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Back in Last Year's Stomping Grounds: Vail, Beaver Creek and Keystone in 2021

SkiBuds

Three riders, two in blue SkiBuds sweatshirts and one in a white SkiBuds tee, pose arm in arm near a lift and a frosted fir tree on a cloudy day. One wears a patterned SkiBuds neck gaiter.

SkiBuds spent the 2019/20 season in Colorado, and that winter is told in our story about Vail, Keystone and Copper. A year later the account came back for a shorter visit. On January 7, 2021 the plan was posted from Tahoe: “Tuesday fly to colorado... then shred with the homies... leggo.” On January 12 came the flight: “Off to ride with my pops Reno —> Denver.” This story follows the SkiBuds Instagram posts from the next two weeks, with the dates they were published.

“Vail tomorrow!”

The trip did not start smoothly. On the morning of January 13 a story showed a snowboard binding with a missing part: “When you show up to ski and TSA screws you over and your baseplate is missing.” By that evening the mood had changed. Under a chairlift selfie geotagged at Keystone, with snowy peaks behind, the account posted: “Nothing like being back in last years stomping grounds. Praying for some snow- aka put a spoon under your pillow. Vail tomorrow!” The next morning's story was tagged Vail, Colorado.

Knowing where to meet matters at Vail, because the mountain spreads from the Front Side above Vail Village and Lionshead into the Back Bowls and Blue Sky Basin. Our Vail guide suggests naming Golden Peak, Lionshead or Vail Village in your plan and then a public landmark in that base, so new arrivals are not chasing an on-mountain meeting spot.

A snowboarder in a red and blue jacket and goggles leans into a carve on a groomed run lined with frosted fir trees, one hand raised.
“@theduke011 shredding some steezy carves.” January 22, 2021.

On January 22 the account posted two photos within a few hours: the carving shot above and, with the three riders at the top of this story, “Fun day with good buds.” A story on January 25 showed a full chair ahead with the words “Good squad today.” On January 26 came a three-person chairlift selfie: “Solid day on the mountains with the homies.”

Sunsets at Beaver Creek

On January 15 the account posted five drone photos of the valley at dusk, with lights coming on in the houses below the runs: “Sunsets have been nice at Beaver Creek!!!”

A drone view at dusk over snowy neighborhoods in the valley below Beaver Creek, with ski runs cut through the trees on the mountain behind.
“Sunsets have been nice at Beaver Creek!!!” January 15, 2021.
An orange sunset glows along a dark ridgeline above a snowy valley under a pale evening sky.
Another frame from the Beaver Creek sunset post, January 15, 2021.

During the day, Beaver Creek has good options for mixed groups. Our Beaver Creek guide describes three separate areas: Haymeadow, a base-area learning zone; Red Buffalo, with beginner and intermediate terrain higher on the mountain; and McCoy Park, a separate bowl with groomed glades. Pick the one that suits the group, and note that the Elk and Bear day lots use shuttles to Beaver Creek Village, so build that time into the plan.

Keystone and a shot ski

On January 3, before the trip, a story showed the app's Keystone channel full of new posts, captioned: “Good to see keystone getting some major action on the app!!!” On January 14 the account posted a photo of a shot ski lined up on a kitchen counter: “Looks like some shredders ripped keystone and met some new skibuds along the way. Love the shot ski theme!!!” On January 16 a Keystone-tagged post read: “Next stop- keystone! First time snowkiting this season!”

A shot ski is an après tradition, and it is best kept for after the last run. Sort out the ride home before the first round, and make sure nobody feels they have to join in to be part of the group. Our guide to enjoying après has more ideas.

For a first day with people from the app at Keystone, our guide recommends putting the base name, River Run or Mountain House, and a specific landmark in your invitation. Start on Dercum terrain that suits beginners, then split up if the stronger riders want North Peak or The Outback.

The first slackcountry lap of the season

On January 23 the account posted a photo of a snowboarder dropping through deep snow between the trees: “First slackcountry lap of the season. So epic @buoy.dat. Days with the homies are really the best on the mountain.” The next morning, under a photo geotagged at Beaver Creek of a rider making a snow angel among aspens, the post said: “Yesterday was pretty legit.”

A snowboarder in dark clothing drops off a snowy ledge through bushes and fir trees, spraying powder.
“First slackcountry lap of the season.” January 23, 2021.

Slackcountry means leaving a resort through a boundary gate into terrain the resort does not control. You get to it by lift, but once you pass the gate there is no avalanche control and no ski patrol sweep. A few weeks later, on February 17, a SkiBuds story sharing a Utah avalanche forecast put it plainly: “Be safe everyone. Wear a beacon. Carry a shovel and probe. If you don't know or don't want to risk dying don't go.”

Before going through a gate, read the day's forecast with our guide on how to read an avalanche forecast, carry a beacon, shovel and probe, and know how to use them. Go with partners who have the same training and equipment. Our guide on how to find a backcountry ski partner covers what to ask before you go.

A snowboarder in a helmet and goggles lies on their back making a snow angel in fresh snow among aspen trees, board still attached.
“Yesterday was pretty legit.” January 24, 2021.

Trail maps you can wear

On January 3 a story showed a neck gaiter design covered in SkiBuds stickers: “The inspiration for this neck gaitor goes out to @buoy.dat.” A few hours earlier, the account had posted a mockup of a gaiter printed with a trail map, labeled “SKIBUDS x SKIMAPS”: “Collab coming soon. Looking for advice on maps you want. This is vail.” A late-night story followed, “Staying up late to get these gaitors made. Let's goooo. This one is a fun project,” and on January 5: “Breck x keystone gaitors coming soon.”

A computer screen shows a mockup of a neck gaiter printed half with a Vail trail map and half with a red, white and blue SkiBuds pattern, under the heading SKIBUDS x SKIMAPS.
“Collab coming soon. Looking for advice on maps you want. This is vail.” January 2, 2021.

The finished gaiters were shown on February 1 (“New gaitors look interesting to say the least”) and again on March 16 (“Skibuds vail gaitor”). In the March 2021 history of SkiBuds, Stephen Phillips wrote that the “Vail and Keystone gaitors” used trail maps “via SkiMaps.org.” The mockup carries the logo of Matt Liapis's Ski Maps, and Matt explained how those trail maps are made in the guest post Not your typical trail map.

The hotel clerk in Denver

On January 28, as the trip ended, under a photo of a snowboarder dropping a rocky ledge, the account wrote: “So I was checking out in Denver and the dude at the front desk had mentioned snowboarding before so I gave him a bunch of stickers and asked if he knew the app. He said he read about it in the paper and has met up with a couple people on the app. Gave him a shirt. Really cool along with continuing to see park city pop off.” The post signed off: “Off to Tahoe!!!” The photo was credited to @theduke011.

A snowboarder in a red helmet and red pants drops off a snowy rock through bare bushes and fir trees.
The photo from the Denver hotel post, credited to @theduke011. January 28, 2021.

A stranger at a hotel desk in Denver had already read about the app and used it to meet riders. The next weeks are told in our Lake Tahoe story, and the Park City activity that post mentions is in Park City powder days.

Vail stayed in the feed after the trip. On February 15 a post said, “Thanks for hosting me guys. Nothing like a trip to Vail and the SkiBuds house. You can't step 10 feet without finding a sticker, maybe 5...” and on February 21 a Vail-tagged post summed up the mood: “Sunday funday!!!” and “Party laps all day!”

Planning a Vail Valley or Summit County day with new people

  • Name the village at Vail. Golden Peak, Lionshead and Vail Village are different starting points. Choose one, then a public landmark.
  • Set a Front Side return point. If part of the group heads for the Back Bowls or Blue Sky Basin, agree on a Front Side lunch or meeting point first.
  • Allow for the Beaver Creek shuttle. The Elk and Bear lots use shuttles to the village. Then pick Haymeadow, Red Buffalo or McCoy Park to suit the group.
  • Start on Dercum at Keystone. Ride a shared first lap there, then split up for North Peak or The Outback if you want.
  • Treat boundary gates seriously. Slackcountry needs avalanche gear, training, a forecast check and partners who are prepared.

For mixed groups, see skiing with friends of different abilities, and before meeting someone new, run through the ski buddy meetup checklist. Every resort here has a SkiBuds guide with terrain by ability, arrival advice and a snow forecast. Start with Colorado ski resorts.

Questions riders ask

What is slackcountry skiing?

Slackcountry is terrain outside a resort's boundary that you reach from the lifts, usually through a gate. It is not controlled or patrolled by the resort, so it carries backcountry avalanche risk. Check the avalanche forecast, carry a beacon, shovel and probe, and go only with trained partners.

Where should I meet friends at Vail?

Choose a base first: Golden Peak, Lionshead or Vail Village. Then name a public landmark in that base. If some of the group wants the Back Bowls or Blue Sky Basin, agree on a Front Side lunch or return point before you separate.

Can you ski Beaver Creek without driving to the village?

Yes. The Elk and Bear day lots use shuttles to Beaver Creek Village, while the village garages are a separate arrival. If you park in a day lot, allow time for the shuttle and rentals before any lesson check-in, and meet your group at a named public landmark in the village.

Photos and quotations come from posts and stories on the SkiBuds Instagram account between January and March 2021, plus the March 2021 SkiBuds history article. Dates are the dates the posts were published.