It's now just 13 days into Beaver Creek's 2015-16 ski season and already the resort has received more than a quarter of its annual average snowfall, the most early season snowfall recorded in 23 years. Beaver Creek now has over 1,000 acres of terrain open and 11 lifts available for skiers and snowboarders. Vail now has 2,000 acres of terrain open, has 16 lifts running and has recorded 79 inches of snowfall this season. That's not as much as Beaver Creek's whopping 83 inches, but it's still more than Steamboat, Telluride, Jackson Hole and Park City have recorded this season. Looks like Vail and Beaver Creek are the places to be!
In recent days, Vail has opened many of its south-facing slopes including portions of Sun Up Bowl, Sun Down Bowl, and the Ouzo and Faro runs and glades. On the front side, Vail has opened Tourist Trap and lower Riva, as well as favorites Lindsey's and Giant Steps. Beaver Creek has opened the Birds of Prey Express lift, offering access to runs Red Tail, Goshawk, Lower Peregrine, Dally, Moonshine and Bootleg, as well as the Larkspur Express, opening offering access to runs Shooting Star, Loco, Lupine, Leav the Beav and the trails within Larkspur Bowl. The Riverfront Express Gondola is also now offering access to Beaver Creek mountain from the town of Avon for the season via the Lower Beaver Creek Mountain Express lift which is now running along with Upper Beaver Creek Mountain Express.
Yet to be opened at Vail is China Bowl and Blue Sky Basin, and at Beaver Creek is Grouse Mountain. These areas are all favorites by many people, and the fresh snow is being preserved there for them! Here's a video of Vail Valley local and professional triathlete John O'Neill skiing the yet to be opened Grouse Mountain, which he hiked up.
