I spent Tuesday and Wednesday exploring what is open as far as the early season snow goes. Tuesday (11/11) two friends and I took off for Breckenridge. We took the gondola up, then a chair lift to arrive on a crowded hill around 10:30am. Once on the hill it quickly became a game of dodge. With so many on the one run, safety became a concern. This changed however around 12, or 1pm, and it soon became the opposite. No one was around and we seemed to have the whole run to ourselves. Whether folks had work, or thought it was too busy, either way after 12pm is the time to go. Did I mention that it had been snowing this whole time and the run had only gotten better, not to mention all the snow making that was going on. We enjoyed this change till about 4pm, when we realized that the last lift was the only way down.
On Wednesday (11/12) myself and another friend took off about the same time, but not to the same place. Some buddies had been talking good about Keystone, so we thought we would try it out. It was more like 11am when we pulled up and parked. The gondola here was much different, it is the only way up the hill. However it soon looked like much of the same. One run covered with skiers and snowboarders, and tons of snow making equipment. The day began with us playing it safe. Then around 12pm just like before, everyone took off. The afternoon was great, a good park, an empty hill and no lift lines. Oh did I mention it had been snowing all day again, and the conditions were great. We had a blast until 4pm when we rode to the bottom and to our car.
Although this sounds like any apres-ski conversation you would hear in any bar in any ski town, there are some good points to take away:
(1) Any early season skiing or snowboarding is best left until the afternoon, 11am or later.
(2) It has been snowing, and snowing good for the past two days at about 10 thousand feet or higher.
(3) All the mountains have been making a lot of snow, including Vail. So expect to see more terrain open this weekend, 11/14 and later. With all this good stuff going on we should see Vail open on time and in great form!
Not sure if a travel writer buzzed through the Antlers recently, but Bert Farin (former Antlers employee from the 80s/90s) called us this Monday to say he saw a short blurb on the Antlers at Vail in the Denver Post Travel Section. We found this link of the article on-line although it is slightly different.
New Snow in Vail today, November 6th. We received about 8 inches of snow the last two days and it is cold! Not sure how much snow is at the top of the mountain. Snow making operations are full speed ahead. It is winter outside for sure.
A winter storm warning is in effect for Vail/Beaver Creek this week! However, we couldn’t wait another 17 days for Vail to open…instead we did what 100’s of other idiots did…we packed the car and headed to Arapahoe Basin. Again? Right now, A-Basin is like Great America, you wait in line for 30 minutes for 1 minute of fun. Here are some tips if you want to avoid the madness:
1. Arrive at 2pm. You will get 2 hours of solid runs in as everybody seems to leave A-Basin around that time.
2. If you go on a Sunday try to show up at the start of the Bronco game. Half of the lines disappeared this weekend as the Broncos got punked by the Dolphins. Sorry Denver! Look on the bright side, you just traded Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups (2004 Finals MVP).
3. If the lines are long head to the bar for a Bloody Mary. They are top-notch!
Oh baby! They fired up the snowmaking machines in Vail late last night. We could hear them down here at the Antlers. They’ll be blowing snow on Born Free for the next week or so, in anticipation of Vail’s opening day (November 21st). Typically Born Free Express opens first, followed by the Gondola. Hopefully, mother nature will provide some opening assistance with a blast of cold air and snow on Tuesday/Wednesday.
We headed back to A-Basin this past Monday and to our surprise they had two runs open! Apparently it was common knowledge as the amount of people waiting in line doubled from last week. On a positive note, we should have some Vail ski condition updates soon…we start making snow this Friday!!
The snow started to fall yesterday night and hasn’t stopped…we’ve received about 3 inches so far. Hopefully it is here to stay. Check out the photo journal below.
10/21/2008 Last night
10/22/2008 My car at 7:00 a.m. today
10/22/2008 On my way to work (I-70) 8:00 a.m.
10/22/2008 Finally arrived at the Antlers 8:20 a.m.
Let the ski/riding season begin. Arapahoe Basin opened their runs to those who just couldn’t wait another 30 days (Vail opening day 11/21/08). I had to go check out the famous “white ribbon of death.” As to be expected the one open run was crowded with die hard snow addicts. It was the place to be seen on a Monday in the Rocky Mountains…with all the latest fashion trends for the 08/09 season in full effect. Get your neon out of the closet because the 80’s made their way back to the snow this year. On a more serious note…thanks to A-Basin for making snow! The ski conditions were surprisingly awesome. I’m headed back for some more man-made Rocky Mountain Champagne next weekend. Hope to see you there.
Mark Your Calendars: 16th Annual Trick or Treat Trot Returns Oct. 31 for Halloween
Ghosts, goblins, fairies, princesses and superheroes will parade the streets of Vail Village and Lionshead from 2 to 5pm Friday, Oct. 31 during the Vail Recreation District’s (VRD) annual Trick or Treat Trot. In its 16th year, children ages infant to 10 years old are invited to participate in this Halloween celebration that offers safe trick-or-treating for children and parents. The annual Trick or Treat Trot coloring contest is also underway at local preschools and shools in Vail.
Over 300 children participate in this annual event and businesses are encouraged to have treats ready as these constumed-children parade the villages.
For more information, call VRD Youth Services at 479-2292
We are still mountain biking in Vail. In the background of the picture you can see Vail ski mountain where there is a light dusting of snow on some of the ski slopes. We have been having cold evenings in Vail, but the hiking and biking has been great from 10am - 4pm. Beautiful Colorado sunshine. This photos was taken from the Son of Middle Creek single track. It joins into the Vail North Trail and is about an hour ride. If you need trail ideas on where to ride your mountain bike in Vail, ask Chris or Rob at the Frontdesk.
