Tree Chutes and The East Wall

Another image of the Tree Chutes and North Y Chute.

Tree Chutes and The East Wall

Another image of the Tree Chutes and North Y Chute.

First East Wall Opening

Friday we saw our first public skiing on the East Wall this season. It was a small, limited start with really good conditions. With a snowy forecast, we should have plenty more to come. Oh yeah, kudos to the Ski Patrol.

First East Wall Opening

Friday we saw our first public skiing on the East Wall this season. It was a small, limited start with really good conditions. With a snowy forecast, we should have plenty more to come. Oh yeah, kudos to the Ski Patrol.

Lifter's Choice

It is no suprise that the most coveted station to work for lift operators is the bottom of Zuma Lift. It is always the warmest spot in the ski area. The views are great, especially on a bluebird day. The crowds are light and people are always having fun. It feels like such a remote, unique and different place. I like hanging out back there also.

Lifter's Choice

It is no suprise that the most coveted station to work for lift operators is the bottom of Zuma Lift. It is always the warmest spot in the ski area. The views are great, especially on a bluebird day. The crowds are light and people are always having fun. It feels like such a remote, unique and different place. I like hanging out back there also.

Mid-Mountain

There is a reason people like to hang out at Black Mountain Lodge and mid-mountain.

Mid-Mountain

There is a reason people like to hang out at Black Mountain Lodge and mid-mountain.

Lightning Trees

The Lightning Trees, like Elephant's Trunk, are another hidden treat in Zuma. Found on the far Eastern side of the Bowl, this gem also offers some fun adventure skiing. Again like Elephant's Trunk, it takes a while to get to and the vertical is not huge. It even requires a 15+ minute hike when finished skiing. There area experienced a forest fire (probably started by lightning) decades ago resulting in wide tree spacing and good skiing. Its aspect avoids the intense morning sun and the snow stays good in there for a long time.

While this sort of journey is not for everyone, those of you that like a little adventure and touring with your skiing and don't mind a hike, the Lightning Trees is your kind of place.

Lightning Trees

The Lightning Trees, like Elephant's Trunk, are another hidden treat in Zuma. Found on the far Eastern side of the Bowl, this gem also offers some fun adventure skiing. Again like Elephant's Trunk, it takes a while to get to and the vertical is not huge. It even requires a 15+ minute hike when finished skiing. There area experienced a forest fire (probably started by lightning) decades ago resulting in wide tree spacing and good skiing. Its aspect avoids the intense morning sun and the snow stays good in there for a long time.

While this sort of journey is not for everyone, those of you that like a little adventure and touring with your skiing and don't mind a hike, the Lightning Trees is your kind of place.

Elephant's Trunk

Montezuma Bowl offers some fun, exploratory, off the beaten track experiences. One of the hidden treats is Elephant's Trunk. This trail is on the very far Western edge of the Bowl. You can access the area by skiing Zuma Cornice and bearing right every chance you get (while still staying inside the ski area). It takes a little while to get to, the vertical is less than other places and there is a long traverse back to the lift. That said, it can have some really fun skiing when the timing is right.

I skied it yesterday and the snow was soft and the coverage was good. Looking towards the weekend, we may have a good storm heading our way. Several inches of new snow on top of what is already there would create ideal Elephant's trunk conditions. After a few powder day laps in MGD and West Zuma, think about heading this way.

Elephant's Trunk

Montezuma Bowl offers some fun, exploratory, off the beaten track experiences. One of the hidden treats is Elephant's Trunk. This trail is on the very far Western edge of the Bowl. You can access the area by skiing Zuma Cornice and bearing right every chance you get (while still staying inside the ski area). It takes a little while to get to, the vertical is less than other places and there is a long traverse back to the lift. That said, it can have some really fun skiing when the timing is right.

I skied it yesterday and the snow was soft and the coverage was good. Looking towards the weekend, we may have a good storm heading our way. Several inches of new snow on top of what is already there would create ideal Elephant's trunk conditions. After a few powder day laps in MGD and West Zuma, think about heading this way.

Sasha

Sasha, our new avalanche puppy, is growing so fast it is downright scary. She is doing well with basic commands and some of the introductory dog drills like finding people hiding in holes in the snow. Some people think she is kind of cute. Sasha spends most of her days training her owner and Ski Patroller Greg Dumas how to be an Avalanche Dog Handler.

On another note, my last run of the day was 3rd Bowl on Pali (just right of The Spine). IT WAS BUFFED !!!! 

Sasha

Sasha, our new avalanche puppy, is growing so fast it is downright scary. She is doing well with basic commands and some of the introductory dog drills like finding people hiding in holes in the snow. Some people think she is kind of cute. Sasha spends most of her days training her owner and Ski Patroller Greg Dumas how to be an Avalanche Dog Handler.

On another note, my last run of the day was 3rd Bowl on Pali (just right of The Spine). IT WAS BUFFED !!!! 

Simply Really, Really Nice

I went for a nice tour on the mountain today. Made some turns riding Pali, BMX, Lenawee and Zuma Lifts. Everywhere I went the skiing was fantastic. The place is buffed. The steep stuff is good, the grooming is good, the trees are good. It is all good and Ski Patrol continues to make major headway on the East Wall.

Simply Really, Really Nice

I went for a nice tour on the mountain today. Made some turns riding Pali, BMX, Lenawee and Zuma Lifts. Everywhere I went the skiing was fantastic. The place is buffed. The steep stuff is good, the grooming is good, the trees are good. It is all good and Ski Patrol continues to make major headway on the East Wall.

Kids Club Arapahoe

Our Kids Club Arapahoe programs are in full swing right now. We are having a tremendous turnout for both our Saturday and Sunday sessions. The new Kids Center has made offering these classes easier and much better. Having raised a couple of kids in the ski culture, I am a huge fan of letting someone else teach your kids how to ski or snowboard. Then you can just ride with the kids and have a great time. While your kids do love you, they'd rather have someone else teach them how to ski. More fun for everyone. I love seeing the next generation out there ripping it up.

It is snowing and..............YOU GOTTA' LOVE THOSE BRONCOS.

Kids Club Arapahoe

Our Kids Club Arapahoe programs are in full swing right now. We are having a tremendous turnout for both our Saturday and Sunday sessions. The new Kids Center has made offering these classes easier and much better. Having raised a couple of kids in the ski culture, I am a huge fan of letting someone else teach your kids how to ski or snowboard. Then you can just ride with the kids and have a great time. While your kids do love you, they'd rather have someone else teach them how to ski. More fun for everyone. I love seeing the next generation out there ripping it up.

It is snowing and..............YOU GOTTA' LOVE THOSE BRONCOS.

Safety Week

January is National Safety Month. Last weekend we set up our "Safety Village" in the base area. Our staff was particularly focused on spreading the safety message to younger skiers. The avalanche dogs were on site. Kids that participated in "Know The Code" activities received a piece of cake. "Always Ski in Control."

Safety Week

January is National Safety Month. Last weekend we set up our "Safety Village" in the base area. Our staff was particularly focused on spreading the safety message to younger skiers. The avalanche dogs were on site. Kids that participated in "Know The Code" activities received a piece of cake. "Always Ski in Control."

Cabin Glades

The Cabin Glades are near East Gully. Within the glades are a couple of old cabin structures that date back to the mining era. There are a few old mines, most notably the North Pole Claim, on the East Wall. While I do not know the exact history, these old buildings supported one or more of the East Wall Claims. We keep a closure around the cabin remains to protect them from the impacts of skiing and jumping on the structures.

Cabin Glades

The Cabin Glades are near East Gully. Within the glades are a couple of old cabin structures that date back to the mining era. There are a few old mines, most notably the North Pole Claim, on the East Wall. While I do not know the exact history, these old buildings supported one or more of the East Wall Claims. We keep a closure around the cabin remains to protect them from the impacts of skiing and jumping on the structures.

6th Alley Supper Club

This past Friday we hosted Italian Night at The 6th Alley Supper Club. Very good dinner and an even better price. I had the Linguine with Clam Sauce. Awesome. This was an inexpensive night. I had a gang friends come up and enjoy the meal. Great fun and lots of laughs. The same thing was going on at every table. 

We have more good stuff coming in The 6th Alley. February 12 is the Fish Fry. March 11 is a Prime Rib Dinner. We will close out the Supper Club season with another Beer Maker's (and taster's) Dinner April 15. These dinners very cool. You can even sneak in a skin before dinner.

6th Alley Supper Club

This past Friday we hosted Italian Night at The 6th Alley Supper Club. Very good dinner and an even better price. I had the Linguine with Clam Sauce. Awesome. This was an inexpensive night. I had a gang friends come up and enjoy the meal. Great fun and lots of laughs. The same thing was going on at every table. 

We have more good stuff coming in The 6th Alley. February 12 is the Fish Fry. March 11 is a Prime Rib Dinner. We will close out the Supper Club season with another Beer Maker's (and taster's) Dinner April 15. These dinners very cool. You can even sneak in a skin before dinner.

And More Snow

We had a couple of more inches of new snow again at report time today. It has probably snowed a couple more inches since then. Wednesday is looking pretty good for even more. This storm has been very good to us. You have to think the East Wall is getting closer. And we know how great the skiing is all over especially on Pali and in Montezuma Bowl.

Enjoy this morning's view from the Zuma Cornice.

And More Snow

We had a couple of more inches of new snow again at report time today. It has probably snowed a couple more inches since then. Wednesday is looking pretty good for even more. This storm has been very good to us. You have to think the East Wall is getting closer. And we know how great the skiing is all over especially on Pali and in Montezuma Bowl.

Enjoy this morning's view from the Zuma Cornice.

13 Inches In 4 Days

Today's 3" of new snow makes 13" in four days. And more is coming. The forecast is mostly unsettled for the next 10 days. I like the sound of that. Put some Basin skiing on your calendar. The next great session has begun.

Oh yeah, the Broncos are playing the Patriots for the Conference Title. I look forward to the banter. Go Broncos.

13 Inches In 4 Days

Today's 3" of new snow makes 13" in four days. And more is coming. The forecast is mostly unsettled for the next 10 days. I like the sound of that. Put some Basin skiing on your calendar. The next great session has begun.

Oh yeah, the Broncos are playing the Patriots for the Conference Title. I look forward to the banter. Go Broncos.

One Of Those Zuma Days

To some 6" of new snow might not sound like a lot. It is a different story at The Basin. This morning we reported 6", the wind direction was from a near perfect 300 degrees, and it snowed all day. It was my typical Sunday off so Kay and I loaded Pali Lift just after opening at 8:30. We spent a bit of time skiing Pali especially The Spine, The Face and The Alleys. Skiing deep snow in those places is way fun.

After a quick break at Black Mountain Lodge, we headed to Montezuma Bowl. I am not sure what superlatives to use, but it was over the top. After we had a quick ski in Grays, the Ski Patrol opened the MGD zone. We had fantastic runs in Long Chute and Max. And then it got better. Dr. Zarter opened the West Zuma gate and we lapped Jump three times rarely crossing a track. We might have reported 6", but I can tell you skiing Jump was more than double that amount. Today that run was absolutely perfectly aligned with the wind and was just plain "phat." Of course, the wind was cold and strong and the visibility was extremely limited, but getting that many face shots it didn't really matter.

Catching MGD and West Zuma in those conditions is as good as it gets.

One Of Those Zuma Days

To some 6" of new snow might not sound like a lot. It is a different story at The Basin. This morning we reported 6", the wind direction was from a near perfect 300 degrees, and it snowed all day. It was my typical Sunday off so Kay and I loaded Pali Lift just after opening at 8:30. We spent a bit of time skiing Pali especially The Spine, The Face and The Alleys. Skiing deep snow in those places is way fun.

After a quick break at Black Mountain Lodge, we headed to Montezuma Bowl. I am not sure what superlatives to use, but it was over the top. After we had a quick ski in Grays, the Ski Patrol opened the MGD zone. We had fantastic runs in Long Chute and Max. And then it got better. Dr. Zarter opened the West Zuma gate and we lapped Jump three times rarely crossing a track. We might have reported 6", but I can tell you skiing Jump was more than double that amount. Today that run was absolutely perfectly aligned with the wind and was just plain "phat." Of course, the wind was cold and strong and the visibility was extremely limited, but getting that many face shots it didn't really matter.

Catching MGD and West Zuma in those conditions is as good as it gets.

End Of The Day

Another good Saturday is winding down. Good snow to be found on The Spine and in The Alleys. Mountain Meadow is playing some bluegrass in The 6th Alley. Lots of those post skiing smiles found around here today.

Go Broncos.

End Of The Day

Another good Saturday is winding down. Good snow to be found on The Spine and in The Alleys. Mountain Meadow is playing some bluegrass in The 6th Alley. Lots of those post skiing smiles found around here today.

Go Broncos.