 Poster: A snowHead
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Got a wicked deal for Vail for ten nights - nine days skiing. Me and partner are int/adv skiiers but never had the opportunity fpr that much off piste. I know there is a lot of lift accessed off piste in vail but is there enough mileage to keep us going for nine days bearing in mind we've been to large scale European resorts (but never covered all the terrain before!!)??
Cheers
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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yes should be fine, if you find it's restrictive there are plenty of other places to ski close by.....
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I did 2 weeks there and didn't scratch the surface, the back bowls are amazing, the snow is fantastic and dry and it's just a magnificent place. If you get bored you could spend half a day on the bobsleigh run or take the short hop over to Beaver Creek which I really enjoyed.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I feel you're asking the wrong question.
Sure, Vail has lots of pisted runs, but that's not why people rave about Vail.
Take a lesson, if neccessary. But DO go off-piste.
If you only want to stay on piste, stay in Europe. It's not worth flying all the way over just to ski the same, only smaller.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Sage advice abc, I think both myself and partner want to start hitting the off piste and as far as I can Vail is well suited. You've confirmed my thoughts cheers
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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| willd wrote: |
Got a wicked deal for Vail for ten nights - nine days skiing. Me and partner are int/adv skiiers but never had the opportunity fpr that much off piste. I know there is a lot of lift accessed off piste in vail but is there enough mileage to keep us going for nine days bearing in mind we've been to large scale European resorts (but never covered all the terrain before!!)??
Cheers |
In most North American ski hills, the trails represent a small percentage of the skiable terrain. It's all about exploring off trail, and Vail has some great bowls and trees to explore. There's a huge amount of terrain, but you have to go find it - get a lesson/guide, or just follow locals/tracks and you'll end up in places of fun! And when it snows, hit the back bowls early to get fresh lines and before the sun bakes the pow and makes it heavy.
Use trails only to get on and off lifts
It's a different attitude to Euro mega-resorts piste skiing. 
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Last edited by Then you can post your own questions or snow reports... on Sat 14-07-07 23:14; edited 1 time in total
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Check out Beaver Creek too
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I am with gortonator, the difference is not in the terrain but in the "attitude".
-- Because of the aggresive avi control, more terrain are available for the average skier in N. America after a storm. (In N. America, the concept of "off-piste" doesn't exist.)
-- Without need for guides and avi kits, most powder will get tracked out rather quickly in ALL N. America. Not so in many European resorts, with a few exceptions. So it's good and bad for each.
-- Also in N. America, they leave a lot of the piste un-groomed after a storm. As a result, (soft) moguls forms. Again, depending on your "attitude", it can be seen as "better" or "worse".
There're a lot more...
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| abc wrote: |
I am with gortonator, the difference is not in the terrain but in the "attitude".
-- Because of the aggresive avi control, more terrain are available for the average skier in N. America after a storm. (In N. America, the concept of "off-piste" doesn't exist.)
-- Without need for guides and avi kits, most powder will get tracked out rather quickly in ALL N. America. Not so in many European resorts, with a few exceptions. So it's good and bad for each.
-- Also in N. America, they leave a lot of the piste un-groomed after a storm. As a result, (soft) moguls forms. Again, depending on your "attitude", it can be seen as "better" or "worse".
There're a lot more... |
I know how it is in NA I been skiing all over there appx 28yrs inc 3 seasons
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You know it makes sense.
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stanton, for me the higher tree line is the big difference in the US.
willd, In the very unlikely event of you getting really bored, you can drive about an hour to the summit county resorts, but I would prefer to stay in vail, with a day maybe in Beaver Creek.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Thanks for the feedback guys, couple of questions.
1. With the controlled backcountry do you still need transievers etc or is it safe as in piste safe. Never skiied much off piste so wondering whether to get tuition and extra equipment.
2. Is it best to buy this kit or hire it.
cheers
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Poster: A snowHead
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willd, for the inbounds off-piste, you don't need avy kit. If you are going outside the ski area, then you do.
Basically, if the bowls and BSB are open, then they are considered safe.
It is worth getting a lesson or two when you are out there, apart from anything else, an instructor will probably take you places you might not have gone on your own.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| willd wrote: |
Thanks for the feedback guys, couple of questions.
1. With the controlled backcountry do you still need transievers etc or is it safe as in piste safe. Never skiied much off piste so wondering whether to get tuition and extra equipment.
2. Is it best to buy this kit or hire it.
cheers |
As long as you're in bounds, the 'if you can see it, you can ski rule' applies. All safe. It's pretty obvious when you get there. There's lines and locals everywhere, so check out some lines that don't look too scary and get practicing. Off the trails is where the fun is, believe me  .
And it opens up a huge ski area. You can find terrain you like off a chair, and do laps for a while picking different lines each time. Different mentality to Euro piste skiing/touring, but I'm sure you'll get used to it!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| willd wrote: |
Got a wicked deal for Vail for ten nights - nine days skiing. Me and partner are int/adv skiiers but never had the opportunity fpr that much off piste. I know there is a lot of lift accessed off piste in vail but is there enough mileage to keep us going for nine days bearing in mind we've been to large scale European resorts (but never covered all the terrain before!!)??
Cheers |
Vail has circa 300km of onpiste.
It has 3 or 4 backbowls and plenty of offpiste.
The onpiste is not as extensive as, say, the 3 Valleys (600km). The offpiste is less commonplace than, say, St Anton and Verbier.
But there is still more than enough to keep most people occupied for 9 days.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Another question for vail'ers. Read a review which moaned about lift queues. Are they bad or just bad by USA standards. I have never been to the states and was under the impression that generally queues in the states are smaller than france etc etc. Someone please tell me I have been missinformed.
cheers Will
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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willd, they can be bad by US standards at times, but not bad by Euro ones.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Is half an hour "bad" bu Euro standard? How about 20 min?
It is consider "bad" by US standard.
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| willd wrote: |
Another question for vail'ers. Read a review which moaned about lift queues. Are they bad or just bad by USA standards. I have never been to the states and was under the impression that generally queues in the states are smaller than france etc etc. Someone please tell me I have been missinformed.
cheers Will |
I was there early/mid Feb, so not peak season, but quite busy as snow/weather were excellent. Midweek there are a couple of choke points as everyone heads up the front side lifts about 9am - longest line we had was maybe 10 mins at one lift up to top of ridge. Then once over into the back bowls, no waiting at all at any lift and rest of day clear everywhere.
I'm sure if you're there at Xmas/NY or Presidents week, or maybe late Feb/March (is that high season?), it may be busier? So when ya going?
But at most ski hills with a bit of planning its easy to avoid crowds. Get to the lifts at 8.30, straight over to back bowls, ski hard until 11 when crowds get there. Have lunch. Come out at 12 when everyone else has lunch, etc etc. Such tactics rarely fail anywhere, and you get the best snow - we employ them at Whistler and never wait in line.
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| Wear The Fox Hat wrote: |
willd, for the inbounds off-piste, you don't need avy kit. If you are going outside the ski area, then you do.
Basically, if the bowls and BSB are open, then they are considered safe.
It is worth getting a lesson or two when you are out there, apart from anything else, an instructor will probably take you places you might not have gone on your own. |
Wasn't there a fatal inbounds avalanche at Loveland last season? (on the trail, not off piste)
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| Bode Swiller wrote: |
| Wear The Fox Hat wrote: |
willd, for the inbounds off-piste, you don't need avy kit. If you are going outside the ski area, then you do.
Basically, if the bowls and BSB are open, then they are considered safe.
It is worth getting a lesson or two when you are out there, apart from anything else, an instructor will probably take you places you might not have gone on your own. |
Wasn't there a fatal inbounds avalanche at Loveland last season? (on the trail, not off piste) |
poo-poo happens - and i seem to remember people dying on-piste from avis in Europe too on occasions.
Trees and tree wells are much more dangerous inbounds in NA than avis. And other people ...
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