Vails’ legendary Back Bowls have just received a major upgrade. Vail Daily reports that Vail opened up the new Sun Down Express last week. This new chairlift improves skier flow in the massive Back Bowls. This lift didn’t replace any old lift, and it services previously accessible terrain.
Up until this winter, the Sun Down Bowl hasn’t had a lift that directly accesses it from the Back Bowls. You would have had to take the High Noon Express, and then ski down to the Wildwood Express.
Marnie Cullen from Edwards, Colorado, was one of the many skiers concerned about skier flow between the Sun Down and High Noon Express chairlifts, which are right next to each other. They thought that accessing the lift from the Sun Up area of the Back Bowls would also be difficult. He was surprised at how his doubts were proven wrong:
“I was definitely concerned about how that would work if everyone had to cross one another, but you can access from either side just fine. I’m a big fan.”
John Plack, who is the Senior Communications & Field Marketing Manager for Vail & Beaver Creek, praised the newfound convenience of this new lift:
“I call it a powder hound’s new best friend because it gives folks who love that terrain the ability to lap their favorite lines on a powder day instead of having to take the long trek around to Chairs 5 and 3. It’s also going to greatly improve the flow and experience back to Lionshead Village from the Back Bowls. I also think guests will enjoy our maze configuration since you can get to either lift from both skier’s left and right.”
The other major lift addition for this winter was the Game Creek Express. This replaced the old high-speed quad with a six-pack chairlift, which increased capacity by nearly 50% and improves the lift reliability in this terrain pod.
John LaConte, who is actually currently in Japan with two of our writers for an Indy Pass ski trip, did a video vlog for Vail Daily that shows the new lift and terrain that it services in its powder-filled glory. That video is down below.
Image/Video Credits: Vail Ski Resort, Vail Daily
