(Ed note: Updated March 2009)

VAIL

Mid-Vail/Center Village/Front side

The directions to Mid-Vail are easy as Sunday morning. Simply ride the Vista Bahn Express up to Mid-Vail, slide down a mini-slope to your left and you’ll see Wildwood Express (Chair 3) and Mountaintop Express (Chair 4), lifts that will transport you to the top of the mountain. Sporting a terrific variety of runs for all skill levels, the mid-region is great for everybody. An important note about Mid-Vail: it is the busiest part of the mountain on weekends. Those in the know will avoid it like the plague come weekend time. But on Monday, you should have this lovely terrain all to yourself. If you’re hungry, grab lunch at the Mid-Vail lodge, Buffalo’s at Mountaintop or find snacks at the Wildwood Lodge.

Beginner:

Take a right off of Mountaintop to the open and peaceful Ramshorn. Be careful as you near the bottom of the run when it converges with several others and stay to the right back to the Mid-Vail lifts. Alternately, turn left off of Mountaintop to the popular and sometimes crowded Swingsville. Off of Wildwood, stay under the lift to the tree-flecked Meadows or follow the Avanti (Chair 2) line to Overeasy.

Intermediate:

Our picks off Wildwood Express: Hunky Dory, Mid-Vail Express and Avanti - a MUST ride that brings you to the Avanti Lift (Chair 2), off of which you should try the cruising Lodgepole or blue-blacks Pickeroon and Berries. Our picks off of Mountaintop Express: Cappucicino/Expresso or, for more of a challenge, Riva Ridge.

Advanced:

There are plenty of bumps on this side of the mountain. Take Wildwood to Kangaroo Cornice leading to the high-angle Look Ma and S. Look Ma. For some tree-dodging, hit Powerline Glade or The Skipper off of Mountaintop. For a breather try the thrilling cruiser Avanti. Best to segue into the delicious Northwoods region after this.

Front side/Golden Peak/Northwoods/Highline