Topic: Mountain

It’s a big job, and the crews at Vail have wasted no time in getting started pushing the snow off of Vail Mountain.

It’s not often that the ski area finishes the season with an 80-inch base, accumulating snow up until the final day.

Yes, Vail polished off the winter with about four feet of snow the last week and needless to say, it’s going to take a lot of sun and spring warmth to get rid of it all.

But the SnoCats were already out in force beginning the Tuesday after Sunday Closing Day, and the mountain’s service roads are the first areas the Cats are clearing of snow.

This doesn’t bode well for locals who enjoy skinning or snowshoeing up the mountain and skiing or riding down, but perhaps it will expedite the melting process and mountain-biking/hiking season, which, it’s probably safe to bet, might come later than usual this year.

We shall see … All we know for sure is that we’ll be seeing snow on the peaks for a long, long while. Mud season, we might be welcoming you in June.

It’s a big job, and the crews at Vail have wasted no time in getting started pushing the snow off of Vail Mountain.

It’s not often that the ski area finishes the season with an 80-inch base, accumulating snow up until the final day.

Yes, Vail polished off the winter with about four feet of snow the last week and needless to say, it’s going to take a lot of sun and spring warmth to get rid of it all.

But the SnoCats were already out in force beginning the Tuesday after Sunday Closing Day, and the mountain’s service roads are the first areas the Cats are clearing of snow.

This doesn’t bode well for locals who enjoy skinning or snowshoeing up the mountain and skiing or riding down, but perhaps it will expedite the melting process and mountain-biking/hiking season, which, it’s probably safe to bet, might come later than usual this year.

We shall see … All we know for sure is that we’ll be seeing snow on the peaks for a long, long while. Mud season, we might be welcoming you in June.

Mother Nature is confused in Vail this April. Someone turned her clock back to January, because it is STILL snowing. After receiving nearly 450 inches of snow this season for the best season ever in resort history, you’d think Vail’s base would begin diminishing and the dirt would begin poking through now that it’s officially been spring for a few weeks.

Instead we’ve got mid-winter conditions on the mountain and many have commented that it’s a shame Vail and Beaver Creek are closing shop this Sunday (April 13) because there’s more than enough snow to last through the end of the month.

Since Vail and Beaver Creek lease their land from the US Forest Service, they must declare a closing date and stick to it. April 13 is the day.

The snow is supposed to taper off by Friday night and the forecast is suggesting we might get up near 50 degrees by closing day. That will bode well for the crazies who show up scantily clad in rubber shorts and capes for the last day of the season.

Enjoy the last weekend at Vail. Don’t forget your costume and your powder skis!

Plum attended the J3 Junior Olympics 2008 opening ceremony in Vail Village and spoke with athletes about where they're from and how they prepare for competition.

Shawnna Sisca and Jennifer Sturgeon of the Vail Mountain Club stopped by Fresh Tracks to talk about what membership entails and the unique opportunities the Vail Mountain Club offers members.

Vail Mountain will close on April 13 this year and for the first time in a long while, it will not extend the season by the standard one week. That means you’ve got less than 20 days to get in all the skiing (at least on Vail) that you want to do for the season. During the course of Vail’s long and splendid 150 day season it’s quite easy to stick to favorite runs with friends and family, and shy away from new trails and adventures, because, heck, there’s always tomorrow, right? Well, the time is rapidly approaching the time when there is no tomorrow. It’s time to seek out those on-mountain adventures you may have missed during the season, or risk spending the summer months full of regret. May we make some suggestions?

• Have A BBQ in Blue Sky Basin. A crazy on-mountain adventure? Perhaps not, but if you haven’t enjoyed a mid-day refueling session on top of the world, then you’ve missed out. Vail Mountain’s only grills are gas grills only, so you’ll just need to pack a bag with meats (or veggie substitutes) and maybe some condiments. You really can’t beat the views from the Basin. It’s a perfect lunch spot, but if the Blue Sky terrain intimidates you, fear not. Cloud 9 and Big Rock Park offer some nice groomers for those not ready to tackle Heavy Metal, Montane Glade, Champagne Glade and the like.

• Ride Chair 10. If you somehow missed out on Vail’s newest high-speed chair, it’s unforgivable, but somewhat understandable. After all it’s hidden all the way over on the eastern side of the mountain. Make the time for Chair 10. The three trails that run off of Chair 10 are blacks, including two double blacks (Highline, Roger’s Run) and are typically pretty bumped out. But Blue Ox is groomed each Friday night, which makes it a somewhat narrow and steep but smooth run on Saturdays. Trust us. Try Chair 10 once and you’ll return because the runs are great and the new high-speed lift guarantees short lift lines. Plus, a quick chair ride equals more runs.

• Try the Marmot Valley Trees. No, not those ones. Not the ones everyone knows at the base of Teacup Bowl. These trees require a little commitment on the aptly named Sleepytime Road. Ride Sleepytime from Chair 4 or Chair 11 until you pass Morning Thunder and Sun Up Bowl is out of sight. After you round the bend past Sun Up, you notice a gated entrance to the “other” Marmot Valley trees. You’ll know you’re at the right place, because unlike the multitude of pines that adorn the mountain, these trees are light brown, leafless stalks that reach towards the heavens and are closely bunched. Enjoy! One caveat: you must be comfortable skiing in the trees, especially thickly settled trees. If you complete this highly entertaining terrain successfully you should drop in right at Chair 36 and Chair 37.

• The Mongolia Bowls. We tend to avoid these bowls like a plague for one simple reason: the interminably long Silk Road. But you are unlikely to find another portion of the mountain that is as flush with deep, untouched powder. The runs of Inner Mongolia and Outer Mongolia bowl are listed as blacks, but really they are long, mild and powder-heavy runs. If you’re worried about steepness, set those worries aside. You’ll find several areas to drop in where steepness is not a factor. The real test will be Silk Road. Expect to do some polling, and sorry, snowboarders, you will be walking. Nonetheless, Inner and Outer Mongolia are good for at least one run. It’s perfect terrain for powder hounds.

• The Minturn Mile. The legendary Minturn Mile has taken on almost mythic proportions in the descriptions of locals and visitors alike, and it’s true you’re unlikely to find another run on the mountain that offers more bang for its buck. We should say right off the bat that the Minturn Mile is not for the faint of heart or those lacking in backcountry skill. Our best advice is to attempt the Mile with someone who has, at least once before, skied the expressway to the lovely little hamlet of Minturn. If you don’t know anyone who has attempted the Mile before, looks for crowds at the top of Chair 3. You’re sure to find a group heading for the Minturn Mile. To access the Minturn Mile, take the Lost Boy catwalk, and instead of dropping into Lost Boy, continue on the catwalk until you reach a gate. This is your Minturn Mile access point. One more piece of advice, especially for large groups, beware of “The Luge”. The area lovingly referred to “The Luge” is a speedy single-track and large groups (or any groups for that matter) will have to fly down one-by-one. In no time at all, you’ll be enjoying margaritas at the Minturn Saloon. If you’re going to try The Minturn Mile, you better go sooner than later. With spring well into affect, the Mile will only be skiable a short while longer.

The season is not yet over, but Vail Resorts is already thinking of next year and is prepared to offer you an unprecedented, “epic” deal. Vail Resorts will be offering the Epic Season Pass, an unlimited and unrestricted (no blackout dates) season pass to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, A-Basin and Heavenly for the initial price of $579 for adults and $279 for children. This means that over 18,000 acres of terrain could be all yours for the 2008-2009 season for an absurdly low price.

The Epic Season Pass was designed, according to Vail Resorts CEO Robert Katz, “to reward our most loyal guests and to bring greater excitement to the sports of skiing and snowboarding. Vail Resorts’ new Epic Season Pass gives our guests the opportunity to ski or ride when they want, how they want. They can visit for a week-long vacation during the holidays and then decide later in the season to return for an extended weekend getaway or even to book a last-minute trip after hearing about one of Colorado’s or Tahoe’s epic snowfalls. They can ski all day or just for an hour. In essence, we’re taking the thought out and putting more fun into a ski vacation.”

The one catch? The Epic Season Pass will only be available for purchase through November 15, 2008, and that’s hardly a catch if you ask us. Honestly, if you can’t commit to an epic season in the next eight months, than maybe you don’t deserve six mountains on the cheap.

No, you do. For more information on the Epic Season Pass and to purchase your slice of ’08-’09 powder heaven, visit www.epicpass.com.

The eye of the storm might be behind us as the Ides of March (the 15th) rolls around, but those of us on Vail mountain on the eve of the Ides wore crowns of powder that would rival Julius Caesar's headwear any day.

Yes, we were beginning to wonder if the days of swallowing mouthfuls of snow while swishing down Sun Up and Sun Down bowls were behind us this winter.

The 10 inches of snow Vail reported Friday morning and 9 at Beaver Creek suggest otherwise, and it was still coming down Friday afternoon!

This is easily the heaviest dump of powder we've had this season, but such is often the case in March. Lots of water in this snow and it will require some getting used to for anyone accustomed to hard pack (we rode up the lift with some East Coasters who were struggling).

You've come to the right place, as we've got a few powder pointers you might find useful.

The deepest stashes can be found in the trees of China Bowl and Tea Cup, and, of course, Blue Sky Basin.

We strongly suggest you wear your most waterproof clothing as the snow is sticky and will seep right through pants and jackets. Also wear at least two warm layers underneath and a face mask if you've got one.

Don't eat so much powder you won't be hungry for lunch! See you out there. 

 

Amputee veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan hit the slopes with members of the Vail Veterans Program to learn how to ski with the latest adaptive ski equipment.

Their names aren’t featured in headlines of the Sports section and they don’t have any multi-million dollar endorsement deals (at least not yet), but the racers who will ride Golden Peak all week play with as much heart as their Olympic idols.

A mass of 13- and 14-year-old athletes will make Vail their home March 9-15 for the 2008 J3 Junior Olympics. There are 160 of these young phenoms (80 from the Rocky Mountain Division, 80 from the Mid-West Division) including members from the Valley’s own Ski & Snowboard Club Vail will descend on the Golden Peak race course to see who’s tops in Downhill, Super-G, Slalom and Giant Slalom. The Junior Olympics are a great family event and an excellent opportunity to catch a rising star. Although these junior stars may not have made a name for themselves yet, who knows what the future holds? I think we all remember a former Ski and Snowboard Club Vail member and Junior Olympian named Lindsey Kildow…

Sunday and Monday will serve as downhill training days for the athletes, with an opening ceremonies parade Monday evening at 6 p.m., starting at the Children’s Fountain in Vail Village and continuing on to the racecourse in Golden Peak. The competition schedule for the remainder of the week is as follows:

Tuesday, March 11 – Downhill

Wednesday, March 12 – Super G

Thursday, March 13 – Women’s Giant Slalom

Friday, March 14 – Men’s Giant Slalom

Saturday, March 15 – Slalom

For a complete schedule of each day’s activities, check out the Ski & Snowboard Club Vail’s website.

Make some time to head to Golden Peak this week, and years from now you’ll be able to say you saw that Olympian way back when, and enjoy Plum’s conversation with Junior Olympics Committee Chair (and Junior Olympian mother) Stephanie Samuelson below.