USA Vail Ski Holidays

Oh and did we mention Vail's 30ft of dry fluffy powder snow a season and an average of 300 days of sunshine a year? We love Vail - we know you will too.

Skiing in Vail

The Front Face is bordered in the east by 'Two Elk Lodge' and in the west by 'Game Creek Bowl.' Depending on where you are staying you can conveniently access the Front Face from Golden Peak, Vail Village, Lionshead or Cascade Village. These are all high speed lifts, do not expect to be waiting long, all lifts are well staffed and highly organised, do expect to hear the cheery 'How's it going?' several times a day!

The area around the Eagle Bahn Gondola offers pleasing intermediate terrain, Born Free is one long cruise from top to bottom, as are Simba and Bwana. It is possible to zip happily up and down on the gondola for several hours without repeating the same run. Mid-Vail has a series of highly-caffeinated runs, Espresso and Cappuccino - nice short little blasts.

Two Elk Lodge is the perfect place to stop for lunch, it is an enormous pine lodge, with Native American artefacts hanging tastefully on the walls and cathedral windows framing the mountain peaks. As ever in Vail everything clips along at an efficient pace and the food is more imaginative than the ever-present chilli cheese dog. Details are never over-looked in Vail, only here would one find a hair-dryer for the glamorous ski clientele in the lodge restrooms.

Now the serious stuff. Take your pick of the Back Bowls; China Bowl, Tea Cup Bowl, Sun Up, Sun Down, Siberia, Inner or Outer Mongolia?

Make your choice according to conditions, and then make your mark on Vail's legendary powder. This is pre-dominantly black diamond terrain, though whilst classed as black the bowls are mostly open, wide expanses that will not pose a problem to the majority of intermediates. China Bowl does have a blue run, Poppyfields, which is a good route over to Blue Sky Basin. It takes you direct to the Skyline Express, ride this to Belle's Camp, at the summit of Blue Sky Basin. At this point you are six miles out from Vail Village and there is a palpable wilderness feel in the air. Highlights in Blue Sky are: taking the plunge and jumping over the ledge on to Lover's Leap, a wonderfully steep and challenging run that will certainly get the adrenaline flowing - a killer on the legs and a test of concentration and stamina! Or try Grand Review and The Star accessed from Pete's Express, less exerting but just as worthwhile, make long sweeping turns through the trees and enjoy the views.

Vail In The Media

Independent: America's Epic Pass offers a jam-packed ski holiday of a lifetime
Ben Mondy