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 ski report from the Antlers at Vail hotel

Here is your vail ski report from the Antlers at Vail hotel for February 17th.  Another 2 inches of snow with light snow throughout today.  Here I am with Carol MacGillis from Madison Wisconsin.  What is it about those Wisconsin skiers ?  They are all so good !  The picture below is on the ridge over at Blue Sky Basin at Vail.  70% chance of snow for tonight and tomorrow with 2-4 more inches predicted.  Even though it is President’s week in Vail, it isn’t too busy today.  Chris R.

Blue Sky Vail

Greg’s Delayed Ski Report

It’s Sunday, February 14th, Valentines Day.

Myself, Randi, Rob, Danny, and Lisa along with 4 friends from Ohio, 4 friends from Denver, Rob’s brother-in-law and nephew, and a couple thousand strangers went out to see what all the buzz was about on Vail Mountain.

Snow, and lots of it. The superlatives can not adequately describe how much fun this place can be after 3 days of dumping. Suffice to say, one of the best ski days of the year.

A few quotes from the gang:

Randi, with a huge smile and a gleam in her eyes said “The Forever run was the best of the season. I could have made it top to bottom, but I stopped to wait for all the other old people”.

Tim (Ohio buddy) said “I’m a lousy skier and Blue Ox was easy. I’m re-naming it Little Calf”.

Dave (Denver buddy) said “If it wasn’t for Vail, I’d be at home shopping for an inappropriate Valentines card. I love this place”.

As we stared down knee deep powder, Lisa said to me (for the 4the time) “Just let it go”. (This time I was determined to fall on purpose and make her wait).

Rob remarked “Has anyone seen my brother-in-law”?

The 2 o’clock picnic beside chair 5 was the ideal ending to a glorious day. The back-packs came out from under the trees and were undressed on the table. The typical ingredients were laid out for a mountain top picnic. Something to eat; hot dogs, chips, grapes, cheese. Something to drink; wine, sambuca, champagne, beer, brandy, and melted snow for hydration. Then Rob opened his pack and started grilling a couple of racks of lamb, garnished with goat cheese (I could make this stuff up but I’m not).

One more Forever run before the Bowls close and then in for the day. What a Happy Valentines Day. I hope everyone’s night was just as exhilarating. Personally, I called everyone I knew and left messages begging for a return call. I didn’t want to fall asleep on the couch at 7:15. I made it to 7:45.

That’s your Hallmark Holiday Ski Report.

Greg Z

Vail snow and ski report December 24

In the last two days we’ve received 6 inches of snow.  3 new inches new each day.  But Beaver Creek was the winner with 7 inches reported just this morning.  The new snow softened everything up and really improved conditions.  But it is really cold out there right now.  The High temps are in the single digits up on the mountain.  They are predicting a bit of snow on Christmas day and evening.  We saw them running Chair 5 in the Back Bowls.  Does this mean the plan on opening some runs back there?  The Antlers still has a couple of Vail condos for this weekend.  Perhaps a 1 Bedroom and a 2 Bedroom.  That’s it.  Give us a call.  Chris R.

Vail skiing

Skiing near Game Creek Bowl in a warm puffy jacket

vail weather

Zero degrees at the base of Chair 4 at 3:30pm

Vail ski report December 14th

Vail ski report for December 14th: Eight more inches of snow today.   I skied today with Marilyn Levey out from New York.  The snow was fantastic but I only got a few runs in.  Plenty of powder over in Northwoods, but things were sure tracked up in a hurry.  The Kellogg school of management (out of Chicago) is in town and I think Vail opened the mountain early for their group.  It is expected to be sunny mid-week and then some more snow coming up on Friday again.  This recent snow allows us to open quite a bit of the front side of the mountain now.  But we still need a bit more to open up the back side.  Chris R.

Vail Ski Report December 14th

Skiing Today

Vail ski conditions

December 9 We received a little new snow today. 3 inches. We were hoping for more but we will take it. The new snow softened things up quite a bit. I went up again with Tom from maintenance and met up with our friends Weber (31 year local) and Todd from Conifer CO. We enjoyed the sun shine but it was a bit cold outside. We saw them running the Tea Cup lift and China Bowl lift. They aren’t open yet, but they must be preparing for this weekend. More snow predicted at the end of the week! Chris R.

picture from Dec 9th

December 8 Yesterday was a wonderful Spring type of ski day with sun and warm temperatures. This means that the snow was soft and everything was “right” in the world. It also means that when I and Aaron (Antlers maintenance) went up at 9am this morning, we encountered hard and crusty snow. We stuck to the groomers and made it all the way to Northwoods. You had to stay on the groomed stuff for decent skiing. Unfortunately, the groomers took a little too much liberty with their blades on a couple of runs and pulled up some rocks. Yikes! We saw a couple of guys heading to Chair 5 in Vail’s Back Bowls, but I think they were headed for trouble until it softens up back there. The good news is that snow is coming this afternoon and they are calling for 4-8 more inches through Tuesday. We hope to have some powder pictures for you in the coming days. Vail has the most terrain open in the state of Colorado. Chris R.December 5 They opened Game Creek bowl today, but I skipped it. No one was in North woods. The 6 inches of snow we received the day before is filling in all the holes. Good cruising everywhere but a little cold on the face. They are calling for sunshine and warmer weather the next two days. It should be crazy tomorrow with the opening of Chair 10 on the front and Chair 5 for the Back Bowls. They have blown enough snow to start making the half pipe on Bwana, so hopefully they open that for the boarders in the coming week. Chris R.

December 4 Still snowing outside. They reported 4 inches of new but it was snowing hard most of the day. I had 90 minutes to take some ski runs about 2:30pm. It was pretty quiet up on the mountain and a bit cloudy at the top with the snow coming down. Wide open cruising up in Northwoods although it was a bit bumped up due to the powder. Rumors say Game Creek opens tomorrow. You have to wonder if they are thinking of open up the back bowls, but they probably want the snow to settle first. Chris R.

December 3 See Matt’s post below on the “No Friends on powder days” for a Dec. 3rd update

December 2 Finally some sunshine today. We had a good group go up mid-day and conditions felt like February or March. Everyone was skiing well. Lots of smiles. Soft snow and warmer. We did laps on Mountain Top Express, Wildwood Express and Avanti Express. Most of the front is open but still no Northwoods or Game Creek. There is enough snow, so we don’t know what they are waiting for. Chris R.

Tom(from Antlers Engineering)Kris (from Wisconsin)Glen (from Wisconsin)Sarah (Italy, Chris’s boss)Simone (Head Chef at Campo De Fiori)

December 1 It is a another powder day. Vail ski conditions are great with 4 more inches today. This makes 22 inches in the last three days. We have wonderful skiing and there is hardly anyone on Vail mountain. Everyone left after the Thanksgiving holiday so it was pretty quiet on the mountain. This is pretty typical in early December, lighty dry snow and a whole ski run to yourself. No pictures today (sorry). I did a bunch of runs off of Chairs 3 and 4. There are even some small bumps forming here and there. We hope they open Northwoods and Game Creek bowls in the coming week. There is certainly plenty of snow. Chris R.

Coming down to Lionshead