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| In some ways it's a shame there's an escalator to ride to the slopes
at Beaver Creek. For whilst it shows the attention to detail present in
the resort planning - there are few things worse than walking down steps
in ski boots - it's potentially the lasting impression people will get
of the resort - you walk off the slopes, tired and ready to head home and
the last conversation of the day begins with 'isn't this escalator great'...
And with an intro like that, it proves my point exactly. Which is one
hell of a shame. For this is more than the upmarket sister of Vail, built
to cater for those who take their relaxation and peace and quiet on the
slopes as seriously as their skiing. It's a real contender.
The first thing you really notice about Beaver Creek is it's size. Best
described as compact, along with Vail it proves the point that a good resort
planner can create atmosphere and ambience. With the Village skating rink
acting as the central focal point, and Vail's tyrolian charm being replaced
with Swiss grandeur, Beaver Creek is aimed more at the family than Vail.
Childrens activities are regularly staged throughout the season, the ski
school is renowned for it's teaching and everything seems that little more
upmarket, yet lower key than it's sister. So many touches go initially
unnoticed - underfloor heating keeps the pathways free of snow and ice,
ski-valets help unload the arriving buses, stairwells in the carparks are
carpeted and there seem to be as many employees as skiers out on the mountains
at times.
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And the mountains?
Beaver Creek differs from Vail in many ways. The
first is the Village to Village skiing offered between the different base
areas, trying to recreate the ski-touring atmosphere of the Swiss Alps.
Secondly, Beaver Creek takes it's grooming very seriously, providing miles
of perfect corduroy every morning, ranging from greens to blues to some
very nice, steep groomed blacks. Bowls are less prevalent than Vail,
though Rose and Larkspur Bowl both have some excellent groomed blues leading
down them. Majestic Pines and spruce dominate the mountainside, and don't
let the family friendly resort at the base fool you one bit - Beaver Creek
has a dark side. Grouse Mountain is steeper than almost anything Vail has
to offer, and the Birds of Prey lift, in addition to serving excellent
beginner terrain, serves the Birds of Prey World Cup Downhill Course, one
of the most technical and feared runs on the circuit.
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