 inches in places.  It was a very dry snow so it won’t last very long, but for at least the next two days things have softened up for us.  This was our chance today to get into the Back Bowls again and to get over to Blue Sky Basin.

Vail skiing conditions

Walter from Florida, Herbert and Krizsta Kafka from Vienna and Sarah from Italy, skiing Northwoods 

China Bowl

Skiing down West Poppy Fields heading for Blue Sky Basin

Vail powder

It was actually a bit cold out there today.  But warm weather is coming this Tuesday – Thursday

Vail ski conditions January 22 and 23 and 24 and the 25th

Update: January 25, 10 more inches of snow reported at 6am.  They say we’ve received 30 inches of snow over the last 7 days.  Check out the Vail Cam for a look.

Update:  January 24, 9 more inches of snow reported at 6am.  It has been snowing hard all morning.  Finally some serious powder !

Update:  January 23, 4 more inches of snow reported, snowing pretty good outside.

January 22, Vail ski conditions are certainly getting freshened up this week .  We had 5 inches a few days ago and then a few inches each of the last couple of days.  We are still looking and hoping for that big dump this weekend and we’ll certainly keep you up to speed.   Here are some pictures from Wednesday when they reported 5 inches.  It was 5 inches up on the upper 1/2 of the mountain but more like 2-3 inches from Chair 2 on down.  Here we are on Northwoods.  It was lightly snowing Friday mid-day when this was posted.

Chris R.

Antlers vail snow

Chair 2

Top of Chair 2 on Wednesday.  The Groomers were GOOD