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Beav’ puts shutters up for season

J.K. Perry
NWS Beav Powder1 BH 11-22
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BEAVER CREEK – Clouds shrouded the slopes of Beaver Creek, eerily devoid of many skiers or snowboarders on Saturday, one day before the season concludes.”Everybody is at Vail for the big splash down,” ticket scanner Tyler Genslak said.The maze approaching the Centennial Express was whittled down to two mangy lines as mid-mountain reported three inches of new snow. The visitors and employees that were at Beaver Creek celebrated the closing of season No. 25, fondly recalling the snow-filled winter and looking to the future.This season Alison Hainline’s legs managed to put up with 103 – 104 by Sunday – days skiing on the mountain.”My legs got strong and my butt got tight,” she said.”I thought the season was sick,” Beaver Creek employee Cat Lundy said. “We’re living the dream out here. Good snow, good people.”

Like most, Lundy looked forward to the summer, expressing relief the season is over.”You know, I’m ready for it,” said Lundy, who plans to vacation in Florida this summer. “I’m not ready for mud season, but I’m ready for summer.”Lucky dayGarrett Ely was also glad the season is over. And he was glad for another reason – he regained his wallet after losing it. When he realized he was sans billfold, he came off the mountain to look for the missing wallet in the village.Unsuccessful, he sat down near the Centennial Express, lamenting the lost wallet when his luck changed. A stranger apparently had found the wallet in Rose Bowl and the two coincidentally met at the base.”I was just sitting there bumming and I heard somebody really faintly say they found a lost wallet,” Ely said. “I was bumming. It almost ruined my whole trip.”

Ely, who spent part of the season in the valley and is now living in Nebraska, visited Beaver Creek for the weekend.Aspen local Adam Dillard also came to the mountain for the weekend to visit with out-of-town friends. Dillard rode 120 days on his denim-decorated snowboard, taking just an eight-day break in Las Vegas.”The last few days I’ve been feeling it,” he said.In contrast, friend Craig Bernstein from Washington, D.C. said he “got a whopping 10 days in.”Bouncing around



Friday visitors kept employees busy at the Bungee Trampoline beside the Centennial Express, where 80 kids came to strap into a harness and jump on the combination bungee-cord and trampoline attraction, employee Lauren Vickers said.Much like the mountain, the trampolines were not very busy Saturday. Vickers said turnout on the slopes was lackluster “Because the snow is awful.””I hate to say it, but it’s still mushy,” she said.===========Closing day activities:Easter brunch at the Park Hyatt and the Terrace at the Charter. Mountaintop worship at Spruce Saddle Lodge at 6 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.(Guests must purchase a lift or foot passenger ticket for the later worship).Apres drink specials at the Beaver Creek Chophouse, Dusty Boot Saloon and Rocks Modern Grill.

Free ice skating for all ages from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.===========Staff Writer J.K. Perry can be reached at 949-0555, ext. 14622, or jkperry@vaildaily.com.Vail, Colorado


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