VAIL Like nothing on earth.™

Vail Conditions Update Jan 19 – Jan 25

The sun rises over Blue Ox run, just off of Highline Lift (#10).

January 25th, 2014. Clear skies, rising temperatures, and velvet runs; it is officially the weekend.

On days like today, there isn’t any place we’d rather be than on the mountain. This Saturday the sun is rising and the clouds are far from sight, the quintessential Colorado ski day. Grab a friend to catch up with or find solace carving turns alone, regardless you’ll be smiling.

Tin Pants run provides easy access to both Two Elk Lodge and the Vail Village.

Since it is Saturday, be aware of high traffic areas and be prepared to slow down for others. Respect goes a long way on the mountain. With that being said, the Highline Lift (#10) just may be Vail’s best kept secret for Saturdays. There are typically less people leaving from Golden Peak, making Lift #10 and it’s terrain quieter than areas above Lionshead or Vail Village.

After a long day of carving, treat yourself to apres ski at an outdoor patio to soak in the views and reflect on your decision to make the most of 2014.

Put your turns to the test on the EpicMix Racing course.

January 24th, 2014. Clear blue skies and fun for everyone.

As the weekend rolls in, with it, comes the sunshine. Forecasted sun all weekend long with temperatures rising to a high of 27 degrees today and mid-thirties Saturday and Sunday. On bluebird days like today, you can’t go wrong with where you ski, just as long as you’re on the mountain.

Fine tune your skills in the Bwana Terrain Park, just under Eagle Bahn Gondola.

With all terrain now open, there are features to the mountain that may be overlooked. Today is a great day to try something new, such as EpicMix Racing or one of Vail’s terrain parks. Whether you ski or ride, both are great ways to challenge yourself and your friends. And of course, stay in control and always wear your helmet.

Vacant lifts and smooth corduroy just off of Avanti Express Lift (#2).

January 23rd, 2014. Sunshine and untracked runs, make for a magnificent mid-week ski day.

With over 5,200 acres of terrain, skiers at Vail often go in search of their own little slice of the mountain, hoping for bragging rights during apres ski. While locals are finding their secret spots in the trees or back in Blue Sky Basin, the cruiser groomed runs are often overlooked. It’s comforting to know that some of the best terrain is literally just a gondola ride away and can be as challenging or relaxing as one desires.

Sun and soft turns allure skiers to Game Creek Bowl. 

Today is the day to find pure bliss making wide giant slalom turns on untouched corduroy. Game Creek Bowl is easily accessible and provides wide, well graded, groomed runs you can set your edge into. Make your way back over to the frontside to enjoy more groomed runs off of Avanti Express Lift (#2).

Regardless of what direction the day or your edge takes you, soak up the sunshine and comfortable mid-twenties temperatures.

All 5289 acres are open. Sun Down Bowl today

Update 10:45 am, January 22nd, 2014. Very rarely can you find so few people on the mountain. This morning if you skied the Back Bowls most likely you had them all to yourself! 

A few clouds are beginning to appear, but not enough to obstruct sunshine or the great views. Temperatures were still chilly, but with some luck, Sun Down Bowl and other south-facing terrain will turn to corn snow later today, maybe only enough for a single run. Keep an eye on the Back Bowls, because if they do heat up, the corn skiing should be amazing!

Sun Up Lift has quite a view 

January 22nd, 2014. Temperatures will start dropping today as a cold front moves in bringing a chance of snow tomorrow.Looks like after several days of sunny weather and clear skies a storm is beginning to move in. Temperatures today are expected to reach only the high 20’s, and the skies should stay clear for most of the day (full forecast here), and with a little bit of luck a storm should move in tomorrow morning to freshen up the slopes.

Carving turns above Sun Up Bowl this morning

Update 10:35am, January 21st, 2014. After this past holiday weekend looks like everybody went home. The mountain is nearly empty and you’ll be surprised if you find a line at any lift.  Without weekend crowds groomed runs are barely getting carved, and the sun and lack of clouds make for one picturesque setting. Holy Cross mountain seems to have moved overnight and for some reason it just looks bigger and brighter today and impossible to miss from any of the Back Bowls. While the views from the Gore Range today are stunning enough to distract skiers doing their turns. Nice mellow warm day to enjoy Vail and it’s dazzling setting inside the White River National Forest!

Sun Up Bowl the morning of January 20th

January 21st, 2014. Another day with mild temperatures and sunny skies. High pressure still holds for all of Colorado allowing the sun to come out and offering great views of the Gore Range.Vail, being one of the early pioneers of grooming ski terrain, offers some of the best groomed runs on the planet. You can read the full grooming report here before you go explore Vail under a corduroy carpet. Last night Jade Glade was groomed so you can now ski or ride both sides of China Bowl. Take out the carving skis today and practice G-Turns all day in world class corduroy!

Miles and miles of groomed runs

Update 10:30am, January 20th, 2014. Mild temperatures and thin crowds make today an ideal day to cruise on the many recently groomed trails. Riva Ridge was groomed from top to bottom, but it was seeing some traffic as the word got out. Try instead Bolshoi Ballroom in Siberia Bowl, which was also groomed last night and gets a fraction of the traffic.

Cruising groomers on Sunday morning

January 20th, 2014. Some wind gusts are expected today, but the ridge of high pressure that’s covering most of the western U.S. will keep things warm and dry. Spring-like conditions continue, and just like in spring this provides two choices. One, start skiing and riding early in the morning to track fresh corduroy all across the mountain and from top to bottom, or two, start late and wait for the sun to soften the moguls and turn the bowls into corn.   

Sun Up Lift (#17) the morning of the Manning-Brady Bowl

Update, 10:30am January 19th, 2014. Light winds, clear blue skies, and moderate temperatures do give the mountain spring-like conditions. South facing bowls, such as Sun Up and Sun Down are actually getting corn snow. Also, thanks to the plentiful snowfall earlier in the month, the base is so good that runs that normally don’t get groomed have been groomed this morning. Such is the case of Yonder in Sun Up Bowl, and Bolshoi Ballroom in Siberia Bowl.

Windows Road yesterday morning

January 19th, 2014. Temperatures will keep on rising and the sun will be out all day. No chance of snow today, but the relatively warm conditions will keep runs and moguls soft. If you don’t check your calendar today, you might think spring has arrived; no winds, corn snow, and sunshine. Pretty nice conditions to work up an appetite before the Denver Broncos game, Go Broncos!