parking: Vail ice

Alrighty then: a buddy of mine decide on Vail for the day last week. We realized parking might be an obstacle, but reading in one guide book mentions a family that doesn't mind you there and crossing their yard to get to the Ridgid Des area. We didn't park there: didn't think the family would appreciate being woken up at 7.00 as no lights or signs of life were present. Anyway, we parked at the west end of what we thought might be ok. We come back to the car, thankfully it was still there, though decorated with a green ticket envelope.

Where can a person park in order to avoid the ticket mongers from handing the green slips out? The ticket, though not outrageous, is still an inconvenience. And I don't really want to donate my money to Vail, considering the community already has enough money. So where can one park safely? I think I'm heading back up there tomorrow Wed 2-11, and possibly Friday. Any info is helpful. Hell I would rather donate a couple of bucks or so to someone's driveway. Thanks for the info.

Juan

pumphouse parking lot, no you do not have to pay unless you are using the nordic track -- there are also signs leading you to the climbing area once you start hoofin it.

I want a condition report when you get back.

We parked at Booth Creek Falls TH and walked to the amphitheatre. It wasn't much extra distance at all and avoided a ticket. You can check out a few pics of the area on 2/1/2009 at my profile. Conditions were pretty good.

park at the pumphouse and you dont have to pay as mark said. Stay off the nordic trail when hiking in or be ready to get yelled at by everyone that passes by. I think you can actually be fined for walking in them too. Its not a far hike by any means. Enjoy, the ice was great a few weekends ago.

Dont park where the guide book says too, you will get a ticket like that guy and its hard to cross the creek behind the houses without falling in... Personal experience talking on this one. End up with a wet foot or worse....

have fun

jon

A couple years back, that house went on sale. Not sure if it sold. So, the printed info may be out of date. Pumphouse, Booth Creek, and a tiny lot near the turnoff (on the north) into that neighborhood have been used previously. Funny story, that Pumphouse parking lot can be tricky to exit in certain conditions...like when the slope up get slick. It's funny watching cars go sliding completely sideways unable to get up that hill.

cheifitj wrote:Dont park where the guide book says too, you will get a ticket like that guy and its hard to cross the creek behind the houses without falling in... Personal experience talking on this one. End up with a wet foot or worse.... have fun jon

That would have been my old guide and that was George Gillette's house which did get sold and they moved out of the 'hood..

Park at the parking area with the restrooms just off the golf course and across from Pumphouse. No fee for using the walking/climber/snowshoer's trail.

Park at the trailhead for Booth Creek and then walk to the trail where you cross the Sue Knott Memorial Bridge and get onto the snowshoe/climber trail.

There are various legal parking spots along the Frontage road from the Pumphouse parking area towards the Vail resort but that dramatically increases the walking time.

Some residents are sympathetic to the climbers plight and they will allow you to park in their driveway but ask first and be polite.

The bottom line is that the just isn't any legal parking on any of the streets in Vail. The Cul-du-Sac that is used for the Firehouse climbs can sometimes be used but more often than not you will receive a ticket. I figure if you have four people in your car and the parking ticket is $20, a ticket is counted as the price of admission for a day of playing on the ice.

Jack