Beaver Creek 2-4-09 Pics and Videos

I had a lot of fun skiing at Beaver Creek with my new friend, Tim, from New York City this past Wednesday.  I met Tim on the lift at Blue Sky Basin in Vail the day before.  We ski at the same pace and like the same terrain - trees, steeps and bumps - and found plenty of that at Vail and BC. 

Perhaps due to the suboptimal conditions (e.g. crusty hardpack bumps, firm heavy powder in the trees), BC has some of the toughest terrain I have ever skied.  For you Killington skiers, the bump runs at BC are about four times as long and twice as wide as Outer Limits - and even steeper.  Some of the trees we skied are as tight as the trees on Anarchy and as steep as Vertigo Headwall.  BC has some very steep groomers as well.   

We spent most of the day skiing the bump and tree runs.  We loved skiing through BC's Aspen trees, which look similar to the White Birch trees we have here in the northeast.  Even though the conditions were not great, BC was still very scenic.  We took advantage of our many rest breaks by shooting pictures and videos of the BC beauty - and of each other, of course.

Thresher Glade.  We agreed our favorite run of the day was Thresher Glade, which we skied multiple times.  The trees are nicely spaced here so we could rip through them at a good clip.

Tim skiing Thresher Glade

We also liked skiing BC's pines on Royal Elk Glade.  Royal Elk Glade is a double black diamond run that is extremely steep, loaded with bumps, chutes and tight trees.  It reminded me of Jay Peak's Face Chutes but was much longer.

Royal Elk Glade

Some video of the glades (click on HQ near the volume slider to view in higher quality)

No trip to BC would be complete without skiing some of BC's signature "Birds of Prey" bump runs.  We skied Bald Eagle, Screech Owl and Peregrine - some of the most exhausting runs of the week.  Tim skied Peregrine top to bottom without stopping.  I tried but ran out of gas about half way down.

Birds of Prey above me spotting their lunch

I tried to capture the steepness of Bald Eagle.  You can see the head of a skier a few feet below.

Peregrine

Bald Eagle

Tracks of the day's runs

Next time I am in the Summit County area (hopefully during a powder week), I will be sure to head back to BC.

Nice TR!  As usual, your description, pics and video rocks! 

mighty fine trip report Dave.  Haven't heard from you in a while - I was getting worried

Looks like you are having a good time.  Things are a little boney down east.

Sorry we missed you Dave but glad you enjoyed the Beav 

Really liked your comparisons and perspectives made with some sites back east.  Did you have some time to hit Stone Creek Chutes, Spider/Web, BlackBear glade or Stick line? 

Look forward to your next visit and sure hope other bears coming out to CO will notice this TR and give us a ping to join up for a Beaver Creek ski.  Cheers. 

I'd love to meet up with you again.  And I'd really love to meet up with PaulJones again.  

Don, fair warning, let Paul go first.

Quote:

Originally Posted by liv4ski 

Thanks, Don.  I think we skied the Black Bear Glade on the way down from the Royal Elk Glade.  We skied Heads Up and 4 Get About It but missed the Stone Creek Chutes and Stickline.  Most everything in the morning was pretty solid so we had to wait for the afternoon for things to soften. There was not enough time in the afternoon to hit everything we wanted to ski.

 

If the airfares stay cheap, I would like to come back to Summit County for few days in March for my Phase 2 trip.  Perhaps we can meet up with TC on her Phase 3 or 4 trip and Paul Jones on his Phase I trip.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonDenver 

Sorry we missed you Dave but glad you enjoyed the Beav 

 

Did you have some time to hit Stone Creek Chutes, Spider/Web, BlackBear glade or Stick line? 

 

Here I hate that “did you go there…did you try that…blah, blah, blah” and what do I do  

I realized that by looking at the mapping you provided I could see that while you missed some you also hit upon some of the great ones.  That mapping tagged to your TR’s is cool stuff…and by the looks of it shown for the Beav, really accurate.

With just 4 to 6 inches of fresh on your next visit we’ll enjoy some additional lines at BC that’ll have you thinking you hit the lottery.  And who knows, maybe with both Paul and TC in tow…now that would be a gas..

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonDenver 

Quote:

Originally Posted by liv4ski 

Thanks, Don.  I think we skied the Black Bear Glade on the way down from the Royal Elk Glade.  We skied Heads Up and 4 Get About It but missed the Stone Creek Chutes and Stickline.  Most everything in the morning was pretty solid so we had to wait for the afternoon for things to soften. There was not enough time in the afternoon to hit everything we wanted to ski.

 

If the airfares stay cheap, I would like to come back to Summit County for few days in March for my Phase 2 trip.  Perhaps we can meet up with TC on her Phase 3 or 4 trip and Paul Jones on his Phase I trip.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonDenver 

Sorry we missed you Dave but glad you enjoyed the Beav 

 

Did you have some time to hit Stone Creek Chutes, Spider/Web, BlackBear glade or Stick line? 

 

Here I hate that “did you go there…did you try that…blah, blah, blah” and what do I do  

 

I realized that by looking at the mapping you provided I could see that while you missed some you also hit upon some of the great ones.  That mapping tagged to your TR’s is cool stuff…and by the looks of it shown for the Beav, really accurate.

 

With just 4 to 6 inches of fresh on your next visit we’ll enjoy some additional lines at BC that’ll have you thinking you hit the lottery.  And who knows, maybe with both Paul and TC in tow…now that would be a gas..

 

A gas!!!! you have no idea!!!!

I'm waiting for Phase 3 on Crested Butte with you.

Stock Market on Feb 10 says NO to this, though.

Your videos came through loud and clear-- especially, the icy passages.

Comprehensive TR, excellent. Nice b-b-b-b-bumps.

Perregrin is one of the nicest evenly pitched bump runs in Colorado.

Last time i skied it, it was very hard packed. Almost like NY bumps.

Looks like it had good snow. Nice

TC...in my general direction