Sha Receives Summit Foundation Award

Earlier this month, A-Basin's Guest Services and Sustainability Manager, Sha Miklas was awarded the Summit Foundation Philanthropy Award for 2014 Outstanding Board Member. Sha volunteers for many community organizations and is the President of the Board of The High Country Conservation Center. On top of that, she leads all sustainability efforts at The Basin. Great job Sha. You make us all proud. Thank you.

Sha Receives Summit Foundation Award

Earlier this month, A-Basin's Guest Services and Sustainability Manager, Sha Miklas was awarded the Summit Foundation Philanthropy Award for 2014 Outstanding Board Member. Sha volunteers for many community organizations and is the President of the Board of The High Country Conservation Center. On top of that, she leads all sustainability efforts at The Basin. Great job Sha. You make us all proud. Thank you.

Kids Ski Free

From today through December 19, all kids, 14 and under ski free, no strings attached. No parent ticket purchase required. No hotel room required. No nothing, nothing, nothing. Bring the gang on up. There are discounts on kids lessons and a few kid clothing items in Arapahoe Sports. 

There is no better time to bring the family on up and check out the great conditions. KIDS SKI FREE.

Kids Ski Free

From today through December 19, all kids, 14 and under ski free, no strings attached. No parent ticket purchase required. No hotel room required. No nothing, nothing, nothing. Bring the gang on up. There are discounts on kids lessons and a few kid clothing items in Arapahoe Sports. 

There is no better time to bring the family on up and check out the great conditions. KIDS SKI FREE.

Skiing Slalom Slope Today

Skiing Slalom Slope Today

Good Sign

I think it is a good sign when the snow guns are buried in a snow drift.

Good Sign

I think it is a good sign when the snow guns are buried in a snow drift.

Marching To The North And West

We continue the march to the North and the West. Lenawee Parks is where we want it. The Cornice Run is in beautiful shape. West Wall is skiing up nicely. Today the public started skiing up Slalom Slope and surrounding trails (it was incredible). A little storm is shaping up for Sunday and possibly a second wave mid-week. We will keep moving around the corner towards Standard, 13 Cornice and eventually Pallavicini Trail. Sometime in the not too distant future, you will be riding Pali Lift.

Marching To The North And West

We continue the march to the North and the West. Lenawee Parks is where we want it. The Cornice Run is in beautiful shape. West Wall is skiing up nicely. Today the public started skiing up Slalom Slope and surrounding trails (it was incredible). A little storm is shaping up for Sunday and possibly a second wave mid-week. We will keep moving around the corner towards Standard, 13 Cornice and eventually Pallavicini Trail. Sometime in the not too distant future, you will be riding Pali Lift.

Wrangler Opens Today

Today will be an exceptional Wrangler opening. We actually opened Upper Wrangler yesterday with all natural snow. Mother Nature was kind with natural snow on Lower Wrangler and we had a very successful snowmaking session over there. Chisholm Trail will also be open. Wrangler and Chisholm are the ideal trails for learning riders once they graduate from Molly Hogan.

Wrangler Opens Today

Today will be an exceptional Wrangler opening. We actually opened Upper Wrangler yesterday with all natural snow. Mother Nature was kind with natural snow on Lower Wrangler and we had a very successful snowmaking session over there. Chisholm Trail will also be open. Wrangler and Chisholm are the ideal trails for learning riders once they graduate from Molly Hogan.

Beauty Shots

Not bad for "Fall."

Beauty Shots

Not bad for "Fall."

Cornice / West Wall For Thanksgiving

I just took a spin on Cornice / West Wall. The snowcats did a fabulous job on the grooming. The Ski Patrol is stringing ropes as we speak. My fingers are crossed and I think we will see some skiing out there this afternoon. It is a beautiful day. Happy Thanksgiving.

Cornice / West Wall For Thanksgiving

I just took a spin on Cornice / West Wall. The snowcats did a fabulous job on the grooming. The Ski Patrol is stringing ropes as we speak. My fingers are crossed and I think we will see some skiing out there this afternoon. It is a beautiful day. Happy Thanksgiving.

When CDOT Says Loveland Pass Is Closed

When CDOT closes Loveland Pass, 99+% of the time this means Highway 6 is closed between Loveland Ski Area and Arapahoe Basin. 99+% of the time Highway 6 between Keystone and A-Basin is still open and, most importantly, A-BASIN IS OPEN. People driving from the Front Range can almost always still access A-Basin by driving through the tunnel and coming through Keystone. When the road between Keystone and A-Basin is closed, it is due to major newsworthy event like an avalanche, rock slide or significant vehicle accident. Rare - maybe once every few years.



Closing the Pass is an inconvenience for everyone. CDOT does an outstanding job with snow removal and avalanche work, but there are times the road needs to be closed. The most up to date info on road status is on CDOT's website, cotrip.org. Unfortunately, re-opening times can be tenuous and hard to pin down.

When CDOT Says Loveland Pass Is Closed

When CDOT closes Loveland Pass, 99+% of the time this means Highway 6 is closed between Loveland Ski Area and Arapahoe Basin. 99+% of the time Highway 6 between Keystone and A-Basin is still open and, most importantly, A-BASIN IS OPEN. People driving from the Front Range can almost always still access A-Basin by driving through the tunnel and coming through Keystone. When the road between Keystone and A-Basin is closed, it is due to major newsworthy event like an avalanche, rock slide or significant vehicle accident. Rare - maybe once every few years.

Closing the Pass is an inconvenience for everyone. CDOT does an outstanding job with snow removal and avalanche work, but there are times the road needs to be closed. The most up to date info on road status is on CDOT's website, cotrip.org. Unfortunately, re-opening times can be tenuous and hard to pin down.

58 Inches in 16 Days

November has been very good.  In the last 16 days, 58 inches of snow has fallen. This morning I spent a couple of hours out tooling around with the Ski Patrol. They opened up the rest of Lenawee Parks and Upper Exhibition (some fine powder skiing in both places). The storm was delightfully large and we are playing a little bit of catch up right now. Intense avalanche work is occurring on Pali and in Zuma Bowl. We have snowcats working today in closed terrain on the Cornice Run and a few other places. As we look towards the next couple days you can expect to have quite a bit more terrain open.  I anticipate the opening of Wrangler, Humbug, Cornice/ West Wall, and maybe Slalom Slope, Grizzly, and Radical. Starting tomorrow, we should see several days of sunny skies. If you are the kind of person that loves skiing beautiful, blue days or skiing powder on fresh openings, I recommend a visit. It looks like mid winter out there.

58 Inches in 16 Days

November has been very good.  In the last 16 days, 58 inches of snow has fallen. This morning I spent a couple of hours out tooling around with the Ski Patrol. They opened up the rest of Lenawee Parks and Upper Exhibition (some fine powder skiing in both places). The storm was delightfully large and we are playing a little bit of catch up right now. Intense avalanche work is occurring on Pali and in Zuma Bowl. We have snowcats working today in closed terrain on the Cornice Run and a few other places. As we look towards the next couple days you can expect to have quite a bit more terrain open.  I anticipate the opening of Wrangler, Humbug, Cornice/ West Wall, and maybe Slalom Slope, Grizzly, and Radical. Starting tomorrow, we should see several days of sunny skies. If you are the kind of person that loves skiing beautiful, blue days or skiing powder on fresh openings, I recommend a visit. It looks like mid winter out there.

And It Keeps Snowing

While snow was expected today, I think Mother Nature exceeded all of our expectations. It snowed a lot. I am very anxious to see the morning report. Yes, Yes, Yes, more terrain will be opening up. Right now, I am not exactly sure what and when, but tomorrow things will be happening. If I was going to pick an early season powder day to go skiing, it would be tomorrow.

And It Keeps Snowing

While snow was expected today, I think Mother Nature exceeded all of our expectations. It snowed a lot. I am very anxious to see the morning report. Yes, Yes, Yes, more terrain will be opening up. Right now, I am not exactly sure what and when, but tomorrow things will be happening. If I was going to pick an early season powder day to go skiing, it would be tomorrow.

Random East Wall

I just stumbled on this old East Wall photo looking up Willy's Wide with two skiers down low. I am not sure who took it or when. From the clothing, I am guessing, maybe the 60's. Anyway, it is a very cool picture and a reminder that people have been at this powder skiing thing for a while now.

Lenawee Parks was open all day today. It is snowing at the area this evening and we are still expecting more good snow Monday. And it isn't even Thanksgiving yet. Pretty nice November so far.

Random East Wall

I just stumbled on this old East Wall photo looking up Willy's Wide with two skiers down low. I am not sure who took it or when. From the clothing, I am guessing, maybe the 60's. Anyway, it is a very cool picture and a reminder that people have been at this powder skiing thing for a while now.

Lenawee Parks was open all day today. It is snowing at the area this evening and we are still expecting more good snow Monday. And it isn't even Thanksgiving yet. Pretty nice November so far.

Foot-packing, Track-packing, and New Snow

After ski cutting, staff will often sidestep down as shown below on Slalom Slope and West Wall (sorry the sky was gray and the pictures are a little flat). This week following the big storm, the staff tried to impact as many places as possible. On lower angle terrain, we had the snowcats track-packing as many areas as they could. We even put up several portable snow fences in Montezuma Bowl. We still have a good looking storm heading our way. Areas that have been packed or impacted will experience good skiing much more quickly than areas that had not seen this work. We are poised and ready for this storm.

Foot-packing, Track-packing, and New Snow

After ski cutting, staff will often sidestep down as shown below on Slalom Slope and West Wall (sorry the sky was gray and the pictures are a little flat). This week following the big storm, the staff tried to impact as many places as possible. On lower angle terrain, we had the snowcats track-packing as many areas as they could. We even put up several portable snow fences in Montezuma Bowl. We still have a good looking storm heading our way. Areas that have been packed or impacted will experience good skiing much more quickly than areas that had not seen this work. We are poised and ready for this storm.