Total Area 5,164 acres Annual Snowfall 335 inches 1 12-passenger gondola, 13 high-speed quads, 9 fixed-grip chairs, 9 surface lifts Lifts Book It Online! Ski Packages Ski Lodging Only

Vail is the 800-pound gorilla of American skiing. This massive mountain is all things to all skiers and riders--a soothing beginner environment, a nurturing place for small fry to make their first turns, a mountain full of electrifying challenge and most of all, a huge ski area with abundant groomed cruising terrain for intermediates. The country''s largest ski school, unsurpassed on-mountain services and facilities and a fully interchangeable lift ticket with Beaver Creek. Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin are additional pluses. The large and lively town of Vail is segmented into several interrelated centers, the original Alpine-style Vail Village, rejuvenated Lionshead, tranquil East Vail, (relatively) economical West Vail and Cascade Village with practically private chairlift access to the western part of the ski terrain. At the top, Eagle''s Nest boasts a day-and-night family entertainment area called Adventure Ridge, with night skiing and snowboarding (on a new snowboard park and halfpipe), sledding, tubing, ice skating and dining.

Where: 100 miles from Denver and 35 miles from Vail/Eagle County Airport, right along I-70.

What''s There: 3,360-foot vertical drop, 174 trails, 5,164 acres, 1 12-passenger gondola, 13 high-speed quad chairlifts, 9 fixed-grip chairs, and 9 surface lifts, 2 snowboard parks, 1 night-lit, on-mountain fun park.

Vail Goes Old-School Get the skinny on Blue Sky Basin, Vail''s new rough-hewn terrain.

What''s New: Vail met the new millennium with the most spectacular terrain expansion in Colorado — perhaps in all of North America — as Blue Sky Basin opened. More than 500 acres of newly lift-accessed glades, slopes, and headwalls, mostly for intermediate and advanced skiers, this new terrain cost a cool $14 million, which bought three new high-speed chairlifts to provide access into and out of Blue Sky Basin. But otherwise, the infrastructure is simple. Two lifts directly serve the basin, while the third returns riders to Two Elk, at the top of Vail Mountain. This north-facing sector does not have snowmaking or food-service facilities. Belle''s Camp, at 11,480 feet (Vail''s new highpoint), is simply a warming, restroom and patrol facility.

You may not have heard the name Blue Sky Basin before, because in the resort''s development plans, it had previously been called Category III. Protestors who opposed the development of this section of Vail''s permit area burned the Two Elk day lodge and restaurant to the ground in October 1998. What the resort euphemistically refers to as"upgrades to on-mountain restaurants" includes a complete reconstruction of the elegant Two Elk day lodge. Other improvements include Colorado''s only 15-foot "super-pipe" for snowboarders and five new snowcats. Vail is operated by Vail Resorts Inc., which also runs Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone.

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Season: Early November to late April.

Snowboarding: Two terrain parks, two half-pipes, several snowboard-only trails. Clinics are available.

Terrain: Beginner 21%, Intermediate 31%, Advanced and Expert 48%.

Average Annual Snowfall: Vail receives approximately 335 inches of snow per season.

Ski School: There are 1200 ski school staff members. This resort offers handicap ski school lessons.

Lodging & Package Deals: Vail Ski Packages & Reservations - Online reservations for accommodations, complete ski packages and special deals. Real time rates, availability, and instant confirmations.

Mountain Contact: Vail Mountain Resort, 800-404-3535 or 888-830-SNOW.

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