It was a great morning out on the hill. I rode BMX and hiked "Up At Arapahoe". Along the way, I encountered a couple dozen people, including some friends, hiking and riding their bikes. Everyone was smiling ear to ear and enjoying the trail. I was eavesdropping on one group and heard one of their bikers describe the trail as "amazingly rideable." It was a fun morning.
And there were about 15 mountain goats hanging on Little Lenawee Peak.
This morning was a great time for a bike ride at The Basin. With a couple friends, I rode to the Summit and down the Beavers Loop and Wheels Up trails. It was a little chilly, but that made it comfortable for climbing. The rain held off and we had the best time. The views were so dramatic, we forced ourselves to stop and enjoy them. Of course the ride was followed by lunch in the 6th Alley. I'd call it a successful morning.
The Via Ferrata will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through September 22. This is still an incredible way to see A-Basin from a completely new perspective. The climbing route goes up the ridgeline between Willie's Wide and North Pole. Steel foot and hand holds have been installed in the rock to make climbing easier. A cable safety line allows climbers to be "clipped in" at all times. Always exciting and always fun.
We are having a nice, steady rain this afternoon. We savor the summer rain storms. They bring life to the streams and everything that lives on the hill. Sometimes the rain interferes with our plans, but we are always happy to see it come down.
The late blooming fireweed flowers are at their peak. This patch is on Lower Sundance. I think fireweed growth is expanding across the ski area particularly on the Lower Mountain.. Great news for me. I think the flowers are very beautiful and I enjoy seeing the new growth.
It is now officially late August. As I wander around the hill, I am noticing that the willows are starting to turn yellow. We still have five good 3-days weekends of being open, but this is definitely a hint that Fall is coming.
I never get tired of this view. We have a few, but not many, of these summer images left before Fall begins.
September weekends are fun around The Basin. The very popular Cirque Series trail running race is September 7 and, everybody's favorite, Oktoberfest is September 21 and 22.
September 14 we are trying something new, A-Basin Boot Camp. Get yourself ready for the season with a free work out, ski and snowboard tunes and live music. Come check out the fun and join us for a special afternoon concert featuring Dave Watts and Friends featuring members of The Motet. Dave and friends are no stranger to Summit County and have been putting on fun and energetic shows for years. Hope you will join us.
