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By Jack Afflect/Vail Resorts
Headline RSS FeedEpic conditions on Vail Mountain
January 8, 2008 —
I don’t bandy about the word “epic” too often. It’s ski-town hyperbole that’s become so commonplace it’s lost its true meaning.
But Monday on Vail Mountain – Day 21 of my ’07-08 season – was indeed epic. After consistent snowfall all day Saturday and Sunday and another 6 to 8 inches overnight Sunday, Monday was the day. The best conditions so far in this young ski season.
And the good news is the snow is still falling. Skies were clear in the a.m. Monday, lending impeccable visibility to Back Bowls loaded with 16 inches of new snow in the previous 48 hours.
But by about 1 p.m. the clouds rolled back in and light snow started falling until around 8 p.m. Monday, when the heavens opened up once again and deposited another 4 inches or so as of this writing at 11 p.m. A winter storm watch was in effect for another hour or so.
So Tuesday could be equally as epic as Monday, and forecasters are calling for light snow off and on the rest of the week. Get up here or out here if you can, because you never know when Mother Nature is going to close the spigot.
I started my epic day on Monday by busting up Chair 3 and charging out the traverse to Seldom in Sun Down Bowl. I usually hit the tree line on Seldom but opted for the cliff bands between Seldom and Widge’s and did not regret the choice.
It was knee to thigh deep, cold and fluffy.
The next run I was hooking up with a friend at Mid-Vail, so I rode Chair 5 and dashed down Zot, which was virtually untouched right down the middle of the run (I actually recorded my first legit face shot of the season). Once I joined my buddy we jumped on Chair 4 and hit Head Wall into Sun Up Bowl, then Chair 17 to a tree run that shall remain unnamed for unstated reasons.
After that it was two or three Genghis Khans a couple of Rasputins and a Blue Ox to the bottom. Seriously good stuff, folks, and I hope you’re able get up and sample a bit of it. The holiday crowds have dissipated and the snow just keeps sifting down. Come get it.
1 Comment on "Epic conditions on Vail Mountain"
G. Block — January 8, 2008
It's snowing again tonight down valley in Avon, so maybe those forecasters are getting right this time around. Great photos by the way!
