From Grizzly Peak

Grizzly Peak, 13,427', is about 1 1/4 miles straight east of the base area.  Check out The Basin from there.

Fat Marmot

Just like every other summer, there are loads of marmots running around The Basin. They are busy stocking their dens and eating as much as they can. By observation, when we first start seeing them in June, they are kind of skinny. As the summer progresses they just get fatter and fatter. They would eat 24 hours a day if they could. They are getting ready for winter.

A Bit Cooler

The middle part of the summer has been warm all over the country. It was even a little warm by A-Basin standards. Recently we have seen some monsoonal type weather moving in and the temps have dropped a bit. Yesterday I woke to a temp of 39 F at my house. That was the coldest temp I had seen in many weeks. Fall is still a few snaps of the fingers away, but it is a little cooler.

Lenawee Re-veg Update

Whenever we do a project on the hill, we try and keep our impact as small as we can. That said, sometimes we still have an impact and as the projects are completed, we try and return the site to as natural of a condition as we can. Installing Lenawee Express in 2022 was a big project. While we used a spider hoe to minimize heavy equipment impacts, there were still disturbances around the lift tower locations. As construction wound down, we re-established and re-seeding those locations, often using mats to hold vegetation in place. 

Earlier this week I was hiking on the Half Moon Trail which brought me close to Tower 6, one of our bigger impact areas. I was excited to see how well the re-veg work was going there. Our growing season is quite short and with only 1 1/2 growing seasons since construction, the vegetation looks really great. In a few more seasons, it will be hard to determine where the disturbance limits were.

Up At Arapahoe Update

We have more good news on the Up At Arapahoe trail. We now have completed trail up to the Steilhang Hut. There is now more stunning, above timberline, alpine trail to hike or ride. Remember this trail is for two way hiking and uphill biking. I can't wait until the team finishes the trail all the way to the Summit. They are currently working on the trail in the Norway Face zone.

During my morning walkabout, I bumped into A-Basin skier and mountain biker Alex, who was having a blast riding Up At Arapahoe.

From Little Lenawee

 Check out the view of the Summit from Little Lenawee Peak

Columbine In The High Alpine

Up above timberline, commonly nestled in talus fields, the columbines are at their peak.

Digger Picnic Deck

If you are doing the full Beavers Loop ride, there is a fine place to take a break and enjoy some quiet time. Just below the Beavers Loop Trail, just at timberline and just east of where the BLT crosses the winter ski trail, Loafer, and at the top of the ski trail Digger you will find the Digger Picnic Deck with a couple tables. On your next ride, bring a little food, bring a book if you are by yourself and bring an urge to soak in this great setting. Check it out.