Vail, Beaver Creek swimming in snow

The Beav' to replace Drink of Water chairlift with high-speed quad

Alex Beigler rips the fresh pow at Vail (Vail Resorts photo by Austin Chow).

The ski conditions have been incredible at Vail and Beaver Creek the last two months, with a seemingly endless series of winter storms passing through the Vail Valley and keeping the ski mountains in stellar shape.

Vail has enjoyed two feet of new snow in the last week and nearly 13 feet of snow since the beginning of the season. Beaver Creek has received more than three feet of new snow in the last week and more than 15 feet of snow since the beginning of the season.

After a couple more days of snowfall, both resorts are set to bask under bluebird skies, according to forecasters.

“Snow showers will continue on Wednesday and Thursday, especially for the northern mountains,” Opensnow.com meteorologist Joel Gratz reported Wednesday morning. “Then Friday through the following Friday will be mostly dry and sunny. The next storm will likely arrive between February 4-6th, and there could be multiple storms through mid-February.”

Beaver Creek on Wednesday announced it will be replacing one of its old chairlifts next season (see press release below). The announcement comes on the heels of Vail announcing it will replace Chair 11 with a six-pack lift next season — both pending Forest Service approval.

Beaver Creek Resort Announces Plans for Capital Improvements for the 2017-2018 Winter Season

• Resort to upgrade Drink of Water Lift (#5) to a new high-speed quad
• Lift to be renamed Red Buffalo Express (#5) after signature beginner trail

BEAVER CREEK, Colo. – Jan. 25, 2017 – Beaver Creek Resort announced that it intends to upgrade Drink of Water Lift (#5) from a two-person fixed grip to a new high-speed quad to debut as Red Buffalo Express (#5) during the 2017-2018 winter season. The new Red Buffalo Express will be named after the signature, beginner Red Buffalo trail, which provides incredible views of the Gore Range and is named after two signature peaks of the Gore Range, the Red peak and Buffalo peak. The new lift will reduce ride time by 50 percent, from 8.6 minutes to 4.3 minutes, and will increase uphill capacity by 75 percent. With the upgrade, all primary lifts on Beaver Creek will be high-speed. This plan is subject to U.S. Forest Service approval.

“Upgrading this essential beginner lift will provide high-speed lift access to the amazing beginner and intermediate terrain at the top of Beaver Creek, increasing capacity and making for a seamless lift experience for our guests on the hill,” said Beth Howard, chief operating officer of Beaver Creek Resort. “We expect this improvement to take significant volume off Cinch Express, Beaver Creek’s second most-popular lift, and it really is an improvement befitting of Beaver Creek’s luxury, family experience, as it enhances a key beginner and family area of our mountain.”

Vail Resorts continues to raise the bar for skiers and riders as the Company invested approximately $100 million in the guest experience for this current winter season across its resorts, bringing its five-year, industry-leading resort investment total to more than $500 million across the Company. The most significant recent improvements included the upgrade of Sun Up Express (#9) at Vail, a new restaurant on Peak 7 at Breckenridge, significant renovations to the guest rooms of The Pines Lodge, A RockResort at Beaver Creek, and $13 million to completely re-imagine the guest experience at Wilmot Mountain, located near Chicago, Ill.

Plans for capital improvements at Beaver Creek Resort are subject to U.S. Forest Service approval. Additional details on the design and approval of these proposed improvements will be available in the coming months.