How to Ski Vail on a Busy Day

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By Allen Smith
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A great day of skiing at Vail requires knowing all of the secrets...

Vail Mountain in Colorado's central Rockies is one of the largest ski resorts in North America and on a busy day it can accommodate over 21,000 skiers and snowboarders. That's the good news. The bad news is that even with over 5,200 skiable acres, it can still get crowded.

This article will tell you how to beat the crowds while skiing Vail on a busy day. But, don't tell anyone else...

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

An alarm clock
A season pass or lift tickets purchased in advance
Lots of energy

Step 1

The secret to getting the most out of skiing Vail Mountain is to get started early, so set your alarm clock! Try to get on the first chair at 8:30 AM from the Golden Peak base area.
Step 2

Ride the Riva Bahn Express (chair 6) out of Golden Peak to the top, then transfer to the Northwoods Express (chair 11) and ride it to the top of the mountain. In 2 short rides, you'll be looking over the back bowls.
Step 3

Push off and cruise down Milt's Face or The Slot and take the Sunup Lift (chair 17) to the top of the mountain.
Step 4

Head down Jade Glade or Ghenghis Khan and ski toward Blue Sky Basin, past the bottom of the Orient Express lift (chair 21).
Step 5

Ski in Blue Sky Basin until lunch time, then begin heading back. Have a late lunch at Two Elk Restaurant before heading back to your hotel room.

Tips & Warnings

Always wake up early and try to catch the first chair. Many visitors from other parts of the world sleep in and don't get started until after 10:00 AM.
If possible, start out at Golden Peak. You'll only need to take 2 chairlift rides to get to the top of the mountain and the back bowls.
Always buy your lift ticket or ski pass at least a day in advance--you never want to spend valuable skiing time waiting in line.
Avoid skiing out of Vail Village. It's crowded and you have to take 2 crowded chairs (that includes long lift lines) to get to the top.
Never waste time standing in line for your lift ticket the morning you want to ski.
Stay away from the mid-Vail area until the late afternoon when people have already headed for home.