Skiing at Beaver Creek - expert - I always thought that Beaver Creek ski area was just a Vail rip-off; that is, until I went there and skied it. I found some of the steepest moguls and finest tree skiing in all of Colorado. The mountain sports the Birds of Prey downhill competition, and this is because it has a great combination of key features found in a quality ski area: consistent snowfall, a sustained steep angle to provide a nice consistent run, and runs that face predominantly to the north (protecting snow from the sun). I have found this mountain to be a great bet for family fun, and, when it finally is connected to Vail it probably will be considered the best snow in the entire resort. Accessibility and snow quality are almost sure to make me happy every time I go here. Joey Smallwood

Beaver Creak Skiing - Warning! Once you’ve skied Beaver Creek, you may be spoiled for other ski areas. If excellent snow, varied terrain and wide open slopes are not enough for you, you will appreciate the upbeat, helpful staff, as well as the incredibly friendly atmosphere throughout the entire mountain. Although Beaver Creek is definitely an upscale resort, it ambience is not “snooty.” People chat freely on the lifts, buses and restaurants. After all, it’s hard not to be happy at such a great ski area! Beaver Creek is divided into three villages. Beaver Creek village is the main village, located in the most eastern side of the mountain. Quaint shops, bars and a variety of restaurants are linked by a series of outdoor escalators. The Centennial Chairlift gives you access to beginner, intermediate and advanced terrain. Bachelor Gulch village is home to the Ritz Carlton Hotel. The Bachelor Gulch Express serves beginner and intermediate terrain. Arrowhead Village provides access to the western slopes of Beaver Creek. The Arrowbahn Express lift gives you access to beginner and intermediate terrain. Skiing from village to village is easy at Beaver Creek. The mountain layout is perhaps one of the best in North America. Friends of mixed abilities will be able to ski on adjacent trails and meet at the bottom. The trails have both groomed and ungroomed sections, so fans of corduroy and fans of varied terrain can ski in close proximity to each other. Lisa

Beaver Creek after ACL Surgery - Last season, I tore my ACL while I was skiing a mogul run. After six months, my doctor gave me the okay to ski again. However, he advised me that the graft would not be fully healed till one year post-op, so he advised me to be careful about the types of terrain I chose to ski. On my first days out, I tried skiing the really easy trails at Breckenridge. However, I quickly became bored. Unfortunately, when I tried to ski something a little bit more challenging, early season traffic had turned many of the trails into bump runs. At first I thought that I could not find a compromise. Then I discovered Beaver Creek.

Those of you who have ever torn their ACL know that in the healing stages, unpredictable terrain can drive you nuts! While I was never concerned about whether or not a trail had been groomed, my healing knee had developed a taste for corduroy. Beaver Creek is one of those expensive resorts where you get what you pay for. Many people would pay the high price for good grooming. Fortunately, my Vail Resorts Pass gave me 10 days at Beaver Creek. The Centennial Lift brought me to two well groomed trails: Latigo and Gold Dust. These trails are wide open, leaving you a high margin of error. Although they are blue trails, their pitch was challenging enough to keep me from getting bored. This was a great way to get back into skiing! Mariel Savan