Vail to open 550 acres of terrain Friday, with access in Vail Village and Lionshead

With a foot Monday, forecasters calling for 8-16 inches of addtional snowfall by Wednesday

VAIL -- With nearly a foot of new snow this weekend into Monday at Mid-Vail and prime snowmaking at lower elevations, Vail will open more lifts and terrain than first anticipated Friday, Nov. 19.

New snow on Vail's Golden Peak Monday.
By David O. Williams

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 19, snow riders at Vail will be able to access the mountain from both the Vail Village and Lionshead base areas through the Vista Bahn Express Lift (#16), the Born Free Express Lift (#8) and the Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19). Skiers and riders will also have access to the following lifts and portions of terrain in these areas:

* Avanti Express Lift (#2)
* Wildwood Express Lift (#3)
* Mountaintop Express Lift (#4)
* Little Eagle Lift (#15)

In all, 550 acres of skiable terrain will be available Friday. Additional lifts and terrain will open as conditions permit, and weather forecasters are calling for 8 to 16 inches of additional snow Tuesday into Wednesday, with a winter storm warning in effect for the central Rockies of Colorado.

For more information on Vail Mountain, visit www.vail.com or contact the Mountain Activities & Information Center at (970) SKI-VAIL (754-8425).