As I think back to all of the ski areas I’ve visited over the years, there’s one resort that seems to keep pulling me back. I first skied at Colorado’s Vail Resort in 1998, and since then, my skis have found their way to Vail’s slopes every few years. Today’s Six-Pack revisits Firsthand Reports I wrote over the years after visits to Vail.
You can only experience Vail’s legendary 7-mile wide Back Bowls once for the first time, and my first time was in January, 1998. Getting to Vail in the middle of a 17-inch, avalanche-causing snowstorm was an adventure in itself. Once there, the adventure continued with another foot of fresh powder.
Ah, the great American Road Trip. After racking up thousands of miles on multi-week summer road trips, in 2003, I decided to embark on a mid-winter road trip, documenting my adventures on DCSki along the way. Of course, my trip took me through Colorado, and while there I swung by Vail for three days of skiing. I began chronicling my time at Vail in Part 1 of a two-part series…
… and concluded the trip recap in Part 2 of the series, where I described the recently-built Blue Sky Basin expansion at Vail.
Is it possible to visit Vail without skiing? Indeed it is. While Vail’s winter season is long, Fall at Vail is a magical time not to be missed. It’s a relaxed time, with perfect weather, golden aspen trees, and discounted food and lodging. In this Firsthand Report, I described a Fall visit, where I had a chance to explore the newly-revitalized Lionshead base village.
During a trip out west in 2013, I had a chance to visit Vail for one day. One day really isn’t enough time to experience Vail, but I ">“>made the most of the visit — skiing during the day, snow tubing in the evening, and exploring the Vail Village at night.
During the winter of 2018, I was once again on a road trip, but I saved some time by flying to Nevada and beginning my road trip there vs. driving allll the way across the plains. And, once again on this road trip, I swung by Vail. Once again, I only had one day at Vail, but made the most of it.
M. Scott Smith is the founder and Editor of DCSki. Scott loves outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, kayaking, skiing, and mountain biking. He is an avid photographer and writer.
There are no reader comments on this article yet.
Join the conversation by logging in.
Don't have an account? Create one here.