Snow still flying, Vail, Beaver Creek still rocking with spring events

There are only three weekends left in the 2013-14 ski season, at least in the Vail Valley, but the snow keeps flying and events keep happening.

Last weekend it was the Vail Film Festival, and this weekend it’s the Taste of Vail. Next weekend Steel Pulse headlines Spring Back to Vail.

Beaver Creek, which typically closes the weekend before Vail, will be staying opening with its sister resort until April 20, presumably because of the late Easter holiday. Beaver Creek is closing things out with Springfest.

Both resorts will have a ton of terrain open until the blissful end, including nearly 5,000 acres at Vail. That means snow riders can make plenty of quality turns late into the season. Snow is in both the short- and long-term forecast for the Vail Valley, according to Opensnow.com.

“Expect another 1-3 inches today, with dry weather Thursday night through Friday night,” Opensnow meteorologist Joel Gratz wrote Thursday morning. “Light snow will return for Saturday, Saturday night, and Sunday with a few inches during each time frame.

“A stronger batch of snow will likely hit the northern mountains on Sunday night, so Monday morning could be a sneaky fine powder day along and north of I-70. Then next week will be dry and warm, with chances for snow returning around the 12/13th weekend and lasting into the week of April 14-18.”

Here’s the press release from Vail Resorts about spring terrain and activities through closing day on April 20:

Thanks to more than 24 feet of snow so far this season, Vail Mountain, one of the largest ski resorts in the world, will continue to offer more than 4,800 acres of terrain through closing day, Sunday, April 20. Terrain for all ability levels will remain open, including Blue Sky Basin as well as China, Tea Cup, Sun Down, Sun Up and Game Creek bowls, and virtually the entire front-side of Vail Mountain including the Golden Peak terrain park.

“Consistent snowfall has provided incredible conditions at Vail throughout the winter and will allow us to keep a large majority of terrain open through closing day,” said Chris Jarnot, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Vail Mountain. “Guests can look forward to great spring skiing and snowboarding to close out the 2013-2014 season.”

The majority of lifts on Vail’s front side will continue to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Back Bowls will close at 3:30 p.m. Lift operating hours are posted at the base of all open lifts and guests are advised to check mountain terrain and lift status reports on www.vail.com or the mobile site, http://m.vail.com for most up-to-date information.

Beginning Monday, April 7, the following lifts are expected to operate for the remainder of the season:

• Gondola One;
• Eagle Bahn Gondola;
• Avanti Express Lift (#2);
• Wildwood Express Lift (# 3);
• Mountaintop Express Lift (# 4);
• High Noon Express Lift (#5);
• Riva Bahn Express Lift (# 6);
• Game Creek Express Lift (#7);
• Born Free Express Lift (# 8);
• Highline Express Lift (#10);
• Northwoods Express Lift (# 11);
• Sourdough Express Lift (#14);
• Little Eagle Lift (# 15);
• Sun Up Lift (#17);
• Cascade Lift (#20);
• Orient Express Lift (#21);
• Tea Cup Express Lift (#36);
• Skyline Express Lift (#37); and
• Pete’s Express Lift (#39).

The Pride Express Lift (#26) in Lionshead, the Gopher Hill Lift (#12) in Golden Peak, the Mongolia Lift (#22) and Earl’s Express (#38) will be closed beginning Monday, April 7.

Adventure Ridge at Eagle’s Nest will be open for evening operations through Saturday, April 5 and daytime operations through Sunday, April 6. EpicMix Racing will be offered through Sunday, April 6. EpicMix Racing will be offered through Sunday, April 6.

Spring conditions exist and skiers and snowboarders must continue to obey posted closures and observe the Colorado Ski Safety Act and Your Responsibility Code for their safety and the safety of other guests. All on-mountain closures and schedule modifications are subject to change based on snow and weather conditions.

 Vail Ski & Snowboard School

The Vail Ski & Snowboard School will continue to operate from its Vail Village and Lionshead locations through Sunday, April 20. The Golden Peak Children’s and Adults School will be open through Sunday, April 6; the Small World Nursery in Golden Peak will remain open through Sunday, April 20 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 On-Mountain Dining

Game Creek Restaurant and Bistro Fourteen will offer dinner service through Saturday, April 5 and The 10^th will offer dinner service through Saturday, April 19. Wildwood and the Golden Peak Grill will be open for normal operations through Sunday, April 6 before closing for the season.

Daytime dining at The 10^th, Two Elk, Buffalo’s, the Look Ma level of Mid-Vail, the Marketplace at Eagle’s Nest and Express Lift at Mountain Plaza will be available to skiers and snowboarders through closing day, Sunday, April 20.

Spring Back to Vail

Spring Back to Vail returns April 11-13 and April 20, 2014 with free concerts from national headliners, on-snow events, street parties and more. Don’t miss performances by Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, STS9, and Steel Pulse. The annual World Pond Skimming Championships also returns on Sunday, April 20 in Golden Peak. For the complete schedule of events and pond skimming registration, visit www.vail.com/springback.

For more information about Vail Mountain visit www.vail.com, or stop by the Mountain Information Center, open daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. beginning Friday, or call (970) SKI-VAIL (754-8245).

And here’s part of  a press release from Vail Resorts about spring activities at Beaver Creek through closing day on Sunday, April 20:

Beaver Creek, Colo. March 13, 2014 –SpringFest brings extra fun and entertainment to Beaver Creek Village through April 19, offering families with kids of all ages a variety of activities every day of the week. Guests can enjoy spring skiing and snowboarding at Beaver Creek through April 20 and take part in SpringFest afternoon festivities.

The annual Easter Egg Hunt takes place Saturday, April 19 at 10:30 a.m. and is not to be missed; 4,000 Easter eggs will be hidden in Creekside Park just below Beaver Creek Village. Kids will have a meet and greet special appearance with the Easter Bunny.

To learn more about the lively SpringFest events taking place through the end of the season, visit www.beavercreek.com/springfest or call the Beaver Creek Information Center at (970) 754-4636.