Vail chairlifts to open half hour earlier ahead of next snowstorm

The majority of Vail's 14 chairlifts and the Eagle Bahn Gondola will open a half hour earlier starting Wednesday, just in time for a small snowstorm rolling through the state late Wednesday and early Thursday.

While it's been a slow start so far to the 2011-12 ski season, the vast majority of the front side of Vail Mountain is now open, with more than 1,500 skiable acres. Lifts will open starting at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Forecasters are calling for 1-3 inches of new snow on Wednesday night, and another 1-2 inches Thursday morning. Opensnow.com is eyeing two possible storms next week on Tuesday and Thursday.

Here are the lifts now open at Vail:

• Avanti Express Lift (#2)
• Wildwood Express Lift (#3)
• Mountaintop Express Lift (#4)
• Riva Bahn Express Lift (#6)
• Game Creek Express Lift (#7)
• Born Free Express Lift (#8)
• Highline Express Lift (#10)
• Northwoods Express Lift (#11)
• Gopher Hill Lift (#12)
• Sourdough Express Lift (#14)
• Little Eagle Lift (#15)
• Vista Bahn Express Lift (#16)
• Eagle Bahn Gondola (#19)
• Cascade Village Lift (#20)
• Pride Express Lift (#26)

For more information on Vail Mountain, go to Vail.com or call the Mountain Information Center at (970) SKI-VAIL (754-8425).

	24hr snow	mid dpth	snow cond.
A-Basin	n/a	n/a
Aspen	n/a	n/a	closed
BC	n/a	n/a	closed
Breckenridge	n/a	n/a	closed
Buttermilk	n/a	n/a	closed
Copper	n/a	n/a	closed
Crest. Butte	n/a	n/a	closed
Eldora	n/a	n/a	closed
Heavenly	n/a	n/a	closed
Highlands	n/a	n/a
Howelsen	n/a	n/a	closed
Keystone	n/a	n/a	closed
Kirkwood	n/a	n/a	closed
Loveland	n/a	n/a
Monarch	n/a	n/a	closed
Northstar	n/a	n/a	closed
Powderhorn	n/a	n/a	closed
Purgatory	n/a	n/a	closed
Silverton	n/a	n/a	closed
Ski Cooper	n/a	n/a	closed
Ski Granby	n/a	n/a	closed
Snowmass	n/a	n/a	closed
Steamboat	n/a	n/a	closed
Sunlight	n/a	n/a	closed
Telluride	n/a	n/a	closed
Vail	n/a	n/a	closed
WinterPark	n/a	n/a	closed
Wolf Creek	n/a	n/a	closed
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