For the 8th year, Talons Challenge will be showcasing the best steeps Beaver Creek has to offer. Over 24,000 vertical feet of Black Diamond and Double Black Diamond runs await on Beaver Creek’s legendary World Cup Birds of Prey downhill course, Grouse Mountain, and in Larkspur Bowl. Conquer all 13 runs and earn your spot on the Talon’s Wall-of-Fame.

The event is limited to the first 1,500 registrants. Last year’s registration sold out, so register early to make sure you secure your spot on February 26th!

Included in your registration fee are a free Bratwurst and either a Bud Light or a non-alcoholic beverage. All finishers will receive a Talons Challenge cap and a commemorative Talons pin.

A portion of proceeds from the event will be donated to SOS Outreach. SOS Outreach provides 5,500 kids with an adventure based youth development curriculum. More information is available at www.sosoutreach.org. Come out for a great day on the mountain and help make a difference in the lives of youth.

Beaver Creek Blog is part of the top 49 Ski Resort Blogs. See the full article: http://www.mastersinteaching.com/top-49-ski-resort-blogs/

Beaver Creek Resort took its first official step Friday toward upgrading its fixed-grip triple-chair Rose Bowl lift to a high-speed four-seater.

The resort submitted a proposal to the White River National Forest, which will now take comments from the public for the next two weeks.

Don Dressler, the winter sports administrator for the U.S. Forest Service’s Eagle/Holy Cross Ranger District, said the new lift would cut the ride time from 11 minutes to five minutes.

“That’s a big part of why this project is important,” Dressler said. “When you reduce the lift time, not only are you improving the overall experience for the guest, but we think we’ll get better utilization of the existing terrain there and improve skier circulation.”

Beaver Creek spokeswoman Jen Brown issued a statement Friday about the proposal, saying the upgrade would improve the guest experience as well as shift density from the front side of the mountain.

“A high-speed quad would provide a better experience for lower-level intermediate skiers and snowboarders and ski school through ease of use and the convenience of a high-speed quad,” Brown said.

The Master Chef Classic, presented by food and lifestyle magazine Bon Appetit, kicks Beaver Creek from posh mountain resort to culinary hotspot. Pastry classes, cocktail demonstrations, and snowy rambles finished with multi-course meals are all part of the program. But the festival’s signature event is the Master Chef Challenge, an Iron-Chef-style cooking competition that pairs up local and celebrity chefs, and pits them against each other.

Each team is given a workspace, a pantry of staples, a secret ingredient and 20 minutes to create two dishes. Bon Appetit Editor-in-Chief Adam Rapoport and Bon Appetit wine and spirits consultant Steven Olson will taste each dish and decide on the winners of the round. The same thing happens for round two. The winners from the first two rounds meet up in round three, which determines the overall winner.

Avon Station

This is the main transit station in Avon where all of the local bus routes are based. You can catch a ride to Vail from here and there is also a series of local bus routes that depart from Avon Station.

Free Public Bus Rides

The Town of Avon provides a free bus system that runs throughout the year. These buses will typically bring skiers and snowboarders from the free parking lots up to the base of the ski area. You can also use the public bus system here to visit many of the local attractions.

Vail/Beaver Creek/Eagle County Buses

Eagle County provides reasonably priced transportation options for locals and vacationers who need to travel between Vail, Beaver Creek, Minturn, Leadville, Edwards, and Gypsum.

Bus fares are $4 for most local routes, and $7 for the Leadville route. If you are a local resident or plan to use this bus system a lot, discounted bus passes are available for you at various rates.