Mention skiing in the Rockies and Vail comes quickly to mind.
Vail, along with Aspen, are internationally known ski destinations on a par with the posh resorts of the Alps -- St.Moritz, Gstaad, and Zermatt. Many visitors come to these places to see and to be seen, to shop, and oh yes, I almost forgot...to ski. Vail's back bowls are famous among powder lovers everywhere. One of the few ski runs etched indelibly in my ski consciousness is a morning at Vail, some twenty years ago. The snow was dumping, coming so fast that one lost all sense of place. As I made my way down China Bowl, I stopped skiing and began to float through the chest-deep snow. I couldn't see where I was going nor could I feel the slope beneath me. But what a run I was having! Needless to say skiing at Vail can be a special, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
But the majority of skiers, let's admit it, are intimidated rather than entralled with the deep, Rocky Mountain powder that defines skiing in the Back Bowls. For them, and I include in this group my wife and three young children, the Vail area offers a far more hospitable option --- Beaver Creek.
Beaver Creek, which opened in 1980, was long the step-sister of the Vail Valley. Some 10 miles down the road from the internationally renowned Vail, Beaver Creek, small and undercapitalized, operated in Vail's long shadow.
Vail, along with Aspen, are internationally known ski destinations on a par with the posh resorts of the Alps -- St.Moritz, Gstaad, and Zermatt. Many visitors come to these places to see and to be seen, to shop, and oh yes, I almost forgot...to ski. Vail's back bowls are famous among powder lovers everywhere. One of the few ski runs etched indelibly in my ski consciousness is a morning at Vail, some twenty years ago. The snow was dumping, coming so fast that one lost all sense of place. As I made my way down China Bowl, I stopped skiing and began to float through the chest-deep snow. I couldn't see where I was going nor could I feel the slope beneath me. But what a run I was having! Needless to say skiing at Vail can be a special, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
But the majority of skiers, let's admit it, are intimidated rather than entralled with the deep, Rocky Mountain powder that defines skiing in the Back Bowls. For them, and I include in this group my wife and three young children, the Vail area offers a far more hospitable option --- Beaver Creek.
Beaver Creek, which opened in 1980, was long the step-sister of the Vail Valley. Some 10 miles down the road from the internationally renowned Vail, Beaver Creek, small and undercapitalized, operated in Vail's long shadow.
No longer. Now owned by the same corporation that owns Vail, Beaver Creek today can stand on its own as a world-class resort. It deserves to be on everyone's short list of preferred ski destinations.
Almost one half of Beaver Creeks' 1,500 plus skiable acres is rated suitable for intermediates, with an additional twenty percent rated for beginners. Even beginners can experience the thrill of skiing down from the towering 11,440 foot summit. Families, especially those with young skiers, will appreciate the dedicated "Family Ski Trail" areas, where children(and their parents) can ski without the fear of being flattened by some kamikaze on skis. As a parent who has raised three kids to the slopes, the last of whom still likes to ride on my back, I have learned to be far more concerned about the dangers posed by out of control skiers, especially on beginning and intermediate slopes, than I am about the mountain's natural obstacles.
Skiers who prefer the delights of touring rather than downhill can ride the Strawberry park Express chairlift to the network of beginner and intermediate trails at McCoy Park, ski all morning, and still meet family and friends for a trail side lunch.
Almost one half of Beaver Creeks' 1,500 plus skiable acres is rated suitable for intermediates, with an additional twenty percent rated for beginners. Even beginners can experience the thrill of skiing down from the towering 11,440 foot summit. Families, especially those with young skiers, will appreciate the dedicated "Family Ski Trail" areas, where children(and their parents) can ski without the fear of being flattened by some kamikaze on skis. As a parent who has raised three kids to the slopes, the last of whom still likes to ride on my back, I have learned to be far more concerned about the dangers posed by out of control skiers, especially on beginning and intermediate slopes, than I am about the mountain's natural obstacles.
Skiers who prefer the delights of touring rather than downhill can ride the Strawberry park Express chairlift to the network of beginner and intermediate trails at McCoy Park, ski all morning, and still meet family and friends for a trail side lunch.
"Beaver Creek today can stand on its own as a world-class resort"
Beaver Creek stretches across five rather distinct mountain areas. Each is serviced by a network of chair lifts. One can follow the sun throughout the day, skiing the runs off of Centennial Express and the Westfall chair lift before moving to Grouse Mountain and on to the trails off of Larkspur lift before lunch. In the afternoon take the Strawberry Park Express quad chair to the Elkhorn lift for an easy traverse to the recently opened Bachelor Gulch trails before catching the last rays of sunshine at Arrowhead Mountain.
As with all mountains of Beaver Creek's breath, I found it extremely helpful to have contracted for the services of a mountain guide/instructor for my first day. When skiing as part of a small group or family, this option offers a cost effective way of learning about the mountain, especially those trails which are most suitable for your skiing ability. Nothing can be more frustrating than to invest time and energy in a ski experience that goes wrong because of an inappropriate trail choice or a wrong turn on a mountain slope. Plus, with a ski guide, you may be able to move to the front of the liftline.
My favorite runs were located off the Grouse Mountain quad chair that tops off at 10,600 feet and the Strawberry Park quad, which passes over the mountain-side house of former president Gerald Ford. The runs on Grouse Mountain boast some of the steepest terrain on offer as well as some awesome, if short, glade skiing. I usually avoid chairs like Strawberry Park, which carry the heaviest loads of skiers from the base up the mountain. On this Sunday in early April, however, there wasn't a lift-line to be seen. The intermediate runs -- Stacker and Pitchfork -- offered a chance for some easy, fast cruising, while on the sides one could still find six inches or so of ungroomed powder.
As with all mountains of Beaver Creek's breath, I found it extremely helpful to have contracted for the services of a mountain guide/instructor for my first day. When skiing as part of a small group or family, this option offers a cost effective way of learning about the mountain, especially those trails which are most suitable for your skiing ability. Nothing can be more frustrating than to invest time and energy in a ski experience that goes wrong because of an inappropriate trail choice or a wrong turn on a mountain slope. Plus, with a ski guide, you may be able to move to the front of the liftline.
My favorite runs were located off the Grouse Mountain quad chair that tops off at 10,600 feet and the Strawberry Park quad, which passes over the mountain-side house of former president Gerald Ford. The runs on Grouse Mountain boast some of the steepest terrain on offer as well as some awesome, if short, glade skiing. I usually avoid chairs like Strawberry Park, which carry the heaviest loads of skiers from the base up the mountain. On this Sunday in early April, however, there wasn't a lift-line to be seen. The intermediate runs -- Stacker and Pitchfork -- offered a chance for some easy, fast cruising, while on the sides one could still find six inches or so of ungroomed powder.
Vail/Beaver Creek, like many other Colorado resorts, is serviced directly by the major US airlines, flying standard issue jets, not turboprops. I left Washington on a 7am American Airlines flight and arrived at my Vail hotel in time to do a little afternoon skiing. I chose instead to ready myself for the slopes at the Vail Athletic Club, where for $15 I swam all alone in the 20 meter lap pool before taking a long course in the Jacuzzi and steam room.
There is a shuttle service that runs between Vail and Beaver Creek. For the nominal cost of a shuttle ticket, it is possible to have the best of both worlds -- the razzle and dazzle of Vail and the down-to-earth skiing at Beaver Creek.
Beaver Creek Mountain facts: 91 trials, 19% beginner,43% intermediate, 38% advanced elevation at the base:7,400 feet; at the summit 11,440 feet.
Accommodation: There are more than 100 lodging options in the Vail Valley, including bed and breakfast, a range of hotels, and condominium apartments. The Vail Hotel and Condo Reservations, Inc. [telephone 18003261470, is an excellent source for exploring the variety of lodging options, as well as for taking advantage of off-price airplane tickets on American Airline flights from Washington Dulles.
There is a shuttle service that runs between Vail and Beaver Creek. For the nominal cost of a shuttle ticket, it is possible to have the best of both worlds -- the razzle and dazzle of Vail and the down-to-earth skiing at Beaver Creek.
Beaver Creek Mountain facts: 91 trials, 19% beginner,43% intermediate, 38% advanced elevation at the base:7,400 feet; at the summit 11,440 feet.
Accommodation: There are more than 100 lodging options in the Vail Valley, including bed and breakfast, a range of hotels, and condominium apartments. The Vail Hotel and Condo Reservations, Inc. [telephone 18003261470, is an excellent source for exploring the variety of lodging options, as well as for taking advantage of off-price airplane tickets on American Airline flights from Washington Dulles.
According to Michael Ruggie, the president of the reservation service, those in search of the most economical accommodations should look at properties in East and West Vail, and the nearby town of Avon. Most properties allow children under twelve to stay for free. Children can also enjoy a free breakfast at properties that include breakfast in their room charges.
Virtually every lodging property at Beaver Creek boasts a ski in-ski out capability. Prices for a representative two bedroom condo during the January-mid-February season, which often offers the best combination of good snow and uncrowded slopes, run from $335/night at Townsend Place to $850/night at the high-end Chateau Residents Club.Midweek stays Sunday-Thursday can save up to 25%. American Airlines offers an all inclusive 3 night/3 day ski package at the Charter at Beaver Creek. For a family of four, the price for a January package including round-trip air travel, transfers, lift tickets, and 1 bedroom condo is $2992.
I stayed at The Lodge at Vail, one of the resort's venerable luxury hotels. Located in the center of Vail Village, the hotel offers a bountiful buffet breakfast and gourmet dining at The Wildflower restaurant. Wherever you stay, remember to make an advance request for a room humidifier. Those dry Colorado nights can otherwise be a shocking experience.
Virtually every lodging property at Beaver Creek boasts a ski in-ski out capability. Prices for a representative two bedroom condo during the January-mid-February season, which often offers the best combination of good snow and uncrowded slopes, run from $335/night at Townsend Place to $850/night at the high-end Chateau Residents Club.Midweek stays Sunday-Thursday can save up to 25%. American Airlines offers an all inclusive 3 night/3 day ski package at the Charter at Beaver Creek. For a family of four, the price for a January package including round-trip air travel, transfers, lift tickets, and 1 bedroom condo is $2992.
I stayed at The Lodge at Vail, one of the resort's venerable luxury hotels. Located in the center of Vail Village, the hotel offers a bountiful buffet breakfast and gourmet dining at The Wildflower restaurant. Wherever you stay, remember to make an advance request for a room humidifier. Those dry Colorado nights can otherwise be a shocking experience.
|
|
Getting There
American, United, Northwest, Delta, and Continental fly to the Vail\Eagle County Airport on Boeing 757 aircraft.Travel time by shuttle [ $66 round-trip on Colorado Mountain Express 18005256363] from the airport to beaver creek is 30 minutes.Denver international Airport is 100 miles from Beaver Creek [2 hours by shuttle/$112 round-trip] Skilift tickets: Tickets are interchangeable at the four resorts owned by Vail Associates -- Vail, Keystone, Breckenridge, and Beaver Creek. Ticket rates $54/day adult, $37/day child General Information: Reservations/Flight information -- 1-800-5252257 Beaver Creek -- tel. 970-845-9090 Vail 970-476-9090 On the internet : http://vail.net Ski school: Special programs for skiers and snowboarders from age 3. Childrens' ski/lunch/lift ticket program $74/day. Adult lessons $60/day/lesson only; $80/day/lesson/lift ticket. Complimentary "Meet the Mountain" tour is available on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. |