It will come.

I have been hearing a lot of talk about snow so far this season.  At this same time last year we had most of the mountain open.  This year is a little bit different, but keep in mind, we've only been open for 1 week so far!  We've got a great amount of terrain open for being 7 days into normal operation, and we're looking to open new lifts all the time.

Don't worry about the snow, be patient. 
It will come.

In the meantime, we're going to need everyone to do some cold weather dances or something. I do enjoy the sunny warm weather, but it has no place in Colorado in December!

In other news, we have our second training class going through extensive lift training in Golden Peak this week!  We expect them to hit the mountain starting tomorrow.  The first training class is now running the lifts with skill and ease and will be great teachers to all of the new guys!

Opening day at Vail

I'm glad other people make so many videos, because we are busy running lifts! Chair 2 opens on Wednesday. If we just get a little more snow, we will get a lot more terrain. Start with the snow dances!

What a week! Opening Day 2011

It has been a wild and crazy week here at Vail.  We have graduated 84 lift operators through our training course.  We have learned how to run the lifts, maintain our ramps, met new friends, and enjoyed living in Vail.  The team has gotten a few lifts fully ready to open, and a few more lifts ready to go at a moments' notice.  The level of intensity leading up to Opening Day is very similar to the few last days of summer before starting school back when you were a kid.

It finally happened. We opened. The lifts ran, and people were able to enjoy the snow again. It is a great feeling when you load the first batch of guests onto a chairlift for the first time. Whether you are working or out for a few turns on a sunny Friday, the incredible build up is released into a happy greeting from a lift operator or a high-five as you're leaving the terminal on your way up for the first turns of the year.

Here is the TV star, Chair 8 crew just before that moment:

Thanks in advance for a great year guys!

Go watch the hot new film!

Go check it out!
PS - Moe's is delicious.

Tuesday - $3 Employee Meals!

Its Tuesday, and you know what that means?  Employee Dinner night!  I'm not sure what we're having tonight but it is guaranteed to be delicious and filling.  Dinner is at 5pm - 7pm at the Golden Peak Grill, which is located in the downstairs of the Golden Peak Lodge (just below Chair 6).  Bring $3 and your employee pass!

For $3 you get an entree, a drink, and some dessert.  You can also purchase beer (sometimes wine) for a little bit extra!

Hard at Work

Vail really is an incredible place to work. There are so many benefits. Just today I got to be at the top of Gold Peak as the sun was rising. It never gets old seeing the valley light up with a bunch of new snow covering everything.

Check out the crash 2 minutes into the video. That kid knows how to fall. If he stretched his arms out, he probably would have dislocated both shoulders. He was not landing in deep POW. That was basically frozen ground. You gotta tuck them arms in. Don't FOOSH! The stronger your shoulders are before those falls happen, the less chance of injury.

Travel safely!

We know that a bunch of you guys are headed towards the mountains right now.  We hope you're ready for an incredible winter.  Take your time getting here and be safe!

Here is what is in store for this evening: