A group enjoys the powder in Vail’s Back Bowls.
Springtime in Vail European-inspired, American-born
By Cary Dunst
D
e sp i t e t h e wa r m sp r i n g weather at the resort’s base, nearly 100 percent of the 5,317 acres at Vail, Colorado’s largest ski resort, were still snow-covered. The hot weather had softened the snow into a wet slush, making my skis’ metal edges feel like knives cutting through warm butter. At night, the slushy moisture refreezes, and the resort’s crew members use their maintenance tools to blow new snow and groom it into a grippy corduroy surface. This spring cycle repeats as the snow melts during the day, then refreezes at night. At the summit, there are 360-degree views of endless Colorado peaks. I giggled and hooted as I sped down the front side’s wide and gentle groomers, and I was humbled by the steep pitch and sheer enormity of the Back Bowls. Each bowl is more acreage than an entire average-sized ski resort, and there are seven of them! The very next day, storm clouds rolled in, bringing colder temperatures and a half foot of fresh powder. With each run, my skis disappeared be-
58 I N S I G H T April 22–28, 2022
neath the white fluff, producing that addictive euphoria known to ski enthusiasts. While the crowds seem to prefer visiting during winter holiday weekends, there’s no doubt that spring is my favorite season to ski. In these coveted few weeks, daylight lasts past dinner, the weather is temperate, faces bronze (or burn without sunblock), lift lines are short, and the fresh powder is abundant. It’s common to see fellow revelers on the mountain in shorts, costumes, and other bits of flair, such as Hawaiian luau gear. Vail decided to extend this season for the first time to May 1 in order to show appreciation to their resort community. Vail is easily the ski industry’s most recognizable brand, famed for this iconic namesake resort, the acquisition and management of dozens of mountains around the world, and pioneering the multi-resort Epic pass. However, its founding is a classic tale of American passion and entrepreneurship.
The Army’s 10th Mountain Division In preparation for World War II, the president of the National Ski Patrol convinced the War Depart-
VAIL
DENVER
COLORADO
It takes about 3 to 3 1/2 hours from Denver International Airport to Vail.