- Carl Eaton and Pete Seibert, Jr. to partake in the celebration and recognition of their late fathers’ dream come true
- Commemorative lapel pins, complimentary hot chocolate and cupcakes available at Belle’s Camp open house
Pete Seibert, Jr. and Carl Eaton – sons of the late Pete Seibert, Sr. and Earl Eaton – will kick off the day with an honorary “first chair” ride up the Skyline Express Lift (#37) at 10 a.m. or as weather permits. In addition, a limited edition commemorative lapel pin will be given to the first 1,000 skiers and snowboarders up to Belle’s Camp. Guests will also be treated to complimentary hot chocolate and blue-iced cupcakes at Belle’s Camp while supplies last. Those who bring their original Blue Sky Basin pin are encouraged to gather for a group photo outside Belle’s Camp, following the morning’s festivities.
“From the rustic lift houses and buildings to the phenomenal gladed skiing and snowboarding and expansive views, Blue Sky Basin is an experience unlike anything else on Vail Mountain,” said Chris Jarnot, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Vail Mountain. “It’s a privilege to be able to pay tribute to Pete Seibert, Earl Eaton and all who were involved in the development and opening of Blue Sky Basin 10 years ago.”
The outer-most area of Vail Mountain offers intermediate and expert skiers and riders a variety of moguls, glades, tree skiing, cliffs and ridges with a distinct backcountry feel. Fresh tracks and secret stashes are abundant on powder days and there’s nothing like relaxing with friends between runs at Belle’s Camp on a blue sky day, surrounded by Mount of the Holy Cross, the Sawatch Mountains, Ten-Mile Range and more.
Blue Sky Basin is located to the south of Vail Mountain’s legendary Back Bowls, on the south side of Two Elk Creek, and includes more than 600 acres of developed terrain. The area was a part of Vail’s initial master plan developed by Vail founder Pete Seibert in 1962. Construction on the new area began in October 1998 and after the winter recommenced on July 1, 1999.
The name Blue Sky Basin honors the original settlers of the Vail Valley – the Ute Indians. Prior to the 1870s the Utes were the only real inhabitants of the Eagle River basin; what is now the Vail Valley. Other tribes referred to the Utes as the "Blue Sky People." Both the Ute name and Colorado's brilliant blue skies inspired the name Blue Sky Basin.
Vail Mountain lifts open at 8:30 a.m. For more information about Vail Mountain, including terrain updates, snow reports, events and lodging and vacation values, visit www.vail.com or contact the Mountain Information Center at (970) SKI-VAIL (754-8245).
About Vail Resorts
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resort properties of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone mountain resorts in Colorado, Heavenly Mountain Resort in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada, and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyo. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties across the United States and the Caribbean. 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 the consumer website is www.snow.com.