Trip to Vail, which runs?

[MUD]

Hi all,
I have the oportunity to ride Vail this christmas for ONE day. Being that it is one day, I need to make the most of it.

I will be on my Donek FC179 (no back bowls for me) so I am looking for nice/fun groomers.

I will be with my wife who had a baby 8 months ago and is getting back into snowboarding after a 2 year "rest", so I need to stick to the less challenging (nothing above blue squares, maybe a double blue though) runs.

Thanks in advance.

[cfj04]

Avanti (sp?) is one of my favorites for just carving

[LeeW]

Avanti, Golden Peak area (get off mid chair 6 station), Simba.

Booster, got comment on this one? knowing you, you know a lot more than i do. i just know trails by name cuz of snowmaking area. BTW, real COLD this early AM as I was working out in Eagle's Nest blowing snow. minus 10. miserable, but happy to get snow made, instead of "rain snow" made in last week and before that temperatures.

[DiveBomber]

Avanti, Golden Peak area (get off mid chair 6 station), Simba.

Booster, got comment on this one? knowing you, you know a lot more than i do. i just know trails by name cuz of snowmaking area. BTW, real COLD this early AM as I was working out in Eagle's Nest blowing snow. minus 10. miserable, but happy to get snow made, instead of "rain snow" made in last week and before that temperatures.

that 20 inches disappeard REAL fast, seemed like only 10 on the closed off runs. My feet almost got frostbit today!
I never remeber the names of the runs, so sorry im no help there, BUT If you stay to the west of the lions head gondola there are some good wide runs

[boostertwo]

There are lots of good choices at Vail and you can look forward to a great carving session. Some suggestions:

Gondola:
Simba
Bwana
Born Free

Chair 2 (Avanti):
Over Easy
Mid-Vail
Lodgepole
Columbine
Picaroon (has one short black pitch)
Avanti (has one short black pitch)

Chair 3 (Wildwood):
Hunky Dory

Chair 4 (Mountain Top):
Swingsville
Ramshorn
Christmas

Chair 11 (Northwoods):
Northwoods

Chair 21 (Orient Express):
Chopstix
Poppyfields

Chair 36 (Tea Cup)
Emperor's Choice (exciting, wide, fun, black)

Chair 37 (Skyline):
Big Rock Park

Chair 39 (Pete's Express):
Grand Review



Best bet would be to pick up the daily grooming report, available at all of the base area lifts. Printed on a trail map, this would give you accurate, timely info on where the carving goods are for fresh-groomed green, blue, and black trails.

Don't dismiss the back bowls yet as there is good carving there as well (Chairs 21 & 36). Blue Sky Basin, too (Chairs 37 & 39).

Have fun. Hope to see you on the hill!

Cheers,
B-2

[LeeW]

hard to believe i seldomly ski/snowboard on my days off at vail. i mostly snowboard out at copper. in vail, im a bit odd ball. i like using snowmobiles, for snowmaking, and i really like using lodgepole to get back to central or going up the hill, or born free via post road to chair 26 and upwards. -shrugs-

[Thor VonRippington]

B2... you must have some extra time and energy to post an all inclusive list like that... VERY NICE!

MUD... B2's post is right on... let the grooming report be your guide.
I must say though... don't be afraid of the back bowls on your FC... especially China Bowl.

Do not miss this:
Chair 21 (Orient Express):
Chopstix
Poppyfields

It's always groomed (sometimes even in the middle of the day) and very easy.
There is something amazing about ridding in an open bowl of that size that just does it for me.
ENJOY!

[LeeW]

I disagree about the remark that poppyfield's always groomed. i broke my leg on alpine board on poppyfield.

[Thor VonRippington]

I disagree about the remark that poppyfield's always groomed. i broke my leg on alpine board on poppyfield.

In all the years I lived in Vail, there were always two huge chunks of area groomed daily in China Bowl. There's no reason to scare MUD out of there before he goes. Not sure how you pulled off an injury like that, but you have to admit the terain is quite mellow in that area. Think... "grooming report"

[Speedzilla]

Doug, when I was there this past Spring, I had a blast over in the Blue Sky Basin area (Big Rock Park). Although it is not the easist part of the resort to access, and who knows what conditions you will have.

The groomed parts of the Bowls can be amazing as well.

Have a great time!!

Dave

[MUD]

Thanks for all the replys guys. It will help out greatly.

I hope the snow cooperates, cross our fingers.

Don't worry, you won't scare me off, I just need it to be good for my wife, if she has fun, I have fun.

Thanks Dave, How is Buck doing? I am a little...... Disconnected right now.

[LeeW]

In all the years I lived in Vail, there were always two huge chunks of area groomed daily in China Bowl. There's no reason to scare MUD out of there before he goes. Not sure how you pulled off an injury like that, but you have to admit the terain is quite mellow in that area. Think... "grooming report"

Sheesh, why would you think I'd scare MUD out ? I simply disagree that it'd be "groomed" all the time. Relax! And yes it is mellow, unless if you accidentally steer to the far left. Moguls. Dont recall the name of the run right off poppyfield. i was hauling ass (what can i do when i had rossi 184 as my first hard boot board?) and there was a ski school standing around RIGHT in smack of the middle, and i had no way to negotiate to slow down thanks to a tree island to the left. I end up flying over the moguls and wiped out, and as you would know, bumps dont move. -snap- went my tibia. grooming report, yes, but I was waiting for a friend for over an hour and half, and i grew impatient and decided to go for a cruise. this was around 11 am. i quickly insisted for surgery when I arrived to Vail Valley hospital that afternoon around 1 pm or so.