Vail Ski Resort
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| Vail Ski Resort | |
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| Location: | Colorado, USA |
| Nearest city: | Vail, Colorado |
| Coordinates: | |
| Top elevation: | 11570 ft (3527 m) |
| Base elevation: | 8120 ft (2475 m) |
| Skiable area: | 5289 acres (21.40 km²) |
| Runs: | 193 total 18% beginner 29% intermediate 53% advanced/expert |
| Longest run: | "Riva Ridge" - 4 miles (6.4 km) |
| Lift system: | 34 total (1 Gondola (12 person), 14 High-speed quad chairs, 1 quad chairs, 3 triple chairs, 5 double chairs, 10 Surface) |
| Terrain parks: | 2 |
| Snow fall: | 346 in/year (8.8 m/year) |
| Web page: | http://vail.snow.com |
The Vail Ski Resort is located in Eagle County, Colorado next to the town of Vail. Vail Mountain, at 5289 acres, is the largest single mountain ski resort in North America, featuring seven bowls and intermediate gladed terrain in Blue Sky Basin. It opened in 1962 and is currently owned and operated by Vail Resorts, which also operates three other ski resorts in the state, Breckenridge, Keystone, and the nearby Beaver Creek.
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[edit] Ski area information
Vail Mountain is comprised of three sections: The Front-Side, Blue Sky Basin, and the Back Bowls. The Back Bowls has the most amount of expert/difficult terrain on the mountain. Blue Sky Basin, on the other hand, is perfect for most skiers, as 47% of the terrain is classified as intermediate/more difficult. For those newer to the sport the Front-Side is the place to learn as 28% of the terrain is considered beginner/easiest. The Vail Village is modeled after a Bavarian Village with pedestrian streets and rugged mountain backdrops.
Unlike other ski towns such as Aspen or Leadville, the town of Vail was created by the Vail ski resort.
[edit] History
Vail was founded by Peter Seibert and Earl Eaton in 1962, between the town of Eagle, Colorado and Vail Pass, which was named after Charles Vail, designer of the highway that passed through the valley. Seibert joined the U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division during World War II, which trained at Camp Hale, just southeast of Vail. During Seiberts' and Eatons' time with the 10th, they trained at several resorts around the Vail area, such as Loveland, Keystone and Aspen. While roaming the area mountains, Seibert and Eaton discovered a peak that had the perfect location and base area for a resort, they named this peak "No-name Mountain", but it would eventually become Vail. Construction of the Vail resort began in 1962 in a valley devoid of civilization. It opened just 6 months later on December 15th. There were 3 lifts upon opening, one gondola that ran from the frontside base to the peak, a lift from mid-mountain to the peak, and a lift that brought skiers back up from the back bowls. In just 7 years, Vail had grown to become the most popular ski resort in Colorado, and a village had started forming at the base, near the gondola, which had been replaced since it's opening. Also at that time, the construction of the infamous I-70 highway had begun. During the 1970's, Vail had blossomed into a Super-resort, and skiers and vacationers had started paying Euro-trip prices for a Colorado vacation. Subsequently, Vail's Euro-esque village began construction and expansion. In 1972, Vail and Beaver Creek were slated to host the Skiing portions of the 1976 Winter Olympic Games. However, the voters of Colorado shot down the idea, and the 1976 Winter Games went elsewhere. Vail had another chance to be the center of attention of the international skiing community, in 1982 Vail hosted the Alpine Skiing World Cup, to incredible hype and success. The Cup was held in Vail again a decade later, to even bigger fanfare.
In 1985, Vail opened 5 high-speed detachable quad lifts on the mountain, the second mountain in the country to utilize them, Breckenridge had beaten them to it. 1996 marked a huge change for the Vail Valley area ski resorts, as Vail Associates bought Vail, Breckenridge Ski Resort and Heavenly Ski Resort. The parent company allowed ski-a-holics to buy an all mountain pass that granted admission to all of their resorts. In 1998, the Earth Liberation Front set fire to the resorts' Two Elk Lodge, Camp one, Ski Patrol HQ, and 2 lifts, causing US$12,000,000 in damage. A new Two Elk Lodge was built in place of the old one, as well as a new Camp one and ski patrol HQ, Poma Ski Lifts Co. was brought in to replace the 2 destroyed lifts with high speed quads. In 2000, Vail unleashed Pete Seiberts ideal skiing vision, the Blue Sky Basin, an intermediate-expert backcountry area which offers mogul, gladed and tree skiing, and glorious cliffs and ridges. It has been heralded as one of the best skiing experiences in the world.
Vail has recently been declared the #1 Ski resort in the US.[1] It has been awarded this honor 14 times over the last 17 years.
[edit] Resort statistics
[edit] Elevation
- Base: 8,120 ft (2,475 m)
- Summit: 11,570 ft (3,527 m)
- Vertical Rise: 3,450 ft (1,052 m)
[edit] Trails
- Skiable area: 5,289 acres (21 km²)
- Trails: 193 total (18% beginner, 29% intermediate, 53% advanced/expert)
- Longest run: Riva Ridge - 4 miles (6.4 km)
- Average annual snowfall: 346 inches (8.8 m)
- Terrain Parks: 2
[edit] Lifts
- 34 total
- 1 Gondola (12 person)
- 14 Hi-Speed Quads
- 1 Fixed Grip Quad
- 3 Triple Chairs
- 5 Double Chairs
- 10 Surface Lifts
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Vail.com (requires Macromedia Flash)
- Vail Resorts
- Skiing History.org - founder Pete Seibert - obituary - 2002
