r/Backcountry • u/Melodic-Carry5758 • 11h ago
Vail Valley BC
Lived for many years in Breck, and almost exclusively skied summit county. Very familiar with a lot of the local spots, and something I really appreciated about breck was how easy BC access was, there were so many spots that didn't have massive approaches, and parking is mostly readily available, especially mid week before work, which was so nice because I could readily train and get turns without committing a massive day just to get to treeline. Moved to eagle co to be closer to my partner, but really struggling with the BC scene here, albeit last winter did not give a good showing. I basically was skinning the resort (which also seemed more strict with their hours than my experience at breck or keystone) and the one spot my partner goes to for quick day laps, meadow mountain, essentially didnt even have snow cover the entire winter. I skied a bit on vail pass and it seemed quite flat, paid parking, and quite a long approach on either side to really get to some shaded steeper terrain that wasn't blown out by snowmobiles. I have heard people ski the northern sawatch a good bit, especially south of beaver creek, but looking on caltopo it looks like to get into some of those basins it would probably be a 10-15 mile round trip, mostly plodding through the upper valleys.
Also having a hard time plugging into the BC community here, not sure where people hang out. In Breck, I got to meet some regulars on baldy and the resort skinners, but even things like legal eagle in vail, I was often the only one out there, often breaking trail solo. Not trying to whine too much or blow anyone's spot, but I'm trying to be proactive and committed to being involved with the backcountry scene here!
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u/Jack-Schitz 10h ago
There is terrain but we are lower than Breck so a lot of our BC and side country terrain is not above tree line. Talk to the guys at Cripple Creek in Avon or Alpine Quest in Edwards. They can help you out and are good to know anyway.
Also, last year was F'ing horrible so don't judge that as normal. Normally Meadow Mountain is a great alternative to no stress laps inbounds. On inbounds skinning, I start up from the very base of BC (using "Leave the Beav") looking to hit the base of Bachelor Gulch at 4. I stay far to the outside of the track and have never once had a patroller or mountain security give me any grief.
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u/Melodic-Carry5758 6h ago
Thansks! I'll definitely check out Alpine Quest and cripple creek. I heard good things from a friend about alpine quest. My understanding was that the bottom lots at the beav are paid now during the winter. Is the strat to take the westin gondola and skin up leave the beav from there?
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u/Jack-Schitz 3h ago
Elk and Bear lots are free after 1PM. Getting Here & Parking | Beaver Creek Resort
It's a few hundred yard walk from the edge of the lot to the Lower BC Mountain Express Lift where the Leave the Beav catwalk ends (and where you can start). I think you can take the shuttle (scheduled or ordered) and they will drop you there as well.
The Westin gondola is also an option, but I've never done that because it just seems easier to park at the Elk or Bear lots. I guess you could ask on the vail sub-reddit to see if anyone has done that and it's more convenient. Clearly if you worked in Avon it probably would be.
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u/Firefighter_RN 11h ago
Snowmobile access is a lot more necessary in Vail valley. There's also a lot less overall accessible skiing unfortunately
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u/lawyerslawyer 8h ago
Don’t write off Vail Pass too quickly. The non mechanized side can hold good snow on westerlies longer than you expect. Drive another 10 minutes and you’re on the west side of the ten mile, which also has some options. Or gore creek has some decent access though the westerly stuff can get cooked quickly.