Nearly 3 feet of new snow means Vail will now open Friday with more than 1,100 acres

Chair 11, Game Creek Bowl added to an already extensive mix

With nearly three feet of snow in the last week, Vail Mountain's operations teams announced today that the resort will open on Friday for the 2010-2011 season with 1,150 acres of skiable terrain and nine lifts – nearly double the skiable acres reported late Monday.

“This opening scenario is probably better than we even dare to hope for and it doesn't happen very often,” said Chris Jarnot, chief operating officer of Vail Mountain. “We've been blessed with some of the best early-season snow we've ever had, and our crews have worked incredibly hard to prepare as much terrain and as many lifts as possible. I know everyone in town and certainly everyone at Vail Resorts is excited to kick off Vail's winter season on Friday.”

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 19, skiers and snowboarders will have access to the following lifts and portions of terrain in these areas on Vail Mountain:

* Avanti Express Lift (#2)
* Wildwood Express Lift (#3)
* Mountaintop Express Lift (#4)
* Game Creek Express Lift (#7)
* Born Free Express Lift (#8)
* Northwoods Express Lift (#11)
* Little Eagle Lift (#15)
* Vista Bahn Express Lift (#16)
* Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19)

Additional terrain will open to the public as soon as conditions and weather permit. Both the Lionshead and Vail Village base areas will be open including lift ticket/season pass and ski school offices. The Small World Nursery will be open at the Golden Peak Children's Center.

Eagle's Nest, Buffalo's, Wildwood and the Look Ma level of Mid-Vail will be open for on-mountain dining beginning Friday. Express Lift at Mountain Plaza will also be open.

As usual in the early season, Vail Mountain lifts will open at 9 a.m. to accommodate early-morning operations. Skiers and riders are asked to observe all posted signs and closures, especially during the early season. Closed trails may contain hazards due to early snow coverage. Crossing an on-mountain closure is a violation of the Colorado Ski Safety Act and will result in the loss of skiing privileges and could involve prosecution and a fine of up to $1,000.

Paid parking in the Town of Vail's parking structures and outlying lots resumes Friday, Nov. 19 at 6 a.m. For more information on parking, visit www.vailgov.com/parking or call the Town of Vail parking hotline at (970) 479-2104. Parking is also available at Solaris and valet parking is available at the Arrabelle at Vail Square.

For more information about Vail Mountain, including opening day, terrain updates, snow reports, events and lodging and vacation values, visit www.vail.com or contact the Mountain Information Center at (970) SKI-VAIL (754-8425).

Opening Weekend Events and Values

Join in the opening day celebration with $1 breakfast burritos, complimentary hot cocoa, Muscle Milk samples and other giveaways throughout the day, all at the base of the Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19) in Lionshead and the base of the Vista Bahn Express Lift (#16) in Vail Village. Don't miss a free show from up-and-coming Front Range duo Big Gigantic beginning at 3:30 p.m. in Vail Square.

Rooms are available for opening weekend from $99 per night. Visit www.vail.com for details or call (800) 404-3535.

	24hr snow	mid dpth	snow cond.
A-Basin	n/a	n/a
Aspen	n/a	n/a	closed
BC	n/a	n/a	closed
Breckenridge	n/a	n/a	closed
Buttermilk	n/a	n/a	closed
Copper	n/a	n/a	closed
Crest. Butte	n/a	n/a	closed
Eldora	n/a	n/a	closed
Heavenly	n/a	n/a	closed
Highlands	n/a	n/a
Howelsen	n/a	n/a	closed
Keystone	n/a	n/a	closed
Kirkwood	n/a	n/a	closed
Loveland	n/a	n/a
Monarch	n/a	n/a	closed
Northstar	n/a	n/a	closed
Powderhorn	n/a	n/a	closed
Purgatory	n/a	n/a	closed
Silverton	n/a	n/a	closed
Ski Cooper	n/a	n/a	closed
Ski Granby	n/a	n/a	closed
Snowmass	n/a	n/a	closed
Steamboat	n/a	n/a	closed
Sunlight	n/a	n/a	closed
Telluride	n/a	n/a	closed
Vail	n/a	n/a	closed
WinterPark	n/a	n/a	closed
Wolf Creek	n/a	n/a	closed
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