Spring Skiing at Vail

If this New England winter has you craving deep snow and Rocky Mountain high sunshine…now is the time to plan your spring ski trip. Colorado in April is just the ticket. I highly recommend this western trip timing as a fabulous finale to your Eastern season, providing big mountain skiing to look forward to all winter long (just in case).

Simply put, April in Colorado is when the sun is high, the snowpack is midwinter deep and the deals are cheap. As skier visits to mega-resorts like Vail dwindle, you definitely get more acreage for your buck - lift tickets and lodging prices hit season lows. The ski conditions are typically excellent at high elevation areas, Vail’s base is 8,200’ and summit is 11,570’. It can be wintry at the mountaintop while its 60-degrees and sunny in the valleys below.

We started our April ski week at beautiful Beaver Creek ski resort, a 10-minute drive from sister resort Vail, on an interchangeable multi-day lift ticket. Beaver Creek was celebrating closing weekend with unbelievable ski conditions on most of the 1,625-acres (typical closing date April 15, due to lack of skiers, not snow). Even on closing day, we witnessed the groomers’ waltz as Beaver Creek’s legendary fleet of 10 was out in perfect procession creating white carpet for the fortunate few. Everything at 25-year old Beaver Creek is posh, planned and near perfection– it’s the Deer Valley of Colorado.

Beaver Creek even offers an escalator to whisk skiers from the heated pedestrian village up to the slopes. You have to experience The Beav’ to appreciate their slogan: “Not exactly roughing it.” It is one of my faves, most of their 146 trails are well-pitched and their mountain lodges are drool-inducing impressive – you can even ski to the Ritz Carlton for lunch. In the evening, treat your taste buds to Toscanini, a fabulous restaurant overlooking the centerpiece ice-skating rink in Beaver Creek’s classy Village.

Our next three days we attempted to conquer the immense inimitable Vail, the king of Colorado skiing. Vail claims that on a busy day there are four skiers per acre amongst their 5,289-acres and 34 lifts (including a whopping 14 high-speed quads). In April, we found ourselves in Vail’s 3,000-acre Back Bowls without another skier in sight – more like 1,000-acres per person. It felt like they were running the lifts at the backside Blue Sky Basin just for us, a little eerie but something I could easily get used too – particularly the morning we scored seven-inches of fresh powder.

Surprisingly, Beaver Creek, Vail and sibling Breckenridge were all near full operation right up till closing, with all but a few lifts running, and trails blanketed in white, many groomed daily. Mind you, we lucked out with record snow, and we followed the daily grooming report (a must this time of year) and carved the cord trails first. It gets cold at night at 10,000’ so unless you like concrete crud, stick to the machine manicured until the sun softens the corn and the bumps on Prima and Pronto (around 11am). Vail is notorious for its size, but also for grooming up to1,600-acres each night with 29 groomers, more than any resort on the planet.

Another bonus of spring skiing in Colorado, since the tourists are decidedly absent –the locals come out to play. You know you’re in the zone when there is sun, snow and locals on the slopes. Share a chair with a native for a spot of sunscreen and tips on where to shop and dine, and of course, drink.

When the snow got squishy in the afternoons, we strolled the plentiful shops lining the European style Vail village. We discovered a few phenomenal end-of-season sales and happened upon several happy hour specials. The best deal had to be $2.99 night at the Minturn Country Club – that’s the price for a NY Strip Steak, cook it yourself over the central grill.

In the evening, we walked the ski village to the tune of live music of Spring Back to Vail concert series, a free band plays in Vail Village on Wednesday nights. I liked that this “nightlife” was early enough (6pm) for families and tired skiers (me). I also loved the outdoor venue, Colorado sun shines strong in springtime and people turn out in shorts, sunglasses and t-shirts for an après ski block party. Its worth mention that Vail is amidst a billion dollar (yup, billion) facelift to its Vail Square and Lion’s Head base areas.

Staying in Vail, day trips are easy to Breckenridge, Arapahoe Basin, and Loveland – all known for their late season skiing. We drove the 40-minutes to Breckenridge to ride the new Imperial Express quad, the highest chairlift in North America, reaching 12,840 feet. The Imperial lift accesses 400-acres of expert terrain (over 900-vertical that extremists used to hike for). This new high-speed quad brings Breck's lift total to 28 and bumps its otherwise tame terrain by 25 percent –giving it some needed edge and supreme views of the panoramic Ten Mile Range.

On our return to Denver airport, we made our season-concluding turns at Loveland. You can’t miss Loveland - since the I-70 skiers’ highway and Eisenhower Tunnel slice right through the ski area, so does the Continental Divide. Loveland’s facilities are retro, so are spring skiing ticket prices. But locals love Loveland for the 12,700’ high alpine terrain of 1,365-acres and the long season. Be sure to check out the skiers tunnel under the Interstate – a crazy contraption.

Traveling out west for April vacation could become your new family tradition. Admittedly, we scored with fresh snow, and 60-degree Colorado sunshine. Prolong your season, make your last tracks on big mountain snow, save serious dough over February fares, and soak up the sun - even if it is a turtleneck tan.

All Stories by Heather Burke
All Photography by Greg Burke

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