Mid-Season Conditions Await Holiday Skiers and Riders at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte

Broomfield, Colo. — Dec. 17, 2018 – It’s been an historic start to the winter season at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte, with record early openings, plentiful amounts of snowfall and terrain, and conditions that are comparable to late-January last season. Now is a great time for skiing and snowboarding in Colorado, as all five resorts head into the holidays with mid-winter conditions and festive events.
 
Vail Mountain is currently offering the most open terrain in North America with access to more than 5,000 acres, including the legendary Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin. This winter the Back Bowls had one of the earliest openings in the last decade, and Blue Sky Basin had one of its earliest openings in history. The resort is 95 percent open.
 
At Breckenridge Ski Resort, the Five Peaks (Peaks 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10) are now open – the earliest in history that all five peaks have been open for skiing and riding at the resort. This follows record early season snowfall with more than 11.5 feet so far this season, and historic early openings for the Imperial Express, North America’s highest chairlift, and Peak 6. The resort anticipates being 100 percent open for the holidays.
 
All three mountain base areas are now open at Beaver Creek, with more than 1,300 acres of terrain available across the main mountain, Bachelor Gulch and Arrowhead. On Dec. 15, Beaver Creek debuted Haymeadow Park, its second dedicated learning zone for beginners and intermediates. The Ice Cream Parlour also opened at Haymeadow Park with sweet treats for kids of all ages.
 
Keystone Resort is more than 85 percent open, spanning more than 2,700 skiable acres across all three peaks, including hike-to access in all five bowls. The resort is planning to have all trails open prior to Christmas. In addition, the world’s largest snow fort is now open at Keystone. The festive Kidtopia Mountaintop Spectacular takes place Saturday, Dec. 22, featuring a special lighting ceremony of the snow fort, as well as other mountaintop activities such as crafts, hot chocolate and pictures with Santa Claus.
 
Crested Butte continues to open additional terrain in advance of the holiday season. On. Dec. 15, terrain openings increased the resort’s open skiable terrain to 534 acres across 72 trails accessible by 10 lifts. Furthermore, additional beginner and intermediate terrain beneath the resort’s popular Umbrella Bar at Ten Peaks is scheduled to open over the next week.
 
Don’t miss out on what’s shaping up to be one of the best winter seasons ever in Colorado! Book lodging now to hit the slopes this holiday season, and beyond, at https://www.snow.com/info/offers. 
 
Save Money and Time with Advance Purchase EpicDay Lift Tickets
Vail Resorts has made it more convenient for skiers and snowboarders to purchase daily lift tickets to its 17 North American resorts including Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Crested Butte in Colorado. EpicDay Lift Tickets offer advance or up-to-the-minute lift ticket purchases through an easy-to-use online and mobile site, www.snow.com/epicday. Skiers and snowboarders can save up to 20 percent on advance purchase single-day EpicDay Lift Tickets, and 25 to 35 percent multi-day EpicDay Lift Tickets in Colorado! The greatest discounts are available when purchased at least seven days in advance, but guests can even save when they purchase up to midnight the day before their visit. Advance purchase lift tickets can be picked up at a designated EpicDay Express pick-up lane at each resort. Guests can keep their RF-enabled ticket and load it with more days online, avoiding a return trip to the ticket window. EpicDay Lift Tickets reward advanced planning, with the lowest price guaranteed and less time spent in the ticket line.