Beaver Creek opens with 720 acres

Beaver Creek opened for the season on Wednesday, Nov. 25, offering more than 720 acres of skiable terrain — the most on opening day since the 2002 ski season. The resort opens as a slow-moving snowstorm rolls into the state over the next five days.

Vail and Beaver Creek aren’t expected to see big snow totals, according to Opensnow.com, but winter weather should keep conditions soft and skiable for the foreseeable future, and there’s a chance of yet another storm heading into the state next week.

Also on Wednesday, Vail opening another 200 acres of terrain, bringing its total available acreage to 1,360. Vail added Gopher Hill (#12), Sourdough Express (#14), Cascade Village Lift (#20) and two magic carpets, and also added dining options at Two Elk Lodge. The resort has been open since Friday, Nov. 20.

But the big news in the Vail Valley this week is the opening of Beaver Creek. Here’s the full Beaver Creek opens press release from Vail Resorts:

Today (Wednesday, Nov. 25) marks the official opening day for Beaver Creek Resort.  Skiers and riders will enjoy more than 720 acres of terrain – the most terrain offered on opening day since 2002.

Season to date, the resort has already received more than 50 inches of natural snowfall; and home to one of North America’s most sophisticated snowmaking infrastructures, Beaver Creek has benefited from ideal snowmaking conditions throughout opening day preparation.

“Early-season snowfall combined with snowmaking efforts have made for extraordinary opening day conditions,” said Doug Lovell, chief operating officer for Beaver Creek.  “We’re looking forward to offering guests superb skiing and riding, as well as a wide variety of terrain on the main mountain and in Bachelor Gulch.  We’re thrilled to welcome the 2015-2016 season.”

Opening day invites guests to access all levels of terrain beginning at 9 a.m. via:

Buckaroo Gondola (Lift #1)                Rose Bowl Express (Lift #4)
Centennial Express (Lift #6)               Cinch Express (Lift #8)
Strawberry Park Express (Lift #12)       Bachelor Gulch Express (Lift #16)

A variety of beginner surface lifts will also be available, including GoldBahn, SilverBahn, KerchBahn, BibberBahn, RitzBahn, and Magic Carpet.

Rose Bowl Express will include access to advanced terrain favorites such as Ripsaw, Cataract, and sections of Spider; popular beginner and intermediate trails in Bachelor Gulch will include Sawbuck, Gunder’s and Cabin Fever, as well as others.

Opening Day Presents 5,000 Chocolate Chip Cookies
Opening day will also host one of Beaver Creek’s most-anticipated traditions – the 12^th Annual World’s Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Competition.  Tasting and judging begins at 2 p.m. in the Beaver Creek Village, during which 5,000 gourmet chocolate chip cookies will be served.  Participation is complimentary and all guests are invited.  Announced at 3 p.m. as People’s Choice, the winner will receive coveted bragging rights as well as fame and glory on Beaver Creek’s Cookie Competition page and $1,000.  “Our recipe is 14 years in the making,” said Schariar Milfeld, a Battle Mountain High School senior and Avon, CO resident. Ms. Milfeld’s recipe, 14ers, is one of the five finalists. “My dad and I have been perfecting the recipe for 14 years and we’re surrounded by 14,000-foot peaks, so we named the recipe ‘14ers’.”  Immediately following the winning recipe, Beaver Creek’s daily tradition, Cookie Time, will offer additional freshly-baked gourmet chocolate chip cookies.

Chocolate chip cookies are Beaver Creek’s perennial tradition and in addition to the annual competition, the resort’s cherished Cookie Time will continue to serve warm, freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies daily at 3 p.m. – during which time chefs stroll throughout the Beaver Creek Village with silver platters of the signature treat, offering them to all guests and passersby.  Beaver Creek’s Cookie Time serves more than 500,000 cookies each year.

Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony Scheduled for Friday, Nov. 27
Beaver Creek’s 35^th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony ushers in another world-class ski season and the beginning of the holiday season at Beaver Creek.  The Tree Lighting Ceremony features a holiday poetry contest, ice skating show, performances by various artists, an early visit from Santa Claus, and spectacular fireworks over the Beaver Creek Village.