Vail to open with more than 1,100 skiable acres

Vail on Thursday announced it will open with more than 1,100 acres of skiable terrain on Friday. Here’s the full press release from Vail Resorts:

Recent snow storms bringing more than a foot of new snow and ideal snowmaking conditions are allowing Vail Mountain to add additional terrain for the 2015-2016 Opening Day on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. The resort will operate nine lifts, accessing 1,150 skiable acres, which is as much terrain on an Opening Day as the resort has had in a decade. Game Creek Express (#7) and Game Creek Bowl will open during the day Friday.

“With a huge thanks to Mother Nature, Mountain Operations and the Vail Ski Patrol, we will open up Vail Mountain tomorrow with the most terrain we’ve had for opening day in years,” said Chris Jarnot, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Vail Mountain. “And with the additional snow that is forecast, we expect to be able to add terrain between now and Thanksgiving to make for a great holiday at Vail. This is definitely shaping up to be an early-season not to miss!”

Guests can access the mountain from Vail Village and Lionshead, and breakfast burritos and hot cocoa will be provided by Vail Mountain at both base areas, as supplies last. The resort will debut the new, six-passenger Avanti Express chairlift on Opening Day as well. The new Avanti Express will include a loading conveyor and gates to improve efficiency and increase capacity by up to 30 percent, which will reduce wait times and improve skier and snowboarder circulation.

Beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, skiers and snowboarders will have access to the following lifts and 1,150 acres of skiable terrain in these areas on Vail Mountain:

• Gondola One
• Eagle Bahn Gondola
• The new, six-passenger Avanti Express (#2)
• Wildwood Express (#3)
• Mountain Top Express (#4)
• Born Free Express (#8)
• Little Eagle (#15)
• Northwoods Express (#11)
• Game Creek Express (#7), opening during the day

Skiers and snowboarders will also have access to a terrain park experience on Born Free that will include 10 total features. Beginner terrain will be offered at the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola via the Little Eagle Lift (#15).

Vail Mountain lifts will open at 9:00 a.m. throughout the early season to accommodate early-morning operations. Skiers and snowboarders are reminded to observe all posted signs and closures, and early season conditions do exist. The Golden Peak base area and Chair 6 are a designated race training area only and will open to the public at a later date.

On-Mountain Dining

The Marketplace at Eagle’s Nest, Express Lift at Mountain Plaza in Vail Village, and the Look Ma level at Mid-Vail will open for the season for daily operations on Friday. The 10^th, Vail’s elevated on-mountain sit-down dining experience, will open for the season for lunch from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Friday. Reservations can be made by calling (970) 754-1010 or online at www.the10thvail.com.

Vail Ski & Snowboard School

Beginning Friday, the Lionshead and Vail Village Ski & Snowboard School offices will be open. The Small World Nursery at the Golden Peak Children’s Center will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-ins are accepted. For the best price guaranteed, guests are encouraged to book in advance online at www.vail.com.

Vail Mountain Nordic School

The Vail Mountain Nordic School, located in Golden Peak, opens Friday with guided backcountry, snowshoe and cross-country ski tours near Vail Mountain. For more information or to book a lesson, visit the “Things to do” tab at www.vail.com or call (970) 754-3200.

The Ticket and Season Pass Offices located in Lionshead and Vail Village will be open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information about Vail Mountain visit www.vail.com, stop by the Mountain Information Center, or call (970) SKI-VAIL (754-8245).

 Last Chance! EpicPass Available Through Sunday, Nov. 22

The Epic Pass™, the best season pass deal in the ski industry offering unlimited, unrestricted access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin in Colorado, Park City in Utah, and Heavenly, Northstar, and Kirkwood in Lake Tahoe, is available only through Sunday, Nov. 22. For details, visit www.epicpass.com.