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| With Vail's location comes a usually excellent early season snow record,
and about 300 plus inches of dry, light powder snow each year. And with
the emphasis firmly on skiing, what makes the resort is the mountain. Here
Vail can cast aside any detractors of the purpose built resort, for when
you're 11,000' above sea level, the wide open back bowls behind you and
looking straight down the tree lined runs that weave their way throughout
the oft-densely wooded mountain side to the Eagle Valley floor, you realise
what built the myth of Vail. Seven miles wide. 1,000 vertical metres. Huge
open bowls. And Blue Sky Basin. Over five miles away from Lionshead and
far enough into the back country for you to really believe it.
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Vail is a mountain that takes time to discover. First impressions say
it's big, but it's only after a while you begin to realise how big. It's
there to be explored, for the trail map to be discarded and to just head
roughly towards where you have to get to, using lifts as required and any
trail that heads your way. A place to stop and take in the views, picture
perfect fir lined trails along the front side enticing you to ski down
and see what lies around the next bend. Photo opportunities you instantly
regret taking - not because the views aren't great, but because 600' later
you've refound the perfect spot. Wide tree strewn bowls that lure you onto
the steeper sides and away from the groomed paths because you can see exactly
what's to offer from the chair speeding up the middle. The back bowls,
famous for their skiing, but with a more barren, sparse beauty that takes
you away from everything else. And blue sky, who's densely forrested glades,
fresh powder and tighter pistes dotted with clumps of pines provide
the perfect contrast to the back bowls, showing just how much difference
facing south can make to the mountain habitat.
This is Vail. May the myth never die.
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