How to Ski Vail on a Powder Day
Nine runs. Untracked snow. Lunch by noon.
Dealer's Choice — top of Gondo One, 8:50am
Lift Chair #3, ski across the top of Game Creek Bowl to the western boundary. Groomed almost every night — suss out your group's skill set here. If they can't ski it top to bottom, leave them there.
Game Creek West Aspect — Faro Glades
Turn left off Chair #7 and traverse to the east entrance of Game Creek Bowl. Only good with a lot of snow and no sun crust — but on a powder day, one of the best pitches at Vail.
Sun Down Bowl
Through the gate on your right into your first Bowl Shot of the day. Consider whether south or east aspects hold the fresher snow. Everything drains into Widges gully.
Sun Down Bowl, Lap Two
The new lift (winter 2023) takes you back up Ricky's Ridge. Another lap down Sun Down to the bottom of Chair #5 — an extra run in the Western Zone on a powder day.
Teacup Bowl — 10am, crowds arriving
Four untracked runs down; time to head to Blue Sky for the opening. Sleepytime Road all the way across Sun Up Bowl, then ski the east aspect of Teacup.
Big Rock
Blue Sky opens at 10am, after Patrol finishes their bombing runs — earlier means standing in line instead of skiing. Left off Chair #37, down the traverse road, fresh tracks in fantastic north-facing trees.
Grand Review
If it's groomed, one of the best, most consistent pitches in Vail — not to be missed. First tracks on Grand Review is a memorable run.
Montane Glade
The west aspect of Earl's Bowl — a classic piece of Vail real estate. The farther out the ridge, the tighter the trees and the more northerly the aspect. Find a fresh line and mind the little cliff band at the top.
The Lunch Run — 11:30am
From Teacup Express, note the West Wall and the rest of China Bowl below — completely tracked out. You're tired and dehydrated, but happy. Head down the front side.
