By Jane Roberts

Nestled into the Rocky Mountains just an hour and a half outside of Denver, Colorado’s thriving capital, resides the charming village of Vail. An easy escape for both tourists and Denver’s working class, Vail is packed with boutiques, art galleries, and diverse restaurants, which is a stark contrast to the busy ski slopes just above. 

A statue of a Mountain Division soldier in Vail Village. Photo credit: Jane Roberts.

This part of Colorado’s Gore Valley was originally inhabited by the Ute Indians, who utilized the cool mountains as a refuge from the blistering summers in other parts of the region. Later in the 19th century, when settlers expanded westward in search of natural resources like gold and silver, the Ute tribe was excluded from the land, and primarily miners and farmers began to occupy the valley. 

Later, in 1941, Charlie Vail, the chief engineer for the Colorado State Highway Department, led the construction of a highway running westward from Denver, which later became the Vail Pass. When World War II began, the Army’s Tenth Mountain Division trained at Camp Hale in these mountains to prepare for warfare in Italy’s Apennine Mountains, as they had little practice in that type of terrain. Once the war ended, many of these soldiers returned to the area, including Pete Seibert, Bill Brown, and Bob Parker, and they collaborated with prospector Earl Eaton to fulfill their visions of a mountain ski community. Vail Mountain opened for skiing in December 1962, featuring two chairlifts and the United States’ first gondola. 

Today, Vail Mountain remains one of the top ski destinations in the United States and was even ranked ninth worldwide by Forbes. The mountain has come a long way since its founding in the twentieth century, and it now includes two gondolas, 32 chairlifts, and 195 trails. There are three main sections: the Front Side, Blue Sky Basin, and the Back Bowls, which create plenty of diversity in the difficulty of the terrain.

The Front Side consists of mostly groomed trails, meaning there are no moguls on the slopes, with a plethora of both green runs for beginners and children and blue runs for intermediate skiers and snowboarders. It’s also home to Vail’s legendary Riva Ridge, which spans over four miles and runs down nearly the entire face of the mountain, named after one of the battles fought by the Tenth Mountain Division. 

The entrance to Blue Sky Basin. Photo credit: Jane Roberts.

While the Front Side has a number of black diamond level runs for advanced skiers and snowboarders, most experts will make the trek over to Blue Sky Basin to brave its unmanicured, forested landscape. Since this area is further away from Gondola One, its lifts and slopes are typically less crowded, and it’s unlikely you’ll encounter many children. Because of this, Blue Sky Basin allures many well-practiced solo skiers.  

Lastly, Vail’s Back Bowls have helped the resort gain much of its reputation since its founding. Offering 3,017 acres of breathtaking views and exemplary snow, these seven nearly treeless bowls are unmatched by any other ski resorts nearby. It’s rumored that after the Ute Indians were driven from these mountains, they set fire to this area, giving the Back Bowls their barren appearance. In his memoir, founder Pete Seibert wrote about the first time he saw what would later become the Back Bowls: “I thought I had never seen another mountain form that lent itself so well to skiing.” Seibert’s determination to make his vision a reality helped revolutionize the American mindset towards skiing as a hobby and set the framework for many other ski destinations across the country.

Because of its prominence as one of the most popular ski villages in America, Vail Mountain was destined to birth some legendary skiers since its founding. Famous Olympians such as Lindsey Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin, two of the most renowned female skiers in the modern era, grew up and strengthened their skill sets in Vail. Moreover, the mountain has hosted many skiing and snowboarding competitions, such as the World Alpine Ski Championships in 1989 and 1999. 

Delicious pizza from Vendetta’s. Photo credit: Jane Roberts.

After a long day of skiing, many visitors are eager to explore Vail Village and its surplus of highly ranked restaurants and shops. From smaller pizza joints like Pazzo’s Pizzeria to acclaimed Chef Nobu’s Matsuhisa, there is a wide variety of incredible food options to satisfy anyone. Additionally, there are ski stores like Christy Sports and Helly Hansen, local boutiques such as Blitz Boutique or Perch, and even franchises including Lululemon and Patagonia. Fortunately, almost every shop in town stays open relatively late so visitors and locals can explore without depleting their ski time.

After visiting Vail over part of Presidents Day weekend for the past few years, I’ve grown to adore its charming village and mountain, unmatched by any resorts found in the Mid-Atlantic region. The variety in terrain difficulty makes the mountain perfect for my family, each of us with assorted skill levels. Tom Roberts, my father, a former Army brat, spent part of his childhood skiing in the Bavarian Alps and has been understandably disappointed by the green appearance of East Coast slopes this time of year. He appreciates the “great mix of terrain ranging from groomed slopes to double black diamond moguls” and finds that “tree skiing in Blue Sky Basin is a treat, particularly when it’s snowing.” 

Starting each day skiing off with a 10-minute gondola ride up to the top of the mountain is a very peaceful way to meet new people, especially while taking in 360 degree views of the mountain. My mother, Pam Roberts, values Vail as “a vacation where your phone is zipped away in a pocket and you can simply admire the nature and people around you.”

Featured image: Clint McMahon via Flickr.