Vail Colorado (US)

Bowls:

Vail is famous for its four back bowls. They are vast which is great on fresh powder days as everyone gets a fresh line.

• Sun Down Bowl: black diamond terrain
• Sun Up Bowl: black diamond terrain
• China Bowl: blue and black diamond terrain
• Siberia Bowl: black diamond terrain

The back bowls are mostly open gentle terrain with peaks above the tree line.

There are also two bowls in the "Blue Sky Basin" area:

• Pete's Bowl: blue and black diamond terrain
• Earl's Bowl: blue and black diamond terrain

Blue Sky Basin bowls are wooded with trails cut through the woods.

Moguls:

While moguls form anywhere the terrain is steep and skiers turn frequently, "Highline" is definitely Vail's premier mogul run. It's long and bumpy.

Trees and powder:

"Shangri-La Glade" by the Orient Express lift on the edge of China bowl is one of my favorite tree sections at Vail. To find the best line, follow along the top of the tree line and enter the trees later rather than early. There is plenty of skiable tree covered terrain in Vail. For a more challenging run through the trees, try "Skree Field" and "Steep and & Deep" off of Skyline Express lift. These runs are more like narrow steep bump runs. I found this to be the most challenging (and fun) part of the mountain.

Beginners and Intermediates:

There are beginner and intermediate runs accessible from almost every lift.

Off piste:

East Vail chutes: The "East Vail Chutes" are nowhere to be found on the trail map. That is because they are out of bounds, dangerous (people have died there), not avalanche controlled (bring an avalanche beacon and shovel) and known only by some of the locals. These chutes have cliffs and hazards which mandate a local guide who knows the terrain. The "East Vail Chutes" are accessible from the Vail lift "Orient Express" and the poma lift. Beware, a mistake will take you over a 60 foot cliff. You can also climb the chute so they know what they are skiing down. Do NOT ski it alone. [photo of East Vail Chutes]

Minturn Mile: In addition to the "East Vail Chutes" there is the better known "Minturn Mile" which begins at a marked Vail backcountry gate and ends at the mellow town of Minturn (on highway 24/Main Street off of I70). Its' actual length is closer to three miles from backcountry gate to Minturn. Start from the top of Game Creek chairlift 7 (or also accessible from lift 3) and ski to the backcountry gate on the Lost Boy catwalk, down the seductive hill of powder (hopefully) till the trail winds along Game Creek (base of bluff), across streams, rocks, fallen trees and hidden stumps. Eventually you get to a long a narrow gully known as the luge. Be careful here as it is narrow and there is little room to turn but lots of places to run into trees. Also make sure there is a good snow base or this trip will hit dirt. It eventually leads to Minturn or for some The Minturn Saloon.

Note that this is not within the resort of Vail and thus un-patrolled. Vail can not help you here. One bears the full responsibility of this adventure. Go with a guide who knows the route and bring the proper equipment and avalanche gear.
See the Minturn Mile video

Who needs to focus on terrain parks when this mountain has so much terrain. Boarding across this mountain is the greatest joy.

Snow Board Terrain Parks:

• Fly Zone: Features an 18 foot superpipe, jumps and rails. This is the main boarder park located by the "Riva Bahn Express" (6) lift (left side of the trail map).
• Flight School: This is an intermediate level park featuring a 13 foot half pipe. This park is located next to "Fly Zone" but has its own entrance.
• Aviator Park: Located under the "Eagle Bahn" gondola on the "Bwana" run, this terrain park has small and medium sized features for those learning and transitioning in skill.
• Sky Way Park: Located near the top of the mountain off of "Wildwood Express Lift" (3) and offers the low, close to the ground, beginner features to minimize the pain of learning.

There are two mountain base villages at Vail: Vail Village and Lionshead. Each village follows Austrian ski village and building design motifs. It certainly lets you know you are in a ski village.

Vail Village and Lionshead offer a plethora of shops especially for clothing and outdoor mountain wear. Also don't forget the town of Silverthorne off of highway 70 on the way to Vail from Denver as it has an outlet mall complex which is sure to keep any name brand queen happy.