[fredcook]

Stayed in Vail last week (4th of July week). Disappointing... Day one a lot of trails were still closed. Some due to construction, some due to late grooming, etc. Then, the main gondola (that serves bike hauls) shut down. Stranded 74 employees on their way up, which had to be repelled from the cars. Official word was "technical difficulties". Local chatter was, tower failure (fracture), and the lift may be closed all season. Sooo... if you're scheduled to base out of Vail, expect closest lift assisted rides to be limited Breckenridge.

 

[smmokan]

Did you explore all of the awesome trails in the area that *aren't* on the front side of Vail mountain? There's plenty to ride between Vail, Minturn, Avon, Edwards and Eagle. Obviously they're not lift-assisted, but it's still some of the most fun riding in the state: especially right now with everything so green and lush.

 

[scar]

Sounds like it is already back open - https://www.vaildaily.com/news/eagle-bahn-gondola-reopens-six-days-after-breakdown/

****

 

[sgltrak]

This photo of the failing lift tower was posted on a local facebook page by facebook user Kimberlee R. Better to have it shut down than to have a(nother) Vail gondola tragedy.

I still remember the first Vail gondola tragedy:
https://www.si.com/vault/1976/12/13/626270/the-tragedy-on-gondola-ii

 

[sgltrak]

Did you explore all of the awesome trails in the area that *aren't* on the front side of Vail mountain? There's plenty to ride between Vail, Minturn, Avon, Edwards and Eagle. Obviously they're not lift-assisted, but it's still some of the most fun riding in the state: especially right now with everything so green and lush.

View attachment 1263463

Yes, this^^

Sounds like it is already back open - https://www.vaildaily.com/news/eagle-bahn-gondola-reopens-six-days-after-breakdown/
****

Good news

 

[fredcook]

Did you explore all of the awesome trails in the area that *aren't* on the front side of Vail mountain? There's plenty to ride between Vail, Minturn, Avon, Edwards and Eagle. Obviously they're not lift-assisted, but it's still some of the most fun riding in the state: especially right now with everything so green and lush.

Didn't spend as much time on the west side toward Eagle this trip. But, yeah, definitely have ridden those areas in the past. Although, did hit Two Elk, in and out from Minturn. The east end was still closed. Noticed the (only) bike shop in Minturn moved, but the saloon's food is still good! One of my routines is Game Creek down from the top to Minturn, then up Two Elk as much as I can tolerate the climb before dropping back down to Minturn. Didn't happen this year though.

Actually did have an opportunity to spend time on Grand Traverse before the gondola shut down, which still had snow on parts of it. Great views of the back bowls on that ride.

Spent more time to the east this trip. Frisco, Breckenridge. I like to ride Peaks from Breckenridge to Frisco, but it was still closed.