Again?

What more can I say about another perfect day? Oh yeah, the skiing was incredible.

Zuma Webcam

Sounds like a few want a Zuma Webcam. Let me dive into the IT world and see what is possible.

Pallavicini Trail - OPEN

Pali Trail and the Alleys were open for a couple of hours today. It skied out very nicely. They will be open Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 3:30. Lots of very big smiles out there today. Not only is this one of the earliest openings, it is one of the best.

Most of the pictures I use I take myself, but the first one was taken by Casey Day. What a cool shot.

Happy Thanksgiving

It has been a clear, cold, blue sky kind of Thanksgiving here. Tomorrow looks to be much warmer and sunny. Just another perfect day at The Basin.

Standard and 13 Cornices are open full time now and I think you might see some limited openings "you know where" some time soon.

Enjoy your Holiday.

Pali Lift and More Terrain

Pali Lift is now operating with its normal hours. It will be open from 9 to 3:30 weekdays and 8:30 to 3:30 on weekends. We are starting to see some limited openings on the North side. Yesterday the Standard - 13 Cornices zone was open for the afternoon. It was only good if you like skiing powder. Pallavicini trail is just around the corner.

OK. "Snow Management 101". In general, snow becames firmer once it is compacted. It is hard to keep snow in place on steeper terrain. When we first open the steep stuff, we often open it for several short periods. This allows the snow to be compacted without being skied to ground. We may do this several times particularly trying to mix it up with new snow and kind wind. It gets firmer and more durable and ultimately is better skiing and lasts longer. Anyway, sorry for the diatribe, but I think people wonder why we open bits and pieces for short periods. There is a method to the madness.

Pali Lift Open, First Grooming in Zuma

People had a bunch of fun skiing off the top of Pali this afternoon. The grooming on Grizzly is very nice and the steep stuff is still wintery soft.

The Cat Drivers made their first forays down Columbine in Montezuma Bowl. There is a beautifully tilled pass down to Tower 14. Each day they will wander around a little bit further. If this storm pans out.............................

I have a great tip for days like today with Southwest winds and lots of windblown snow moving around, Humbug to Lenawee Parks. That wind direction really favors those trails and today they were skiing buttery smooth.

Pali Lift Opens at Noon Saturday

Pallavicini Lift will be open at Noon Saturday and Sunday, November 20 and 21. It will continue to be open after the weekend and we will adjust hours as conditions develop. A good storm appears to be developing Saturday night and lasting several days. I just skied Slalom Slope twice and it is really good. Look forward to seeing everyone out there tomorrow.

Trails accessible from the top include West Wall, Slalom Slope, North Chute, Powderkeg, Scudder, Challenger, Radical, and Grizzly Road.

Zuma Bowl Tour

Went into Montezuma Bowl today with the mountain crew to dig out the bottom terminal and make a grooming plan. Looking fat back there.

Nice Day

This wasn't just a great day for November, it was a flat out great day any time of year. Thanks to all of you that helped with the grueling "compaction" duty today. New trail openings included Norway Face, Norway Mountain Run, Slalom Slope, North Chute, Powderkeg, Grizzly Road, Scudder, Challenger, and Radical.

Just The Facts

10" New Today
24" New Last 3 Days
37" New Last 10 Days
10 Consecutive Days with New Snow
There is no place on Earth like The Basin

Pali and Zuma Questions

Questions about Pali and Zuma Lifts are starting to pour in. Obviously, this storm is great news. We had avalanche control teams all over the North Side today with some positive results. The willows below The Face and Mainstreet were buried with debris from a fairly large new snow slide. Conditions are setting up on Pali and Montezuma Bowl for a great start. We need to get through this storm and get a good look at the snow later in the week. You can count on the ski patrollers kicking around Pali and the cat drivers packing down the main routes into Montezuma Bowl. Stay tuned for further developments.

Lousy Day for Photos

3:40 PM and it is snowing so hard I can only see a faint outline of the bottom of Black Mountain Express. Can't see the mountain at all with all this white stuff coming down.

Lots of trails are open now including: Humbug, Lenawee Face, Powerline,

East Gully, Cabin Glades, Falcon, Dragon, West Gully Lenawee Parks, Dercum's Gulch, Cornice Run, West Wall, Chisholm Trail, Wrangler, Sundance, High Noon, Ramrod, and The High Divide Terrain Park.

Molly Hogan Lift and Trail will open Friday or Saturday.

Slalom Slope, PowderKeg and Radical will probably open later in the week with access from the Cornice Run. That is always a powder skier's delight.

Trails Are Opening

Spent the morning with an old friend skiing and laughing. Sorry, but I did not bring my camera. You are not missing much. It was snowing so hard most of the time and the powder was so deep, the photos would have just been pure white. The Ski Patrol has opened Lenawee Parks. Lots of great skiing in there. I highly recommend it. Always be careful this time of year. Early season conditions exist with all the inherent risks and dangers that come along with skiing. A little later this afternoon Cornice / West Wall will open. That will also be great skiing. For green skiers Wrangler will open tomorrow and Molly Hogan should open Friday or Saturday. For the latest in what is open, check out the "Runs Open" section of our website. I'd have to say this year is turning into an extraordinary early season. Get on up to enjoy it.

The Legend's 4 Pass

We have a great deal going now through December 12, 2010. You can buy a 4-Day Pass for Arapahoe Basin for $139. That is 4 days for the price of 2. Those 4 days can be used any time this season. If a season pass isn't quite right for you, check out the awesome deal. For details go to our website.

7" New

7" new today, 3" new yesterday. I am here today on my day off incognito. Might be hard to find me. I'll be the guy with a big smile not wearing a uniform.

Crisp and Clear Day

Love those clear, cold winter days. Brilliant. The cat drivers, snowmakers, and lift guys have Lenawee Mountain Lift just about ready. Through the photos you can tell some trails are wider. Even opened West Wall for about an hour to let people have some fun and to get some compaction. I poked my head in Montezuma Bowl for the first time since the big storm. Nice. I imagine we'll send the cats down Upper Columbine some time next week.