China Bowl, Blue Sky, Snow Daze, powder storm all on tap for weekend at Vail

Vail will open more terrain in its Back Bowls on Thursday, the ski company announced on Tuesday, just in time for a significant winter storm to arrive on Friday.

Parts of China Bowl and Blue Sky Basin will open on Thursday, and the annual Snow Daze free concert series kicks off with major headliner acts on Friday and Saturday nights in Vail Village.

“Light snow with minimal accumulations will fall in the northern mountains on Tuesday morning, and this should happen again on Wednesday night. Otherwise, most of the time through Thursday night will be dry,” Opensnow.com meteorologist Joel Gratz wrote on Tuesday. “Then one storm will bring heavy snow on Friday and Friday night, with another storm likely early next week. The best powder days will likely be Friday, Saturday, and next Tuesday and Wednesday.”

Bonfire Dub opens up for Big Head Todd and the Monsters Friday night at Solaris, and Nick Bluhm and the Gramblers opens up for JJ Grey & Mofro on Saturday night at Solaris. All the shows are free of charge.

On Thursday, Vail’s open, skiable terrain will expand to more than 3,000 acres: Here’s the full press release from Vail Resorts:

With winter in full force and snow in the forecast for the upcoming weekend, Vail Mountain will open portions of China Bowl and Blue Sky Basin to the public on Thursday, boosting the open acreage to 3,078. Vail’s celebration of the 2015-2016 ski and snowboard season will continue into the weekend with its annual Vail Snow Daze on Dec. 11-13.

In China Bowl, the resort will open terrain accessible from Two Elk and the top of the Orient Express Lift (#21), including the area from Poppyfields West to Shangri-La. Terrain open in Blue Sky Basin will include Champagne Glade in Earl’s Bowl to Iron Mask in Pete’s Bowl, and Grand Review to Resolution in Pete’s Bowl. Access for skiers and snowboarders headed to Blue Sky Basin will be available through the China Bowl gates at Two Elk and via Sleepytime Road from Sun Up Bowl through Tea Cup Bowl. The Orient Express Lift (#21), the Tea Cup Express (#36), the Skyline Express (#37), and the Pete’s Express (#39) will all be open.

“Vail Mountain has had an incredible start to the 2015-2016 season, and we’re excited to open up China Bowl and Blue Sky Basin for our guests,” said Chris Jarnot, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Vail Mountain. “Opening this additional terrain, combined with the atmosphere of Vail Snow Daze should make for an unbelievable weekend and a great lead up to the holidays.”

Snow Daze – Dec. 11-13, 2015
Vail is continuing its celebration of the start of winter with snow, après, and free concerts at Vail Snow Daze from Dec. 11-13. After a day spent exploring the mountain, visit the sponsor expo village and demo the latest gear, après at parties throughout the village, and wrap up the night with free live concerts. Bonfire Dub joins Big Head Todd and the Monsters to perform a free show on Friday, Dec. 11 presented by Pepsi. Nicki Bluhm and The Gramblers will open for JJ Grey & Mofro at a free concert on Saturday, Dec. 12 presented by Bud Light. Information is available at www.vail.com/snowdaze.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10

Bud Light Aprés Party at Vendetta’s, Vail Village, 4-6 p.m.

*Chance to win a VIP pass for Vail Snow Daze

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11

Vendor Expo Village, Base of Gondola One in Vail Village, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Aprés Party at The Tavern on Vail Square at The Arrabelle in Lionshead

• Live music and $5 Bud and Bud Light Drafts from 3-6 p.m.

Aprés Party at Express Lift at the Base of Gondola One in Vail Village

• $3 Bud Light Bottles from 3-6 p.m.

Bud Light Aprés Party at Pazzo’s, Vail Village, 4-6 p.m.

Bud Light Aprés Party at Red Lion, Vail Village, 4-6 p.m.

Free live concert presented by Pepsi

• Solaris in Vail Village: Doors at 5:30 p.m. and show at 6 p.m.
• Main act: Big Head Todd and the Monsters
• Opener: Bonfire Dub

Bud Light Post Party at Bridge Street Bar, Vail Village,10 p.m.-midnight

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12

Vendor Expo Village, Base of Gondola One in Vail Village, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Aprés Party at The Tavern on Vail Square at The Arrabelle in Lionshead

• Live music and $5 Bud and Bud Light Drafts from 3-6 p.m.

Aprés Party at Express Lift at the Base of Gondola One in Vail Village

• $3 Bud Light Bottles from 3-6 p.m.

Bud Light Aprés Party at Vendetta’s, Vail Village, 4-6 p.m.

Free live concert presented by Bud Light

• Solaris in Vail Village: Doors at 5:30 p.m. and show at 6 p.m.
• Main act: JJ Grey & Mofro
• Opener: Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers

Bud Light Post Party at Bridge Street Bar, Vail Village, 10 p.m.-midnight

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13

Expo Village, Base of Gondola One in Vail Village, 8:30am-3:30pm

Aprés Party at The Tavern on Vail Square at The Arrabelle in Lionshead

• Live music and $5 Bud and Bud Light Drafts from 3-6 p.m.

Aprés Party at Express Lift at the Base of Gondola One in Vail Village

• $3 Bud Light Bottles from 3-6 p.m.

Starting Thursday, Vail will operate the following lifts, accessing 3,078 acres of skiable terrain on both The Front Side and The Back Bowls:

• Gondola One
• Eagle Bahn Gondola
• The new, six-passenger Avanti Express (#2)
• Wildwood Express (#3)
• Mountain Top Express (#4)
• High Noon Express (#5)
• Riva Bahn Express (#6)
• Game Creek Express (#7)
• Born Free Express (#8)
• Highline Express (#10)
• Northwoods Express (#11)
• Gopher Hill (#12)
• Sourdough Express (#14)
• Little Eagle (#15)
• Sun Up (#17)
• Cascade Village Lift (#20)
• Orient Express (#21)
• Pride Express (#26)
• Tea Cup Express (#36)
• Skyline Express (#37)
• Pete’s Express (#39)

EpicDay Lift Tickets Offer the Ultimate Convenience and Savings of up to 25 Percent

Vail Resorts is making it more convenient and affordable for skiers and snowboarders to purchase daily lift tickets to its 10 U.S. resorts: Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood at Lake Tahoe; Afton Alps in Minnesota; and Mt. Brighton in Michigan. EpicDay Lift tickets offers advance or up-to-the-minute lift ticket purchases through an easy-to-use online and mobile site, www.snow.com/epicday. When purchased in advance, lift tickets can be picked up at a designated EpicDay Express Ticket Pick-Up lane at each resort. Once the ticket is picked up, guests can keep their ticket and load it with more days online, avoiding a return trip to the ticket window. EpicDay Lift Tickets rewards advanced planning, even if the purchase is made while walking up to the resort, with the lowest price guaranteed and less time spent in the ticket line.