VAIL Like nothing on earth.™

Closing weekend at Vail

Snowy conditions on Saturday morning, April 18.

Welcome to the final days of Vail’s 2014 – 2015 winter season! From the sunshine and a few fresh inches of snow to Spring Back to Vail; we are glad you’re joining us to celebrate another great season at Vail.

Closing Day chairlift operations update

Given the variable spring snow conditions and limited egress routes off the mountain, downloading early at the end of the day to get ahead of the crowd is strongly encouraged. In anticipation of the need to better accommodate guests for downloading, lifts will close to uphill traffic at the following times:

• 2:30 p.m. Closing:
  • Eagle Bahn Gondola

• 3 p.m. Closing:
  • Gondola One
  • Avanti Express Lift (#2)
  • Riva Bahn Express Lift (#6)
  • High Noon Express Lift (#5)

• 3:30 p.m. Closing
  • Wildwood Express Lift (#3)
  • Mountain Top Express Lift (#4)
  • Northwoods Express Lift (#11)
  • Little Eagle Lift (#15)

Downloading Gondola One (#1), Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19) and Riva Bahn Express Lift (#6) is highly recommended. For closing day, off mountain egress routes will be available for expert skiers and snowboarders to Lionshead, Vail Village and Golden Peak. All guests – especially beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders – are encouraged to download Gondola One, the Eagle Bahn Gondola or the Riva Bahn Express Lift (#6), which will be available until Ski Patrol has swept the mountain.

 

Terrain

We are looking to operate the following lifts for the remainder of the season:

• Gondola One
• Eagle Bahn Gondola
• Avanti Express Lift (#2)
• Wildwood Express Lift (#3)
• Mountain Top Express Lift (#4)
• High Noon Express Lift (#5)
• Riva Bahn Express Lift (#6)
• Northwoods Express Lift (#11)
• Little Eagle Lift (#15)

For closing day, off mountain egress routes will be available for expert skiers and snowboarders to Lionshead, Vail Village and Golden Peak. All guests, but especially beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders are encouraged to download Gondola One, the Eagle Bahn Gondola or the Riva Bahn Express Lift (#6), which will be available until Ski Patrol has swept the mountain.

Vail Resorts operates Vail Mountain under special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service and has made the decision to close these lifts early and to later close the mountain to the public on closing day. On Sunday, all operating lifts and decks will close for the season at 4 p.m. and public restrooms will close at 4 p.m. As is customary, Vail Ski Patrol will detonate a series of avalanche explosives to signal the end of the season and the time at which guests are asked to depart.

Vail Ski & Snowboard School
The Vail Ski & Snowboard School will continue to operate from its Vail Village and Lionshead locations through Sunday, April 19. The Vail Nordic School, Adaptive Center, and Small World Nursery in Golden Peak will remain open through Sunday, April 19.

On-Mountain Dining
Daytime dining at The 10th, Buffalo’s, the Look Ma level of Mid-Vail, the Marketplace at Eagle’s Nest and Express Lift at Mountain Plaza will be available to skiers and snowboarders through closing day, Sunday, April 19.

Spring Back to Vail
Spring Back to Vail returns April 17-19, 2015 with free live music from Portugal. The Man, Trampled By Turtles, and The Greyboy Allstars. The annual World Pond Skimming Championships also return on Sunday, April 19 in Golden Peak. For the complete schedule of events and pond skimming registration, visit www.vail.com/springback.

 

U.S. Forest Service and local law enforcement officers will be on the mountain Sunday to help facilitate a safe end to the ski and snowboard season. Guests are expected to abide by the laws and rules of skiing and snowboarding and risk fines or arrest for irresponsible behavior and violations of federal laws. Skiers and snowboarders must continue to abide by the Colorado Ski Safety Act and “Your Responsibility Code” and observe all posted signs and closures.

Guests are reminded that using any ski lift or trail while impaired by alcohol or controlled substances such as marijuana is prohibited under the Colorado Ski Safety Act. Guests are also not permitted to ride lifts, ski or snowboard on Vail Mountain with open containers or exposed quantities of alcohol, coolers, suitcase-like carriers, barbeques or similar items. One daypack per person will be permitted on closing day, provided the bag fits in a five-gallon container. Bags that do not meet the requirement are subject to search and will only be allowed if they contain no alcohol or controlled substances.

Inappropriate behavior that may jeopardize the experience of other guests is not tolerated. As in recent years, violators who are ticketed or arrested will lose skiing and snowboarding privileges for the 2015-2016 season. Those who disobey posted signs and closures or engage in other inappropriate behavior could lose skiing and snowboarding privileges for up to the entire 2015-2016 season.

Resort officials ask everyone for their continued cooperation with ski patrol and other Vail Mountain staff on closing day Sunday. For those picnicking on the mountain, trash and recycling containers will be provided. Skiers and riders are also reminded that variable late-spring conditions exist and are encouraged to descend or download early. Once Vail Ski Patrol sweeps the mountain, it will remain closed until summer operations resume in early-June.