Photos

Gore Creek in Vail, Colo., as taken from the covered bridge on Bridge Street entering Vail Village on the last day of the ski season in the town.

Vail, about two hours west of the Colorado state capital in Denver, is the largest ski resort in the United States -- there are more than 5,200 skiable acres here. It is situated in the Rocky Mountains in the middle of the White River National Forest and sits approximately 8,100 feet above sea level.

The town itself is modeled after classic European ski villages with cobblestone streets, shops, restaurants and bars lining the village leading up to the mountains as the backdrop. Vail opened in 1962 as a ski resort and is so popular because of its high average snowfall (nearly 350 inches) coupled with its near constant sunshine (300 sunny days annually).

From this spot on the bridge, looking eastward, one would have very little idea that a few feet away, there are thousands and thousands of skiers and snowboarders on the streets heading toward the slopes.