The Must-Read Guide of Vail, Colorado

Vail's iconic village with the Gore Range Mountains capturing the sunset in Vail, CO. Photo- Craig Orsini, Vail Resorts. The Must-Read Guide to Vail.

The Must-Read Guide of Vail, Colorado- Where to Stay, how to ski the Mountain, Where to Eat and Drink.

Vail is one of the most renown ski resorts in the world. It was one of these resorts I always wanted to visit when I was young growing up in Argentina. Luck struck me and I was able to visit several times, and also worked for Vail Resorts long time ago now. International visitors always want to visit either Vail or Aspen. Those are the famous resorts they know. This made me then put together the Must-Read Guide to Vail to help you organise your trip to this grand resort!

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Vail's 10th Mountain Division skier. Photo: Vicky Galarraga. @vickydevail. The Must-Read Guide to Vail.
Vail’s 10th Mountain Division skier. Photo: Vicky Galarraga. @vickydevail. The Must-Read Guide to Vail, Colorado.

The History of Vail

Ute Indians used to settle within this territory in the summer. They used to travel to the most arid lands on the west during winter. The Utes used to call the Gore Range that overlooked the valley the “Shinning Mountains”.
Came WWII and the United States created a training center called Camp Hale. Here the 10th Mountain Division trained for alpine combat. They went on to fight on the Mountains of Northern Italy. When they came back, they were the force to develop the ski industry in the USA.
One veteran of the 10th Mountain Division, Peter Seibert, came back to Colorado. He joined the Aspen Ski Patrol and Ski School. Then he went on to become the manager of Loveland Basin Ski Area. At that moment, Seibert and Earl Eaton start looking on developing a new ski resort in the Rockies.
Eaton was local to Colorado and started skiing when young. By 1940, he was ski racing in Aspen while working for the Civilian Conservation Corps in Glenwood. In 1957, he and Seibert climbed Vail Mountain in winter and realised of its potential as a ski area.
Friends Skiing Groomed Terrain in Vail, CO.. Photo: Daniel Milchev. Vail Resorts. The Must-Read Guide to Vail.
Friends Skiing Groomed Terrain in Vail, CO.. Photo: Daniel Milchev. Vail Resorts. The Must-Read Guide to Vail.
Vail Mountain Wooden Clock, painting by Martina Diez-Routh in soft pastels, pan pastels and pastel pencils on pastel paper 80x60cm unframed, on sale framed.
Vail Mountain Wooden Clock, painting by Martina Diez-Routh in soft pastels, pan pastels and pastel pencils on pastel paper 80x60cm unframed, on sale framed in a wooden light rustic wood frame. Actually exhibiting at the QC Terme hotel in Courmayeur Mont Blanc. See it in my shop here.

74 Employees from Vail stuck at Eagle Bahn Gondola- now evacuated.

Eagle Bahn gondola. Photo from LiftBlog. 74 Employees from Vail stuck at Eagle Bahn Gondola- now evacuated.

74 Employees from Vail stuck at Eagle Bahn Gondola- now evacuated.

The Eagle Bahn gondola in Vail Mountain broke down Wednesday morning at 8.35 AM with employees going up to Eagle Nest.

From Vail Daily

Vail Resorts employees going to Eagle’s Nest had to be evacuated on Wednesday morning when the Eagle Bahn gondola stopped. The employees were evacuated safely by Vail Ski Patrol.

Vail's Eagle Bahn gondola evaluation. Photo from Michael Shellenberger. Vail Daily.
Vail’s Eagle Bahn gondola evaluation. Photo from Michael Shellenberger. Vail Daily.

The gondola was not open to the public at that time and was only uploading the employees to get to work in the morning. The gondola and all Epic Discovery activities were closed for the day.

The company states that whatever has caused the gondola to stop will be fixed before re-opening. The Eagle Bahn Gondola was not opened today 4th July, but instead Gondola One out of Vail Village will be open for access via shuttle and hiking from Mid Vail to Eagle’s Nest for the Epic Discovery Activities, on-mountain dining and dinner at the Game Creek Restaurant. There will not be bike hauling availability.

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Vail opens Legendary Back Bowls

Tom Cohen Photo. Vail Resorts. Vail opens Legendary Back Bowls.

Vail to open Legendary Back Bowls. Resort Opens Portions of Sun Up and Sun Down Bowls

Vail Mountain has opened its legendary Back Bowls, providing access to portions of Sun Up and Sun Down bowls via High Noon Express (#5) and Sun Up Express (#9). Vail is now offering 2,166 acres of skiable terrain, with more anticipated to open this week.

Tom Cohen Photo. Vail Resorts. Vail opens Legendary Back Bowls.
Tom Cohen Photo. Vail Resorts. Vail opens Legendary Back Bowls.

This marks the third time in the last decade that the Back Bowls have opened this early. In 2014, the Back Bowls opened on Nov. 26, in time for Thanksgiving, and in 2010, portions of the Back Bowls opened on Nov. 24. The earliest the Back Bowls have opened this century was on Nov. 16, 2002.

“We are excited to open a portion of the Back Bowls this early in the season and are thankful that we were able to provide that legendary experience for our Thanksgiving holiday guests,” said Doug Lovell, Vail chief operating officer. “Vail has had a strong start to the season, with a foot of snow in the last 48 hours and almost six feet of snow this season. We are definitely experiencing mid-winter conditions.”

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Save the Date: Vail Snow Days is Back and Bigger Than Ever

Gondola One - Gold Cabin - photo by Jack Affleck - Vail Mountain. Emma, the World's First Digital Mountain Assistant, Kicks Off the 2018-19 Winter Season in Beta at Keystone Ski Resort

Vail Snow Days kicks off the 2018-19 winter season and returns bigger than ever with a four-day festival Thursday, Dec. 13 through Sunday, Dec. 16, 2018.
Vail Snow Days brings the entire community together to celebrate the early season. The schedule of activities for Vail Snow Days 2018 will include time-honored early season traditions including, the return of headliner concerts Friday and Saturday as well as new events including, the Pray for Snow Kick-off Celebration, pub crawls, and Bloodies and Bluegrass on Sunday.

Vail SnowDaze - Michael Franti. Photo Zach Mahone- Vail Mountain. Vail Snow Days.
Vail SnowDaze – Michael Franti. Photo Zach Mahone- Vail Mountain. Vail Snow Days.

The four-day festival will feature two nights of free concerts at Ford Park, presented by Bud Light. Big name headliners will be announced this fall and guests will have the opportunity to purchase Private Reserve VIP tickets.
The launch of Savor Vail will debut with early season offerings from local restaurants, bars, retail locations, galleries and spas.

Snow Days LIVE! will showcase live music all weekend long between Vail and Lionshead Villages as well as on-mountain.

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