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Beav’ opens new high speed quads

Veronica Whitney

BEAVER CREEK – Beaver Creek skiers and snowboarders who’d rather spend less time on the bus can begin their trip up the mountain on two, new high-speed quads beginning Saturday morning.The new lifts, Lower Beaver Creek Mountain Express (chair 15) and Upper Beaver Creek Mountain Express (chair 18), start at the newly-christened Beaver Creek Landing near the Tarnes apartment complex on Prater Road. The first lift stops and the second one starts above the Ritz-Carlton on the way to top of Strawberry Park. The rides take about 24 minutes. From the top, skiers and snowboarders can get to the main mountain, Bachelor Gulch or Arrowhead. The new lifts are another way to get on Beaver Creek Mountain the resort says will reduce crowds at the Centennial lift, the main lift at the base of the mountain.”On peak periods, there’s a lot of volume in the village and at the base of Centennial lift,” said John Garnsey, chief operating officer for Beaver Creek mountain. “(New lifts) will take away some of that pressure. They also reduce traffic on the Village road and gives a faster access to the mountain to many skiers and riders.”The new lifts are part of the new mini-base area called Beaver Creek Landing, which includes a lift ticket office and a 500-space parking lot. Beaver Creek Landing is next to the Tarnes apartment complex on Prater Road.Time savingsSkiers will get to the lifts quicker because they are closer to the parking lots, Garnsey said.”It’s a one-minute ride from the parking lots to the bus stop at the Landing,” he said. Skiers who ride to Beaver Creek Village will spend more time on the bus if they park in the lower parking lots along Highway 6.Although Leav the Beav -the trail that runs back to Beaver Creek Landing – won’t be open this Saturday, skiers and snowboarders can in future ride the catwalk to Beaver Creek Village and then ride a bus back to their cars. They can ride the new chairlifts down to Beaver Creek Landing.”We’ve been making snow to push into the (new) lift maze,” Garnsey said. “Next, we’ll make snow on Leave the Beav.”Each new chairlift, will carry up to 2,400 skiers per hour. From the top of the second chair, skiers will be able to ski or snowboard from Strawberry Park to Bachelor Gulch, Arrowhead, the expert Talons terrain (including Grouse Mountain) and Beaver Creek Mountain via the newly expanded and renamed catwalk Beaver Creek Mountain Expressway (formerly Beano’s Trace). From the Talons area, skiers and snowboarders can ride chairs 9, 10 or 11.People who want to take lessons, rent equipment or eat before hitting the slopes still have to go to Beaver Creek Village.==========================================New chairlifts openingWhat: Opening of two new high-speed quad chairliftsWhen: 9 a.m. Saturday.The new lifts, Lower Beaver Creek Mountain Express (chair 15) and Upper Beaver Creek Mountain Express (chair 18) will open at 9 a.m. from Dec. 18-21. Starting Dec. 22, the lifts will open at 8:30 a.m.Where: Beaver Creek Landing, on Prater Road, next to Tarnes apartment complex.=====================================Bus route changesThis year, Beaver Creek’s buses reverse their route in the afternoon. • Mornings -The first pick-up is at the Elk Lot (formerly East lot). The second stops are the apartment complex on Highway 6 and the Bear Lot (formerly West lot). Buses then stop at Beaver Creek Landing (starting Saturday) or Beaver Creek Village. If the new Wolf Lot is in use next of the Tarnes, there also will be bus service from the Wolf Lot to Beaver Creek Landing and Beaver Creek Village. • Afternoons – Buses run from Beaver Creek Village first to the Bear Lot, then to the Elk Lot. If it’s a busy day buses will stop at the Wolf lot first.Staff Writer Veronica Whitney can be reached at 949-0555, ext. 454, or vwhitney@vaildaily.com. Vail, Colorado


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