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Vail Announces Lift Operations Updates for Closing Day, Sunday, April 19
  • Base area lifts will close early to better accommodate downloading at the end of the day due to limited off-mountain egress routes for closing day. 
VAIL, Colo. – April 18, 2015 – Vail Mountain today announced updates to its lift operations schedule for the final day of the 2014-2015 ski and snowboard season on Sunday, April 19. Given the variable spring snow conditions and limited egress routes off the mountain, downloading early at the end of the day to get ahead of the crowd is strongly encouraged. In anticipation of the need to better accommodate guests for downloading, lifts will close to uphill traffic at the following times:
  • 2:30 p.m. Closing:
    • Eagle Bahn Gondola
  • 3 p.m. Closing:
    • Gondola One
    • Avanti Express Lift (#2)
    • Riva Bahn Express Lift (#6)
    • High Noon Express Lift (#5)
  • 3:30 p.m. Closing
    • Wildwood Express Lift (#3) 
    • Mountain Top Express Lift (#4)
    • Northwoods Express Lift (#11)
    • Little Eagle Lift (#15)
For closing day, off mountain egress routes will be available for expert skiers and snowboarders to Lionshead, Vail Village and Golden Peak. All guests – especially beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders – are encouraged to download Gondola One, the Eagle Bahn Gondola or the Riva Bahn Express Lift (#6), which will be available until Ski Patrol has swept the mountain.
 
Vail Resorts operates Vail Mountain under special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service and has made the decision to close these lifts early and to later close the mountain to the public on closing day. On Sunday, all operating lifts and decks will close for the season at 4 p.m. and public restrooms will close at 4 p.m. As is customary, Vail Ski Patrol will detonate a series of avalanche explosives to signal the end of the season and the time at which guests are asked to depart.
 
U.S. Forest Service and local law enforcement officers will be on the mountain Sunday to help facilitate a safe end to the ski and snowboard season. Guests are expected to abide by the laws and rules of skiing and snowboarding and risk fines or arrest for irresponsible behavior and violations of federal laws. Skiers and snowboarders must continue to abide by the Colorado Ski Safety Act and “Your Responsibility Code” and observe all posted signs and closures.
 
Guests are reminded that using any ski lift or trail while impaired by alcohol or controlled substances such as marijuana is prohibited under the Colorado Ski Safety Act. Guests are also not permitted to ride lifts, ski or snowboard on Vail Mountain with open containers or exposed quantities of alcohol, coolers, suitcase-like carriers, barbeques or similar items. One daypack per person will be permitted on closing day, provided the bag fits in a five-gallon container. Bags that do not meet the requirement are subject to search and will only be allowed if they contain no alcohol or controlled substances. 
 
Inappropriate behavior that may jeopardize the experience of other guests is not tolerated. As in recent years, violators who are ticketed or arrested will lose skiing and snowboarding privileges for the 2015-2016 season. Those who disobey posted signs and closures or engage in other inappropriate behavior could lose skiing and snowboarding privileges for up to the entire 2015-2016 season.
 
Resort officials ask everyone for their continued cooperation with ski patrol and other Vail Mountain staff on closing day Sunday. For those picnicking on the mountain, trash and recycling containers will be provided. Skiers and riders are also reminded that variable late-spring conditions exist and are encouraged to descend or download early. Once Vail Ski Patrol sweeps the mountain, it will remain closed until summer operations resume in early-June.
 
For more information about Vail Mountain visit www.vail.com, stop by the Mountain Information Center in Lionshead or call (970) SKI-VAIL (754-8245).
 
About Vail Mountain
Coveted as one of the largest ski resorts in the world with more than 5,200 acres of skiable terrain, seven legendary Back Bowls spanning seven miles, and the most groomed terrain on the planet, Vail has been an extraordinary winter vacation destination for passionate skiers and snowboarders for more than 50 years. It is home to world-class athletes during the U.S. Ski Team early-season training sessions in Golden Peak, the Burton US Open Snowboarding Championships and the 2015 World Alpine Ski Championships. Under blue skies more than 300 days each year, friends and families reconnect and celebrate here from year to year and generation to generation. The vacation experience is exceptional, from the Vail Ski & Snowboard School to events, activities and festivals, shops and spas, abundant culinary experiences and luxurious accommodations. Coupled with the vision inherent in the spirit of Vail’s founders, and a modern day commitment to excellence in all aspects of guest service and operations, Vail is a mountain resort like nothing on earth. www.vail.com.  

About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Park City and Canyons in Utah; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan; and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.
 
Contact(s)

Liz Biebl

Director, Brand Communications
Email: ebiebl@vailresorts.com
Phone: (303) 404-1831

Sara Lococo

Senior Communications Manager
Email: slococo@vailresorts.com
Phone: (970) 496-3210
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