2-17 @ Vail.

**freshie247** · 02-18-2005, 01:14 AM

Today was my 2nd day back on skis after a 5 week imprisonment on the IR.Half of the 10" they reported most likely fell yeserday,but The snow at Vail was in excellent shape; it was knee deep most everywhere.Bluebird & temperate day with only a couple of short lift lines all day.

It was wide open this morning.Sundown,Teacup,Red Square was huckable & BSB trees were sweet & creamy .

Walked out of the parking structure at the same time as a guy I haven't seen in years.Here's a couple of pics of him.

**ak_powder_monkey** · 02-18-2005, 01:16 AM

looks deep, flat but deep, quit making it hard for me to hate vail

**Superstar Punani** · 02-18-2005, 03:01 AM

Originally Posted by ak_powder_monkey

looks deep, flat but deep, quit making it hard for me to hate vail

........

**hoarhey** · 02-18-2005, 09:25 AM

Looks nice. The key at Vail is to avoid Fri-Sun.

**smmokan** · 02-18-2005, 09:26 AM

AKPM, I know I'm a newbie and all, but have you even been to Vail? If not, then please see SP's post once again.

**powderpow** · 02-18-2005, 10:12 AM

Naw, I here you AKPM, Vail sucks when it comes to steeps, but the resort does have variety. You can ride from 9-4 without hitting the same lift twice, the place is hugh and tons of fun. But as far as terrian goes you may as well ski kansas.

I was there yesterday as well and had a great day the snow in the trees was excellent. Other than that though it was most all used up like a dirty whore.

**Skidancer** · 02-18-2005, 10:41 AM

What about The Back Bowls? I haven't been yet (thinking of going Tuesday), but I heard they were steep. If I do Double Blacks all day usually will I be disappointed there? It looks from the trail map like there are some steep glades, n'est ce pas?

Really, why does everyone hate Vail????

Please don't tell me to shut the fuck up!

**kev259** · 02-18-2005, 10:54 AM

Originally Posted by Skidancer

What about The Back Bowls? I haven't been yet (thinking of going Tuesday), but I heard they were steep. If I do Double Blacks all day usually will I be disappointed there? It looks from the trail map like there are some steep glades, n'est ce pas?

Really, why does everyone hate Vail????

Please don't tell me to shut the fuck up!

Was there a month ago for the first time. Was only the for 2 days, but I didn't find the back bowls to be ultra steep or anything, nothing scared me. And I've only been skiing for 3 seasons...It is alot of fun though

**powderpow** · 02-18-2005, 12:43 PM

The back bowls are really flat. Wide open spaces, reminds me of kansas, but Vail is still fun (there are lots of little cliffs scattered through out them). For more steeper slopes stick to chair 11 and 10 (not in the back bowls).

**Tippster** · 02-18-2005, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by Skidancer

What about The Back Bowls? I haven't been yet (thinking of going Tuesday), but I heard they were steep.

Depends where. Most of Vail is pitched toward the Blue end of the "expert" spectrum. Check out Sun Down Bowl skier's right (Seldom, Never, OS) http://snow.instawatch.com/vail/BBSu...BBSundown.html
for steeper, more technical lines (there are both trees AND rocks in there.) I'm not as familiar with Blue Sky Basin, but have been told that there are some relatively exciting lines there.

Originally Posted by Skidancer

If I do Double Blacks all day usually will I be disappointed there?

"Double Blacks" where? West Virginia, then no... Tahoe - yes.

Originally Posted by Skidancer

It looks from the trail map like there are some steep glades, n'est ce pas?

Not really, but trees are trees. Chair 2 trees (Not on the map) may not be the steepest, but they're tight enough to gut check you. Same can be said for anything on the hill, since the trees are much denser than anything I've skied outside the EC.

Originally Posted by Skidancer

Really, why does everyone hate Vail????

'Cause it "sucks." Pass it on.

(If you want to shit yer pants in the Vail Area give Blurred Elevens a shout)

**Skidancer** · 02-18-2005, 12:54 PM

Thanks for the beta! I guess I may as well give it a shot!

**Blurred** · 02-18-2005, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by Tippster

(If you want to shit yer pants in the Vail Area give Blurred Elevens a shout)

Standing by with a box of Ex-Lax.....

**bagtagley** · 02-18-2005, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by Tippster

"Double Blacks" where? West Virginia, then no... Tahoe - yes.

You pick WV resorts over the trash heaps in the midwest. Is that a personal jab? Are you still mad about the rental car thing?

Hey, Shay's Revenge has a section of sustained 31 degrees for 500 vertical feet. It's icey, bumped out and completely infested w/ helpless, skis-in-their-arms, butt sliding to the bottom North Carolinians, but it's there.

Adding to the thread. I think that (on the right days) Vail has more to offer than most of the Summit County resorts. However, I'd be more inclined to continue down the road to Beaver Creek. It gets the same snow and is less crowded...and there's a tremendous collection of Bogners to giggle at.

**Skidancer** · 02-18-2005, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by BlurredElevens

Standing by with a box of Ex-Lax.....

I'm ready.......I haven't shit my pants on a run yet, and I haven't backed off of anything in the past two years (unless the rocks there were enough to eat my skis

)

I HAVE taken my skis off to hike over rocks to ski out of bounds powder at ABasin, though. Shhhhhh

If you show me where the good stuff is at Vail, I'll promise to tell everyone it sucks and to stay far away!

**Ireallyliketoski2** · 02-18-2005, 03:06 PM

The ski back to vail village from the back bowls always makes me shit my pants.

**freshie247** · 02-18-2005, 04:15 PM

Anything bordering on steep at Vail is very short:Prima cornice,Red Square,Genghis.There are cliffs to huck,& the place is enormous.Vail gets more snow than most of the front range resorts,& is wide open,hence the appeal.BC is much steeper,but it takes at least twice as much snow to have a powder day that isn't hard underneath.I've never skied my fat skis at the Beav.

Before fat skis & the drought,I was a pitch epicure(read snob).Now,I would rather ski lower angle powder than dust on crust ice bumps,that's just my preference.

ALta & the Bird are very unique in the fact that they get volumous enough amounts of powder to cover the steep slopes.I have a Vail Sucks shirt from the early 90's.I've come to love skiing Vail on a powder day.It certainly isn't Alta,but then again,what place is!

**Blurred** · 02-18-2005, 04:20 PM

Originally Posted by freshie247

It certainly isn't Alta,but then again,what place is!

Vail/BC backcountry minus the 125 douchebags on the high traverse, and bump skiing at 9:05 am.

**shugs** · 02-18-2005, 04:23 PM

Ok, I must say that the Back Bowls are horrible. Yes, its a way to escape the crowd and find good snow, but its flat and the Cat-Tracks suck. I have been to Vail more than any other mountain this year besides Kirkwood, but its a pain gettin over there. I guess I'll hit up Chair 10 and 11 you guys are talking about because I'm sick of these wide groomers.

Why does this mountain and everyone that goes there talk about these legendary back bowls? What makes them so cool?

**Below Zero** · 02-18-2005, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by shugs

Why does this mountain and everyone that goes there talk about these legendary back bowls? What makes them so cool?

Sounds like you got everything figured out!

The back bowls are not cool. That's why you should do laps off of Chair #10 all day. Don't ever go back there - EVER!

**homerjay** · 02-18-2005, 04:59 PM

Aside from the evils of VA as a corporation, this 'Vail Sucks' debate is beat. If you don't like it, don't ski there.

Z · 02-19-2005, 05:36 PM

Vail is sick...the back bowls are not....

Vail is a pretty interesting place, full of gapers on the weekends/not so good days....but midweek when the snow is good, the rippers come out in full force....

P.s. thursday was SICK, didnt see a cloud all day.....you see a black full-face, big orange iggies around??

**freshie247** · 02-19-2005, 06:15 PM

I just might have.

**MOHSHSIHd** · 02-19-2005, 07:23 PM

Vail is nasty monday-thursday......otherwise its a fucking shitshow...

but mid-week pow days cant be beat....if you know where to look there is lots of good shit to be had, and since its so big you find new stuff all the time...

yes, last wed-thursday were killer....wed morning i had a 2 hour ski break from 8-10 first tracks all over, crotch deep in alot of spots...

was just dumping really hard here a few minutes ago...